ptsd Ptsd Claim

[BoonDoc]

Hi all,

I went to my counseling session yesterday for PTSD. I was recently in an auto accident, and I have been having "flashbacks" since this wreck, and was telling the LCSW how hard it was getting by on my 60% SC compensation, much less getting treatment on my dime until the settlement with the mans insurance company.

she asked me "have you filed a claim for PTSD with the VA yet?", and when I told her no she told me that "You have to to take care of your family" and that she would put everything together in my record and that my migraines, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, agoraphobia are all rooted in the PTSD. She told me to wait until I see the head shrink M.D, and she would have time to inform him, and time to put all of the documentation together that I needed for the PTSD SC claim.

My question is this.

I have the cause or event in my SMR and a copy of the VA admitting to it too the event occuring while on active duty.

Now I have the nexus linking what I'm already 50% SC for and other symptoms that I have copies of treatment of symptoms since discharge, but the medical records don't say that I have PTSD.

Do they have to have that diagnosis on the treatment records for me to get the comp for the PTSD?

or will they be considered symptoms since I disn't have the diagnosis until a few months ago.

She told me all of these years I've have had PTSD, and all of the physical and mental symptoms are "rooted" in PTSD and if I don't get treatment I will get sicker and sicker physically and mentally...

I guess I'll wait and play it by ear. If anybody has any input, or suggestions about what to do please jump right in and give your 2 cents.. any ideals are much appreciated.

Boondoc

[Berta]

"migraines, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, agoraphobia are all rooted in the PTSD." If you get SC for for anxiety, depression or agoraphobia they will probably put it all together and call it PTSD.

"Now I have the nexus linking what I'm already 50% SC for and other symptoms that I have copies of treatment of symptoms since discharge, but the medical records don't say that I have PTSD"

It seems to me that you established the nexus long ago as you get 50% now-but I am not sure what your question is about-

All mental disorders , regardless of what they are called are rated just about the same way-

this documentation from the VA doc (hope she wrote it down)could help you if you have filed for higher disability rating and if you are unemployable due to PTSD or the SC disability.

As many posts prior indicated one cannot get -say- SC depression award and then get a separate award for PTSD-one can be secondary to the other but I feel you believe these are separate awards - maybe I got that wrong-

The good thing about all this- the VA could easily say that your increase in anxiety,depression or PTSD etc- is due to the NSC auto accident. But this doctor seems to have been able to fully disassociate that from your service problems.

If you are unemployed have you sent the VA a TDIU form yet?

Edited January 10, 2007 by Berta

[BoonDoc]

Berta,

I'm SC 50% for migraines and 10 for HTN. I have applied and was denied for TDIU, but submitted a NOD...still waiting for that.

I aslo applied for secondary anxiety, depression, visual problems, stomach problems (GERD) and have to send in the dates of treatment sometime this week to the VA.

I have never filed a claim for PTSD. I was diagnosed only 2-4 months ago and have been waiting for enough evidence of being treated before opening a claim.

My main question is that since I didn't have the diagnosis until recently, but have had the symptoms in and since active duty, will the doctors statement saying that they are all rooted in PTSD be enough to prove I've had PTSD since active duty? I have NSC treatment records for various symptoms, anxiety, etc. but no PTSD diagnosis on the record.

The "stressor" is in my SMR, and now I have the nexus linking them together. Is a VA doctors statement

enough to connect all of the years with the "stressor" (non-combat)

As far as the VA using this recent MVA... I was diagnosed and treated for increased anxiety/depression 5-6 months prior to the recent MVA; she said that the MVA that I just had was making my PTSD worse.

Boondoc

[Vike17]

Boondoc,

If you are going to claim anxiety and depression as secondary to your already sevice-connected migraines, and you're going to claim PTSD, the VA can't rate both of them. It would probably be much easier to be awarded service-connection for anxiety and depression as secondary to migraines as it would be for PTSD. With PTSD you'll have to show proof of the stressor and in your case, I'm not sure if something in your SMR's would be enough. Are you saying some type of medical treatment while in the service caused your PTSD?? Or does your SMR's reference treatment of a medical condition that came from your stressor, such a sexual assualt? I ask this because you stated your stressor is Non-combat related. At any rate, the VA will probably need to see some type of proof of the actual stressor other than SMR entries of treatment of the injury(ies) suffered from that stressor, such as MP/police reports, Court Martial proceedings ect...

Vike 17

Edited January 11, 2007 by Vike17

[Guest jangrin]

Boondoc,

If you are going to claim anxiety and depression as secondary to your already sevice-connected migraines, and you're going to claim PTSD, the VA can't rate both of them. It would probably be much easier to be awarded service-connection for anxiety and depression as secondary to migraines as it would be for PTSD. With PTSD you'll have to show proof of the stressor and in your case, I'm not sure if something in your SMR's would be enough. Are you saying some type of medical treatment while in the service caused your PTSD?? Or does your SMR's reference treatment of a medical condition that came from your stressor, such a sexual assualt? I ask this because you stated your stressor is Non-combat related. At any rate, the VA will probably need to see some type of proof of the actual stressor other than SMR entries of treatment of the injury(ies) suffered from that stressor, such as MP/police reports, Court Martial proceedings ect...

Vike 17

Vike 17,

If a veteran files a claim for Depression and PTSD. And the veteran is diagnosed with PTSD and Depression. But the veteran is unable to prove stressors for PTSD. And the veteran has a current GAF of low 50's,

how would the VA go about rating a claim like this?

There are many verterans with PTSD and Depression, not being able to prove a stressor does not make the depression or the PTSD go away. Does the VA just deny the claim or do they rate the depression?

Thanks

Jangrin

[Pete53]

Vike 17,

If a veteran files a claim for Depression and PTSD. And the veteran is diagnosed with PTSD and Depression. But the veteran is unable to prove stressors for PTSD. And the veteran has a current GAF of low 50's,

how would the VA go about rating a claim like this?

There are many verterans with PTSD and Depression, not being able to prove a stressor does not make the depression or the PTSD go away. Does the VA just deny the claim or do they rate the depression?

Thanks

Jangrin

Jan:

Its very tricky and like Vike said it may be better to focus on the Depression which is a much easier and less frustrating claim to win. I have seen to many PTSD claims hung up and not going anywhere when the Veteran could easily be rated for anxiety and depression.

I am 100% for Panic Disorder and Depression and when I take the VA tests I always score as having PTSD. I have the same symptoms. My advice to any Veteran who has a claim that does not have an iorn clad proof of stressor is to go after the comorbidity conditions of anxiety and depression that always are with someone who has PTSD.

[Guest jangrin]

Pete,

Will the VA deny the PTSD and then rate the depression?

Or will the Vet have to wait for the denial for PTSD and then re-file a new claim for depression?

Could the depression be linked to current illness where as the PTSD has different crteria?

Jangrin

Edited January 11, 2007 by jangrin