ptsd PTSD rating question

[Silent Uproar]

Hello All

I have a question, please excuse my ignorance as I am not fully versed on the 100% rating for PTSD. I understand what P&T and TDIU is and all that. My question is I am  currently 50% for PTSD. I am rated at 80% for all disabilities. 

I have had for the  past several years an increase in suicidal and homicidal ideation I was baker acted but then released once I got to the local hospital not the VA hospital. 

All of my Dr's and my C&P examiner suggest that I enter inpatient treatment. I am currently employed. If I get an increase to 100% for PTSD what Will I have to do as far as my job is concerned as I work for the federal government? I know I can't work but just didn't know if there was a timeframe of how long I had to quit by. Is it even  possible to get rated at 100% PTSD while actively employed ?

If I can't work I will make less than what the 100% pays at and won't be able to support my family pay my mortgage  etc.  I have extreme difficulties making it through my day at work and at home but I still have a family to support along with a special needs child and my wife is a full time student and is not working to take care of my son. I do not have a college degree.

 I know I can file for SSDI and Federal retirement etc but that will take who knows how long. 

If possible can someone provide some insight please. Your help would be appreciated, Thank you

Edited April 19, 2016 by Silent Uproar

[Silent Uproar]

9 hours ago, Berta said:

That is the first time here  in about 20 years , I ever heard of anyone say the  PTSD in house program was bad.

My husband was very afraid to go into it, but the shrink suggested it because we had put pressure on VA for better PTSD care.

We got to the Bath BY VA at about 4:30 AM, which they told us to do because the VA van would take him up to Buffalo VA inhouse.

he couldn't sleep that night at all... he was really scared.

21 Days later the van brought him back to Bath VAMC and he told me right away the program was excellent but the only problems with it was he needed a year inhouse to debrief him from a year in Hell (Vietnam)

I got to know the counselors and the other vets in his inhouse group.

One of them was a wannabee. He was the only one who complained about the  program. He did not receive the 100% temp comp and after my husband died, he asked me to help with his PTSD claim. The other vets knew he was bsing the counselors

I learned a lot from him.....every claim is a 'story'...a story we tell the VA that has to be backed up with evidence.

He had no evidence at all. He had a BVA denial but never appealed to COVA ( CAVC then) and had nothing to re open with.

I heard his story over and over again. But every suggestion I made to him to obtain evidence went no where.

I had to fight to get my husband , a combat decorated vet , to even get into this program and some shrink at VA who 'liked' him pulled some strings to get him in. He didn't even have any SC rating at all for PTSD.and never will.

 

Repetition does not make awards happen.Only Evidence does.

As bad as VA is they are good too in many ways and the program did help my husband. Unfortunately he died 3 weeks after he got home from it.

 

 

 

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Hello Berta,

Thank you for responding. I worked at this VA for 3 years and the VA program itself is great. The Doctors, Suicide prevention coordinators, Social workers have been superb, and have treated me as if I was family.I have been receiving treatment for my PTSD from the same Doctors for 7 years. The problem is what was going on with some of the patients in the program.  There was a lot of fights, thefts, and patients were buying and selling drugs. The position I had at this particular VA I saw all of this first hand.  I never said the program was bad but the environment at this particular VA is bad. My psychiatrist, Pschcologst, and the suicide prevention coordinator all reccommend that I go to a VA that is further north in the state as they agre its not the best environment for me. Which is what I plan on doing. Believe me without the VA and their intervention I would be dead.  I am already service connected for PTSD and have been for years. 

It interesting that you mention a program lasting a year. It was reccommend to me that I attend a program that is funded by the VA that deals strictly with PTSD and TBI. I suffered 2 TBI's so I would qualify for the program. I am hoping I can get into that one.

Thanks again for you response.

 

Edited May 2, 2016 by Silent Uproar

[Berta]

I stand corrected....the 'environment was bad', not the program....I apologize Silent Uproar.....

and I am very glad that you have been getting good PTSD help from the VA. As much as I gripe about the VA, some of the BEST people I know and are personal friends of mine, work for the VA.

I was a VA Volunteer myself and loved every minute of it.

It is an utter shame and disgrace that dedicated  and knowledgeable employees at the VAROs and VAMCs  ,who Do put Veterans First,

have their work compounded by those who seem to care less and do not have to account for their errors or incompetence.

One of my friends at the local VA does not want to retire ,yet that is looming over him. He loves his job.

But last week, in frustration, for the first time in 25 years he told me he was starting to consider how good VA retirement might be.

His view of the VA is far different from what we deal with here.After 32 years of USN service, (4 AD, 28 Reserves)he has never filed a claim, nor has any disability that he could claim.....yet....and I hope he never does need to.

He has no idea how the VBA is ,compared to the VHA.

 

 

 

 

 

[Silent Uproar]

Hi Berta,

No worries at all. I understand exactly what your are saying as it is unfortunately true at times. I hope you know how much we appreciate you on this board and how much it means to all of us your sacrifice trying to help us navigate our way through the quagmire that is the claim process. I was a member back in 2007- 2011 under a diffrent name. I then started working oversees and recently came back to the board. I always appreciated your posts and valuable insight. Thank for you and your husbands service to our country and its veterans.

Thank you,

Have a good day.

[Silent Uproar]

Hello everyone,

Thank you for all of your help and advice. I went on ebennies and saw that I was awarded 100% for PTSD. I am currently working for the Federal Government and I owe them 200 hours of FMLA, which is advanced sick leave that I did not have and  they basically the let me borrow. Does anyone know what the time line is for me to leave my job. I looked at a letter and I was not awarded P&T. I did not see any other information. Does anyone have any experience on how I would pay back my FMLA without working, I earn 4 hours of sick leave every 2 weeks. 

Any recommendations on any good insurances besides Obamacare for my family as my wife is not working, yet.

Thank you for your help

[ArNG11]

If you leave the federal system I would look into retiring medically.  For 100% based on PTSD,  working probably and will cause problems for you in more ways than one. 

I believe with the advanced sick leave, you must pay the amount in lump sum, but I would call the personnel office in that one. Better safe than sorry.  

When I left federal service my sick leave balance was negative and I also had a unpaid TSP loan out.  The week I left I just had them take it out of what I had left in my TSP. Check on this as it has tax and other ramifications. 

[Silent Uproar]

Thanks AR,

what did you do about health insurance? Were you P&T. 

Edited May 10, 2016 by Silent Uproar