C&P Anxiety notes. thoughts?

[Dabimmerman]

Hey everyone,   I just got my C&P notes back from my anxiety exam.   I am not sure from what it says, but I think it looks to be favorable?    

Any ideas of a possible rating %?

                                  SECTION I:
                                  ----------
   1. Diagnosis
   ------------
   a. Does the Veteran now have or has he/she ever been diagnosed with a mental
      disorder(s)?
      [X] Yes  [ ] No
      
      ICD code: F32.9
      
      If the Veteran currently has one or more mental disorders that conform to
      DSM-5 criteria, provide all diagnoses:
      
      Mental Disorder Diagnosis #1: Major Depressivve Disorder
      ICD code: F32.9

   b. Medical diagnoses relevant to the understanding or management of the
      Mental Health Disorder (to include TBI): Lumbar strain   ICD: S39.012
      

   2. Differentiation of symptoms
   ------------------------------
   a. Does the Veteran have more than one mental disorder diagnosed?
      [] Yes  [X] No
      
   b. Is it possible to differentiate what symptom(s) is/are attributable to
      each diagnosis?
      [] Yes  [ ] No  [X ] Not applicable (N/A)
      
            
   c. Does the Veteran have a diagnosed traumatic brain injury (TBI)?
      [ ] Yes  [ ] No  [X] Not shown in records reviewed
      
   3. Occupational and social impairment
   -------------------------------------
   a. Which of the following best summarizes the Veteran's level of 
occupational
      and social impairment with regards to all mental diagnoses? (Check only
      one)
      
      [X] Occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas,
          such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking and/or 
mood

      
                                  SECTION II:
                                  -----------
                              Clinical Findings:
                              ------------------
   1. Evidence Review
   ------------------
   Evidence reviewed (check all that apply):
   
   [X] VA e-folder (VBMS or Virtual VA)

2. History
   ----------
   a. Relevant Social/Marital/Family history (pre-military, military, and
      post-military):
      
        He used to play sports, now he can't.   He cant play legos with his kids
or board games.   "I've lost a lot of my friends, I'm isolated more
        
   b. Relevant Occupational and Educational history (pre-military, military, 
and
      post-military):
      
        He injured his back during military service during routine exerice during drill.

Currently employed full-time, but "I have no interest in my job"   "My back always job, I have alot
of anxiety, and I'm not doing the right thing.
        
   c. Relevant Mental Health history, to include prescribed medications and
      family mental health (pre-military, military, and post-military):

Sleep, I'm up all night, back pain persists.   Gets 2-5 hours of sleep a night.

He still is depressed
No appetite, goes days without eating.
A major part of my life has changed..it sucks.      
       
   3. Symptoms
   -----------
   For VA rating purposes, check all symptoms that actively apply to the
   Veteran's diagnoses:
   
      [X] Depressed mood
      [X] Anxiety
      [] Suspiciousness
      [] Panic attacks more than once a week
      [X] Chronic sleep impairment
      [X] Disturbances of motivation and mood
      [X] Suicidal ideation 
      [X] Neglect of personal appearance and hygiene

   4. Behavioral observations
   --------------------------
   See Remarks below.
   
   5. Other symptoms
   -----------------
   Does the Veteran have any other symptoms attributable to mental disorders
   that are not listed above?
   [ ] Yes  [X] No
   
   6. Competency
   -------------
   Is the Veteran capable of managing his or her financial affairs?
   [X] Yes  [ ] No
   
   7. Remarks (including any testing results), if any:
   ---------------------------------------------------
   Clinical Examination: 
   He does appear to be in pain, depression.
   He does describe major depression episodes.   He has had suicidal ideation.
   It is at least as likely as not the veterans Major Depressive Disorder w/ anxious distress is due to service connection.

 

[Buck52]

To confirm you are P&T look on your Award letter it should show you are P&T and  additional benefits package should arrive at your home  like Champ VA and educational allowance for spouse and children.

Also look on ebenefits  it should let you know if you are P&T if not check with your VSO ask him to look it up on the VBMS .  Or get your up-dated C-File look in it.

[Dabimmerman]

Are you saying ....Even though I have a i.t.f from September of 2018, I shouldn't proceed with that?  Wouldnt the effective date start start at almost a year ago?

If I open a new claim wont the date start as of today?   I'm a little confused?

Also, for my ED, should I try and have it SC or dont even mess with that, and just put in the claim I have ED?    

Again, I just want to make sure they dont touch my 100%...it took me forever to get that.

[Buck52]

To file the ITF

https://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-21-0966-ARE.pdf

Until I Read the regulations that state that the ITF is no longer  used for compensation claim purposes  I would tell veterans to use it.

I read nothing about them omitting it from the regs.

[Buck52]

Dabimmerman

I would say it looks favorable too  but  just my opinion it is not a 100% rating,   looks to me like either a 50% or 70% depending on what symptoms fit closes to the 70%

 

so if you got 100%  you got lucky  because it did not say you were total.

the 100% rating per the MH Schedule rating chart says

   Rating

100%

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 nam

Edited August 6, 2019 by Buck52

[Buck52]

I used the ITF in my last two claims and everything went ok  i got the correct EED. on both claims but I did file them separate,  after the first claim was approved and the EED CORRECT  I then filed another ITF and it went ok too  correct EED on that one...I can't find where the ITF has been omitted from the Regulations   even with the new AMA. System.

ITF  claims give the Veteran an extra 12 months to file his claim  and they use the ITF Date for the early effective date for that claim  so if you file an ITF  you have 12 months to file that claim  meaning if they adjuicate this claim with in 6 months then you will get  18 months of retro...its a good thing to do file this way because it gives the Veteran 12 months to gather up his evidence to send in with his claim and the extra 12  plus months is good retro.( jmo)

Now if your denied  then yes it sure puts a damper on things but you should still get your ITF Date when your claim is approved.

[Dabimmerman]

Thanks Buck.

full-disclosure.    I got 70% for my MHD.   I am at 100% P&T, for total disabilities.

But, my main concern/question, is if I do file a ITF for ED, will that open anything up for them to reduce my % on my secondary condition.    Should I just file me ED claim, and have no secondary condition for it.   I do not need any %, I just want the additional supplemental.