ptsd I Am So Incredibly Lost

[Amanda.R]

Hello Everyone,

I have been awarded 70% of which 50% is from PTSD (this resulted from MST). The remaining is from migranes that I believe were a result of eye surgery. I also have a sleep disorder from the PTSD and take medication for it but the VA won't award me for that. As you can probably see from the time of this post, the medication doesn't always work.

I can't currently work right now but I am attending school. I am considering dropping it though because I am having problems controlling my anger around others. My husband is prior service with TBI and PTSD and I've been made his primary caregiver as well.

I have two questions at this point. How do I apply for an increase on the PTSD and what does TDIU and P&T mean? I have to go to the Phoenix VA which is pretty worthless. I haven't seen my doctor in over 3 months because they keep cancelling on me and I am almost out of medication. I am just feeling very overwhelmed. I am considering going back to counseling but I would prefer that it was outside the VA. I had to quit last time because I developed a drinking problem. I am afraid to go down that route again.

Thank you,

Amanda

[USMC_HVEQ]

Welcome,

You can certainly apply for an increase in your PTSD. you can apply online VONAPP application or eBenefits, I think. There are new forms required to fill out now then in the past as I believe they were trying to remove ambiguity. You will need to consult the higher criteria for 70% or 100% on the PTSD to see if you meet either of them. They will ask about what has happened since the last VA rating. They will not be covering what has happened since your last C&P for PTSD.

TDIU-is Total Disability Individual Unemployability. This you for not being able to work due to your disability or disabilities and you can't work. you have to show them you cant work, rather than just not wanting to work. If you get SSDI due to PTSD, then that should definitley help your case towards TDIU if that is the route you are going.

P&T=Permanent & Total, which is usually added to TDIU if your disability has been static for 5yrs, usually. This is generally harder to attain as no future exams are required and other benefits are attached.

[USMC_VET]

You can try for the increase for PTSD or you could file for sleep disorder as a secondary to the PTSD, however if in your PTSD C&P eval the sleep issues were mentioned and part of the reason for the 50% then you probably wont get it since you cant file for additional disabilities if they are part of another. In other words you cant file for flat feet that cause back pain, get it awarded and then file for back condition.

If I were you i would get a Independent Medical Opinion of your PTSD, start seeing a psychiatrist regularly. once a month or so. One of the issues i ran into and ended in my current fight against reduction was that the VA wants to see ongoing mental health treatment and/or medications. At the very least go to group meetings of vets/mst survivors. Those of us with PTSD know this, that its never "cured" or "goes away" however the VA's stance seems to be, if you are not in treatment or tkaing meds then you must be getting better. Play the game. And you never know you might actually be helped, try different things.

[Andyman73]

Amanda,

Thank you for your service, and thank your husband for his, too. I can't imagine your state of mind. I have my initial MH eval in a few weeks, so I only just started that trip. I do know this, though, recently it was made public that medical studies show that Sleap Apnea(SA) is greatly affected by PTSD. The study showed that the worse the PTSD, the worse the SA. The VA's rating schedule has SA rated at 50% if you use a CPAP machine. You didn't state what type of sleep condition you have. I can't speak to the non SA type sleep disorders, since I do have SA, and have had sleep issues that started during the 2nd yr of my 6yr enlistment.

I hope and pray you can stay away from alcohol. While in the Marines, I drank to deal with stress, but it escalated, I drank just to fall asleep every night. It was a hard road to travel. Even now, I hear it calling me.

You may have to get an IMO(independant medical opinion, but the sleep disorder should be SC. It all depends on the type of disorder and severity, like USMC_HVEQ stated above. The SA is a tough one to get, so I know I have a tough road ahead of me, for that...and whatever MH I end up being diagnosed with.

You may also have to contact a lawyer who specializes in Vets rights and VA claims. You and your husband have earned the right to be taken care of, and deserve all there is from the VA.

Please stay connected hear on Hadit.com. There are soo many knowledgeable Vets here, and they can guide you in the right direction.

Semper Fi.

Andy

[Gastone]

If you think your symptoms more closely resemble those listed in 38 CFR 4 for a 70% rating, jump on it with an FDC filing. Start your FDC claim on E Ben to lock in your increase date. Start the claim, then do the research, you have 1 year to complete the filing. Get a copy of your PTSD C & P DBQ, the Rater used the DBQ to establish your SC %. Do you actually have Documented Medical Evidence to support the PTSD 70% rating. Might want to have a second pair of knowledgeable eyes look at it.

Are you IU and if so, due solely to your SC conditions? Are you capable of doing any sort of "Sedentary" job where you could earn $238.00 per week? That's the VA IU "Substantially Gainful Income" figure ($12,400.00 per year under 65), that could cause you a real problem. Even if your unemployed and been so for a long period, the VA considers what you should be able to do. What did your PTSD C&P say regarding your symptoms and their affect on employment.

As for your problems with your Drs and VAH. Use your MHV Secure Messaging to start XITCHING. The Squeaky Wheel gets the Grease. Start laying a paper trail with your PC and Specialist and the Pharmacy. Send a Message to the Patient Advocate, it really works, much better than a phone call. I use mine on a regular basis. Usually I have a response by the afternoon of the day I sent the Message, The more VA Clinicians that are made aware of your problems, the better. Print out your Messages and the Responses, they only remain for 12 months on Secure Message. However, you will see all your Clinician questions and reply s inserted into your VA Medical Record within a day or 2.

Semper Fi

Gastone

[Amanda.R]

Thank you everyone for your responses. When I went through C&P the evaluator told me that I should be closer to 70% rating for PTSD. Prior to leaving the service, I was in counseling for about two years and was prescribed Zoloft for my PTSD and Klonopin for my sleep disorder. There were also other drugs that they tried but they didn't seem to help. My pschcologist scheduled me for a sleep study and I was diagnosed for REM sleep behavior disorder. The sleep disorder makes sense because I would run in my sleep and thrash around. I had very vivid dreams of the incident and in the dreams I was running away. However, the sleep disorder is rolled in with my PTSD. This is what it reads in my claim -post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (claimed as sleep disturbances/insomnia, anxiety, depression). It also says that the PTSD is non combat related but is occured in Iraq during deployment. I am a little confused on what would make it combat related or not.

Also, I spent a year battling a misdiagnosis from incompetent doctors who refused to grant me an off post referral. I had to go higher up to get them to listen. When I finally recieved the referral, I was sent to this amazing doctor who was able to diagnose me pretty quickly. I want to include that in my claim but right now they have the wrong diagnosis and it's rated at 0%. I had submitted the doctors notes but I don't think they have looked at it.

Thank you again!

Regards,

Amanda