I want to talk about Agoraphobia

[SemperAye]

Currently I am awarded 50% for Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia, and GAD. I have read the rating criteria for both the 50% rating, and the 70% rating, and I believe I have a mixture of both.

What concerns me is that in the rating criteria's there is no mention of Agoraphobia, only housebound status that pays you more but doesn't increase your rating %. I really think the VA should add Agoraphobia to the 70% rating criteria, because not all Agoraphobics are 100% housebound. VA therapist will come to your house and help you with Agoraphobia, starting with stepping outside your door, then a few feet away, then do the yard, sidewalk etc, after this you are no longer "housebound." This has been the case with me as I am no longer bound to my house, but still meet criteria for Agoraphobia because I will only go so far from home and will not take public transit of any type.

Does Agoraphobia help at all to bump up %'s? I think it should! I meet just about everything on the 70%, except current suicidal thoughts, but it is documented in my past that I did have those thoughts...so I'm not sure if that counts at all. How does the VA expect veterans with Agoraphobia to work a job until they are free from it!? The 70% criteria does have:

"obsessional rituals which interfere with routine activities"

That does sound alot like agoraphobic avoidance...my doctor did write down that this was "seriously affecting my ADL's (activities of daily living)." 

I would like to hear from anyone who was 50% and got 70%, or was awarded 70% for panic disorder with agoraphobia the first time, and are you working? How did you free yourself?

Thanx!

 

And thank you for serving! 

Edited August 13, 2015 by SemperAye

[john999]

Agoraphobia is the very definition of being Housebound.  You should have 100%.  They VA should have inferred 100% and housebound when you got the DX.   Do you have a helper or caregiver?  There are people with severe Agoraphobia who have not left their homes in years.

 

 

            John

[SemperAye]

Agoraphobia is the very definition of being Housebound.  You should have 100%.  They VA should have inferred 100% and housebound when you got the DX.   Do you have a helper or caregiver?  There are people with severe Agoraphobia who have not left their homes in years.

 

 

            John

The VA did originally put in for housebound but when the rater called me back in December to expedite my claim, I decided not to claim housebound because I am able to go out in the yard, and down certain streets real close by so I thought that didn't' qualify me for it. For me the closer I get away from home the worse I get, especially if it's a new place, if it's new I do not even make an attempt at it...I just didn't feel comfortable applying for housebound since there are people much worse off then me that need it. I also decided to hold off on the IU claim because the rater told me that it would slow the rest of the claim down.

From your symptoms you should be 100% the VA should increase your rating. If a decision is less than a year old appeal it and specifically ask for 100%. AS far as Agoraphobia since you have it and if you get 100% the VA must consider an SMC S Award. Usually they don't you have to request it and than they try to give you a later Effective date.

 

Good Luck

 

I am 100% for Panic w Agoraphobia 30% for Pes Planus (Flat Feet) and SMC S Award. Panic Disorder Nov 1993 and my S Award about 5 years ago.

Thanks for the reply. I'm not seeking 100% for panic/agora, just 70% and IU because right now there is no way that I can work, I need to stay in therapy and that is hard enough to deal with right now. Well.... I have an outstanding claim for request of reconsideration that is in prep for decision...but I have not had a new c&p, last one was 8 months ago or so...not sure if that is a bad sign or not. Thanx for the comments, it makes me feel better that I might win an appeal if it comes to that.

Edited August 20, 2015 by SemperAye

[SemperAye]

I realize now that I should have just gone along with the housebound and iu the first time around, but if I did, I might have been living on the streets. I cant help but to think the fact that I turned down those two things at the raters suggestion, that it makes my case look bad, like it's not as bad as it actually is.

Anyway, it's not a coincidence that there isn't a 60% rating for mental health. There is 50% and 70% and the fact of the matter is that some people who are rated 50% can not work, and yet do not qualify for IU. Especially in the case of agoraphobia... 

[SemperAye]

Update. Had a MH C&P today by VES, I was so nervous I didn't remember to say everything I needed to say. The examiner said that the last doctor who gave me a C&P last year "did a good job in documenting." I said that they did do a good job at documenting etiology, however I didn't think that they did a good job at documenting the level of disability and that was why I was here at my 2nd C&P for this because I cant work.

So the doctor replied that it would be hard to prove increased disability, and that they didn't know exactly what the rating criteria was for a rating in excess of 50%.......So I educated the doctor and showed them that the 50% criteria says panic attacks "3 times a week", when I really have them as the 70% criteria says "near constant," and showed my panic logs from therapy as proof. Then I showed that my agoraphobia and residual safety behaviors etc. are examples of the 70% criteria "obsessional rituals." The doctor said that the previous C&P 50% noted about my being fired from work at home job due to medical reasons, but I said that the 70% criteria advises of problems in "ALL areas," so I also explained social troubles, lake of friends, and problems with my wife. I told the doctor about dropping out of online school and they said "that will be hard to prove," I replied, "all the VA has to do is see the $ I had to pay back for my GI bill for dropping out."

I felt like the doctor was not listening, but the doctor did say that they would indeed update my symptoms and "see if the VA will increase me." They never asked about suicidal thoughts, but I did advise of the attempt back in 2006... This was a weird C&P, the doctor wouldn't take any of my documents I brought along either.... This is the first C&P that I've had when the doctor doesn't ask any questions...

Anyone else had something like this at VES?

Edited September 21, 2015 by SemperAye