diabetes Seeking Advice

[Jerry_O]

You have read my posting. I am presently 60% service connected (Vietnam 68 - 69 Radio Operator). PTSD (30%) Diabetes (20%) Skin Condition Vitilligo (10%), and Tinnitus (10%).

I retired from the Army in 1988 after 22 years. I'm a Vietnam Vet. I was recalled to the Army in 1991 for Desert Storm support and again in Aug 04 through Aug 06 for Iraqi Freedom support - I did not go in country on either of these recalls.

While on active duty at the Pentagon I worked in Casualty and Mortuary Affairs. I was responsible for extracting certain items out of all the casulty reports and on several occassions I had to go to the Dover mortuary. I routinely went to Ft. Mead and oversee the handling of the personal effects of deceased and wounded Soldiers and Marines.

I suffered a heart attack and had a stent replacement while on active duty. I have filed for the MI. I would like to file for an increase in PTSD as I am going thorugh a lot of trauma right now. I'm seeing a VA phys and on anti depressents. Meds aren't working just making me sleepy. I'm not at the lock and load point but I'm very irretable.

What steps should I take? Should I go through my VFW rep? I'm just confused right now and a little on edge. Any assistance is appreciated.

Thank you.

Jerry

[Vike17]

Jerry,

I received your PM you sent me. The only thing you have to do to request an increase of your already service-connected PTSD is write a short letter to your RO stating as such. Along with that letter you will want to attach copies of all the treatment records of your PTSD since that last C&P exam or rating decision. As far as you suffering the heart attach while on active duty, you also need to claim this ASAP! Just note that in your letter also, as you do not need to fill out another VA Form 21-526.

I hope this helps!

Vike 17

[Guest terrysturgis]

Jerry O, you might also search this site and find the DMII traning letter posted by Berta and check to see if you have any other secondary conditions of your DMII such as peripherial neuropathy. Take care. Terry Sturgis

[Hoppy]

Jerry,

Who is this VA physician. Is this your primary doctor or are you being treated in a psych clinic. My suggestion is that you get into treatment in a VA psych clinic and have them work with you in assesing your condition. You can circumvent the need for a C&P just by submitting your treatment notes. Additionally, if they decided to send you to a C&P the treating physicians reports will have to be rebutted by the C&P examiner. Have the treating doctor work up a new GAF score and make an assesment as to the prognosis of your current condition and submit it to the RO. This worked for me.

Edited March 15, 2007 by Hoppy

[Jerry_O]

Thank Hoppy;

I'm seeing a phys if you call it that. I have seen her a total of 40 minutes over the past 8 months. I talk with a guy at the Vet Center here in Kansas City. Other than that I don't have a phys. I will see her again on the 27th of this month and ask her about a new GAF.

Jerry

[mobie16r]

Larry,Vike is right request a increase for your already service connected PTSD and attach evidence showing that your PTSD syptoms has Worsten.The Gaf will take care of itself.

mobie

[Hoppy]

mobie,

The GAF could take care of its self. However, if you had been through what I have been through you would never rely on anything at the VA to take care of itself. 8.5 years, and two denials before a DRO properly rated a slam dunk claim.

Jerry,

If you lean on them they should respond. I was able to obtain a complete re-evaluation of my 26 year history of psych treatment and rediagnosis by VA shrinks. It took three different examiners (a psychiatrist, a PHD in clinical and a test tech with a masters degree) about 20 appointment and thirty hours of interviews over a six month period. They wrote five different reports and changed their diagnosis about three times during the six month period. I have a very complex case. I knew more about the disease and the DSM than the shrinks. Angioedema, was called "angioneurotic edema" and listed in psychiatric manuals as a psych condition that memicked a medical condition for 150 years. The condition is known to have both severe physical symptoms (swelling of the airway and loss of blood pressure) that often result in death and psych symptoms including anxiety and depression. When they wrote the DSM IV they dropped it thus it is no longer considered a psych condition. I argued that the combination of medical and psych symptoms had not changed and now it was a medical condition that memicked a psych condition. I eventually got a DRO to rate the claim properly.