ptsd Non-combat PTSD caused by fall down stairs.

[Andyman73]

Question, I fell down a flight of stairs during my first week of boot camp.  I injured my knees and back, had pain in neck and other areas, momentarily knocked out. This began a journey down the path of continuing pain and suffering.  Within one year I began drinking to help deal with the pain and sleep issues, also taking OTC sleep aids for same. Anxiety and depression came along for the ride, attempted suicide by alcohol at least one time, even tried the wrist cut method, but got caught and stopped in the act. Okay, now the question, would falling down the stairs qualify as a non-combat ptsd event?

[Buck52]

I Think it would be Andyman 73, it says ''any traumatic EVENT'' related to  of injury.

as of 2010 you don't have to prove the traumatic event occurred.

you need a VA psychiatrist to Dx you with trauma PTSD due to Injury in military.

Then you tell your lay statements as to your symptoms  after the fact you fell down the stairs  and how it changed your behavior and how it changed your life  from the pain you endured.  Any medical records to show a rational (in statement in support of claim ) USE EXTRA SHEETS OF PAPER ATTACH THEM TO THE STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF CLAIM  & file the 21-526 ez form.

 Note>due to the change over in our C-FILE & documents being placed in our C-FILE And them scanning them over to the digitize format to CD-ROM its better to have all documentations type out so the imagining machine will copy to the digitized format)

 your spouse can help out with her lay statements  and family & friends lay statements   get them all notarized , As how you were before the trauma EVENT happen and how you were after  ect,,ect,,,, Let your boss know you have PTSD & ask your employer to write you out a letter detailing what he/she has witness as to your behavior and work ethics! 

 

Your lay statement is very important how it has effected your life and others around you (spouse/children  ect,, ect,,,give examples!  IT WOULD HELP YOU IF YOU CAN GET A Qualified Dr to state the event and confirm the event was  enough to cause the PTSD but its not necessary!  

Any  ''FAVORABLE Notes from MH off my healthyvet site any Dr's statements that are favorable  will help support your claim.

The most important part of getting this S.C. is what your PTSD C&P Examiner puts in his/her report  & they go by whats been reported/your symptoms  and they base there report on that (jmo)

here is the general rules of PTSD Criteria 

Qualifying for Disability Benefits Due to PTSD

Regulations passed in 2010 made it easier for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder to qualify for VA disability benefits. The following requirements must be met.

The veteran has a PTSD diagnosis.

The veteran's symptoms are related to a traumatic event (the "stressor").

A VA psychiatrist or psychologist confirms that the triggering stressor was enough to cause PTSD.

The stressor is related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity. 

The stressor is one that is likely to have happened in the locations and circumstances of the veteran’s service (and there is no evidence to contrary). 

Because you no longer have to provide evidence that the traumatic event occurred, you will have an easier -- and faster -- time getting VA benefits. 

file a claim my friend!

.....................Buck

Edited September 6, 2016 by Buck52

[Andyman73]

Thanks, Buck.

Reading all those steps and requirements you posted make me think that I'm dead in the water. 

If those are in fact, the actual steps, well...I do not have hostile what-evers, flying around Africa probably don't count, and I'm sure going down stairs won't count as stressors, either. 

Every time I face a flight of stairs going down, I immediately begin thinking, will I fall again, will it hurt as much or more than the last time???

I have all the evidence needed, I fell down a flight of stairs at boot camp, they rushed my klutzy butt off to the infirmary via ambulance.  It's one of the first entries in my SMR. And all the resulting trips after that, from the back and knee injuries I received that day.

So that's not an issue for me...but since it is a Non-Combat type event, and does not involve MST or personal attack, what VA dr would even give me a look?  Especially after how I got totally bum rushed by the MH C&P examiner for my depression secondary to chronic pain claim.

Dang, got myself all out of sorts now, rest of my work day gonna suck now.

sigh.....

[Buck52]

Andyman73 ...>I didn't write these regulations on PTSD? Sorry I didn't mean to bust your bubble

But look

It don't need to be a combat stressor and you don't need to prove the event happen, and it is a injury while in service,(you have medical records) you need a psychiatrist to state it is likely as not that  this event falling down stairs while at Basic Training is likey as not more than 50% the cause this veteran has PTSD  ....it was a traumatzing event for you and caused you to have PTSD Symptoms associated with or aggravated by Pain 

There's private PTSD Doc's out there that will help you (with the nexus) Letter. (call around) check with other veterans at your VAMC  ect,,,ect,,,

  Just ask them & let them know what you need &  in there opinion and  and how they need to write it up  try to find a experienced Veteran Friendly Dr.  Tell them what you mention to us here on Hadit...

Any trauma event a veteran experiencing while in the military that is cause for him/her to get PTSD can be service connected and a rating.

What if you fell off a Truck while at Basic and hurt your Back/and the systoms from the pain caused you to have PTSD...see my point?

 

I had this same problem proving my Noise Induced Hearing loss while in the Military

There's not many Hearing Dr's out there to help write a nexus letter for loss of hearing claims and tinnitus either , but I called around until I found a veteran friendly ENT Specialist in Hearing disorders board certified Dr...I mention to him about my Hearing /tinnitus claim  and mention to him about the nexus letter and his opinion would help me tremendously get my claim approved  he said bring him my military medical records / str's and my duty MOS and all my hearing test the VA had did on me and what the VA requirements are for the hearing test and the word discrimination test and how the VA needed it worded.

I got the VA Guidelines & the Maryland CNC Word Test  from the CFR'S

 He ADDRESSED the VA LANGUAGE & GUIDLINES & use the Maryland CNC test  set forth by the VA.

They(va rater) took this Dr Opinion over the VA Doc's  but you need to let the private Dr's know what and why you need this help...that's what I did for my Hearing claim  and Hearing claims are very hard to get a high s.c. rating   unless your totally deaf.

jmo

.......................Buck

 

Edited September 6, 2016 by Buck52

[Andyman73]

Buck,

Oh I know you didn't write any of that junk, you were just sharing what you know.  No bubble to burst in the first place...

When I first responded to your reply, I was just staggering under the weight on my shoulders, like Atlas. 

I'm still waiting to hear back from the NOVA lawyer who is reviewing my recent denials and my C-file.  I left her an email earlier this week asking for an update.

Andy