PTSD Comp and Pen report

[smitty1233]

So I completed my exam for my PTSD claim about a month ago. i just logged on to myhealthvet and read through the report. It states that I do not have PTSD because I didnt meet all the criteria, but they have diagnosed me with Other Specified Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorder, adjustment-like disorder with prolonged duration of more than six months without prolonged duration of stressor?? I will copy and paste my complete report below, but my main question is; will my whole claim for PTSD be denied because technically i do not have a diagnoses for this or will they adjust based on the new diagnoses? Any information will help thanks in advance. 

 

SECTION I: ---------- 1. Diagnostic Summary --------------------- Does the Veteran have a diagnosis of PTSD that conforms to DSM-5 criteria based on today's evaluation? [ ] Yes [X] No If no diagnosis of PTSD, check all that apply: [X] Veteran's symptoms do not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD under DSM-5 criteria [X] Veteran has another Mental Disorder diagnosis. Continue to complete this Questionnaire and/or the Eating Disorder Questionnaire: 2. Current Diagnoses -------------------- a. Mental Disorder Diagnosis #1: Other Specified Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorder, adjustment-like disorder with prolonged duration of more than six months without prolonged duration of stressor ICD code: F43.8 Comments, if any: The Veteran meets DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for F43.8 Other Specified Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorder, adjustment-like disorder with prolonged duration of more than six months without prolonged duration of stressor. His presentation involves symptoms characteristic of a trauma- and stressor-related disorder that are causing him clinically significant distress and impairment in social and occupational functioning, but the symptoms do not meet full criteria for any of the disorders in the Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders diagnostic class. Based on the time of onset of these symptoms (subsequent to a traumatic event experienced while in the military) and multiple logical connections SMITH, JAKE ALLEN CONFIDENTIAL Page 7 of 34 to that traumatic event (distressing recollections of the event, distressing dreams with content or emotion related to the event, avoidance of reminders of the event, hypervigilance and strong startle reactions since the event, etc.), his Other Specified Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorder was at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) incurred in or caused by the claimed in-service event. b. Medical diagnoses relevant to the understanding or management of the Mental Health Disorder (to include TBI): I am not licensed to practice medicine, so my listing here of medical diagnoses should not be misunderstood as the rendering of those diagnoses. Medical diagnoses relevant to the understanding or management of his mental health disorder may include the following conditions listed as Active on his VA healthcare problem list: astigmatism, myopia, chronic gastroenteritis, hypothyroidism, arthritis of temporomandibular joint, and segmental dysfunction of cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacroiliac regions.

[Navy04]

Welcome aboard and glad you made it thru your exam. As far as you claim, I have had multiple C&P exams where I went it for one condition, and the VA granted the claim either as a Different Condition or a new condition as secondary. Adjustment Disorder is a very common Diagnoses granted to Vets, especially when the C&Ps are done by Civilian Psych Docs. For now, I would not worry too much until you see what the outcome is. Good luck and keep us posted. God Bless

[Inarticulate&Distorted]

VA hates giving PTSD dx's. PTSD is permanent Physiological damage caused by Pschological Trauma. Hard to lower a Vets Comp years later when they have brain damage, but much easier to toss a "adjustment disorder" dx at them and then try to reduce ya 5 years down the line. Get a new C&P, fight to get one done by a VA Psychologist who knows his salt

Good Luck

Edited December 28, 2017 by Inarticulate&Distorted

[Vync]

Welcome to Hadit!
 

On 12/11/2017 at 11:52 AM, smitty1233 said:

The Veteran meets DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for F43.8 Other Specified Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorder, adjustment-like disorder with prolonged duration of more than six months without prolonged duration of stressor.

MH docs use the DSM-5 (i.e. psychology Bible) to diagnose conditions.

 

On 12/11/2017 at 11:52 AM, smitty1233 said:

His presentation involves symptoms characteristic of a trauma- and stressor-related disorder that are causing him clinically significant distress and impairment in social and occupational functioning, but the symptoms do not meet full criteria for any of the disorders in the Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders diagnostic class.

This explains why you were not diagnosed with PTSD at that time. This is not necessarily a bad thing... If this was your first MH exam, then that would help explain why they did not necessarily go straight to PTSD. It is possible that they could do that over time.

 

On 12/11/2017 at 11:52 AM, smitty1233 said:

Based on the time of onset of these symptoms (subsequent to a traumatic event experienced while in the military) and multiple logical connections {name redacted} CONFIDENTIAL Page 7 of 34 to that traumatic event (distressing recollections of the event, distressing dreams with content or emotion related to the event, avoidance of reminders of the event, hypervigilance and strong startle reactions since the event, etc.), his Other Specified Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorder was at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) incurred in or caused by the claimed in-service event.

In my opinion, this is probably the part that matters most. It looks like the doc opined in your favor and granted service connected (SC) status for a MH disorder. Getting SC is the largest hurdle to get around with the VA, which is why I say this part matters most at this point. Even if you have 10 different diagnosed MH disorders, the VA treats MH as a single rating. Don't necessarily feel disappointed because the VA didn't diagnose PTSD.

I hope this helps!