ptsd Combat Marine Needs Help Bad

[WILLY3521]

hey anyone that can answer these questions or provide me help, please do....

I am a former marine(presently30%) who while serving in the Sunni province in Iraq, took part in numerous IED attacks, small arms attacks, mortar attacks, as well as participating in the battle of Fallujah. I have a Combat Action Ribbon as well as a Navy Commendation Medal for my actions in combat as well as the documentation for all of the above in my service records. I have been diagnosed as having PTSD by one private psychiatrist, (two months after leaving the service), as well as one VA psychiatrist. But I have had two VA psychologists rule out PTSD (one being the C&P examiner), as well as a VA psychology intern. I am and have been in treatment since the C&P exam and have been on numerous medications for PTSD symptoms since then. This treatment is with both the VA psychiatrist who has diagnosed me with PTSD as well as one of the psychologists who have ruled it out (so far she is saying I do not have all of the symptoms), when my C&P exam was done they did not take into consideration any of my awards as well as the private psychiatrist's diagnosis of PTSD and I was not yet in treatment for mental problems with the VA yet and my claim was denied. These are my questions....

1) Does the psychologists' and the intern's diagnosis cancel out the psychiatrists' diagnosis or is it the other way around?

2) Is staying with this psychologist(she has ruled it out so far) hurting my claim?

3) Do I need more evidence, such as two more diagnosis', to outweigh the three rule outs?

I really could use all the help I get because I am lost right now and struggling financially,and I have a baby on the way and my current living conditions are not suitable for a child(no running water or gas)......Willy3521

[Stretch]

Willy,

It is rough that you had to witness the things that you did witness; were exposed to and feel rejected by our own Government systems. In a way, we feel feel put-down or put-off because the Military and VA needs of documentation for almost every event and illness that we experienced. The need for this documentation is the requirement of law, and this documentation can be presented in various ways.

My pride had told me that the VA was calling me a liar. Everything that I thought was so clear was vague to the VA, in terms of documentation. My C-file is six volumes and it has been described as Massive, in my C&P exams. My claims had been going for 2 years before I came to Hadit and I just kept sending in minute detail, of situations that happened, everytime the VA would send the 'What we need from you statement'.

The VA is extremely slow in its Service Connection claims process. The process is being speeded up right now for newer service persons like you, although it may seem extremely slow.

Hadit, gave me the drive, knowledge, and fellowship I needed to pursue my claims. Knowledge of the VA Process, at Hadit, is from Veterans like yourself who have been injured and within the VA Process, sharing all that they can to help, and this knowledge has been accumulated by Hadit Veterans over a period of time.

I don't have much to offer, but I would suggest that you get buddy letters of events that happened inservice before you lose track of your Buddies. Looking for these people after 30 years can be difficult if not impossible.

There are many examples of these buddy letter's on hadit. The Letters must be dated, have relationships of the person in your unit, an honest Abe statement, and several other things you will find here at Hadit.

[Pete53]

I agree with TestVet you should use them both.However, it seems that the second one is more disturbing. It should not be up to Veterans to decide what the best stressor is.

[WILLY3521]

The first question my VA C&P examiner asked me was "do you know anybody important in the military or the VA?" is this their policy or did I just have a screwed up examiner who only gives a crap about her career? Because that has nothing to do with my health or condition.

[Pete53]

Willy that stinks. Maybe you should let us know as much as you feel comfortable talking about. Just that question makes me wonder about the objectivity of your C&P.

[carlie]

taicho,

You posted,

"If I were you I would try to locate the nearest Vet Center. Get them to furnish counseling. If they are not close, they may do it on a fee basis.

They are limited by law to one full year of counseling. Get them behind you and the VA should listen to them if they recognise that you have PTSD. "

Would you please share with us, where you got this information you have posted stating the Vet Centers "are limited by law to one full year of counseling."

This is not true by any means and needs to be corrected. Totally inaccurate information of

this nature is detrimental to veterans seeking medical attention and at all cost should be disregarded.

jmho,

carlie

[Berta]

That doesn't make sense to me either Carlie-

I worked at a Vet Center much longer than a year-as a volunteer-

In our PTSD combat Rap group all of the vets had started there as soon as the center opened.They were mostly all still going to the Rap group even after we moved to NY.I was there for years -they voted me into the PTSD group.That 'year of counseling' statement doesnt make any sense.