ptsd My Story

[calnight]

HELLO THIS IS MY FIRST POST. I HAVE SAT BACK AND LISTENED FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS NOW. I HAVE LEARNED A GREAT DEAL FROM EVERYONE AND WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO TELL EVERYONE OF MY DEALING WITH THE VA AND HOW IT ALL CAME ABOUT. LETS BEGIN

IAM 50% FOR PTSD AND 0% FOR MALERIA. I SERVED IN THE MARINE CORP FROM 91-96. I SAW COMBAT IN SOMALIA AS A COMBAT ENGINEER. AFTER LEAVING THE CORP IN 96 I WENT TO WORK FOR A TRUCKING CO. AS A DOCKWORKER. THAT JOB LASTED 18 MONTHS I WAS FIRED FOR A VERBAL ALTERCATION WITH A SUPERVISOR. THEN I WENT TO WORK FOR ANOTHER TRUCKING CO. THAT LASTED 8 YEARS BEFORE I WAS FIRED FOR ASSUALTING A SUPERVISOR. I THREW HIM AGIANST A WALL. I DID GET MY JOB BACK LONG STORY. THANK YOU FOR THE TEAMSTERS UNION. BUT I EVENTUALLY QUIT. I WILL GET INTO THAT LATER. AFTER BEING FIRED THE SECOND TIME I WENT TO SEE A DOCTOR I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG. HE DIAGNOSED ME WITH PTSD. HAD ALL THE SYPTOMS.FLASH BACKS, NIGHTMARES, ANGER, TRIGGERS AND SO ON. SO I HAD BEEN OUT OF THE SERVICE 9 YEARS BEFORE I WAS DIAGNOSED. I THOUGHT FOR SO LONG THIS WAS NORMAL. SO I TALKED TO SOME NAM VETS AT WORK AND THEY SAID I SHOULD FILE A CLAIM WITH THE VA. SO I CONTACTED THE DAV. THE CLAIM WAS FILED AND RECIEVED 50% FOR PTSD. IT TOOK 8 MONTHS TO PROCESS AT THE RO OAKLAND. BY NOW I WAS SEEING THE SHRINK AT THE VA. AND WAS BACK AT WORK. BUT THINGS WERE NOT GETTING BETTER. MY AVERGE GAF SCORE WAS 50-55. SO AFTER 7MONTHS AFTER MY ORIGINAL AWARD I APPEALED.AND THEN THIS IS WERE THE FUN BEGINS.

I REQUESTED A DRO. HAD SOME NEW EVIDENCE NOTHING SOLID. SO IN NOV 2005 GOT MY SOC. DENIED INCREASE STATED THAT I WAS STILL WORKING AND GAF SCORE REMANDE THE SAME. JAN 2006 IS WHEN I QUIT MY JOB. ALTERCATIONS WITH SUPERVISORS CONTUINED. PART OF THE AGREMENT TO COME BACK TO WORK WAS TO DISCLOSE THAT I HAD PTSD TO THE CO. BIG MISTAKE. I WAS TREATED LIKE FREAK. I HAD SUPERVISOR TELL ME HE WAS AFRAID I WAS GOING TO BRING A GUN TO WORK AND KILL PEOPLE. BUT I STAYED I HAVE 2 SMALL KIDS AND THEY EAT ALOT. SO NOW I AM OUT OF WORK. I PROVIDE THIS INFO TO THE VA AND SOME NEW EVIDENCE DOCTORS REPORTS FROM THE VA. SO IN JUNE OF 2006 I GOT SSOC. DENIED FOR INCREASE THE ONLY REASON SAME GAF SCORE. BY NOW I HAVE FOUND THIS WEB SITE AND I WENT TO WORK DOING MY HOMEWORK. I FORGOT THAT IN FEB 2006 I WENT TO VOC REHAB AND TOOK ALL THERE TESTS AND EXAM. THEN ONTHIS SITE I READ THAT VOC REHAB RECORDS CAN BE USED AS EVIDENCE. SO REQUESTED THEM AND THIS IS WHAT IT READS. EMPLOYMENT IMPAIRMENT-SEVERE, PSYCHOSOCIAL IMPAIRMENT-SEVERE, SITUATIONAL IMPAIRMENT-SEVERE. SO I AM THINKING THIS IS IT. SEND A COPY TO VSO AND VA. ALWAYS SEND 2 COPYS ONE TO THE VA AND ONE TO THE VSO. OK A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER I RECIEVE A IU FORM IN THE MAIL FROM THE VA. VSO SAYS FILL IT OUT AND SEND IT BACK I DID. OK 4 WEEKS AGO I HAD DOC APPT WITH A NEW SHRINK AT THE VAMC IN RENO. I MOVED AND NOW EVERTHING IS IN RENO. I JUST GOT HIS REPORT IN THE MAIL THE OTHERDAY. HE SAYS " AT THE PRESENT TIME I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS VETERAN IS UNEMPLOYABLE BECUASE OF HIS POSSIBILITY OF CAUSING HARM TO OTHERS WITH MINIMAL PROVOCATION". GAF SCORE 46. AND LAST WEEK I RECIEVED A LETTER FROM THE VA FOR A C&P EXAM IT SAID IT WAS FOR MY APPEAL. SAID NOTHING ABOUT MY IU APP. THE VA AS NOT RECIEVED THIS LATEST DOC REPORT. JUST MAILED IT IN. ALSO FILED FOR SSD 4 MONTHS AGO THEY SAY THE AVERGE HEAR IS 7 MONTHS FOR DESCION. SO WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THIS A STRONG CASE IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD SUGGEST I DO. ANY INFO WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED OR JUST YOUR THOUGHTS. I HAVE REQUESTED TO GO TO THE BVA MY FILE IS STILL IN RENO. DECIEDING THE 2 ISSUES. GOD BLESS AND THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR THERE HELP.

[Guest jangrin]

THANK YOU JANGRIN I WAS SEEN BY THE SS SHRINK THEY TOLD ME THE AVERGE WAIT TIME IS 7MONTHS FOR DECSION NOT REALLY COUNTING ON SS I KNOW THAT 70% OF CASES GET DENIED THE FIRST TIME.

Calnight,

Did you get a copy of the SSA shrink's report? My husband filed for SSD and VA at the same time. We found that that the SSA is much faster, better organized and easier to obtain informatin from than the VA. We continue to wait for the VA and their process. The VA doesn't seem to have the man power needed to process the claims, or maybe they lack the expertise.

I think you will hear from the SSA before the VA. When you do make sure you let the VA know that you were awarded your SSD. It will help your VA claim and TDIU.

Jangrin

[carlie]

Cal.

Please don't post in all caps, it really bothers many people.

You may want to check out 38 CFR 155 & 157 to see if they are of any help to your claim.

Also, if VA schedules a C&P (which I think I read they have) be absolutely sure to

BE THERE! I would take copies of the most important documented evidence with me (in support of an increase) to leave for the C&P examiner to refer to.

I would also immediately begin keeping a brief calander of how my PTSD is

effecting my life (my family and social involvement) on a daily basis and be willing to either leave it for the doc to keep or allow the doc to make copies.

I would also be sure to discuss with the C&P examiner any side effects and/or additional disabilities possibly related to meds I take for S/C'd disabilities.

JMHO -- good luck to you,

carlie

[john999]

Cal

If you stick with it I think you will get your IU or schedular 100%. Maybe you can get a decision from VA within a year before state disability runs out. You might get SSDI by then. Hold out and I think you have a good chance since you are already 50%. The next step is 70% then IU.

[cowgirl]

Cal, here is hoping that all this experience and advice is helping. Cant believe how many times I have read and re-read the forum postings here. Read yours and was brought to tears with joy and hope for you, yours.Thanks for mentioning the Vocab Rehab evidence bit, good reminder for my claims that are in. Will get my copy ASAP and "consider" its details myself, then see if I can use it to further my evidence. Wonder if VA vocab rehab works for SSDI also, hm. God Bless, cg

[calnight]

Cal, here is hoping that all this experience and advice is helping. Cant believe how many times I have read and re-read the forum postings here. Read yours and was brought to tears with joy and hope for you, yours.Thanks for mentioning the Vocab Rehab evidence bit, good reminder for my claims that are in. Will get my copy ASAP and "consider" its details myself, then see if I can use it to further my evidence. Wonder if VA vocab rehab works for SSDI also, hm. God Bless, cg

cowgirl do get a copy of voc rehab and do send a copy to ssd.and also look up title 38 pensions,bonuses,and veterans relief 21.52 38 u.s.c 3106 a. i found it hear and it blew me away. good luck

[Tbird]

now that is the way to line up your ducks. it seems you have your claim going in the right direction. i am really glad that you found hadit.com and it was helpful for you.

keep working your claim and if you don't have a regular therapist it would be a good idea to get one. lot's of triggers to navigate as you continue your claim.