Dave Barker

I have my PTSD rating appointment this week and eventhough I know that I am not the same person that I was after I came home from Iraq almost 3 years ago I feel that my PTSD symptoms have gotten better and the only reason I am going for this as a disibility is becasue I have been told by many milt/civ/VA doctors that I have most of the symptoms and that I should go for it. I have worked my whole life up to this point to get into federal law enforcement and just finished six years in the AF and completed my Bachlors degree. My main question is should I continue with this PTSD rating or is it going to mess up my chance for federal law enforcement??? After reading some of the replys to similar questions on this site I read that my disibilities can hurt me more then they will help and now I am worried. It is worth more to me to get into a career then to recieve a few hundred dollars a month for symptoms that almost every combat vet had when they came home and if I honestly thought that I was that messed up I would never put myself in a position where I carried a gun for a living again. I feel that PTSD symptoms are a red flag and I am in no way severly depressed or worse so what should I do? On top of that they have all the proof except for the AF combat action medal which came out after I left active duty so how would I go about putting in for that? I know the army had talked about putting us AF guys in for the Army combat action badge but I never followed up on it and pretty much left all of that behind me and now just to get this PTSD rating the VA said they need a medal for proof. The problem VA is having is connecting the few AF K9 guys to the Army when we were under Marine orders but during certain events we flew in to support the Army in conducting raids and IED/VBIED/Weapons searches and other then my daily k-9 record logs (that showed what we did and where we were engaged by the enemy during raids)my Marine orders,LES which showed I was in a hostile fire/imm-Danger pay area/and my medical records with PTSD symptoms, and a combat coin given to us by our Chiefs later in lue of the AF not having a combat medal, I dont know what else they could possible ask for but either way the medal is not important to me but having a future either in federal law enforcement or with a commission back in the service is and just need your expert advice.

Thanks

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I feel that my PTSD symptoms have gotten better and the only reason I am going for this as a disibility is becasue I have been told by many milt/civ/VA doctors that I have most of the symptoms and that I should go for it. I have worked my whole life up to this point to get into federal law enforcement and just finished six years in the AF and completed my Bachlors degree. My main question is should I continue with this PTSD rating or is it going to mess up my chance for federal law enforcement??? After reading some of the replys to similar questions on this site I read that my disibilities can hurt me more then they will help and now I am worried.

Very good question. When you go for the C&P examination, which is what I assume you mean, be honest with the examiner. That is always good advice. VA compensation is not designed for reward of service, it is to compensate the veteran for the impairment that affects their ability to earn a living, or impedes their quality of life.
Yes PTSD can affect law enforcement, it would depend on the severity of the condition. Review the rating schedule. http://forums.military.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/4230026980001/m/4000005090001
Would you want someone who suffers from extreme PTSD symptoms handling a weapon in the public sector? Or even in private of they are 100%? So it is important for you to be honest to get a fair rating.
It would be better to change career directions than to have tragedy due to your disability, ruin your life, your family and others. However if your symptoms are mild that should not be a problem. That however depends on the employer.

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Originally posted by DaveBarker:
That however depends on the employer.

Thanks. Pls explain this a bit more. Thanks.

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However if your symptoms are mild that should not be a problem. That however depends on the employer.

Thanks for the question RVN1968! When a person has PTSD it is not always apparent to those around them. Many patients have mild symptoms. Only if they advise a potentional employer they have PTSD would the employer know. The symptoms at 0% and 10% are not going to show in every day life settings.
Occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms which decrease work efficiency and ability to perform occupational tasks only during periods of significant stress, or; symptoms controlled by continuous medication............... 10
A mental condition has been formally diagnosed, but symptoms are not severe enough either to interfere with occupational and social functioning or to require continuous medication.....................0

I am sure any law enforcement application process with have strict mental testing and questions. I am not sure if you are able to hide this. This is a rare topic because you are stating that you are getting better from PTSD. It is usually the going the other way.

I wish you the best of luck.

Longitudinal studies of PTSD have not been fully developed so it is very difficult to predict what symptoms of PTSD may occur in the future and to what degree they may affect the veteran, his family and community.

The rating system used by the VA is performed in accordance with Federal law but not not be as accurate as what the veterans is experiencing.

The best advice is to seek whatever level of treatment; PTSD is best treated as early as possible for the greatest benefit to the veteran.

Law enforcement activities can be a stressor which would intensify PTSD symptoms, so it's always a good idea to insure that one is fully capable of performing the duties prior to taking the job.

Thanks.