ptsd Just Separated, Need Help

[Bluegrass30]

I just separated after and I am starting my first claim and need some advice. First some background:

On my separation physical the Dr. noted the following under Summary of Defects and Diagnoses:

1.Shin Splints (s/p Right Tibia Stress Fx)

2.GERD

3.Tinnitus

4.High Frequency Hearing Loss Both ears

5. Right Shoulder pain, s/p Weaver Dunn procedure for Grade V A-C separation.

On the Report of Medical History (separate form), I noted all of the above and in addition I noted knee pain. The doctor commented in the notes section on each one and just put "noted" for the knee pain but did not list it under Summary of Defects and Diagnoses. I also have a copy of my medical record so making any SC connection should not be an issue.

General Questions

1. Should I go see a private doc to document everything again?

2. Should I file for everything at once?

Specific Question:

1.Shin splints- When filling out the form should I list each leg separately for shin splints and another for residual pain from stress fracture or just lump everything together? Also my last treatment was 2005 but they are still jacked up, so should I go see a private doc before I file?

2.GERD-First diagnosed on separation physical and prescribed meds that just ran out. Should I go see a private doc for this before filing?

3.Tinnutius- Should be fine here.

4. HFHL-From what I have read here this is a long shot.

5. Pain from shoulder surgery- Last surgery was a couple months before I separated so this should be good but once again wondering if I should get it evaluated by private doc?

6.Knee pain- Only item in medical records was from 1999 (trauma to left knee). They both hurt like hell but always just "sucked it up and moved on" while I was active duty. Any suggestions here since it was "noted" by the Dr. but not listed a defect?

7.Other joint pain- (Ankles and bad elbow) The are not listed in my medical or separation physical but someone told me to go ahead and list them on the claim in case they get worse later in life. That way it is already SC? What is your thoughts on this?

PTSD Question:

I was in OIF and after reading this board and other veteran sites I realize I fit the symptoms to a tee (and my wife agrees). I am planning on seeing a private shrink to see what they say but I am pretty sure I will be diagnosed with PTSD. Should I hold off until that is done and if necessary file later or file including PTSD now?

Also any other tips or advice would be helpful. I plan on talking to a VSO but this board has been a great resource.

[sixthscents]

OH, by the way a Compensation and Pension examination or C&P exam is NOT to determine treatment, care, or anything other than the level of injury sustained or worsened....

IT IS NOT LIKE GOING TO A NORMAL DOCTOR....

Please tell your normal doctor how your pain meds and others meds affect you.... I am NOT saying not to tell your regular doctor, but people make the NATURAL mistake that since they are talking to a doctor or specialist during a C&P exam, that somehow these people are there to help TREAT their illness or injury, when in fact they are simply there to determine its extent... and how it affects your functionality... and its probability of service connection....ABSOLUTELY nothing else in the treatment or care of that same injury or illness....

AGAIN.... Tell your normal doctor everything, to include the level of pain you feel today from 1-10 etc... but...

A C&P specialist doesnt care except to the extent of how it depicts a "snapshot" of the effects of your injury... so I generally suggest that C&P examiners be told simply the facts, without taking into consideration any artificial reduction in capacity, or pain....

I run into again and again and again where the vet tells the doctor that they feel no pain upon rotation, or manipulation of a joint when they have just taken their meds 20 minutes before, and cant reasonably drive a car without a DUI, but tell the doctor "nope doesn't hurt a bit" then get home and are in a great deal of pain just from the drive.....

I ALSO counsel vets to consider NORMAL day to day functions when describing their symptoms to the doctor... certainly it is reasonable to tell the doctor that after a small - medium - normal amount if activity you feel such and such pain...

Things to consider...

how does driving effect my injury...

how does walking, sitting, sttoping standing pulling effect my injury...

how does NORMAL daily functions like loading a washer, then unloading it and placing the clothes in a dryer effect you?

how does SHOPPING effect you?

and during your C&P describe how these activities effect you, and what you can and now CANNOT do with any regularity....

MAKE A LIST - give it to the doctor.... typed, not written of things you CANNOT do, and WHY.. such as CANNOT UNLOAD WET CLOTHERS FROM WASHER... causes low back pain, unable to rotate with load etc....

or... and this is not a suggestion but... you might just not take any pain meds the night before the exam... now I AM NOT SAYING NOT TO TAKE MEDICALLY NECESSARY MEDICATION TO KEEP YOU RUMP ALIVE.... so please do NOT stop taking heart meds, insulin, etc.... BUT...

Pain meds and other meds that just help alleviate the pain and symptoms.. that in NOT taking do not pose a hazard... well call your normal doc and ask him what you could not take for 48 hours... and explain why (not a VA doc.. a civilian one...) stressing you want to present as accurate as possible injury picture... and see what they say...

With all this said... you still will probably get an "under-estimated" C&P but at this point you have done your part... honestly...

Like I said, dont lie, just the facts... not that you or anyone would, but... many think vets do... personally I dont think it would benefit anyone anyway since they seem to base their finding on mostly objective rather than subjective evidence, but... theres always the exception....

Edited February 16, 2007 by sixthscents

[Berta]

"We all have a tendency to underemphasize our symptoms... its a military thing, but you cannot do this during your C&P exam... further you cannot describe HOW you feel under medication - that does NOT provide a real, or realistic picture of the extent of the injury... I normally counsel my vets to tell the doctors their symptoms taking into consideration their pain medication and the effects they would have WITHOUT it."

Very good points- I basically agree with most of what you said-

I noticed however, that if a vet Overemphasizes their problems, and like for a PTSD claim- goes on and on about stressors but do not focus on which ones they can prove-

and I mean just in the context of telling me their war story-

if this gets to be long rendition- and they then attempt this at C & P exam- that does not help their PTSD claim at all-my opinion-

I think it is a psychological fact that when someone keeps repeating over and over stressors,they take chance of embellishing them-or changing them --- embellishment or change is a red flag to any psychiatric professional- that something doesn't sound kosher.

BVA has even remarked on inconsistencies in stressor statements.

Vets with bonafide stressors hardly even want to talk about it usually and dont have to embellish what happened.

A vet from another state visiting a neighbor was sent over here to see if I could "get him

some PTSD comp"-the vet spent hours here for 3 days telling me over and over again incredible stressor stories of his service.(No combat) The wife and sister came too and added their opinions-and remember you said this and that happened in the military, they gave you LSD -on and on-

it became impossible to figure on what stressor he could prove-many were just absurd-but who knows-he mentioned some AWOL but the wife said yeah but you had an excuse-it went on and on-and they changed awol subject when I asked about that-

I sent him over to my vet rep-he said he had a VA access card for care but they had denied him care-in Georgia or somewhere-he showed it to me but it didnt look right-I met them at the vet reps office-

My vet rep heard what he could-(the stories had started to change)and all three of them were talking at once-the rep asked for the VA card- and then he made a phone call-and then told this veteran that he was not eligible for VA health care at all and that he honestly did not see any chance for a service connection claim for PTSD.

(wonder who he called)

I guess the vet had bad paper -real bad paper- and I think the vet rep immediately picked up on these embellished incidents of stressors.

But you just never know-

I was surprised that the rep did not fill out a 21-526 for him anyhow- but

there was something that phone call revealed that told him not to bother-

C & Ps are not the time and place to bring up new conditions or take any focus off the C & P exam.

And I agree that 99% of vets most surely play down their problems at C & Ps.Or do not know what to expect (the blank C & Ps are all at the VA web site) and fail to challenge when the ROM is not properly determined with a whatchamacallit- measuring thing-

or if the doc failed to do something else critical to the C & P exam.

The worksheet for C & Ps should be followed to the letter.

I see no problem with a vet bringing one with them for their specific C & P-

not to offend the doc- just to make sure the bases were covered-

before VA denied because the exam was not done right.

[Pete53]

Bluegrass Welcome to Hadit where Vets help each other win claims.

[Bluegrass30]

All,

Thanks for all the insights it really helps. I am still confused on one item, besides a diagnosis of PTSD from a Dr. What else is required? From Iraq I have the Iraqi Campaign Medal, Combat Action Ribbon and a Personal Medal with a combat "V" device? I would assume that would be enough to SC it but I am confused on exactly what the VA will need.

Thanks,

Bluegrass