ptsd Filed For Ptsd/mst

[coolredmtn]

HELLO,

I am NEW here ....

I am a Desert Storm Veteran. I filed for PTSD/MST in March of 2006.

I am STILL waiting for a C&P exam. I am currently at 40% SC for other issues.

I have written two Senators and the Govenor of Colorado to get some further assistance. The VARO in Lakewood keeps telling me they have none of the documentation required to make that appointment.

I delivered a copy of everything myself, they should have it.

I reported the rapes to CID ~ this should go to the DA in Denver and to trial in 6-8 months according to the investigators.

I hope this wasnt TOO MUCH INFORMATION.

I can use all the help I can get.

Thanks for "reading".

"coolredmtn"

Kris ~ US Army Veteran

[jbasser]

Kris, Welcome to Hadit. You have landed on the right runway.

Have you taken advantage of the VA's Assault program? I hope so for it is in the Vets best interest.

As far as your claim, The VA will eventualy rate it. The VA system is slow.

There are some folks here at Hadit that have suffered from the same type of assault you have experienced.

They can advise you more spacifically regarding your claim.

I wish you the best and again, Welcome to Hadit.

[Pete53]

Kris:

Welcome to Hadit. I am positive that if you invest some of your time that Hadit can help you with your claim. Have you ever seen your "C" File. It may be an important step to helping you see where you stand.

I recommend that you might consider going to your VARO to inspect your "C" File. The VA will have a Councellor with you and they can answer questions.

Good Luck

[carlie]

Hi Kris,

Glad you found hadit. I'm one of your veteran mst sisters.

Do you have the regulation info from 38 CFR and M21-1MR regarding your claim ?

carlie

[Berta]

Welcome aboard veteran and thank you for your service.

I sure hope you dont have the problems other female veterans are having with the VA:

http://vawatchdog.org/07/nf07/nfAPR07/nf040607-1.htm

"FEMALE VETERANS SLAM VA CITING LACK OF SERVICES --

The VA system remains poorly equipped to

address the needs of women."

But then again the VA web site has addressed this important issue and female veterans should be able to find the help they need in the system.

You need support of those who understand as well as claims help.

Do you have copy of the CID documentation to show you reported this awful incident and any other proof that it occurred?

It is really unconscionable that you delivered stuff to the VA in person and now they claim they dont have it.

Good for you to tell your state Gov and the senators.

I see the 40%SC for other issues- is this the first time you told VA of the rape?

Along with the report you made to CID, is there any other documentation in your mil records-such as did you go to hosp and get rape kit done?

or did you make an outcry- a legal term these days which means that anyone who experiences devastating event like a rape will often make an outcry- by immediatley after the event , telling someone what happened even if the rape cannot be proven-

many however keep it all in- and dont tell anyone-

did you possibly tell anyone in your unit who could give a buddy statement if needed to the VA-or even did you write home or call your family and tell them of this event when it occurred?

Family members also can make buddy statements detailing what you reported to them that happened and how it affected you and caused you emotional pain and anxiety.

There arent many eye witnesses to rapes-

Rapists make sure of that. The VA certainly understands that but still

needs proof of the event.

I think the report you have might be all you need to prove it occurred.

I believe it without even knowing you.

But it is the VA that controls claims like this and they depend on evidence to support their decisions.

Did you get a VCAA letter yet and did it tell you exactly what they need?

Writing to Governors and Senators , Congressmen/women etc is often a very good idea- depending on the circumstances- however that alone can hold a claim up too as work on the claim is stopped to prepare an answer for the congressional inquiry.I know that fact too well-but in your case often the only way for the VA to stop losing what you give them is to tell your congressional or state representatives.

This might help- if the VA loses any more of my stuff I will ask my Congressman to submit the stuff himself under his office address and I will send him the 5 bucks or so for priority postage and a tracking slip - would any of these people you contacted be willing to present your evidence this way too?

[coolredmtn]

HELLO, I did have an "outcry" to the Commanding Officer who did nothing about it.

I thought I had a "character witness" for the buddy letter.

CID went to locate her and found she was killed in a car accident in 1996.

They are interviewing the other drill sgts.

CID is going through the investigation, so no stone is left unturned.

All my doctors and therapists said they mailed documents to VARO ... who knows.

THANKS

Take Care,

Kris

Welcome aboard veteran and thank you for your service.

I sure hope you dont have the problems other female veterans are having with the VA:

http://vawatchdog.org/07/nf07/nfAPR07/nf040607-1.htm

"FEMALE VETERANS SLAM VA CITING LACK OF SERVICES --

The VA system remains poorly equipped to

address the needs of women."

But then again the VA web site has addressed this important issue and female veterans should be able to find the help they need in the system.

You need support of those who understand as well as claims help.

Do you have copy of the CID documentation to show you reported this awful incident and any other proof that it occurred?

It is really unconscionable that you delivered stuff to the VA in person and now they claim they dont have it.

Good for you to tell your state Gov and the senators.

I see the 40%SC for other issues- is this the first time you told VA of the rape?

Along with the report you made to CID, is there any other documentation in your mil records-such as did you go to hosp and get rape kit done?

or did you make an outcry- a legal term these days which means that anyone who experiences devastating event like a rape will often make an outcry- by immediatley after the event , telling someone what happened even if the rape cannot be proven-

many however keep it all in- and dont tell anyone-

did you possibly tell anyone in your unit who could give a buddy statement if needed to the VA-or even did you write home or call your family and tell them of this event when it occurred?

Family members also can make buddy statements detailing what you reported to them that happened and how it affected you and caused you emotional pain and anxiety.

There arent many eye witnesses to rapes-

Rapists make sure of that. The VA certainly understands that but still

needs proof of the event.

I think the report you have might be all you need to prove it occurred.

I believe it without even knowing you.

But it is the VA that controls claims like this and they depend on evidence to support their decisions.

Did you get a VCAA letter yet and did it tell you exactly what they need?

Writing to Governors and Senators , Congressmen/women etc is often a very good idea- depending on the circumstances- however that alone can hold a claim up too as work on the claim is stopped to prepare an answer for the congressional inquiry.I know that fact too well-but in your case often the only way for the VA to stop losing what you give them is to tell your congressional or state representatives.

This might help- if the VA loses any more of my stuff I will ask my Congressman to submit the stuff himself under his office address and I will send him the 5 bucks or so for priority postage and a tracking slip - would any of these people you contacted be willing to present your evidence this way too?

[coolredmtn]

HEY ~ Sister,

I do not have the regulation.

Is it something I can find online or contact my Rep??

Thanks,

Kris

Hi Kris,

Glad you found hadit. I'm one of your veteran mst sisters.

Do you have the regulation info from 38 CFR and M21-1MR regarding your claim ?

carlie

[carlie]

Here you go girl:

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-...110&idno=38

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-....73&idno=38

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-....74&idno=38

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-....77&idno=38

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-....78&idno=38

Here: http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/M21_1MR.html

Research under: Mental Disabilities - PTSD - Personal Trauma - Additional evidence to support claim

such as mititary reports, police reports, gyn visits, drop in performance levels, request to change duty station, letters written to people at home, reports to clergy etc...

If you send me a PM or email I will share another source with you that deals pretty much strictly with MST claims and some cases that were granted.

-- carlie

[Berta]

Kris -so you have a service officer or a vet rep with offices at the same VARO who could see if, in fact, these documents did get to the VARO?

They could be critical to your claim and it would be awful to learn at some point, the VA doesnt have them.

Good for you- the CO-

would there be any possible record of that meeting?

if you remember their name they possibly could be located to corroborate what you told them.

They didnt witness what happened- but they can state that you did tell them of all this when it happened.Then again- they took no action-

but if you contact them perhaps you could still get what you need from them-?

[tssnave]

Cool Red,

Welcome. I'm sorry to hear about your situation. Hang in there.

If you are able to afford it, my suggestion is to get the C&P exam guidelines for PTSD and go over it with a private psychologist before your C&P exam to understand how it will be conducted. I had a mental disorder C&P exam (the PTSD one is different than the mental disorder one, I think) and I was so caught off guard by some of the questions that I answered many of them incompletely. Basically blew the C&P exam. Still got 50% because I'm pretty spun in general but am now going through the process of getting an independent medical opinion to try to get the 70% and ultimately Individual Unemployability that is accurate to my disability.

Also, cross reference the C&P with the rating used to evaluate your condition. On my C&P exam they ask about panice attacks and how they affect your ability to function independently. However, on the rating schedule it says "near continuous depression or panic attacks that affect the ability to function independently" so they don't even ask you about all the criteria they are going to rate you against.

Be wary of close ended questions. Anything they ask you needs to be answered in the context of your disability. I was asked if I had panic attacks. I said no. The examiner moved on to the next question. I didn't realize I was supposed to tell her that I avoided those situations that brought on panic attacks and then list them for her and show how they affected my ability to live independently. I was ignorant, hadn't found hadit, and will most likely wait another 3 years after I send in my new examination for a re-evaluation. That's hoping the VA will read it and rate on it.

Anyway, use the time before your C&P exam to educate yourself. It is one thing to be in a theraputic relationship with a shrink and talk about the worst parts of your life; it is another all together to go into a C&P exam and have to get it all out to a total stranger in less than an hour.

Good luck, hang in there and keep us posted.

ts snave

[Twowolves12]

Hi

I have a claim that I filed for PTSD/MST from a male/male rape that occured in 1990 and the VA is giving me the run around as well. You said "If you send me a PM or email I will share another source with you that deals pretty much strictly with MST claims and some cases that were granted." I would apprieciate any help...

Thank You

Here you go girl:

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-...110&idno=38

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-....73&idno=38

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-....74&idno=38

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-....77&idno=38

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-....78&idno=38

Here: http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/M21_1MR.html

Research under: Mental Disabilities - PTSD - Personal Trauma - Additional evidence to support claim

such as mititary reports, police reports, gyn visits, drop in performance levels, request to change duty station, letters written to people at home, reports to clergy etc...

If you send me a PM or email I will share another source with you that deals pretty much strictly with MST claims and some cases that were granted.

-- carlie

[carlie]

Twowolves12,

The case you may find good for your research is Patton v West.

carlie

[Speaking Out]

Glad you found Hadit! There are great people here who will help you anyway they can. I am with you on the MST. We are a family here and if you need anyone to talk to you'll always find someone here. Let us know how we can help.