Question About PTSD Re-Eval

[USAF K9]

I'm sorry if I am posting in the wrong place.  I wasn't sure where this should go.  

I am prior Air Force, combat action medal from Iraq, blah, blah.  Lots of issues from Iraq and base football, and other stuff.

I am 100% SC schedular, non P&T.  I am 70% PTSD, 40% back, 20% for each leg bilateral radiculopathy, and a bunch of 10% ratings on my feet, knees, hands, etc.

I went to my first and only C&P for PTSD back in March 2019, so I have only been SC for PTSD for 4 months or so.  

I recently filed claims for several other conditions (Sleep Apnea secondary to wt gain from PTSD and other disabilities, Fibromyalgia for Gulf War, Migraines from Gulf War, ED secondary to PTSD meds).  I also provided a letter from a doctor saying I should be P&T.  I would have left well enough alone after getting 100%, but the rating said I would be re-evaluated for my PTSD and my back, so I figured I may as well go for the jugular and overwhelm them with the rest of my issues, so maybe they give me P&T.  I also THOUGHT I was safe from a re-eval since I had been rated so recently. 

Anyway, despite me providing  them records to fulfill all the necessary elements (favorable DBQs and nexus letters from Dr. Ellis, and diagnoses/sleep studies, etc. from my personal doctor) for all the new claims, they still sent me to a C&P for all the newly claimed conditions. Fine, I will play the game even though I sent you everything wrapped in a nice bow. But, then comes the part that threw me for a loop, and is my actual question:

I looked in ebenefits and see a request for a PTSD increase showing in the system, which I absolutely never asked for.  I didn't even think I could go for an increase since I had only been rated like 4 months ago at that time.  I also didn't think I rated 100%, based on the description in the CFR.  Anyway, I call a bunch of people to ask what is going on and nobody has an answer.  The VA acknowledged that they asked for the re-evaluation.  I understand the VA can and will re-evaluate anytime, but it is a bit ridiculous, even for the VA, to do another PTSD exam 4 months after the first one.  I would certainly understand if they re-evaluated my physical issues since I was seeing a primary care type C&P examiner for my new claims.  But, it doesn't make sense to generate a request to have PTSD added to the mix after only 4 months.  

Does anybody have any thoughts?  Some have told me that this may be part of their process to determine if I should get P&T, but I had a VA phone rep read me the correspondence between the VA and the Psych, and nothing was mentioned about "find out if this dude is going to be messed up for the rest of his life," and I know the C&P psych certainly didn't ask any questions about permanency, and she actually seemed mildly annoyed that they sent me again so soon, especially when I told her I never requested an increase.  BTW, the C&P seemed to go really well, so I am not super stressed about the outcome, but you never know.  Actually, scratch that.  I am pretty much constantly anxious about everything.  But, the exam did seem to go well.

Anyway, if anyone has any thoughts about why they sent me for another C&P exam for PTSD so soon, I am all ears.

Thanks everyone!

P.S.  This forum has been EXTREMELY helpful to me as I took myself from 20% up to 100% (and maybe back down again depending on what the VA says about my PTSD C&P exam).  So, I thank you all for that.

Edited July 9, 2019 by USAF K9

[Mikeblunt]

Are you going to go to the VARO on Monday? 

[USAF K9]

22 minutes ago, Mikeblunt said:

Are you going to go to the VARO on Monday? 

You mean to ask the status?  I figured I would keep checking ebenefits every 17 or 18 seconds this weekend, and worry about it needlessly, then I figured I would call my VSO on Monday.  My VARO is a nightmare drive through Houston.  

 

[GeekySquid]

3 hours ago, USAF K9 said:

Anybody, got any other tricks up their sleeve

My one suggestion to you is BREATHE!!

time takes time.

neither of which help you. just take them in and believe them.

you sound like me... a bit compulsive....limit your checking to once in the morning once in the evening. then read a book, watch a movie...do whatever and BREATHE

 

 

[USAF K9]

29 minutes ago, GeekySquid said:

My one suggestion to you is BREATHE!!

time takes time.

neither of which help you. just take them in and believe them.

you sound like me... a bit compulsive....limit your checking to once in the morning once in the evening. then read a book, watch a movie...do whatever and BREATHE

 

 

Yes, breathing is good.  Can't forget to breath.  I do tend to be very...uuuh...focused.  It makes me very good at getting stuff done, but probably pretty hard to work with or for.  Thanks!

[Buck52]

USAF K9

You can file as many claims as you want  one at a time or all at once. your choice.  don't forget the ITF Claims (intent to file)

To get a P&T Rating   a Veteran needs a S.C. Condition that is not expected to improve in his/her life time,   the condition may be chronic or of nature,  and no future exams scheduled ,this is what they mean by P&T the veteran is  permanently totally disabled the rest of his/her life.

[USAF K9]

Hi everyone,

I am not sure if anyone is still watching this thread, but I wanted to post the decision now that I have it. I always want to see how things end up for people on here.

They bumped me up to 100% for ptsd. With that 100, it bumps me up to SMC s for housebound or whatever it is (which someone on this thread mentioned as a possibility).

Sleep Apnea 50%

Migraines 0%

Fibromyalgia denied - I assume because it has not been six months since my diagnosis. The c&p examiner was pretty awesome so I doubt if she screwed me.

ED 0%

The most important decision: They awarded P&T!

I am so relieved. I was already 100% non P&T, and now I have so many high rated disabilities that even if they do decide to reevaluate me for something, I am not really in danger of going below 100, and extremely unlikely to go under 90%. 

Thanks everyone for your help!