ptsd PTSD Help

[Big Country]

I have been diagnosed with PTSD by a Licensed Psychologist and a Licensed Psychiatrist (Non-VA Professionals) due to my service while on Active Duty..... I'm 100% P&T and was wondering if I should submit a claim?  I have the appropriate NEXUS Letters and documentation that include statements from my spouse and other relatives.  As a Veteran, I know I'm entitled to compensation, but I feel guilty pursuing the claims especially since there are so many others who are getting the run around.  What are your thoughts?  There are a couple other conditions I have that were awarded at zero % that have worsened since but I don't want to "reopen" or open a "can of worms".   

Please help!

Big Country

[Gastone]

A stand alone New Claim for PTSD, shouldl not have any bearing on any of your Current SC's, unless you have 1 for a MH condition.

If your currently straight 100SC or IU, your being paid at the max comp rate, only thing above that, would be if you qualified for an SMC Award. Are you currently receiving SMC K? A & A and Housebound are on the Table, a PTSD 70% would help that claim. Where do you think you stand, rating wise, per 38 CFR 4 PTSD?

Will be interesting to see if the VA C & P Psychiatrist is on-board and totally agrees with your non-VA specialist.

Why so long in addressing a PTSD claim?

Semper Fi

[USMC_VET]

alreday been said... but

 

1) you have to be diagnosed by a VA doc first, without a VA DX you dont have PTSD (in the VA's eyes)

2) always pursue new claims.  the VA can schedule you for an exam at any time and they probably will somewhere around the 9 year mark (before you family is eligible for DIC).  People worry about being seen as "greedy" as though the VA is easy going until a certain point and then they try to screw you.  They try and do that all the time..... there is no reason you can give them, they are the reason themselves and no amoutn of claims is going to set them off on you, they are set off on eveyrone.

So basically dont worry about them coming after you, pursue what their regs allow you to do and do it honestly, the right is on your side.

That being said..

I dont know wha tyou are 100% for, but any of use no matter what the rating should know that at some point the VA is going to reschedule us for an exam (common is right 2-4 years in right before 5 year protection kicks in or 9 years before DIC kicks in for 100% folks or prior to 20 when you are home free).

Keep journal logs of ALL your ailments relating or even unrelated to your claims (who knows in the future what they say might be related to this or that disease).

I keep a journal of all my problems, when i cant sleep well, when my back hurts, when my knees hurt, when i get headaches, when i can jog because of my feet, everything.  I keep a journal of my MH as well.

While this is not some silver bullet, that along with regular check ups and smart notifications of issues to my PCP (explain below) helps to keep a good clean record of what is oging on with me and doesnt give them a reason to deny me.  I did not do that for awhile.  I had a PTSD rating but whenever i went in for things like my headaches for years after they would do screenings, i had no idea about how the VA worked, i thought once i got it i had it.  I would answer no on everything depression related, even though my issues were still there.  I dont like talking about my issues with strangers and i wanted to be seen for my headaches not how i was feeling so i just said no to get it over with.  I think this is part of why the tried to reduce me, i applied for an increase and i think they looked back and said "gotcha! we got sustained improvement!"

that was a mistake.

ok, so by SMART notificaitons to PCP i mean when you need to be seen for something or want to notify them of an issue (regardless if you need/want to be seen for it)....ALWAYS SEND IT VIA SECURE MESSAGING.  SM is part of your permanent record, unlike a phone call or a conversation in the PCP office.  This way the info i want about my condition at that moment is noted.  I got tired of going in for a headache issue and then they would start to talk about my already SC'd back and that became the note in the exam notes.  a scant mention of "veteran reports headaches during the month" when i talked about it for 30 minutes and all the smptoms, etc.  So in SM i would note down everything, how often i had headaches, how often i had to lay down, how many advil i took, how it affected work, etc.  Be your own advocate on your medical record.

So basically

1) keep a log of everything

2) any private doctors you see, after every visit CONTACT THEIR RECORDS OFFICE AND REQUEST A COPY OF ALL EXAM NOTES, MEDICATIONS, CONSULTS etc, ANYTING FOR THAT VISIT and keep it in your record, even if its not SC at the moment it might be in the future.

3) KEEP UP ON MEDICATIONS.  lets say you get prescribed ibprufen for headaches and you also had a bunch from an earlier treatment for back aches.  like a normal person you dont reorder until you need it and are close to running out.  uh oh in your med records with the VA you should have run out of you IB for headaches 2 months ago and you just refilled them now.  The VA can use that as "you must be cured because you said you need these to cope and you didnt refill them for months, thus it must be ok now"

Keep up.  If you need to.  and what i do.  I look at the RX.  its 1 pill a day.  60 pills.  i set a alarm on my phone to refile X prescription 1 week before it should run out and have that recurring (until the dosage/# changes). 

4) Save some money now, stick away 1500 in some bank account not linked to your current one with no checks for it and no debit cards.  The only way to get access is to walk into that bank and ask for it.  Someday when the VA is re evaluating you...IF they send you the Sad letter syaing they want to reduce you and you have 60 days to send in evidence to defend your rating you can contact some awesome doc for an IME and then walk into that bank and ask for a cashiers check for X dollars made out to that doc.  No crunch on your account. its already there.  yes some docs are more expensive, but 1500 will get you an excellent IME in most cases.  even if it ends up being 5000 for a IME you need, you at least have a chunk already taken care of.  most IME's are not that expensive though.

5) be aware of everything you say to a doctor at the VA.  If you are say 100% for back issues and you go in to talk to a doc (as i mentioned above) regarding your PTSD and they ask "i see you are rated for your back how is the pain level on that"  personally i will say how it feels when its at its worst, or i will just say that has no bearing on what i need help with right now.  however you choose to answer be careful, dont say im fine just to move along.  A better tact may be "right now its about a 5 because i just took my X prescription for that pain, however i dont want to talk about that right now".  Check exam notes later make sure they dont write "Veteran reports moderately positive pain reduction in back" or something like that. if so ask for an amendment to records.  +

 

[Big Country]

Thanks for the very thorough information USMC Vet and Gastone.  Gastone to answer your question, my psychiatrist diagnosed me a  year ago.  I didn't want to bring any negative attention to myself to I didn't pursue the claim.  I indeed have 1 Mental Health Condition - Dysthymic Discorder - 30%.   I'm 100 Combined P&T as I got an increase from 90 to 100% after my 5 year exam mark.  I guess the next one would be at the 9 year mark.   

Gastone:  I am receiving SMC for loss of organ use.

USMC Vet:  How do you send the information Secure Message?  I sent my documented records via E Benefits.  Is this okay?  Can you please provide me with a link if available?

Awaiting your response.

Big Country