ptsd Why Would They Add This?

[63SIERRA]

I was checking ebennies on my wifes claims and they added "( adjustment disorder}. She already had put in for depression,16 months ago, and it was listed in the contentions, so we dont know who, added the adjustment disorder or why. also the claim recently moved to pending authorization of descison. If it all falls undet PTSD, why would they add that.

Edited December 26, 2013 by 63SIERRA

[Philip Rogers]

Maybe because that's what they found at the C&P exam. Better they do that than deny the PTSD and have her re-apply for Adjustment Disorder(AD) down the road. My feelings are they're awarding adjustment disorder, rather than PTSD, cuz AD is curable and PTSD isn't. jmo

pr

[Navy04]

Im with Philip on this one. The VA will diagnose a Service Member with Adjustment Disorder in a heart beat. Once diagnosed with this, it is very hard to be diagnosed with PTSD. Also, as Philip stated they claim that Adjustment Disorder can be cured and is a simpler condition to treat, compared to PTSD. Good luck and keep us up to date, but it may be a hard fight for you in the future.

[Vync]

AD is often the first "rubber stamp" diagnosis for many patients. Some doctors prefer to see how the patient does over time and treatment until assigning a more specific diagnosis. Hang in there...

[john999]

I think AD is just bull, but I agree with Phil and Navy. The VA is avoiding the PTSD DX. They were avoiding it by DXing the vet with a personality disorder, so AD is an improvement. I would think that if a vet suffers from AD for more than a few years the DX should be changed to PTSD. The VSO's should be all over the adjustment disorder thing. I do see many PTSD claims that might be adjustment disorder. People who are never in actual physical danger, but just fear it may not really have full blown PTSD. However, who am I to judge? I am not inside the person's mind, nor am I a psychiatrist. I feared danger, death or injury every time I was on perimeter guard in Nam, but I do not put myself in the same group as the 11Bravos on the Cambodian boarder living in a hole in the ground.

John

[meghp0405]

the VA doc will the frequency, the severity and the duration of the individuals psychiatric symptoms, then render a diagnosis based upon those symptoms. Now, if you look in 38 CFR, 4.130 Schedule of ratings for mental disorders begin with diagnostic code 9201 and end with 9440. So there are a lot of mental diagnosis there to be diagnosed with.

Based upon the individuals symptomology a diagnosis will be made within those parameters listed. In your case 63 sierra, the doc believes that her diagnosis is more within the adjustment disorder than the depression.

I've seen many vets that put a claim in for PTSD, but came back as some type of disorders, depression, etc, only because they didn't meet the symptomology within the PTSD requirements. There are 14 symptoms that are needed for a diagnosis of PTSD

After I explain this, most are satisfied. There are many that will say "I was in combat, it's PTSD". Well, I am no Doctor, never claimed to be nor will I ever become one. Is what I ask these vets is this; you are being seen by mental health personnel, they have tailored a treatment/counseling program to meet your needs/conditions, etc. and if its working, why worry about the terminology?

This is my own opinion, but I think too many have become wrapped up or conditioned to say PTSD. A veteran that has PTSD, I really sympathize with them. My son has PTSD, injured in Iraq, medevac'd to Lanstul hospital in Germany for 5 weeks then transferred to the states. I see what he goes through on a daily basis, I know what PTSD is and I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy.

Got of subject here and I apologize for that but in my opinion, It's important that the vet receives the applicable treatment for his/her symptomology..

[john999]

It has gotten so that when a vet makes a claim for a mental disorder the VA just assumes it is for PTSD. GAD, Depression, bi-polar, schizophrenia and a host of combinations happen in service. You want what is in your SMR's to match what you claim if you want to make it easier. You can be 100% form panic disorder or depression just as much as from PTSD and there are elements of both syndromes in each DX.

John