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is this a nexus for my mental disorders?

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Burt

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i am currently at 60 percent for all of my physical issues... knee, hip, back, hearing and nerve damage. i just had my first comp and pen for ptsd and the results are in myhealthyvet i wont post the whole thing i cant seem to get it to copy and paste :( 

 

here is the portion where he lists the severity of the issues:

Does the Veteran have a diagnosis of PTSD that conforms to DSM-5 criteria
based on today's evaluation?
[X] Yes [ ] No
ICD code: F43.10
2. Current Diagnoses
--------------------
a. Mental Disorder Diagnosis #1: PTSD
ICD code: F43.10
mental Disorder Diagnosis #2: Unspecified Depressive Disorder
ICD code: F32.9
Mental Disorder Diagnosis #3: Alcohol Use Disorder in sustained remission
ICD code: F10.10
b. Medical diagnoses relevant to the understanding or management of the
Mental Health Disorder (to include TBI): SC knee condition
3. Differentiation of symptoms
------------------------------
a. Does the Veteran have more than one mental disorder diagnosed?
[X] Yes [ ] No
b. Is it possible to differentiate what symptom(s) is/are attributable to
each diagnosis?
[X] Yes [ ] No [ ] Not applicable (N/A)
If yes, list which symptoms are attributable to each diagnosis and
discuss whether there is any clinical association between these
diagnoses:
PTSD - Recurrent, intrusive, distressing recollections of trauma,
recurrent distressing dreams, intense reactivity upon exposure to
cues associated with the trauma, efforts to avoid thinking about
the trauma, avoiding experiences that would arouse recollections
of
the trauma, hypervigilance, and an exaggerated startle response.
Depression - low mood, guilt, hopelessness, low self-esteem,
diminished sense of pleasure
PTSD and Depression overlap (determining proportions would require
resorting to speculation) - markedly diminished interest in
significant activities, feeling detached or estranged from others,
restricted range of affect, difficulty sleeping, irritability, and
difficulty concentrating.
Alcohol - temptation and use of alcohol beyond two servings in a
sitting.
c. Does the Veteran have a diagnosed traumatic brain injury (TBI)?
[ ] Yes [X] No [ ] Not shown in records reviewed
4. Occupational and social impairment
-------------------------------------
a. Which of the following best summarizes the Veteran's level of
occupational
and social impairment with regards to all mental diagnoses? (Check only
one)
[X] Occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas,
such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking and/or
mood
b. For the indicated level of occupational and social impairment, is it
possible to differentiate what portion of the occupational and social
impairment indicated above is caused by each mental disorder?
[X] Yes [ ] No [ ] No other mental disorder has been diagnosed
If yes, list which portion of the indicated level of occupational and
social impairment is attributable to each diagnosis:
PTSD - serious impairment in social and occupational functioning
Depression - moderate difficulty in social and occupational
functioning
Alcohol - absent
 

And here is the section i ****THINK**** is the nexus i needed it is in the remarks section

 

9. Remarks, (including any testing results) if any
--------------------------------------------------
Based upon the training and experience of this examiner, the available
literature on this topic, and the examination of this veteran today, it
is
the opinion of this examiner, per DSM-5 diagnostic guidelines, that this
veteran does suffer from a PTSD and that is at least as likely as not
caused by the veteran's service as it is consistent with the
circumstances, conditions, and hardships of that service and the
veteran's
claimed stressor involves a significant emotional response (such as fear,
helplessness, or horror) to exposure to hostile military or terrorist
activity. His Unspecified Depressive Disorder more likely that not
shares

 

its etiology with his PTSD and is at this time, more likely than not,
aggravated by the impact of the PTSD on the veteran's lifestyle.
His
Alcohol Use Disorder has more likely than not been secondary to his PTSD
at times as a form of self-medication.
NOTE: VA may request additional medical information, including additional

 

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The crazy one here, I posted this a few weeks ago.  I think the bottom line is if you can prove through your medical records that you were actually disabled within five years of your last position the you can get SSDI.  You will most likely need a law dawg and you will most likely have to appeal your claim up to the ALJ(Administration Law Judge) level.

Mark – Urbandale, Iowa: I had a service-related injury that worsened over time. In 1994, I was awarded 100 percent V.A. benefits. When I inquired with Social Security back then, I was told I didn’t qualify due to my V.A. benefits. I accepted the response. I figured they should know. I felt bad about even asking, but I inquired, because I had paid in since I was 16. Yesterday, my nephew told me that that wasn’t true. So I called today, and they said I didn’t qualify, because I haven’t worked in the last five years. (Of course I haven’t — I am disabled.) I don’t know if the law has changed since 1994, but by today’s laws, I would have qualified since I had worked back then. This just doesn’t seem fair. Can you help or perhaps provide advice?

Larry Kotlikoff: I’ve asked our Social Security Technical Adviser, Jerry Lutz, to weigh in.

Jerry Lutz: First, sincere thanks for your service.

You can still apply for Social Security disability benefits, but you will need to establish that your disability began within five years after you stopped working. Social Security should be able to access your V.A. medical records (with your permission), so there should be evidence available in your case. Remember, though, that Social Security’s definition of disability is different from the V.A., so there is no guarantee that you will be approved. If your claim is disallowed, don’t hesitate to file an appeal. Many disability cases are approved during the appeals process, and you can usually find an attorney who will represent you on a contingency basis. If you are approved, Social Security normally pays a maximum of 12 months of back pay on disability benefits. However, if you can establish that they misinformed you at the time of your first contact, it’s possible that they could pay you all of the retroactive benefits to which you would have been entitled.

Remember the maximum 12 months of back pay is on top off your application date.  In other words if SSA finds that you are disabled you will get your SSDI payment from your application date plus 12 (twelve) more months.  Now if you hire an attorney you will have to sign an agreement to pay them 25% of your back pay and if SSA allows it, they will pay the attorney out of your back pay. I think 25% is the max the attorney can charge and it is you don't pay if you don't win.  The key is your medical records have to prove that you were disabled within five years of you stopped working and you will most likely have to file an appeal to the ALJ (Administrative Law Judge).

 

I was speaking with an intense lack of experience.  I have never applied for SSDI, i was jsut going off what i had read before, thanks for clarifying it for this vet.

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i contacted a lawyer about the ssdi thing and they told me it was a lost cause... i had started a claim back in december on ebenefits and then decided to shelve it and go to a service officer and get it done. i still have that application i could change it up and submit it just for iu it would be dated december. i think ill wait and see what the packet says for sure.

 

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I hope you understand that SSDI and TDIU are two totally different things paid by two different agencies.  You cannot start or file a claim for SSDI on ebenefits.  To file a claim for SSDI you must do it in the SSA Office or on the SSA web site and TDIU you can do that on ebenefits.  I just want to make sure you understand the two are separate and you can get both.  If you file the SSDI claim correctly, a lot to most veterans who get 100% schedular or TDIU also get SSDI. 

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yes i understand that :) like i said a year ago i filed it was rejected i called a disability attourney faxed them everything they called me back and said it was a lost cause.

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