Va Clinic Diagnoses Ptsd On It's Own

[Mountain Vet]

So.. I am new to posting here but a long time reader of this site - awesome work moderators and subject matter experts .. your efforts are much appreciated.

I had a routine VA medical appointment for a general health check up in early April of this year and during that exam the doctor and I got to talking about my prior service. I mentioned to him a few things (I don't talk about my military history much with anyone) about my middle east service including intrusive dreams for years about a bomb attacks including a bomb (IED-timer) that destroyed my vehicle (unoccupied) and came pretty close to taking me out. He probed further and after answering his questions openly and honestly he referred me to the VA mental health team for evaluation.

Now I have a VA medical diagnosis of PTSD secondary to my military service and a diagnosis of depressive disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder on top of that. I am prescribed anti depressants from the VA and am taking them. I am participating in group and individual therapy with a goal of diminishing my symptoms which quite honestly I have lived with seemingly forever. The VA psycologist and pychiatrist have both documented the diagnosis and nexus to my military service in my VA medical records and file. Both encouraged me to go see my VSO. I feel a bit like a dumb ass for living with these syptoms for many years and not considering my options. It surprises me that the doctors did all of this without any encouragement from me - Frankly I wasn't even looking for an increase in my disability (20%) benefits.

I gathered up some buddy letters from veterans who were there and had personal knowlege and put together a binder of news articles and related military service records along with the medical stuff I have so far. I consulted with my VSO who copied my entire binder and immediately filed a claim (fast track).

Some of the issues I have suffered with for many years include; sleep deprivation (nightmares, night sweats, insomnia); social isolation (few trusted friends, estrangement from family, avoidance of middle eastern people; hyper vigilance (chair/back against the wall always, forever alert, suspicious of damn near everything and everyone); little to no outside activities increasing over the years; anger outbursts,

agitation and impatience among others.

I am a work-a-holic often burying myself in my work and was a high achiever until my memory started to fail (mostly short term - forgetting names, dates, appointments etc).

Having given that background does anyone think I can get rated for the issues I didn't ask for to begin with? Any other similar experiences having the VA push a PTSD diagnosis on a patient during a routine exam? Any help is much appreciated.

MV

[Buck52]

Mountain vet

I think you have an excellent chance getting rated for ptsd, with the stressor's you mention from your service in the middle east.

now how high of a rating is anybody's guess dealing with the VA

The social workers and even the Dr's ask if you ever tried to comment suicide or want to hurt others and if you said yes.

Then that raises a RED flag so-to speak and they are concerned for your safety as well as others & to hopefully cut down on veterans suicide's!

Contention/Conditions the Dr's state in there diagnoses, VA will rate your worse condition but take into consideration of the others which ever is evaluated the highest & from your stressors, and your condition as of now (what your service has caused you) means in my opinion you do have PTSD & for that you will be sent for a C&P exam. and then it will be sent to the Rater.

You need evidence and you have that, you have your SMR's ,Buddie statements from your unit and ''Specialist Doctors'' in this field of medicine to state your condition favorable to you that was likely as not caused by your military service.

usually a combat veteran don't need to prove his stressors but you will have to describe what happen. using the form 21-0781 its in the VA Web site in pdf just print a couple out & be sure to save all your copies of everything you send the VA.

Its up to you if you feel you need to see a private Psychologist For a independent medical opinion ( IMO) but they are expensive...if it was me I'd go with what you mention and if you need an IMO then get it.

You can look up your diagnose and see what it should be rated at if you have a Diagnosed Code the degree or level of your ptsd condition.

here on hadit

Now this would be totally up to you if you want to file a claim or not, as for as the fiduciary statement just check the box that says your competent to take care of your own finances.

Some veterans have PTSD They are so bad they can't take care of there self let alone their finances.

Not sure what your rated 20% for but this diagnose from what you mention looks pretty bad to me and possibly be rated at 100% but PTSD is a hard to get a high of a rated they turn over every stone and try to rate you lower than what you truly deserve...if you go ahead and file a claim and your either get denied or a low rating (we call it being low -balled) you can File a Notice of Disagreement (NOD) This only prolongs your claim but in the end you get what you deserve and you will have a early effective date......for more back pay when you win.

Also when we read these post some times the post is taken out of context for what the poster was pertinent to, I'm sure chuck75 meant well for you, he is a long time elder hadit member and has helped a lot of veterans, I apologize if his post offended you.

I can understand that.

I wish you the best my brother.

..........................Buck

Edited July 2, 2015 by Buck52

[Mountain Vet]

Thank you all for your advice, guidance and suggestions.

Bringing this thread up to date I have been in continual weekely therapy (CBT and CPT) since I filed the fully developed claim for benefits in April of this year.  Everything (yes, "everything") has been done by the VA.  I have a VA diagnosis of PTSD from VA doctors, a fully developed claim (with help from my VSO) and have made every VA appointment and taken every VA pill I have been prescribed.

Yesterday I got call from the VA with a C&P appointment for this coming Thursday, August 20.  The C&P will be conducted by a VA contract doctor in Fresno.  I will be there with a bucket of truth and my C file in hand in case he needs more info.

So from application (April 4, 2015) to C&P exam appointment (August 20, 2015) the process has taken just over four months..  even if the VA takes another four months to grant a rating my entire claim process will be only 8 months...  Unusual?

Maybe they are gonna toss me under the bus..?  For some reason I doubt it - this seems to be going pretty good so far - we'll see.

 

MV

 

[Berta]

It all sounds very positive to me. Good luck on the C & P. We have C & P PTSD forms here somewhere under a search to show you what to expect.

[Mountain Vet]

It all sounds very positive to me. Good luck on the C & P. We have C & P PTSD forms here somewhere under a search to show you what to expect.

Thanks Berta..  your guidance was much appreciated.

Continuing with this update I went to my C&P yesterday morning..  I dressed normally, was clean and shaved like I always am.  I think it went well and I felt comfortable with the VA contract doctor who was supportive and thorough.  He had clearly read my C file, knew my personal and military history, asked detailed questions which were focused on my impairments both socially and professionally.  I answered his questions honestly and to the point.  I did some research on him and found that he has over 20 years experience working with military and law enforcement folks suffering from PTSD and was very "pro-vet".  He is a straight talker and even commented that it was "refreshing" to not have a patient try to "bullshit" him.  He also commented that I was "clearly significantly impaired" and "highly motivated to get help".

I don't know what his report will say or how this will turn out ultimately but am comfortable that I got a fair shake.  I will see about getting a copy of his report and will follow up with the results here when that happens.

MV

 

[Buck52]

I wish you the best with your claim  MV and that was pretty fast, let us know what hey decided.

take care brother

 

.........Buck

[bionoce]

Sounds like you will be good to go. Check out "Floatation therapy" in your area.