ptsd Gathering Of Evidence Development Letter

[shannan]

Hi everyone,

I am new to this forum. I've been looking through some of your forum for the past couple of months, but this is my first post (so i hope I'm posting in the correct thread).

I submitted my FDC in January of this year. I just recently received news that I am in the Gathering of Evidence phase. Please do not judge me for what i about to say. I know many of you served honorably and i only wish that that could have been my case (it haunts me every moment of everyday). I was raped in my Advanced Training Unit and did attempt to exorcise every effort to obtain a discharge to get away from my attacker. My chain of command kept "losing" my discharge paperwork and I was forced to remain around my attacker. I am not pleased to admit it, but after a failed suicide attempt, I decided in my naive 18 year old mind that my last resort was to go AWOL. I turned myself in and was given an OTH.

So to my point, I recieved a letter stating that they do not ordinarily grant disability benefits unless it is found that i did serve honorably, although i have severe PTSD, Major Depression, and Dythsmia due to MST (all diagnosed by the VA). The letter is also asking me for all evidence i may have and my statement. They also claim they have no knowledge of me having a representative. They are going to put my claim on hold for 60 days to wait for me to send the evidence.

My Amvets representative submitted all of my statements and evidence when he filed my ebenefits claim in January. He also made it clear on official letterhead that he was representing me on this claim. Also, when he submitted the claim, he certified that this is ALL the evidence that I had to submit. Have any of you ever recieved a similar letter? If so, how did you adress it? I dont want to re-send the evidence for fear they will knock me into a regular claim. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[Andyman73]

Since I'm going there tomorrow morning, anyway. I will see what they have to say, first. I will have all my evidence in hand, so, they will be able to check that out as well. I will report my findings, after that. As far as markers, if I have any that aren't covered by my records, I wouldn't know how to go about proving them.

[Andyman73]

Hey, it's me, I'm still here....

Anyway, when I went to the VA @ Lebanon, I discovered that they don't have a walkin clinic there...they told me I could go to the E-room, if I wanted to...I wasn't prepared for that. Totally deflated my sails...took me till yesterday to get the courage back up to make my next move. I called "Peggy", she put me through to a very kind lady on the care line(?). I spoke with her for 10 minutes or more, was one of the hardest things I've ever done! Kept choking up, so hard to talk straight. She notified my PCP and told me they will call me withing 48 hours of that moment right then.

Have any of you experience this....when ever I start losing control, or do, my head feels like it's on fire on the inside. It feels like my brain is cooking, literally. And kinda feels buzzy, like a bunch of angry bees. None of the Vets I work with, who do have PTSD, have felt that.

Ok

[shannan]

Andy, I think I can relate to what you're talking about. Personally my face begins to feel extremely hot. My ears turn a completely dark beet red. My thoughts feel completely scrambled. And I get this annoying pulsating vibration (best i can describe) resounding in my head when i get overly stressed (maybe blood pressure rising?). Oh and the migraine once I get calmed down is AWESOME (not). Is that kind of similar what you are referring to? Anyways, don't be discouraged. You might get the run around. If you are feeling those symptoms, go to the ER right away. One reason being so they can help you. It sucks to feel this way, I know. And the other reason is ti start that paper trail of your symptoms which will help to get a quicker diagnosis and act as evidence you can use to support your claim. I hope this helps and I hope you feel better soon.

[Andyman73]

Shannon,

Oh, I thought maybe I was the only one with the "hot head" sensation. My face does get hot, too, but the internal head fire doesn't come with every hot face. My ears get blood red all the time, strangely enough seems to happen in the late afternoon on my way home from work.(???) When I talking with the care line lady, I could feel the fire starting, didn't get too hot, but seemed to last an hour or so. I don't get migraines afterwards, but get an empty hollow feeling like a black hole in my brain.

My PCP office called, about 15 mins ago, said my doc put a consult referal in, right away. Said he knows me well enough that he doesn't need to see me first, and waste any time keeping me from proper help. I did tell the care line lady that I get these brain fires...so maybe when she told him he just put it right in.

Thank you for your support, I really appreaciate it.

Semper Fi,

Andy

[shannan]

Andy, sorry i havent answered back sooner. How did your appointment go? Were they able to shed some light on the brain fires?

I just got the character upgrade to honorable on Monday! Now just waiting for C&P exam appointment and then the rating. Character determination was the hardest part. I have my benefits now :)

[Andyman73]

Shannon,

Praise God!!! I'm sooooo happy you got your upgrade!!!!

It's okay you didn't answer back, I never expect a reply anyways.(I feel like I'm not here, nobody sees or hears me, no good deed goes unpunished. Guess that's one of my MH issues)

No appointment yet, it's June 25th, the soonest available. The scheduler/office manager was so nice, almost cheerleader bubbly. I asked about what should I bring, my SMR copies and such, and the MyhealthyVet PTSD questionaire? She said just bring the PTSD questionaire results for the initial evaluation. When I mentioned that one, she said definitely bring it, especially since it said to get me to a MH specialist ASAP. Downside is my anxiety is screaming at me, feels like I'm falling and the ground is rushing to "catch" me...except it's dark and I can't see it coming!!!