ptsd Can you look at my Stressors?

[wablackwell]

Thank you for your time and input.

   I am working on my PTSD Claim. I have been seen my counselors, psychologist and psychiatrist for 3 years been through the 10 week in patient PTSD Program at the Waco VA hospital, been refered by the VA to a local mental hospital for suicidation for 2 weeks and I am also getting fired from my government job as a security guard because of my PTSD.  But I don not believed I have ever been SC for PTSD so that is why I would like for you to look at my stressor and give me any advice whether it would be considered a stressor and service connected. First of all these are all for OIF.

Stressor 1. I was in an Air defense Artillery Station at TA-Thunder in Kuwait. Part of my unit went forward and got ambushed, we lost 9 soldiers which I was very close to. I was serving as a Platoon Sergeant and had to comfort my soldier of the loss of their fellow service members while not try to show any emotion my self. Even though this did not directly happen to me losing your soldier during combat still haunts me today. Would you consider this as a stressor?

Stressor 2.  Being in Air defense we constantly having SCUD alerts having to go to MOPP4 and waiting it out in the bunker wondering if you were going to shoot down the SCUD or not. We had one that 3 seconds from impact of our location. The stress of worry if your were going to live or not and the impact it would have on my family is something that still races through my mind today. Would you considered this a stressor?

Stressor 3. As I platoon sergeant for Fire Control Platoon I played a major role in the training of my van crews. But we screwed up. We shot down and Killed British Pilot mistaken it for a SCUD. I Have Major guilt that If we were better trained that this might of not happened. Would you considered this as a stressor?

Stressor 4. Our unit was attacked by small arm fired at night. The unit had to deploy to their fire position and defend the unit. No one got hurt or shot and the unit that we were attached to capture 2 POW's but this incident did scared the heck out me and I was in fear of my life and soldiers lifes. Also I have a bullet on MY Award form DA 638 that talk about this incident. Would you consider this a Stressor?

Stressor 5. This is a non combat stressor. Is being assign to funeral detail on a two man team and conducting over 60 funeral over a two month period. Would you count that as a stressor.

 

The 5 thing I mention above is what races around in my head and I can not seem to get rid of it. I just want to see what you think to make sure I do a  proper claim. Thanks for your opinion on this matter.

 

[flores97]

Wablackwell, those are all stressors and by all means, list them in your claims packet. Are you submitting an FDC(fully developed claim), of course I am certain you have the combat badge so you aren't required to provide stressors but listing at least the worst will only help strengthen your claim. Good luck to you!

[wablackwell]

18 minutes ago, flores97 said:

Wablackwell, those are all stressors and by all means, list them in your claims packet. Are you submitting an FDC(fully developed claim), of course I am certain you have the combat badge so you aren't required to provide stressors but listing at least the worst will only help strengthen your claim. Good luck to you!

I will try to do a FDC but I do not know if I need a DBQ from my private psychiatrist for a FDC or not. Since I not SC yet I believe I can not do a for DBQ form 21-0960P-3. I have do the form 21-0960P-4 and this form is only done at the C&P exam. Am I correct on this or Am I mistaken? Thank you.

[flores97]

Wablackwell, since you already have the PTSD diagnosis by a VA doctor, absolutely you can have your private mh doctor complete a dbq. To do this, Google PTSD DISABILITY BENEFITS QUESTIONNAIRE. I believe all of the dbqs are listed on the veterans benefits administration website as well. When you find the PTSD DBQ, print out TWO copies. That way you can fill out one yourself, offer it to your my doc to assist him/her in completing the blank dbq for you. I did this myself for systemic lupus, and my doc was overjoyed that I had completed one myself, as it saved her time. I told my doc that I wasn't trying to tell her what to put in my dbq, I just answered the questions I was absolutely certain of, (like severity of symptoms, etc), and she had no problem with it.

[wablackwell]

Thank you, this great information. For a PTSD DBQ does the doctor have to be a psychiatrist or can I use my Pyschologist to fill out this form?

[flores97]

Wablackwell, your treating psychologist IS a Mental Health specialist, so absolutely I would have him/her complete the form, especially if they have been treating you for some time and are familiar with your symptoms.

[TexasMarine]

In many PTSD cases, a positive end result occurs when the VA representative rules in  your favor.  In most of these cases the claim was considered by two mental health professionals.  One for you, and one for the VA (C&P).  Each of the MH Pros are weighted, based on their status.  If the VA's MH Pro is a psychologist, and yours is a Psychiatrist, that "weighs" more heavily in your favor.  Conversely, if the VA puts up a psychiatrist, and you put up a psychologist, that would work against your goals, if the VA's Pro gave you poor results. If both are Psychiatrists, the number and type of letters behind their names, determines who's opinion is favored.  Now, this is just a limited view of the process, but a Psychiatrist's opinion will always weigh more that that of a nurse practioner for example.  This example assumes both sides developed their respective findings properly.

jmho

TexasMarine