Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: intense memories of trauma that won't go away. Whether caused by the horrors of combat or other extreme trauma it lurks quietly in the background of ones day to day life. Some become so distressed by memories of the trauma that they begin to live their lives trying to avoid any reminders of what happened to them. This forum has a deliberately limited number of special purpose topic threads. The main PTSD Discussion thread is Open Topic Discussion. Please read the additional forum rules before posting and please post to existing threads.

If you have questions, or wish to discuss PTSD issues, this is the place to do it.
We are open for business.

Now, how may I help you?

Dave, I have a question that has bothered me for sometime.Why does the VA make veterans prove that the "stressor" happened and not even bother to read the veteran's claim folder which contains all the "creditable evidence". Also why is the "creditable evidence" not even mentioned in a veterans military records. ? After, I got my PTSD claim approved after three years of playing the royal run around. I am tired and out of energy to file a claim for my daughter regarding agent orange , causing her spina bifida and /or trying to get my husband's 20%service connected disability VA. So, we live on our combined income and make it through the month. Sally

quote:

Originally posted by SallyArmyMedic:
Dave, I have a question that has bothered me for sometime.Why does the VA make veterans prove that the "stressor" happened and not even bother to read the veteran's claim folder which contains all the "creditable evidence". Also why is the "creditable evidence" not even mentioned in a veterans military records. ? After, I got my PTSD claim approved after three years of playing the royal run around. I am tired and out of energy to file a claim for my daughter regarding agent orange , causing her spina bifida and /or trying to get my husband's 20%service connected disability VA. So, we live on our combined income and make it through the month. Sally

You must show a verifiable stressor in order to be service connected for PTSD. If not, imagine how many wannabe's would be receiving compensation. During the early 1980's we had hundreds of veterans coming into the Veterans Service Office in Columbus to apply for PTSD. When we would check their records, there would be absolutely no evidence of any type of stressful duty. The service medical records would not show any injuries, nor nervous problems. Yet people filed for PTSD benefits anyway. Some would use the argument: Joe over at the Veterns Post gets it and I deserve it too if he does." Well that caused great problems with the VA and credibility of veterans making appliction.
Proof of any condition is required. With PTSD the event had to happen in order for the condition to exist.
I explained before, Spina Bifida is service connected for offspring of a child of a veteran exposed to herbicides we call Agent Orange. The veterans DD 214 must be submitted with the claim to verify exposure.

Dave, Thanks, but why do the people that are suppose be processing a claim do the following: not read the information that they requested, send the file back with a denial letter to the veteran with "creditable evidence" lacking (form letter)., put claim in a box on a desk and not work on it ( happened to my claim). I strongly suggest that all veterans go through a good VSO and work as a team on a claim. I went through a race riot on base when I was on active duty. There is no mention of the race riot in my military records. Sally

quote:

Originally posted by SallyArmyMedic:
Dave, Thanks, but why do the people that are suppose be processing a claim do the following: not read the information that they requested, send the file back with a denial letter to the veteran with "creditable evidence" lacking (form letter)., put claim in a box on a desk and not work on it ( happened to my claim). I strongly suggest that all veterans go through a good VSO and work as a team on a claim. I went through a race riot on base when I was on active duty. There is no mention of the race riot in my military records. Sally

Well you gave part of my response when you said "I strongly suggest that all veterans go through a good VSO and work as a team on a claim." So you are on the right track.
Form letters are a must. It would be impossible to respond in a non format letter, to 25 million veterans. Form letters are set so that cut and paste can be used. I only have a little over 5,000 veterans in my data base and I must use form letters or I would never get done.
A judge ruled in the late 1990's that the VA did not have a duty to assist veterans unless the claim was well grounded when submitted. Thus the VA started denying millions of claims that lacked all the credible evidence needed. When a claim is denied you have exactly one year to perfect the appeal. Thus claims died due to lack of assistance. Congress reacted by passing the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000. This created "duty to assist" and the VA is required to sent out development letters on every claim received, unless the claim is so complete the benefit can be granted upon receipt. Evidence must be credible, otherwise people could claim anything and the VA would be paying benefits to those who were not actually deserving. For example if a stressor was "I was shot at by a spaceman, who landed on my guard station in a flying saucer" that would not be credible. People can and do claim some really off the wall issues.
Any given day a file can be placed in a wrong drawer. It happens here as well! My secretary does all my filing for that very reason

Have a question. I put a claim in for PTSD and hearing , received letter and forms wanting more info , but on IBS,BURNS ON LEFT ARM , fatigue secondary to chronic anxiety. I would like to know why. We collected more info for them. my VSO SAYS that I have more than enough records.I'm cleaned out no more info, they have it all. Thanks Dave for being there for us. waited way too long . VSO says should have filed 25 years ago , but had no one to help me. no help from VA 38 YEARS AGO. jOHNNIE

That is what we refer to as a DTA, or Duty To Assist letter. It is designed to give you every opportunity, to develop your case. The letter must be responded to, even if you simply state you have no more information. When my clients bring those in to me, I always try to send in new evidence, such as medical records, or supporting statements to give the rating specialist a reson to approve the claim.
Constantly rating boards fail to consider the laws and regulations, which were designed to protect the veterans issues. The system has been twisted by some, to find ways to deny, rather than ways to grant a claim.
In regard to the letter telling the veteran what is needed. That came about when a judge ruled back in the 1990's, the VA was not complelled to assist the veteran in development of the claim. This placed the entire burden upon the veteran. Congress acted in quick order by passing the Veterans Claim Assistance Act of 2000, i.e. VCAA 2000, which is now simply VCAA. This compels the VA to advise the veteran what is needed and why. It also requires the VA to assist in matters of obtaining records from government sources and advising the veteran when private requests are not responded to in a timely manner.

How much weight would a wife's letter about your condition carry with the VA. My wife of 40 years tells me things that I have done that Idid not know I did. Dave.thanks again for your help. johnnie

quote:

Originally posted by jaz145:
How much weight would a wife's letter about your condition carry with the VA. My wife of 40 years tells me things that I have done that Idid not know I did. Dave.thanks again for your help. johnnie

With the rating specialist it may help. My best suggestion is for her to visit with you when you go to the psychiatrist, psychologist, NP and MSW. The spouse input there is heavy hitting support base for your issues. When the rating specialist reads your progress notes, the wife input cannot be ignored. Just make sure you do not allow your spouse to take over. This does happen and it always backfires.
The doctor knows you as a person, the rating specialist sees you as a file with multiple sheets of paper.

Dave: Are all military records stored someplace? How are they stored, paper and/or computer? When I filed my claim , I asked for a copy of my claim folder. It was a great help in proving the "stressor" happened. But there was no mention of the race riot on base! The riot was on the news and I lived through it! I had to chose which of four separate "stressors" was the worse! I picked the rape! Sally

VA Claims Folders contain everything processed by the VA Regional Office. They are paper files. While a claim is active, limited data is on the VA computer. We have access to tracking progress only, not minute details. The file is stored in the office of jurisdiction as long as it is active. When a file is no longer active they are shipped to a RPC. That means Record Processing Center, simple term would be a warehouse.
VA Medical Center progres notes are now stored on computer, currently there are also paper files as well. The older VAMC files when retired are also sent to a RPC.
Unlike private sector medical care, the veterans records are not destroyed after 7 years, or whatever time period the private sector may set. They are simnply stored.
You said "But there was no mention of the race riot on base! The riot was on the news and I lived through it!" Unless you sent in a copy of the article, there is no way it should be in your file. If there was a riot on your base, find a source, obtain the documentation and discuss it with your veterans service officer.

MR. BARKER: There is no way a civilian Lawyer could have helped me as much as Mr. Whalen (AMVET-VSO) in Columbus, OH. It took a year to get my disability claim approved. My success is due entirely to highly experienced VSO's efforts. Mr. Whalen made me a believer in the AMVET VSO's. Thanks Dave.

General George S. Patton: A pint of sweat saves a gallon of blood.

I was wondering if it is true that a great number of Vietnam Era sufferers of PTSD actually do hear the sounds of helo rotorblades chopping air in their flashbacks? I see this allot in Media portrayals and was wondering if there is actually in truth to it.

As I am being treated by a cilivan dr. should I also see a cilivan physcitrast(SPELLING)have had ptsd since being medivacted out of nam in '68.am on paxcil cr 25. have claim in and have vso. I'M so confused to know what todo. work when boss needs me. 4 days last month. any help is appreciated. semper fi johnnie

Hi Dave,
I'm in NY and my claim is 7 months old.
VARO told me it's gonna take more than 9
months to work my claim coz of many issues.
I have an MST claim and saw a VA counselor
a few times until I got a copy of my progress
report and read what seemed like someone's
elses information. (I never told the woman
the things she wrote about my childhood and
I never told my private counselor or psychiatrist the things she wrote.)
I protested the progress report and sent
VARO details of stuff that did happen before.
I have enough trauma and didn't need more
trauma piled on top especially since it never
happened.

Anyway, is VARO gonna believe the VA counselor
or me? What can I do if they rely on her progress report? In some weird way I think she
was trying to help because she versed me in how to talk with the C&P doctor and what to say and
what not to say. The VA counselor mentioned that
I was molested at 5 and I don't know why I didn't stop her. But, I flipped out when I read
her progress report.

How is this going to effect my claim?

TY in advance for your advice.
Cindy

quote:

Originally posted by lilkarl:
MR. BARKER: There is no way a civilian Lawyer could have helped me as much as Mr. Whalen (AMVET-VSO) in Columbus, OH. It took a year to get my disability claim approved. My success is due entirely to highly experienced VSO's efforts. Mr. Whalen made me a believer in the AMVET VSO's. Thanks Dave.
General George S. Patton: A pint of sweat saves a gallon of blood.

Mike is great! He is my friend and I thank you for your comments

It is Dave, not Mr.

quote:

Originally posted by RomulusAugustus:
I was wondering if it is true that a great number of Vietnam Era sufferers of PTSD actually do hear the sounds of helo rotorblades chopping air in their flashbacks? I see this allot in Media portrayals and was wondering if there is actually in truth to it.

PTSD sufferers have vivid recollections of their stressors, smells and sounds included. I often smell diesel fuel exhaust, even when sitting in church.

quote:

Originally posted by jaz145:
As I am being treated by a cilivan dr. should I also see a cilivan physcitrast(SPELLING)have had ptsd since being medivacted out of nam in '68.am on paxcil cr 25. have claim in and have vso. I'M so confused to know what todo. work when boss needs me. 4 days last month. any help is appreciated. semper fi johnnie

In my honest opinion, VA psychiatrists are far better qualified in PTSD issues than private psychiatrists.

quote:

Originally posted by cindyhunter:
Hi Dave,
I'm in NY and my claim is 7 months old. VARO told me it's gonna take more than 9 months to work my claim coz of many issues. I have an MST claim and saw a VA counselor a few times until I got a copy of my progress report and read what seemed like someone's elses information. (I never told the woman the things she wrote about my childhood and I never told my private counselor or psychiatrist the things she wrote.)
I protested the progress report and sent VARO details of stuff that did happen before. I have enough trauma and didn't need more trauma piled on top especially since it never happened.
Anyway, is VARO gonna believe the VA counselor or me? What can I do if they rely on her progress report? In some weird way I think she was trying to help because she versed me in how to talk with the C&P doctor and what to say and what not to say. The VA counselor mentioned that I was molested at 5 and I don't know why I didn't stop her. But, I flipped out when I read her progress report. How is this going to effect my claim?
TY in advance for your advice.
Cindy

You said " the VA counselor mentioned that I was molested at 5 and I don't know why I didn't stop her." That can be a critical issue as the VA may use that as the cause of your condition.
Cindy it is important for you to inform me how the information got into your progress notes if you did not say that. Have you discussed this with your veterans service officer?
At this point your VSO will need to damage control, or there will be major problems ahead.