ptsd Ptsd C & P Exam

[Manchued]

I went in for my PTSD exam today. I explained my primary stressor was my roommate killing himself, and from being deployed as an infantryman (although I have no CIB, PH, ETC). When discussing my friend I became very emotional and began crying (which I have never done, although this is the first time I have really discussed what happened). He asked me the name of my friend and when he died. He told me he thinks I meet the criteria for having PTSD, and then immediately gave me paperwork about getting help at the VA, and then called me a few minutes after the meeting and said he had given my name to some kind of info session at the VA hospital for PTSD in a few weeks. The guy did not seen hostile and acted very sympathetic, which makes me optimistic. I was very embarrassed that I was crying like a girl. Outside of not having any chronic sleeping issues I am suffering all the VA listed symptoms of PTSD.

I have been formally diagnosed with ADD and OCD by the VA and am being medicated. I have no prior diagnosis of PTSD from the military or the VA, as I presumed only those with direct combat trauma are eligible (until loved ones and a VA rep told me otherwise and encouraged me to investigate it). I also have been diagnosed with ED, and received a bunch of tests and exams well before filing a claim (definitely have it, no "organic cause" and they give me Viagra ). I also saw a C&P guy about that presuming it was related to emotional issues (claiming it was due to PTSD, this was the same day as my PTSD C&P exam).

Do you think my odds are looking good? If your C&P doctor straight up says you meet the criteria, then give you guidance on seeking help (even making a call for you to arrange something) will I be in the clear?

Since I cited stress from deployment and my friends suicide, is there a chance I be denied because I will be told after the fact I need more substantiation?

My VA advocate filed the claim for PTSD under the "fear of hostile action etc", but half the appointment was discussing my friends suicide.

[Berta]

"Since I cited stress from deployment and my friends suicide, is there a chance I be denied because I will be told after the fact I need more substantiation?


My VA advocate filed the claim for PTSD under the "fear of hostile action etc", but half the appointment was discussing my friends suicide."

PTSD can be caused by many things and combat is only one of them.

"He told me he thinks I meet the criteria for having PTSD,"

Try to get a copy of this C & P and it will tell you more,like Did he formally diagnose you with PTSD?

I am new to ebenefits....for anyone---are the C & P exam results ever posted there

What proof do you have of your roommates's death?

I am sure it would be in a unit morning report .



Were you in touch with the family after he died?

Any letters as documentation from them as to his death ,that you received?

Have you accessed his obituary in his hometown newspaper?.

Your unit surely has a web site on line if you need some buddy statements.

"My VA advocate filed the claim for PTSD under the "fear of hostile action etc"

If you were in close proximity to hostile fire, I hope the C & P examiner made that point as well in the exam results.

.

I believe you certainly experienced this trauma but I also believe the VA will ask for proof.

The ADD and OCD......

"(7) Conditions that are developmental disorders are not covered birth defects. These include, but are not limited to, the following:

(i) Attention deficit disorder;" etc

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&ved=0CFQQFjAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.benefits.va.gov%2FWARMS%2Fdocs%2Fregs%2F38cfr%2Fbookb%2Fpart3%2Fs3_815.doc&ei=wTU6VcS5EanmsATVnYCwAg&usg=AFQjCNFpcnjMKtRkdQ67ESXF20UqxPzkQw&bvm=bv.91427555,d.Wc


I dont know if the VA would service connect either ADD or OCD directly but the OCD might well be due to PTSD and be found as secondary, with a strong medical opinion of the association.

ORDER

Secondary service connection for obsessive-compulsive
disorder is granted.

http://www.va.gov/vetapp04/files/0401680.txt

Please check out the 2010 PTSD regulations here in the PTSD forum, as your claim depends on their criteria, and this is what the doctor meant :

"If your C&P doctor straight up says you meet the criteria, then give you guidance on seeking help (even making a call for you to arrange something) will I be in the clear?"

I feel you will be OK, even without the proof of the suicide, if you meet the "close proximity" stuff in the PTSD regs, but the C & P result will reveal more.

( as an infantryman I am sure you meet the criteria, and I assume you are OEF- incountry Iraq/Afganistan ???but I am not sure)

Others will chime in too.

Don't feel bad about crying.at the exam. You probably have held in a lot of that grief for a long time.

Thank you for your service

Edited April 24, 2015 by Berta

[Berta]

Todd answered my question here today.........if you use ebenefits, the exam might be there, if done at a VAMC.

:

[Manchued]

Can I go to the VA hospital I took the exam at and simply request a paper copy of the C&P exam?

[Manchued]

Thank you for your help!
Also, now that the claim has been submitted just I just stand by and wait? Can I find more evidence to contribute at any time? Can it be anything? How do I submit it. I could readily find an article in the news or some other documentation of my friends death.

[Johnny12]

my friend also hung himself. I claimed it as my stressor. They said they couldn't locate any records of it. I sent a freedom of info request to the army cid department in Washington since they investigate every non combat death. I got a full report all the way down to how long I did Cpr for.  It only took 3 weeks to receive it.  My c&p was schedule the next week.  I go on the 12 th.  good luck. 

[Mikemmlj]

I am diagnosed with OCD as well and I am service connected for PTSD. If you look at the research it shows you can be more likely to develop PTSD if you have OCD. OCD and PTSD both cause anxiety but they are different, you may want to look up OCD and PTSD in the DSM V, it helped me a lot in figuring out how I view the world.