Personality Disorder,

[Guest Jim S.]

More than a few of us have been classified with personality disorder by the military or the VA Examiner. I have been wondering how they determine one with one and how do they guage it's severity, so that they could differentiate it from a mental disorder.

I found it hard to believe that I had a personality disorder, since it was never noted prior to enlistment, nor during my psychological tests at enlistment, nor the absence of anything saying I had it during service, nor was it noted on my re-enlistment physical, and nor was it noted during my three month hospitalization after my psychotic episode.

It's strange to note that my so called personality disorder was only noted by the VA Examiner and has not been noted anyware in my medical records since and not in any of the last two plus years, in which I have been under treatment for associated disorders to my psychotic episode, for which the VA continues to deny as nothing new or material to my personality disorder, Still further to fail to address the psychotic episode as a mental disorder.

I have had my ups and downs while in the service, but I was never repermanded or had Capt. Mast for anything. My regular evaluations are average to above average, I went from Seaman Apprentice to Hospitalman Third Class in the first half of my first enlistment and was selected one of two endividuals to attend a specialty school in my unit, I was also recommended for an additional specialty school and advancement upon completion to Hospitalman Second Class. Somehow I don't see this as a servicman with a personality disorder that was unfit for duty or the reason for my psychotic episode.

I know I'm rambling along, but I have run out of things to do for my claim, while the VA does their thing, but to wonder how the VA could consider such an opinion, taking into the consideration besides the ups and down in my limited career, that my superiors thought well enough of me to recommend my request for re-enlistment and pass the re-enlistment physical too and to recommed advancement to the next high rate upon completion of this advace school.

I just wish their is a way to tell where your claim is in the stack of all the other claims. Something that tells you are number two or three in a stack of a dozen, something besides we have your claim and nothing new to report.

AAAHHHHHH!!!!!

Jim S.

Edited October 4, 2005 by Jim S.

[jriverman]

Can somebody, in simple terms, explain the difference between a personality disorder and other mental problems and tell why the VA does not compensate personality disorder. Also, is there a listing of what mental problems can be compensated and what ones can't.

Jay Riverman

[jimlane1949]

The VA uses the ICD 9 because they can bill anICD 9 code and not the DSM4 code. This ican be confusing because the DSM4 is used to diagnosis mental disorders and is not used for billing purposes. ICD9 and DSM4 may differ and private providers and hospitals use an ICD9 code which is closet to a DSM4 code although they may be different. Since the VA is billing private insurance companies they have to use the ICD 9 code or they don't get their money. If they ICD9 code is not compensatable the better for the VA.

:( sorry about the spelling in my post, should've used spell check

Jim Lane

[Hoppy]

The VA uses the ICD 9 because they can bill anICD 9 code and not the DSM4 code. This ican be confusing because the DSM4 is used to diagnosis mental disorders and is not used for billing purposes. ICD9 and DSM4 may differ and private providers and hospitals use an ICD9 code which is closet to a DSM4 code although they may be different. Since the VA is billing private insurance companies they have to use the ICD 9 code or they don't get their money. If they ICD9 code is not compensatable the better for the VA.

My point was that the VA uses archiac diagnostic terms not currently listed in the DSM. If I had the ICD in front of me I could show you three different conditions with the same ICD code #. The VA chooses to use the archiac terms that match their archiac rating schedule.

Can somebody, in simple terms, explain the difference between a personality disorder and other mental problems and tell why the VA does not compensate personality disorder. Also, is there a listing of what mental problems can be compensated and what ones can't.

Jay Riverman

Jay Riverman,

I do not think there is a simple explanation for the different mental conditions. However, the VA does not usually service connect personality disorders because they usually are the result of childhood experiences. Personality disorders can be secondary to other mental conditions. When the other condition is service connected then the personality disorder that is secondary to it can also be service connected. The rating schedule itself might be considered a listing of such ratable conditions. I think there is a link to the rating schedule on hadits main page.

[Guest Jim S.]

Can somebody, in simple terms, explain the difference between a personality disorder and other mental problems and tell why the VA does not compensate personality disorder. Also, is there a listing of what mental problems can be compensated and what ones can't.

Jay Riverman

It's a 30 plus yr old question I have been trying to get an answer for from the VARO, since their was a well documented mental disorder already diagnosed, why then when their Examiner adds the personality disorder to the mix, the two weren't look as one supperimposed on the other. Why instead did they say their was a diagnosis change without properly supporting a change in diagnosis as they were supposted to do.

It was very simple and easy to answer, if they had ruled that it was a personality disorder superimposed on a mental disorder, they would have had to SC and pay compensation. Since they say it was a personality disorder and not a mental disorder, they can rule it as a constitutional or developtmental problem and not a disability for which SC can be attached or compensted for.

Also so that they can continue to deny the claim, because their is no argument or evidence that is new or matrial to support a personality disorder as SC. Completely ignoring the original diagnosis of the mental disorder made while veteran was in the service and for which he was medically discharged for.

So unless you can prove that the personality disorder is a part of or as the results of a Mental disorder, your claim will probably have a problem in getting approved.

Jim S. :(

[Hoppy]

It's a 30 plus yr old question I have been trying to get an answer for from the VARO, since their was a well documented mental disorder already diagnosed, why then when their Examiner adds the personality disorder to the mix, the two weren't look as one supperimposed on the other. Why instead did they say their was a diagnosis change without properly supporting a change in diagnosis as they were supposted to do.

It was very simple and easy to answer, if they had ruled that it was a personality disorder superimposed on a mental disorder, they would have had to SC and pay compensation. Since they say it was a personality disorder and not a mental disorder, they can rule it as a constitutional or developtmental problem and not a disability for which SC can be attached or compensted for.

Also so that they can continue to deny the claim, because their is no argument or evidence that is new or matrial to support a personality disorder as SC. Completely ignoring the original diagnosis of the mental disorder made while veteran was in the service and for which he was medically discharged for.

So unless you can prove that the personality disorder is a part of or as the results of a Mental disorder, your claim will probably have a problem in getting approved.

Jim S. :(

Jim,

What are you doing up this late, I am watching Letterman. On that diagnosis of depression that I was unaware of. I told the doctors that I had sleep problems and went into rage rather easily. They often asked me if I was depressed. I always answered the question by saying NO, I do not get depressed, I get pissed then I get even. Two times I had doctors get up and run out of the room when I was talking to them. I guess they thought I was getting ready to go off the deep end.

[Guest Jim S.]

Hoppy: I'm always up this time. for some reason my sleep meds don't kick in until around 2 am do you want to go to chat?

Jim S.