How does the VA determine what conditions are presumptive to be service connected? I have wondered on occasion why anxiety isn't presumptive for gays in the military. From my own experience, before DADT, the stress of losing my job or being outed was real, ever-present, and palpable. I only realized this detail about myself AFTER I already joined, so it was too late to do anything about it. I felt captive for the rest of my tour of duty, and recently read there's this new diagnosis on the heels of Complex PTSD called PDSD...or prolonged duration stress disorder. But I'd be happy just getting service connection for my social phobia and generalized anxiety disorder. It has slowly but steadily mentally crippled me.
How does the VA determine what conditions are presumptive to be service connected? I have wondered on occasion why anxiety isn't presumptive for gays in the military.
To be presumptive a condition must have manifested itself while on active duty, been treated and diagnosed. Or it may manifest within one year from separation being treated and diagnosed. Anxiety is a condition that can be service connected. It must be currently diagnosed with a nexus (link) to the active duty condition. Being gay would\should not have any affect. If it did, it would\could mean a gay person enlists, or is comissioned with an automatic service connected disability check in the future for life.
I'm curious to know the metrics on how many gay veterans are discharged with anxiety conditions that are rooted in the service because the military's stance that require gay veterans' need to hide their identity. It has to be harmful. It fosters shame, which diminishes self worth and it opened me up to blackmail & assault. I refuse to believe I'm the only case. And all the gay bashing that went on in the 1980s? Has that all gone away in today's military?
I don't see any good in DADT. I don't believe every gay vet should get service connection awarded, but those with any degree of anxiety rooted in their experiences--absolutely they should be compensated. STAT!
ohbeehave: "how many gay veterans are discharged with anxiety conditions that are rooted in the service because the military's stance that require gay veterans' need to hide their identity. It has to be harmful. It fosters shame, which diminishes self worth and it opened me up to blackmail & assault."
I am at a loss of why it is necessary for any person, to state what their sexual preference may be. I do not wish to sound cold, but during my entire period on Navy service, I cannot remember sexual orientation being discussed. I do not remember identity being other than who someone happened to be.
Being assaulted is sound reason for service connection, of both mental and physical disabilities resulting from the assault. The condition must have been treated and diagnosis given, as must be in any other claim. Misconduct of the claimant is also a reason for the VA to deny a claim. Thus how the assualt was written, on the official report is a major factor.
Although I was not in the service during the 1980's, I still lived and functioned in soceity and saw reactions from people regarding gay issues. People are just people. Some people accept others as they are, others do not.
Originally posted by DaveBarker: I am at a loss of why it is necessary for any person, to state what their sexual preference may be. I do not wish to sound cold, but during my entire period on Navy service, I cannot remember sexual orientation being discussed. I do not remember identity being other than who someone happened to be.
Although I was not in the service during the 1980's, I still lived and functioned in soceity and saw reactions from people regarding gay issues. People are just people. Some people accept others as they are, others do not.
Dave, of course you're at a loss because this is outside of the realm of your experience. Gays need confidants and friends (a support network if you will) just like heterosexual people do--to talk about life as it unfolds around them. In my experience, someone I trusted turned on me, shipmates broke into my locker, correspondence intercepted, I was spied on. My sexual preference didn't need to be stated, per se, but people sought out their version of the truth for nefarious reasons. When guys make fun of you for the way you walk and you try to cover it up to become someone you're not to avoid harassment only then might you understand why sexual orientation is an issue. When you are trying to be private, but your shipmates won't let it rest and come up with nicknames for you by calling you their "b**ch," slapping your a**, when you fear someone thinks they can extort sexual favors from you or otherwise inform your command about your secret--whatever...then, my friend, sexual orientation needs to be discussed.
And here's where I grow cold. The fact that people don't get this intrigues me. It's not always "as long as they leave me alone" out there. If you're not a bully, then you're not going to ever get this until you meet someone who tries to tell you that this is indeed a very personal, private issue that ruins peoples lives.
On oct 12 I will have a CP exam to determine my rating for anxiety and depression. My question is how long after that do I have to wait to recieve my compensation? What is the typical rating given for anxiety and depression? Will it most likely be a mixture, by this I mean, 30 percent for anxiety and 30 percent for depression which equals 60 percent? Also, I was just fired from my job because I went into a explosive rage with one of my employees. I was the manager and the employee was the one who began the confrontation. Unfortunatly, after a long day of work (9 hours) my bi-polar got the best of me and i couldn't stop with the shouting and cursing. For this reason, I'm in desperate need of some funds. Fast! Thanks
I will start with your last statement "I'm in desperate need of some funds." As unfair as it seems this will not get action any faster. I have read C&P reports where the veteran commented similar thought to the doctor, and it worked against the veteran. I understand where you are coming from, however those making the decisions are insensitive to the financial plight. The VA must determine if the rating for anxiety and depression is going to be service connected. That is the purpose of the C&P exam. After the exam is completed, typed and processed by the C&P clerk at the local VAMC, it is forwarded to the Rating Specialist in the VA Regional Office who compares it to your service medical records. This to determine if the condition is a result of your active duty service. If not, your VSO should use your personnel records, to determine if there are issues in those, to benefit your claim. You asked "what is the typical rating given for anxiety and depression? Will it most likely be a mixture, by this I mean, 30 percent for anxiety and 30 percent for depression which equals 60 percent." Not normally. The condition will normally be rated anxiety with depression. The rating will be determined by the affect the condition has on your functioning in the workplace and social settings. One or two outbursts will not determine your rating. You asked "how long after that do I have to wait to recieve my compensation?" An average in Ohio period is 95 days from the date of the C&P, it may vary some in other regions, but not much.
My brother is 100% sevice connected for PTSD. He wants badly to re-enter military service and every recruiter he has spoken with says no way. Anyone hav any helpful ideas? Thanks
I answered that question on Open Discussion. It is an exact duplicate question.
I refer you to the PTSD forum on Health and Fitness Discussion Boards. You may find help for your brother and his condition. It may help you as well in dealing with his situation. Please read the rules before posting, they are strictly enforced. http://forums.military.com/eve/forums/a/cfrm/f/247197221
I don't think a lot of troops know they can go for alcohol treatment and help without hurting their careers. They can go and get help and it's confidential and doesn't go in their regular health record. After 5 years it is destroyed. If those with problems don't get help their command will eventually know anyway. How do I know? I worked with them on base. Just go to the alcohol counselor on base and if you have a secondary problem like depression or bipolar that exasperates your use of alcohol that counselor can refer you to their psychiatrist who can also assist you to transition into the mental health system with medication. It does not go against your career and you can discuss all this with the alsohol psychiatrist before transfer and allow him/her to assist with the transition or decision making. We treated many PTSD cases as well that were exasperated with alcohol abuse/dependence/suicide attempts, etc.
JohnyBgood My story was similar to yours. I had 17 years in when I got diagnosed with Bipolar 1 disorder. I told my military doctor I wanted to finish what I started and retire. The doctor then treated me for one year and did not med board me. A med board takes away your Commands ability to help you stay in. I think you could expect 50% from the VA for early separation due to Bipolar disorder. A 50% rating can be increased later if you have very good reasons documented by a doctor. My advice is fight to stay in, make copies of your medical records, and file with the VA as soon as you retire. Good Luck.
I will be recieving a letter from the rating board this week, since it has been more than 2 weeks aleady. Does this mean I will be given a rating for my depresion and anxiety or can I still be denied at this point in the process? If I'm approve, how long after do I have to wait to be compensated? Thanks
Originally posted by The_American_Empire: Quick question Dave,
I will be recieving a letter from the rating board this week, since it has been more than 2 weeks aleady. Does this mean I will be given a rating for my depresion and anxiety or can I still be denied at this point in the process? If I'm approve, how long after do I have to wait to be compensated? Thanks
My question is how do you know you will be receiving a letter from the rating board?
As far as the rating goes, without seeing the case, I cannot even guess how the rating will be determined. And being honest, even when I represent a veteran, the decision reasoning often conflicts with my opinion. After receiving an award letter, the retroactive amount is usually received within 15 days. The monthly payment is on the 1st of each month.
I Called the VA in St. Petersburg and they told me that a letter was in the mail about what decision the board came too. So you are saying I shouldn't get my hopes up to high then? Ok thanks
if they shoot you down, just get ready to fight. everyone gets shot down. just d.a.v. and see what they have planned next. you DO have a rep, i hope? and it seems to be a good thing when they lose your record. means you're winning. just have your senator tell them to find it. i had this happen when i got 100%. shocked me, at first. but i was happy with that first check.
So what did you get 100% rating for? I don't think I will be rated, if I'm rated at all, more than 40 or 50%. My service connected disability is depression/anxiety. I have all the records that showed my depression while in the military as well as how it affected me since leaving. Also, I have civilian Pdoc reports on my illness. Nevertheless, I feel I will not get it the first time around. Lately, I have been having some really bad luck. (haha) First, my bipolar cause me to lose my job, I had a bout with depression, the current job that I have hardly pays the bills, and now i need a new engine and rear gear box for my car. Time will tell though.
Greeting folks, Guess what? I have been denied again. Yepee!!! With all the evidence I have provided, such as both civilian and VA pdocs analysis and the fact that I began taking Paxil less than a month after being release etc I'm still denied?! WOW! Also, while in the navy because of my depression and anxiety I couldn't perform up to the standards I previously did, so I opted to go TAD for the last 6 months of my service. Additionaly, I have a military doctors evualation that indicated that my mental state was on the low side. During this meeting with the doc, I stated that I considered suicide with the last past year, usually didn't have no support,experience significant depression, and that my worries interfered with my daily life in which it did. Lastly, in my military medical files I indicated that I was experiencing insomnia as well as depression and they STILL DENY ME! AMAZING! I'm going to appeal one more time. This will be my 4th or 5th appeal. This was the first time my I was went to be evaulated for my case, and I thought I was going succeed this time. At my evaulation the doctor once again stated that i'm bipolar, which I continue to think I wasn't. Maybe this affected my case negatively, since my brother is also Bipolar. But, since I entered the military at age 20 I could have been Bipolar while in the military as well since the disease usually manifest itself in the early tweenties. Anyhow, I have no more evidence to provide other than my navy buddy statement of my behavior and activity while in the military. If my last appeal doesn't work, I won't appeal again and just get on with my life. Thanks for listen. Peace
WHO is representing you? i had super success with d.a.v. and don't tell me no is, please.
i got lucky. unbelievable. shot down once, 70% next try. but i had letters i'd written right after i got out, reports from the vet center, outside shrink, and my adopted aunt on how i'd changed. i said i wasn't suicidal or homicidal, but i'd sure like to beat the holy crap out of one guy i served with, a few dozen times. write to me privately, if you'd like. gotta be something that can be done. tried ? eligiable for the vet center?
