PTSD or Depression

[PEACHES1962]

Based on the quesionnaire here should I be applying for PTSD or depression?  I am so confused.

Mental Disorder Questionnaire.pdf

[broncovet]

Ok.  In order to get VA benefits, you must first get your PHD in the differences between the various mental health disorders of PTSD, MDD, or other mental health disorders.  

Should you fail the PHD test, you are ineligible for mental health benefits.  

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

   Instead, apply for "PTSD, depression, or any other mental health disorder diagnosed by a competent medical professional".  

    You dont need to self diagnose..just apply for any mental health disorder and let the rating specialists do their job and determine which, if any, you are eligible for.  

     Sometimes people try to be "too smart".  Doctors will make your diagnosis, and some of these doctors wont agree which one(s) you have.  That's okay.  You just apply for any/all of them, unless you are taking college classes in becoming a mental health treatment professional, dont worry about the criteria for DSM IV, for PTSD, BPD, MDD, etc.    

     You probably dont know the firing order for your car, either, and you dont need to worry about that unless you are studying to be a car mechanic (technician).  

      Your dbq mentioned depression, and other mental health disorders.  Apply for them all.  The next doc may say something else, altogether.  

Edited September 28, 2019 by broncovet

[Buck52]

If your awarded PTSD  It looks like maybe a 30&or 50% rating.

..You need to see what the MDD criteria is that meet your symptoms  as for maybe a higher rating.

Depression could get you a higher rating   they don't give but one mental rating for MH, but they do diagnose both I have a Diagnose for MDD Also but I also have a PTSD Rating  it was rated 70%...So in my Medical Records I have both these diagnosed .but only one is rated.

[PEACHES1962]

Thank you both for your answers.  I would like to especially thank broncovet as I did not know I could apply for all.  I like the  examples you gave.

[Vync]

You could phrase the claim as "mental health disorders including...". Be slightly vague, but include the specific ones. If you are typing in the form on a computer then there is not much room to type everything. You might want to include anything else on a separate page.

The PTSD part will likely require the VA to perform their own exam to supposedly "verify" the findings. 

[Kuwaitin08]

 I am just speaking from my experience, I would use whatever diagnosis your physician or therapist or counselor gives you. For me I was diagnosed with general anxiety disorder. Upon completing the C&P exam, the VA diagnosed me with PTSD  instead of GAD.  For PTSD you have to meet very specific criteria. If you do not meet the criteria for PTSD and that is what you are going for then you will be denied. It is much easier to be diagnosed with general anxiety disorder. There are not as many criteria to worry about with that one. 

Based on my experience...

[PEACHES1962]

This is why I am confused.  I am currently in therapy now for PTSD-MST based on my meeting all of the criteria. But the dbq is saying I have MDD and Other Specified Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders.  What does Other Specified Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders mean?