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Filing PTSD claims with the VA can be a complex and challenging process. Here are some common challenges that veterans face:
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General VA Rating Formula for Mental Health Disorders
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Question
Memphis10Vet
SECTION I:
----------
1. Diagnostic Summary
---------------------
Does the Veteran now have or has he/she ever been diagnosed with
PTSD?
[X] Yes[ ] No
ICD Code:
2. Current Diagnoses
--------------------
a. Mental Disorder Diagnosis #1: PTSD
ICD Code: 309.81
Comments, if any: 30% service connected for PTSD.
b. Medical diagnoses relevant to the understanding or management
of the
Mental Health Disorder (to include TBI):
No response provided.
3. Differentiation of symptoms
------------------------------
a. Does the Veteran have more than one mental disorder
diagnosed?
[ ] Yes[X] No
b. Is it possible to differentiate what symptom(s) is/are
attributable to
each diagnosis?
No response provided.
c. Does the Veteran have a diagnosed traumatic brain injury
(TBI)?
[ ] Yes[X] No[ ] Not shown in records reviewed
4. Occupational and social impairment
-------------------------------------
a. Which of the following best summarizes the Veteran's level of
occupational
and social impairment with regards to all mental diagnoses?
(Check only
one)
[X] Occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in
most areas,
such as work, school, family relations, judgment,
thinking and/or mood
b. For the indicated level of occupational and social
impairment, is it
possible to differentiate what portion of the occupational
and social
impairment indicated above is caused by each mental disorder?
[ ] Yes[ ] No[X] No other mental disorder has been diagnosed
c. If a diagnosis of TBI exists, is it possible to differentiate
what portion
of the occupational and social impairment indicated above is
caused by the
TBI?
[ ] Yes[ ] No[X] No diagnosis of TBI
SECTION II:
-----------
Clinical Findings:
------------------
1. Evidence review
------------------
In order to provide an accurate medical opinion, the Veteran's
claims folder
must be reviewed.
a. Medical record review:
-------------------------
Was the Veteran's VA e-folder (VBMS or Virtual VA) reviewed?
[ ] Yes[X] No
Was the Veteran's VA claims file reviewed?
[X] Yes[ ] No
If yes, list any records that were reviewed but were not
included in the
Veteran's VA claims file:
previous C & P
If no, check all records reviewed:
[ ] Military service treatment records
[ ] Military service personnel records
[ ] Military enlistment examination
[ ] Military separation examination
[ ] Military post-deployment questionnaire
[ ] Department of Defense Form 214 Separation Documents
[ ] Veterans Health Administration medical records (VA
treatment records)
[ ] Civilian medical records
[ ] Interviews with collateral witnesses (family and others
who have
known the Veteran before and after military service)
[ ] No records were reviewed
[ ] Other:
b. Was pertinent information from collateral sources reviewed?
[ ] Yes[X] No
If yes, describe:
2. Recent History (since prior exam)
------------------------------------
a. Relevant Social/Marital/Family history:
Veteran is engaged to the mother of his children, but
there has been
recent conflict. They are living together with their 2
children 4y and
10m. Veteran's wife works and children go to Day Care.
Veteran had a
physical confrontation with one of his brothers 2-3 weeks
ago. Shots
were fired but no one was hurt.
b. Relevant Occupational and Educational history:
Veteran is unemployed. He was fired from USPS for "no call
no show." He
reports conflict with co-workers and supervisor. He was
shot--didn't
bring proper documentation. Supervisor claimed he was not
following
orders. Veteran states he couldn't comprehend them--
thought he was
following orders. Veteran worked for 1 day for his uncle.
He got into
an arguement with a customer, and then in an argument with
his uncle.
Uncle then stated he could not work for him. He has been
unemployed
since January 2014.
c. Relevant Mental Health history, to include prescribed
medications and
family mental health:
Veteran was seeing Donna Denato, Ph.D. She referred him
to a
psychiatrist for medication. The provider was on
vacation, and he
never made contact. Veteran wants outpatient treatment
now. He is
willing to come to the VA for outpatient treatment.
d. Relevant Legal and Behavioral history:
Veteran was arrested for possession of marijuana and
commission of a
felony with a firearm. He was stopped by the police for a
license
plate issue. His car was searched and marijuana was found
in his
trunk. He had a hand gun and a permit. Veteran is going
back to
court--has been offerred probation.
e. Relevant Substance abuse history:
Veteran is smoking 2 blunts of marijuana 1-2 times per
day. His last
use was 10:30pm last night. He started using THC after
active duty in
the military--11/2011. He drinks alcohol 3-4 times per
month-- 2 shots
of Whiskey. His last drink was 6/23/2014.
f. Other, if any:
Veteran states he was already paranoid when got shot
1/16/2014. He was
looking for a friend in South Memphis. Some men
approached him and
started shooting. He was treated at the Med for a gunshot
wound to the
torso. Now, he keeps his gun handy at all times. Veteran
has to be in
court tomorrow as he is being sued by a truck driver for
breaking his
jaw. This truck driver hit his car and did not stop.
Veteran chased
him, forcing him to stop. The truck driver denied ever
hitting his
car. The arguement then got physical. As witnesses saw
the truck hit
his car, the truck driver cannot press charges.
3. PTSD Diagnostic Criteria
---------------------------
Please check criteria used for establishing the current PTSD
diagnosis. The
diagnostic criter
ia for PTSD, are from the Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual
of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5). The stressful event
can be due to
combat, personal trauma, other life threatening situations (non-
combat
related stressors.) Do NOT mark symptoms below that are clearly
not
attributable to the criteria A stressor/PTSD. Instead,
overlapping symptoms
clearly attributable to other things should be noted under #5 -
"Other
symptoms".
Criterion A: Exposure to actual or threatened a) death, b)
serious injury,
c) sexual violation, in on or more of the
following ways:
[X] Directly experiencing the tramuatic event(s)
Criterion B: Presence of (one or more) of the following
intrusion symptoms
associated with the traumatic event(s), beginning
after the
traumatic event(s) occurred:
[X] Recurrent, involuntary, and intrusive
distressing memories
of the traumatic event(s).
[X] Recurrent distressing dreams in which the
content and/or
affect of the dream are related to the
traumatic event(s).
[X] Intense or prolonged psychological distress at
exposure to
internal or external cues that symbolize or
resemble an
aspect of the traumatic event(s).
[X] Marked physiological reactions to internal or
external
cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of
the traumatic
event(s).
Criterion C: Persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with
the traumatic
event(s), beginning after the traumatic events(s)
occurred,
as evidenced by one or both of the following:
[X] Avoidance of or efforts to avoid distressing
memories,
thoughts, or feelings about or closely
associated with the
traumatic event(s).
[X] Avoidance of or efforts to avoid external
reminders
(people, places, conversations, activities,
objects,
situations) that arouse distressing memories,
thoughts, or
feelings about or closely associated with the
traumatic
event(s).
Criterion D: Negative alterations in cognitions and mood
associated with
the traumatic event(s), beginning or worsening
after the
traumatic event(s) occurred, as evidenced by two
(or more) of
the following:
[X] Persistent and exaggerated negative beliefs or
expectations about oneself, others, or the
world (e.g., "I
am bad,: "No one can be trusted,: "The world is
completely
dangerous,: "My whole nervous system is
permanently
ruined").
[X] Persistent negative emotional state (e.g.,
fear, horror,
anger, guilt, or shame).
[X] Markedly diminished interest or participation
in
significant activities.
[X] Feelings of detachment or estrangement from
others.
Criterion E: Marked alterations in arousal and reactivity
associated with
the traumatic event(s), beginning or worsening
after the
traumatic event(s) occurred, as evidenced by two
(or more) of
the following:
[X] Irritable behavior and angry outbursts (with
little or no
provocation) typically expressed as verbal or
physical
aggression toward people or objects.
[X] Reckless or self-destructive behavior.
[X] Hypervigilance.
[X] Exaggerated startle response.
[X] Problems with concentration.
[X] Sleep disturbance (e.g., difficulty falling or
staying
asleep or restless sleep).
Criterion F:
[X] The duration of the symptoms described above
in Criteria
B, C, and D are more than 1 month.
Criterion G:
[X] The PTSD symptoms described above cause
clinically
significant distress or impairment in social,
occupational, or other important areas of
functioning.
Criterion H:
[X] The disturbance is not attributable to the
physiological
effects of a substance (e.g., medication,
alcohol) or
another medical condition.
4. Symptoms
-----------
For VA rating purposes, check all symptoms that apply to the
Veterans
diagnoses:
[X] Depressed mood
[X] Anxiety
[X] Suspiciousness
[X] Near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability
to function
independently, appropriately and effectively
[X] Chronic sleep impairment
[X] Mild memory loss, such as forgetting names, directions or
recent
events
[X] Impaired judgment
[X] Disturbances of motivation and mood
[X] Difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances,
including work or a
worklike setting
[X] Intermittent inability to perform activities of daily
living,
including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene
5. Behavioral Observations:
---------------------------
Veteran was alert, oriented, with no hygiene issues on this
date. He
denied hallucinations, and does not appear to have delusions.
6. Other symptoms
-----------------
Does the Veteran have any other symptoms attributable to PTSD
(and other
mental disorders) that are not listed above?
[X] Yes[ ] No
If yes, describe:
Veteran has times when he "shuts down" for 4-5 days at
a time. He
does not bathe, brush his teeth, doesn't come out of
his bed or
his room. He doesn't eat and loses weight at these
times. He
states he doesn't want to deal with anybody, cuts off
his phone and
doesn't watch TV. His children are in day care as he
cannot be
responsible for them at these times.
7. Competency
-------------
Is the Veteran capable of managing his or her financial affairs?
[X] Yes[ ] No
8. Remarks, (including any testing results) if any:
---------------------------------------------------
Veteran denies suicidal or homicidal ideations at this time.
He has
fleeting suicidal thoughts on rare occasions with no intent
or plan.
Veteran does not appear to be able to work at this time due
to
psychological distress. The diagnosis used was per DSM-V.
The veteran
confirmed identity by stating his full name and full Social
Security
number, when asked, before the exam began. The limits of
confidentiality
were explained to the veteran, and the veteran indicated
understanding of
those limits when asked, before the exam began. The veteran
gave the
examiner permission of conduct the exam.
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