PTSD C&P results

[marinevet1987]

I received my official C&P results today.  I know most of the criteria such as the occupational and social impairment, as well as several of the symptoms fall into the 70% range.  But I do have panic attacks frequently, that do affect my work.  The doctor even put in there that my employment is in jeopardy because of my panic attacks.  Would this sway it to the 100% range?  Or do the symptoms and occupational impairment HAVE to fall into that range. 

I have a paper copy, so I can't just copy and paste it onto here, but I will put everything on here.  Please tell me what you think:


Does the veteran now have or has he/she been diagnosed with PTSD? YES
Mental Disorders Diagnosis #1: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Chronic
Does the veteran have more than one mental disorder diagnosed?  No

(X) Occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgement, thinking and/or mood.

Evidence reviewed
(X) VA claims file (hard copy paper C-file)

RECENT HISTORY

Relevant social/marital/family history:
Veteran is more estranged from his immediate family, rarely talks to his brothers and has cut off all communication with his mother. He is currently involved in a serious romantic relationship.  They are currently living together.

Relevant occupational and educational history:
Frequency and intensity of panic attacks has increased significantly.  Veteran was admitted to the hospital in late November 2016 due to a panic attack.  His current employment is in jeopardy due to his panic attacks.  The fire department was called at his place of employment due to a panic attack.

Relevant Mental health history, to inclue prescribed medications and family mental health:
Medications have changed.  He was previously was only on ambien for sleep.  He is currently prescribed paroxetine, ambien, and hydroxyzine.  Frequency and intensity of panic attacks has increased

PTSD DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA
Criterion A:
(X) Directly experiencing the traumatic events
(X) Witnessing, in person, the traumatic events as they occured to others
Criterion B:
(X) Recurrent, involuntary, and intrusive distressing memories of the traumatic events
(X) Recurrent distressing dreams in which the content and/or affect of the dream are related to the traumatic events
(X) Intense or prolonged psychological distress at exposure to internal or external cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event
Criterion C:
(X)Avoidance of or efforts to avoid distressing memories, thoughts, or feeling sabout or closely associated with the traumatic events
(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 assoiated with the traumatic events
Criterion D:
(X)Markedly diminished interest or particiaption in significant activities
(X)Feelings of detachment or estrangement from others
(X)Persistent inability to experience positive emotions
Criterion E:
(X)Irritable behavior and angry outbursts typically expressed as verbal or physical aggression toward people or objects
(X) Hypervigilance
(X)Exaggerated startle response
(X)Problems with concentrations
(X)Sleep disturbance
Criterion F:
(X)Duration of the disturbance is more than 1 months
Criterion G:
(X)The PTSD symptoms described above cause 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

SYMPTOMS
(X)Depressed Mood
(X) Anxiety
(X)Suspiciousness
(X)Panic attacks more than once a week
(X)Near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriately and effectively
(X)Chronic Sleep impairment
(X)Mild memory loss, such as forgetting names, directions or recent events
(X)Disturbances of motivation and mood
(X)Difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships
(X)Difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances, including work or a work like setting
(X)Inability to establish and maintain effective relationships
(X)Impaired impulse control, such as unprovoked irritability with periods of violence

BEHAVIORAL OBSERVATIONS
Veteran arrived early to his appointment, casually and appropriately dress.  Thinking was logical and organized.  Completely oriented.  Wide range of affect.  Thought content was normal.  Judgement and insight were estimated to be normal.

[Buck52]

JUST MY OPINION

But I think the last paragraph hurt the 100% under behavioral observations.

70%

[marinevet1987]

Thanks for your input buck!  I'm wondering that since he put in there that my job is in jeopardy due to panic attacks, if that will help me?  I can see why you would think the last paragraph could hurt.

[Buck52]

Well I could be wrong and you get the 100% but to get the 100%PTSD rating  you really need to be in bad shape  they look at everything in a C&P the way your appearance is dirty clothes  wrinkled up ,your hygiene, non-shaven  or upkept dirty beard, smelly, ect,,ect,, they do or suppose to rate on symptoms but in an in-depth picture all these things factor into the 100%  

I have a 70% PTSD Rating and I almost appeal that b/c most of my symptoms  were chronic , but I was well dressed  (causal) and clean hair and trim out beard clean clothes ect,,ect,,

IN MY OPINION THEY SHOULD NOT USE HOW WERE DRESSED OR IF WE TAKE CARE OF OURSELF by dressing nice and keeping our self clean  they should rate by the symptoms only.  some C&P Examiners won't let that cloud a good report for the 100% but most will.

Panic attacks,I had a therapist tell me that panic attacks you can live through,I mention to him one time at one of my treatment session  that I had a panic attact on my way to see him  and I had a hard time breathing  he said well your here you made it , it did not kill you did it,I said well no but I thought there for a minute I was going to die, he said well you didn't obviously.

Edited July 6, 2017 by Buck52

[jfrei]

I do think if you do lose your current job due to the panic attacks you should file for IU or even if they put you on medical hold due to your disabilities and keep you around...

[marinevet1987]

If I lose my job, I definitely will.  Is there a possibility they could give me IU since it does state my job is in jeopardy due to panic attacks?  (I am on notice at work)

[broncovet]

Marinevet1987:

   Welcome to hadit.   Please ask your question in a "new" topic.  You are new, so I will go ahead and answer this time.   People get confused as to what quesiton you are answering, so its best to start a new topic with your question.  

     I do not recommend applying for TDIU until after you have lost your job, that is, while working.  Yes, I can see its tempting as we all know it will take years for va to process your claim, and no one likes starving while the VA finds one glitch on your claim after another.  

     Its a great idea, tho.  Are there any other conditions to which you may be eligible for an increase, instead?