Anxiety/Depression C&P

[duddy_m]

Hey everyone, just found this site and you guys have some seriously good info here.

 

Anyway, I'm currently rated at 50% for Anxiety/Depression, I put in for an increase a week ago. I had gotten a DBQ filled out by my psychiatrist but she left out important info - and didn't even put depression on the front diagnosis page. Needless to say I'm not going to put that in since I believe based on what she had put on paper it would either keep me at 50% or very possibly DECREASE  my rating. My question is - do I really need to have DBQ's and other types of "evidence" to get an increase, or would the VA simply schedule another C&P like when I originally got rated for Anxiety/Depression? If building a paper trail is that crucial then I understand that and will start to build one, maybe I'm naïve but I don't see why I wouldn't just be scheduled a C&P and tell them how all my conditions are worsening?

 

Example - I've been put on 3 different Anti anxiety meds in the last year and half and the side effects are so debilitating for me that I can't take them. Am couch locked, can't take care of the kids etc.

 

Also for backround info, I got my rating due to an attempted suicide while I was in the service, I was admitted to a hospital for detox then was sent to a psych hospital for about 4 days.

 

I've also read that Sleep apnea can be claimed as a secondary condition due to the anxiety/depression? Do you guys know of any other secondary claims that can be filed for anxiety/depression?

 

Any feedback is appreciated, thanks!

 

[broncovet]

Ok.  Well, it sounds like you are fretting about some stuff that does not matter.  

First, you dont need another depression diagnosis..it should already be in your records so you dont need that duplicated.  

And, you also need not worry about a DBQ..your doc may/may not like that form and may put information "in your notes".  

What you need:

You need to show your sypmtoms were worse from when you got your c and p exam which got you your current rating.  

Yes, if this doc showed your symptoms "actually improved under ordinary conditions of life", then you can start figuring out what to do about a reduction, but I did not get you speaking of evidence of this..it sounds more like your depression is doing the talking.  

My advice:

   1.  Locate your c and p exam when benfits were awarded.  

    2.  Check your records since then to see if conditions got worse.  

     3.  Read this stuff, dont just think, "well I felt worse, better, etc".  Its all about what is documented.  

      4.  Compare your current symptoms with past symptoms and the cfr's criteria:

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
Occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms which decrease work efficiency and ability to perform occupational tasks only during periods of significant stress, or symptoms controlled by continuous medication.	10
A mental condition has been formally diagnosed, but symptoms are not severe enough either to interfere with occupational and social functioning or to require continuous medication.	0

focus on what is important, dont worry that your doc did not redocument your depression diagnosis.  

[vetquest]

The VA will most likely schedule you for a C&P to determine your current level of disability.  During this C&P do not try to overplay anything, just tell it like it is.  Tell them what your worst day is like not your best.  Tell them the side effects of your medication.  Relax.  If you are suicidal this is something that you should bring up. 

Know that there is a veterans help line for suicide prevention.  1-800-273-8255.  Calling might get you into an emergency room but always remember to seek help if you need it before doing something that would hurt your kids.

[duddy_m]

Awesome thanks for the input!