Seeing pysch. doc every week at the ptsd clinic in sa, lowered gaf score from 40 to 35, due to severe levels of depression, commorbid w/severe chronic ptsd. Am still waiting on an DRO interview, almost 18 months now. Have been seeing haha since 2007, and am not quite sure where all this is going....pls advise....hamster on a wheel.....

If your PTSD stressor has been verified and you are not working you are probably looking at IU or 100% rating. What did your C&P exam say? The C&P exam will be what the VA mostly depends on to make a rating along with other medical records.

Are you currently service connected for PTSD or MDD or were you denied all together? It does not matter what your GAF score is if you can't get service connection. If you are service connected you are looking at 70 - 100 percent. The GAF score is not the overall determing factor.

Interesting enough, after almost 2 years since opening my claim from 1992, have been diagnosed with ptsd/mdd/gad all of which are severe, and chronic. Have been on meds for 21 months now and see the haha every week at the veteran outpatient clinic weekly, indivivual one on one, symptoms too severe for group. VA shrink diagnosed, wrote nexus summary, sets gaf at 35.
texas veterans commission states that I have a good case, yet have not had a dro board since nod submitted since feb. 2008. Denied by the VA, 1. you have been diagnosed, yet do not show a combat stressor. Claim submitted was for ptsd via personal assualt, and near fatal electrocution. All data sent was for non-combat ptsd, and post concussion residuals. Am I missing something here?

How do you go about requesting a C&P, since I have been diagnosed with ptsd/mdd and a nexus summary was placed in my medical records by my VA phyc. and VA nuerophyc. I am presently waiting a requested DRO interview to straighten out these issues for my non-combat relationship of two tbi's while on active duty. resulting in ptsd/mdd/gad and a gaf or 35. Seen weekly one on one individual therapy for two years and on meds. for 21 months now. The initial claim in 1992, is now reopened and am stuck in a hamster wheel. Can not get anything from the ro in houston and they will not expain status of the claim. Texas veterans commission, wants me to wait and not rock the boat until the dro board. States if nothing is heard by houston by september, will readress the issue with some kind of writ?

have any of your doctors connected these in-service stressors to your current PTSD? Even when it's obvious, you can't expect the VA to assume this. On your SOC what was the full reason the VA denied your claim? I know you said they couldn't verify but were there other reasons?

I'm surprised the VA hasn't ordered you a Comp&Pen exam for "other opinion" for a nexus to your in-service events. You can always request a comp&pen exam through your VSO. Surprised your VSO hasn't requested this too.

frank

in answer to your last, yes all doctors seen so far have connected current diagnosis to stressors involved during military service, 1 psychiatrist, 2 psychologists, 1 neuropsychologist. I have submitted numerous 21-4138s to houston beginning02/12/08 and have yet to hear from them. Denial statement verbatiem; Your first claim for post-traumatic stress disorder was dinied by rating dated august 14, 1992, because you were not shown to have been diagnosed with it. We asked you to provide stressor infomation for your new claim and you did not. (not true, sent to Phoenix varo.) also initial 21-4138 statement and support of claim submitted explaim in plain english what occurred and that the stressors were non-combat related. "Wd have obtaimed your personnel records from the service department which serve as new and material evidence to reopen the claim but they do not contain any evidence of a combat stressor that might be used to support your contention. Sc. for ptsd requires medical evidence diagnosing the link, established by medical evidence, between current symptoms and an in-service stressor occurred. You are treated now at the VA for ptsd but there is no evidence of an in-service stressor that might have caused it. the claim for sc for ptsd is considered reopened based on additional service records; however, the evidence continues to show this condition was not incurred in or aggravated by military service." This is real interesting considering the two stressors were a near fatal electrocution from a ship to shore power cable blew up in my face, blinded me for two days and is demonstrated in my service medical records. 2ndly, was attacked by an unknown attacker on my ship during my 18th year of service and suffurred a closed head injury; concussion, and post concussion symptoms, also illustrated in service medical records. All of this information was sent to them and they still denied the claim, as stated before i now have the 3 elements to establish service connection for ptsd. 1. a diagnosis, 2. a nexus, from the VA psychologist who has been treating me for two years on a weekly basis. Also, a VA neuropsychologist who evaluated me for post concussion residuals; Stating in her summary that it is more likely that not the two reported tbi injuries and ptsd symptoms are causing this veterans issues at this time. That due to the severity and chronicity of these military related injuries psychiatric therapy would best assist this veteran at this time. 3. verification of the stressors, dah, ie; the medical records verify the stressors in content. 1. Ship to Shore cable exploded in face causing neurological blindness, flashburns to face, hair , eyes, arms....2. treatment for concussion at balboa naval hospital for closed head injury from unknown attacker aboard a naval ship. Diagnoses; concussion, and later diagnoses of symptoms of a post concussion syndrome. Cat scan acomplished in hawaii, 12 days later can not understand why symptoms persist. Eight months later, career ended 18 and a half years flushed down the toilet, honorable discharge. Submitted claim 1 month after seperation, was diagnosed with possible ptsd at the veterans center here in sa. VA failed to obtain those records or conduct any exams as per requested through the veterans center in SA. I seem to be losing context as per the increase in emotional stress and intrusive thoughts are taking over. standby.......mark

This is the kind of claim where a good lawyer rather than some dense VSO would be of great help. You did not even get a C&P exam and it seems the VA has completely misunderstood your claim. That is because the VA is fixated on combat stressors where vet has combat medals. Non-combat PTSD has a greater hurdle since you must prove from records that the stressor event happened to you. Nothing is assumed just because you have the diagnosis espcially since many years have passed since your discharge. I think I would try and see if I could get a lawyer for this. Waiting for a DRO when you have not even had a C&P exam means the best that can happen is the DRO accepts your stressor and sends you for a C&P. Everything depends on your stressor being accepted, current diagnosis of PTSD and nexus between the two things. In your case there is no presumption of a stressor. Even those with oombat stressors who do not have combat medals have to prove it.

This is interesting considering, both incidents are considered diagnostic criteria A-1 Traumatic stressor events IAW dsm-iv and noted extensively in service medical records and also personell records showing drastic personality and characture changes in service. Even (m21-1mr) has 17 requirements to verify a stressor event in which I meet 15 of the requirements. Explain what your understanding of " no presumption of a stressor is?" This is confusing to me and I may need to research presumption clause again.....mark

It is ALWAYS the claimant's responsibility to ensure copies of everything get to VA
and that is the bottom line.
Vet Centers do not order exams - decision makers (raters) order exams
and they don't HAVE to order an exam because a Vet Center requests one.

carlie

They will answer your presumption question, I am sure. It sounds to me we have a classic case, of rotating the file to bottom, because along the way someone got irritated. I had e-mails from someone else like you, that was waiting for two, years, he had a tracking document, that showed he had made 293 attemps to get his claim resolved. To the bottom of pile my friend.

your absolutely right,
no cib, ph, or combat relation last on the list, if you ever make the list. This is great sh_t, and I find it really comical to say the least. The record is clear, the stressors are verifible through service medical records and personell records. Same crap they told me in 1992, your injuries were not caused or combat related and the VA can not assist you in yur treatment for non-combat related injuries. 1992, diagnosed w/ possible ptsd. referred to VA for futher follow up..
WHAT A RIDICULOUS, IGNORANT,SELF SERVING CIRCLE.....Pi__ed off VETERAN!!!!!

Mrkman12, I didn't see it before , possible PTSD, the old catch 22
Berta Sharon John999 will have to guide
you
I can't seem to get rated muself, and I have the required Stessors.........??

Yes maam,
I understand this and in 2007, 2008, 2009 all evidence has been sent to the varo at houston since reopening the claim from 1992. I have a stack of VAF21-4138s 2 inches high sent to these gomers thru my vso since 2007. According to my vso who is the director of the sa district, servoce office, that I have established the three essential elements for the claim of ptsd/mdd. And if I had not been suffering the residuals of a concussion, would have persued the endeavor back in 1992, when the symptoms were not as severe as they are now. It is not my intention to aggrevate others, yet help them understand the severity of the symptoms, the chronicity of the symptoms and the lack of assistants from the VA and its overall effect it has had on the quality of life in which I am forced to endure. Understand vet centers do not order exams, what should of happened in 1992, was aleast an assessment should have been completed by the VA hospital due to the vets centers diagnosis of possible ptsd. Failure to assist is the issue, not who has responsibility to order exams.... ie: Veteran goes to VA hospital, stating "I do not feel right, since I got out last month." Does he wait for the raters to order up an exam and see whats happening? Or do we take him down to the clinic or emergency wing, assign a primary care representative or doctor and conduct a means test?
Or do way just send him out the door stating: " your injuries are not caused or related to combat, so there fore we can not assist you." (SOME VETERANS MAY POSSIBLY NEED TO BE TAKEN BY THE HAND AND ACTUALLY ASSISTED).

With a Gaf of 35 to 40 and if you do get service conencted you will have a problem.

You most likely will not be able to handle your financial affairs and the VA will have to appoint someone.

J

It is really odd, I mean having such a low general functioning score, and can still maintain a reasonable amount of perception in this matter. After 18 and half years of honorable service it is actually, humilating to have to go back to those people at the VA. If the symptoms were not so severe and I could maintain my own abilities to control those symptoms I would still be working, have been a workaholic-drunkaholic now for 18 years, and am ashamed to have to ask for help from others. especially the freakin va. Do you comprehend? mark

I understand that it is like a flesh eating bacteria that eats away at you until your gone unless you find the courage and will to halt it. You can never cure it but you have to find some way somehow to manage it or it will get the best of you.

Hang in there. Dont be afraid to ask for help. Be afraid of the results if you dont.

J

Jbasser that great advice!!

your probably looking at a 100% p&T (permanent and total) with a custodian to handle your affairs (however you can designate custodian to receive your checks and disburse your money - just be careful who you pick) GAF is not the final determining factor but tell that to the evaluators. If evaluations followed all the standards and regs then veterans wouldn't have so many appeals and claim issues.