ptsd MST Compensation Claim Question

[Michigander]

Hi,

I am a victim of MST.  I have a police report in graphic detail of the assault while I was serving active duty in the Army.  The events (more than one) occurred 30 years ago, however, the images replay in my mind daily and to this day.  I somehow managed to get through life and was married once and have three children.  I have suffered internally (mentally) for years and have had a multitude of health problems including panic attacks and anxiety.  I want to file for compensation, but also to get the mental help I know need through the VA I understand it there for me...if I can finally get myself to be able to talk about it with a counselor.  I worked full time my entire life (now age 51) but was approved for SSD disability (civilian) for other medical conditions 3 years ago.  When reading some of the blogs proving my MST is not a problem as I have the police report, however, how or what do they need to prove my suffering of panic attacks and PTSD to access if my life has been affected by the MST for compensation purposes.  I have hid the MST events my entire life and even though I have taken anxiety medication on and off and even have seen a few counselors over the years I rarely talked about the MST and focused my sessions on other issues I think mostly so I didn't have to relive the events by talking about them.  So again I am wondering if the proof is there for the MST what proof is needed that it had impaired my life in such a way that compensation would be awarded.  I am not trying to find out how I can manipulate the system, but rather so that I can get an idea before putting myself through all the trauma of going through the application process if there is clearly no way I will even be awarded a disability rating if for example I do not have a trail of doctor's or psychiatry sessions stating I was talking about these events etc. to proved it has affected my life negatively.   

[Andyman73]

Michigander,

I am so very sorry. The Police report is more than enough to get that ball rolling. File that claim. You can contact a VA MST coordinator, via the va.gov home page...there is a link or two to follow that gets you there. That's what I did. I'm only in the starting stages of my claim. I have no official reports or documentation. Being a man....well....cutting my own throat by reporting those 4 incidents...would have been career suicide. Never mind what ever else I would have gotten...victimized and criminalized by the UCMJ and the Marines to start...

Andyman

[Michigander]

Thanks for responding!  I am so clunky at using this site and I just stumbled on to your response.  I am very sorry for you too I can't imagine the years of mental torture hiding this (well on second thought as you read...I do).  I do not know what the claim will ask....do I file for the PTSD, depression and anxiety?  Is there a place on the claim where you actually list the MST or are they just asking what your conditions are secondary to the service related event (ie MST).

Also, I do not have much documenting my PTSD, anxiety and depression specifically from the medical community.  Went to a counselor once many years ago and talked about it for a short time, but just found out she has since closed her practice and moved out of state so I can't get any records for the time I did try to get help.  I have called the VA this week to set up therapy so I am sure they will diagnose me with PTSD and anxiety, but is that sufficient since I am just going now for the help? 

By the way, it is unacceptable to me that the VA puts a marker on your file for "MST" so that every provider you see can now "pre judge" you when you are in for a visit.  I get that not all providers will, but as a victim it's top on the list of why we hide the events so you are not treated differently or judged.  I get that medical docs. need to have the whole picture, but really....to have access to your counseling session notes is totally unacceptable and I am sure another reason why so many vets do not report...because they cannot report it confidentially!  

[Andyman73]

Sorry it took a few days to get back to you. Ever since my memories have come back...my life has been a non-stop maelstrom. I have finally admitted to myself that on top of everything else, I am a victim of domestic violence, of 18 plus years from my wife.

Okay, this is still relatively fresh in my mind. I used the PTSD form that states for personal trauma, I think. Or something like that. I have such a crappy memory. So, specifically you will file for ptsd due to MST. The specific effects, depression and anxiety will be documented during the C&P exam. If you are already being treated by a VA MH specialist, that will make it a little easier. The claim will ask you to write about an incident, or like for combat, a 2 month time frame that was the worst of it. And you don't have to give the gory details at that point, save that for the actual exam. But you will need to give enough info so they can tell it's legitimate. And if you have police reports and such, that makes it so easy to pin down. I didn't so I used a generalization of the times...like September 1994, since I was car shopping and that was very much a part of what happened to me. Do not give specific dates if there is no corroborating documentation!!! They will be suspicious otherwise.

If you haven't, and you have an ebenifits account on VA.gov, you can file an intent to file, which will give you a one year window to finalize your initial claim paperwork, while locking in the earliest filing date, which will be the start date for compensation once you are granted SCD.

AS for the MST marker on your file...these days its all digital, so your primary care dr may not see it at all. I just had an appointment with my primary, yesterday, and he didn't even mention it at all. Didn't say anything that made me think he even knew anything. And I have been seeing him since 2005.

Please, if you want a little more privacy to talk about this, use the pm feature and send me a private message. I am more than willing and happy to talk about this with you. It's a very scary thing to go it alone. I am here for you, okay?

Andy

[Guest L]

Michigander- Sorry for what you have been through. I can empathize. I too, had a Police report, NIS report, Crime scene photos and the Sailor's confession.

This will making it "easier" to get the process started for filing a PTSD-MST - remember PTSD is the diagnosis not MST. 

At the VA Mental Health appointment, If they establish the "Nexus" for the PTSD service connection this will help.

If not they may set up a C & P exam. 

The C & P exam will not... involve retelling the story, because your police report will substantiate the facts. 

What will be ask is, how this event has affected your daily living? et al.  

Good Luck. 

[Andyman73]

I wish you all the best, @Michigander
@L, I wish I had police reports and such....but I don't. I couldn't, the risk to my life was far greater than the reward ever would have been.

 

 

[Gastone]

M, L & A73, were your attackers ever prosecuted?

I've never been in your situation but if there was some way to make that SOB's life as miserable as he's made yours, I'd be thinking about it big time.

Look how long it took Bill Cosby's VICTIMS to come forward. Just think how many undisclosed Victims your assailant might have.

Income will definitely change over the years, but a sexual predator will always be a predator until they're stopped.

Semper Fi