Depression as secondary

[Andyman73]

Hello all,

I got a phone call at the end of work yesterday afternoon, can I come down for a C&P exam on Tuesday, the 3rd of November...what is this for...my claim for depression, yes I will be there.

Anyone go through an exam for depression as secondary to chronic pain?  Or even just depression, that can give me some pointers?  What should I not mention, besides life before my service? How much detail should I give?  Should I mention my night sweats, and nightmares along with my chronic sleep impairment?  How long will this type of exam take? 1 hour, 2 hours, or longer?

Semper Fi.

Andyman.

[Vync]

Familiarizing yourself with the DBQ can really help you go in knowing what questions to expect.

http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-21-0960P-2-ARE.pdf

Print the DBQ. Read every question. Answer every question if you can. Have someone interview you with the DBQ. Don't bring the practice copy of the DBQ you filled out.

[USAF-Vet]

Interesting reading. Thank you for the tips.

[USMC_VET]

I FORGOT!

Gather all the pain medications you have been given, especially look at the ones that you have been on for a long time.  Look through the manufacturers list of side effects.  You can always get the original manufacturers in depth testing and analysis sheet, i really like drugs.com for this.  see if depression is listed as a side efffect, doesnt have to be common, it can be rare as well, etc.

For instance Naproxen (aleve) has depression listed as a "rare" side effect.  If all or most of your medications have this listed go to the National institute for Health and look it up. print it out and highlight those sections and include it in your evidence listing.  https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a681029.html

This is a U.S. Govt website so the VA cant really haggle with the "well this is just one opinion" sort of thing.  So go and get those, the VA could NON SC compensate you for this as a side effect of your medications.

I would also gather medical journal (from reputable journals not the newer ones that get paid to print) articles that connect pain to depression, and any that connect your medications to sustained depression.

 

[broncovet]

Secondary conditions are not magic, they are just like everything else, except you dont need to verify an inservice "stressor" or event, you need only get a diagnosis and nexus between your depression and your service connected condition.  

[Andyman73]

Vync,

I just printed that out! Thanks.

USMC_VET,

I know that a long term study report was recently released that showed long term usage of NSAIDs has been proven to lead to and or increase depression.  I think 23 years qualifies, right?

broncovet,

My VA MH doc DXd me with MDD, and when I asked him about chronic pain and depression, he said it's almost a sure thing that long term pain will lead to depression.  And the long term usage of the NSAIDs prescribed by Military and VA sure do add to it.

Semper Fi.

Andyman

[USMC_VET]

I would bring about the argument for depression from pain as well as including studies on the side effects, they could go either way on how they connect it but they cant deny both causes since both are well founded and studied in medical literature.

Edited October 29, 2015 by USMC_VET