What Kind of Rating Would this Fall under

[Alcapone1931]

good afternoon all,

i am a new member on this, former US army reservist, and currently employed full time. i separated in 2009 but filed my claim in Aug 2015 (i wasnt aware as a reservist of only 6 yrs total enlistment that i could actually apply for anything). my decision finally moved in the Preparation for Decision phase two days ago, 6/21/2016.  i have two questions:

1 - how quickly does it go from here?...(im guessing the answer is that there is no answer. everyone's claim is handled differently but has anyone experienced the claim to wrap up rather quickly from here?)

2 - i am trying to determine what sort of rating i may get for my mental health based off my C&P results.  anyone with experience please take a look (below) and offer their opinion?

thank you kindly for any assistance and response:

                              SECTION I:
                                   ----------
    1. Diagnostic Summary
    ---------------------
    Does the Veteran have a diagnosis of PTSD that conforms to DSM-5 criteria
    based on today's evaluation?
    [X] Yes   [ ] No
    
       ICD code:  F 43.10
       
    2. Current Diagnoses
    --------------------
    a. Mental Disorder Diagnosis #1: PTSD
           ICD code: F 43.10

       Mental Disorder Diagnosis #2: Unspecified Depressive Disorder
           ICD code: F32.9

--------------------------------------------------------

 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 occasional decrease in work
           efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform
           occupational tasks, although generally functioning satisfactorily,
           with normal routine behavior, self-care and conversation

****i know by definition this summary may fall within the 30% rating, but please continue reading below******

 a. Medical record review:
    -------------------------
    Was the Veteran's VA e-folder (VBMS or Virtual VA) reviewed?
    [X] Yes   [ ] No
    
    Was the Veteran's VA claims file (hard copy paper C-file) reviewed?
    [ ] Yes   [X] No
    
      If yes, list any records that were reviewed but were not included in the
      Veteran's VA claims file:
        
      If no, check all records reviewed:
      
        [ ] Military service treatment records
        [ ] Military service personnel records
        [ ] Military enlistment examination
        [ ] Military separation examination
        [X] Military post-deployment questionnaire
        [X] Department of Defense Form 214 Separation Documents
        [X] Veterans Health Administration medical records (VA treatment 
records)
        [ ] Civilian medical records
        [ ] Interviews with collateral witnesses (family and others who have
            known the Veteran before and after military service)
        [ ] No records were reviewed
        [ ] Other:

3. Stressors
    ------------
    Describe one or more specific stressor event(s) the Veteran considers
    traumatic (may be pre-military, military, or post-military):
    
    a. Stressor #1: [censored]
          
          Does this stressor meet Criterion A (i.e., is it adequate to support
          the diagnosis of PTSD)?
          [X] Yes  [ ] No
          
          Is the stressor related to the Veteran's fear of hostile military or
          terrorist activity?
          [X] Yes  [ ] No
          
          Is the stressor related to personal assault, e.g. military sexual
          trauma?
          [ ] Yes  [X] No

 d. Additional stressors: If additional stressors, describe (list using the
       above sequential format):
          Stressor #4  [censored]

          This stressor meets Criterion A; this stressor is related to the
          Veteran's fear of hostile military or terrorist activity; this stessor
          is not related to personal assualt.

 4. PTSD Diagnostic Criteria
    ---------------------------
    Please check criteria used for establishing the current PTSD diagnosis. Do
    NOT mark symptoms below that are clearly not attributable to the Criteria A
    stressor/PTSD.  Instead, overlapping symptoms clearly attributable to other
    things should be noted under #7 - Other symptoms.  The diagnostic criteria
    for PTSD, referred to as Criteria A-H, are from the Diagnostic and
    Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5).
    
       Criterion A: Exposure to actual or threatened a) death, b) serious 
injury,
                    c) sexual violation, in one or more of the following ways:
          [X] Directly experiencing the traumatic event(s)

       Criterion B: Presence of (one or more) of the following intrusion 
symptoms
                    associated with the traumatic event(s), beginning after the
                    traumatic event(s) occurred:
          [X] Recurrent, involuntary, and intrusive distressing memories of the
              traumatic event(s).

       Criterion C: Persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the 
traumatic
                    event(s), beginning after the traumatic events(s) occurred,
                    as evidenced by one or both of the following:
          [X] Avoidance of or efforts to avoid external reminders (people,
              places, conversations, activities, objects, situations) that 
arouse
              distressing memories, thoughts, or feelings about or closely
              associated with the traumatic event(s).

       Criterion D: Negative alterations in cognitions and mood associated with
                    the traumatic event(s), beginning or worsening after the
                    traumatic event(s) occurred, as evidenced by two (or more) 
of
                    the following:
          [X] Persistent, distorted cognitions about the cause or consequences 
of
              the traumatic event(s) that lead to the individual to blame
              himself/herself or others.
          [X] Feelings of detachment or estrangement from others.

       Criterion E: Marked alterations in arousal and reactivity associated with
                    the traumatic event(s), beginning or worsening after the
                    traumatic event(s) occurred, as evidenced by two (or more) 
of
                    the following:
          [X] Hypervigilance.
          [X] Problems with concentration.
          [X] Sleep disturbance (e.g., difficulty falling or staying asleep or
              restless sleep).

       Criterion F:
          [X] Duration of the disturbance (Criteria B, C, D, and E) is more than
              1 month.
              
       Criterion G:
          [X] The disturbance causes clinically significant distress or


              impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of
              functioning.
              
       Criterion H:
          [X] The disturbance is not attributable to the physiological effects 
of
              a substance (e.g., medication, alcohol) or another medical
              condition.
              
       Criterion I: Which stressor(s) contributed to the Veteran's PTSD
                    diagnosis?:
          [X] Stressor #1
          [X] Other, please indicate stressor number (i.e., Stressor #4, #5,
              etc.) as indicated above:
                Stressor #4

    5. Symptoms
    -----------
    For VA rating purposes, check all symptoms that actively apply to the
    Veteran's diagnoses:
    
       [X] Depressed mood [this is a 30% symptom]
       [X] Anxiety [30% symptom]
       [X] Suspiciousness [30% symptom]
       [X] Panic attacks more than once a week [this is a 50% symptom]
       [X] Chronic sleep impairment [30% symptom]
       [X] Flattened affect [50% symptom]
       [X] Disturbances of motivation and mood [50% symptom]

****the symptoms listed above fall under both 30% and 50% criteria, so i am uncertain whether they will consider both or make the decision based off the Summary at the begining of the report, which technically defines the 30% rating******

 9. Remarks, (including any testing results) if any
    --------------------------------------------------
       Based on this examination and a review of the records, it is determined
       that the Veteran meets DSM-5 criteria for PTSD.  It is further determined
       that this diagnosis is at least as likely as not (50/50 probability) a
       result of the identified in service stressors.  The Veteran is also found
       to meet criteria for Unspecified Depressive Disorder.  This diagnosis is
       determined to be at least as likely as not (50/50 probability) 
proximately
       due to or a result of the PTSD.  The Veteran gives a credible account of
       stressors deemed consistent with his MOS, and with service in the
       identified combat theater.  While there are no related service treatment
       records, post-deployment questionnaires suggest that Veteran was
       experiencing subjective distress at the time of his redeployment. The
       claimed anxiety and sleep disturbance are deemed to be symptoms of both 
of
       the current diagnoses.

this ends my report.  thank you again for anyone's response and assistance.

[The Silent Warrior of the Army Team]

 

[ArNG11]

On 7/6/2016 at 6:06 PM, Alcapone1931 said:

wanted to provide an update to my thread i started:

As of 5 July, my VA disability claim is complete, and i was approved for 50%, all for PTSD (seems like they rolled the anxiety and depression into it, which helped push it into the 50% rating).

My claim went from Prep for Decision on 21 June 2016, to Complete on 5 July 2016, so it finished within the short end of the VA's listed timeline.

my entire claim process took about 10 months, Sept 2015 - Jul 2016.

thanks to everyone that posted and contributed to this thread and my questions. your help and encouragement is much appreciated.

gr33tz to ArNG11 and AndyMan73

I'm late on the congrats, but nice to read about the good news.  Way to go and way to staying true to your claim.

[Andyman73]

On 5/23/2017 at 2:10 PM, ArNG11 said:

Come on Andy, it might be sooner maybe 2019.   Bad joke.  Just keep at it brother.  Just keep at it.  Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.  

@ArNG11, nah, joke was fine. My PTSD due to MST will finish long before that. He the psych eval for that last Wednesday. Doc said "definitely PTSD" said "more than enough evidence here and with my therapist's notes."  So now we wait.

Good to see you again, my friend.

Andy