PTSD C&P completed but have questions.....

[rhdawgs]

Hello, I recently had my C&P exam for PTSD. The Dr did diagnose me with PTSD and I certainly met ALL the requirements according to the DSM-5 Criteria. When I filed my claim with DAV, I had made a claim for the following mental disabilities:  PTSD, Panic disorder and /or/ agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder, & unspecified depressive disorder.

The QTC Dr made a strong case for PTSD and certainly diagnosed me with PTSD and checked the box "Occupational and Social Impairment with Reduced Reliability and Productivity"

He never did list any of the other disorders in my claim, although he states that due to my PHQ-9 score of 23 reflects I have severe depression and he also states that my PTSD checklist score(PCL-5) was 68. In the report he does check the box "The claimed condition was at least as likely as not(50% or greater probability) incurred in or caused by the claimed in-service injury, event, illness." He sighted my 2 stressors as evidence of the diagnosis for PTSD.

Also, no sign of a GAF score, did they discontinue using it? The only one that is in my report was from 2005 when I originally went to VA but had NO CLUE what I was doing except I knew I needed help, WAY BACK THEN.

When my VRO looked at the report he stated that it was good he didn't diagnose me with anything other than PTSD, why would that be? I hear of people stating they have a SC for PTSD with a secondary of Anxiety disorder. Just a little confused....

Sorry so long, I tried to list some things in the report without throwing the entire thing in here, but can do it if needed.

Thank you.

I can post the DBQ and the "short" report of his findings if needed, just figured it may be to much....
 

Edited October 21, 2017 by rhdawgs

[broncovet]

According to your post, you have at least 2 out of three of the Caluza elements, which are required for service connection:

They are 

1.  Current diagnosis of PTSD

2.  In service event or stressor.  The doctor can not supply this.  This "should" or needs to be, in your SMR's.  

3.  Nexus, or link between in service event and your current diagnosis of PTSD.  

It sounds like you may be missing number 2, you have 1 and 3 covered.  Do you have documention of an "in service event?" 

If this is in your file, you should be good to go with the Caluza elements and should eventually win benefits.  

[rhdawgs]

Broncovet, Thank you very much for responding. 

So in my report yes, he states that both of my stressor's meet the criteria A for PTSD....Sorry, only have a hard copy of the Results at this point...

[rhdawgs]

So here's a couple of more questions and like I said, terribly sorry I don't have a soft copy of the DBQ, done by QTC and only have hard copy.

The Evaluater listed symptoms from the 70% down to 30% and under section 4 "Occupational and Social Impairment section", Dr checked diagnosis that would qualify for a rating of 50%  "Occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity". I personally think that a rating of 50% would be fair and would be extremely surprised if I received 70% (even though I have several in the 70%) but I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED if I received 30%, or 0% rating,  guess that's just me and my pessimism. I don't want to put the cart before the Horse because even though the examiner states that he believes my PTSD is a direct result of my Military stressors from my time in Iraq, it sounds like they could still disagree and not award me SC or say it is SC and give me 0%, so who the FREAK knows I guess.

But this is what he selected in my symptoms, I have some in the 70% and some as low as 30%  From the General Rating Formula for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder my symptoms are BOLDED.

From the  DSM-5 Criteria  Diagnostic Critieria sheet, I had several in everyone of the Options from A-E and 1 through F-G on each and in I: 2 Stressors that met  Criteria A.

 

In the Symptoms section, BOLD is what he checked...Just confused since they are all over the board. Also, is it really that subjective and unknown depending on the rater that this could go anywhere from 0%-70%?

Total occupational and social impairment, due to such symptoms as: gross impairment in thought processes or communication; persistent delusions or hallucinations; grossly inappropriate behavior; persistent danger of hurting self or others; intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene); disorientation to time or place; memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name. = 100%

Occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to such symptoms as: suicidal ideation; obsessional rituals which interfere with routine activities; speech intermittently illogical, obscure, or irrelevant; near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriately and effectively; impaired impulse control (such as unprovoked irritability with periods of violence); spatial disorientation; neglect of personal appearance and hygiene; difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances (including work or a worklike setting); inability to establish and maintain effective relationships. = 70%

Occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to such symptoms as: flattened affect; circumstantial, circumlocutory, or stereotyped speech; panic attacks more than once a week; difficulty in understanding complex commands; impairment of short- and long-term memory (e.g., retention of only highly learned material, forgetting to complete tasks); impaired judgment; impaired abstract thinking; disturbances of motivation and mood; difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships. =50%

Occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks (although generally functioning satisfactorily, with routine behavior, self-care, and conversation normal), due to such symptoms as: depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciousness, panic attacks (weekly or less often), chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss (such as forgetting names, directions, recent events). = 30%

I think the Dr simply selected the 50% option since I had several fall in both the 70% and 30% with 1 in the 50%, just from past experiences what do you guys think about a possible rating?

I appreciate any all thoughts and comments.

Edited October 24, 2017 by rhdawgs