Here's a thread starter for discussion about Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and PTSD...

My wife has TBI and PTSD. Its a nightmare wrapped in a nightmare!! The Army retired her because of her injuries and the VA 100%ed her - finally!

If anyone wants to chat, feel free.

Thanks for your posting and welcome to military.com.

Couldn't imagine how tough it must be at home, but glad to here that she is getting the benefit without a long and difficult challenge as so many vets have experienced.

Pass along all of our best to her.

Hang in there.

Hi Everyone,

As a new member, I am really glad that we have such a form to discuss about TBI and PTSD.
All of the comments I have read so far are right on. I know I have TBI, but I don't think that I have been formally diagnosed with PTSD. Even though, I have seen the screening test which provides the requirements. I fit the criteria with flying colors! I should however, look up the criteria again to see how they are different? But they seem very much like kindred "spirits", to me. But maybe not?
In this contex I have been told that PTSD cases are very difficult to obtain a service connected disability, particularly if you are like me, from the Viet Nam Era, and cannot get direct supportive data. Hence I am non-service connected. My mental health therapist tells me that she has never seen anyone get it<(S. C D.); during the last three to five years, since she has been working with those of us with these issues. Additionally,I have tried to find an individual,(former chaplain) who could be of some help with the validation and support of my claim for service connected disability. Hoewver, I can't find him anywhere. He was a Major in the Signal Battalion,91st? and He served in Viet-Nam. I meet up with him in one of the New York Burrows,(long Island?) after he returned. He very well be retired LTC or Colonel. But I really don't know? When we were together at that time,I was still in very deep denial and delusion and only only much later did I admit my problem and reached out for help.It took several therapists and one really good group(very helpful). That wasn't any picnic either. Still I have done a lot of good therapy with these issues,and (many thanks to the therapist/groups thats were helpful for me during those dark hours); still they are always with us. Any ideas as to where I might search for the missing chaplain would be a great help!? I have no idea of how to persuade the Disability Claim Panel to be more flexible with their strict rules on direct evidence or evidence of support with the appeal filing claim process? This would be very helpful. Any thoughtful ideas or suggestions would be great? Please let me know.
And for all you Vets returning from the Iraq or Afghanistan you deserve all the help and disability support benefits that you are entitled. Don't get jerked around, fight for yourself and get a good advocate/rep! No one deserves a "mis diagnosis" when the symptoms are self evident to any worthy practitioner worth h/her salt! Furthermore, no one should be put through additional abuse from a mis-diagnosis or insufficient neuralgical/medical/and mental health exam/evaluation (s).
I know from experience having lived with it for several decades before I received the correct therapy and help. My family and I went through hell and many "Paris burnings" without support or the necessary assistance.
Maybe I am wrong for saying this, but from where I have been, it doesn't make much difference if the TBI/PTSD resulted from a combat or non-combative injury, because the symptoms are nearly the same or are they significantly different? (I suppose one could attempt to make a case for an assault and automobile hit a run as "combative" in the larger sense of the term). Don't get me wrong, but it seems to me that the issues and the symptoms are very much of the ame sort, at least from some of the readings I have done on these subjects. We each have or bring our own stuff and stories forward toward our healing of our psyche and souls, within the process and their is nothing wrong with that position either. Both seem to me to be quite valid. Thanks. What a great group! Tj p.s., sorry for being so long winded, what can I say I'm Irish! Tqake care and again glad you are here.

What is called a 'differential diagnosis' defining TBI/PTSD requires substanial, qualified resources.

This seems to be happening (please note the 'seems') on a sporadic basis, depending upon branch of service, unit and so on. Some VA facilities are equipped to handle this, others aren't.

Many times the best way to track down reports and individuals is with the assistance of your Congressman or Senator's office. Funny how the Pentagon responds better to their requests than to ours as individuals.

In the meantime, we typically recommend getting into a local Vet Center for assistance in your process of claims and treatment.

It works.

Thanks for your post.

My husband, who is active duty has been diagnosed with PTSD, depression, high blood pressure, and just the other day with TBI. We have yet to see a Dr., just P.A.'s, which is a little frustrating. His symptoms are getting worse as time goes by. We were told to contact another clinic on post for an appt. for further testing for the TBI, and no one will call back (several messages were left). He is going in person on Mon.
I guess I am just venting here, I know how slowly things can go. But when you have to remind them about the meds being taken for the high B/P, and depression, and they say "oh really?" it's a little frustrating. I got the feeling he's being treated like he's trying to get out of deployment, which is so far from the truth. He has 11 yrs. of dedicated service. He doesn't want out, he just wants help.
We are going to the next group meeting for TBI, so hopefully that will help. I just don't know what else to do. I am very worried.
Would we get better results if we went to a civilian hospital? I don't care about paying out of pocket if we have to. You can't put a price on health.
Thanks for letting me vent

You're more than welcome for having a place to vent. This is the place.

The good news is that your husband is in the system, which is terrific.

Go to the meetings, make all the appointments, and if possible, hook up with a local Vet Center if you can get that arranged.

Big bureaucracies are slow, that's true, but it seems as if the stars are beginning to line up.

Thanks for stopping by!

Roxie,

Hang in there. When we went through all of this it took a long time. It actually took 6 months post Iraq medevac before they evaluated my wife for TBI. It was obvious to us when she couldn't remember what the dog's name was or where the commissary was but you know the Army - it has to be evaluated and at Bragg they only had one Neuro Psych guy to handle everyone coming back.

Stick to your guns and tell your husband to do the same. I am sure that he wants to finish out his twenty but his care and your futures are most important. I would make sure you have a complete copy (or five) of his medical records and talk with a rep from a veterans service organization. It took a long time but the Army eventualy retired my wife and the VA took care of her. I'm not suggesting you walk this road but you should prepare yourself - just in case.

Cheers and good luck

Thank you for your response and suggestions. It is much appreciated. I do keep copies of everything. Better safe than sorry.
We talked the other night, and I told him that his health and well being are the most important thing. He agrees and said he is tired of feeling like he's getting the run around. Come Monday, we will pick up where we left off. Go to the clinic in person to make the appt., and see what happens.

Thanks again

UPDATE---
We went to the deployment health clinic in person on the Mon. after I posted here. Finally saw a MD, the same day, it was great !! He sat with us for over an hour. 4 days later we saw a Neurologist, and tests have been set up of a MRI and EEG, to be done next week.

A referral was sent to Vanderbilt Hospital, and they will be doing an array of tests there. The first one has been set up, but the appt. is for the end of Oct. (we'll take what we can), just waiting for the rest of the tests to be set up.

He has been put on new meds, 2 seem to be helping, and 1 of them takes a while to kick in, so have to wait and see with that one. But, progress is being made, very happy about that. Next week will be 1 year since we have started all of this. It's a shame it takes so long sometimes.

Can anyone tell me how to go about getting copies of his medical records (with test results)? I have only made copies of paperwork that I could get hold of while we were at different Dr. appts.

Can anyone tell me how long it takes for any new medical diagnosis' to show up on the AKO? When I check AKO under "my medical" his diagnosis for TBI, PTSD, and depression are not listed..

Thank you ALL for your help, support, and suggestions.

Hi everyone! welcome to our forum ( family). Mike , my husband has a head injury from a car accident in 1980. He is also a veteran. We got his and my military records from the VA from going in person to the regional office and requesting them. I have PTSD due to MST. It took me four years and two Veteran Service Organizations , alot of stress to get my claim approved. I had to reconstruct everying base on my digging up and remembering things that happened in the Army( 1971-1974). There was no evidence of any of the four stressors that caused my PTSD in the military records but a positive PG test! The riot, combat training, and the rape! I based my appeal my comp& pen exam, changes in behavior, pos. PG test. I took Mike to the urgent care for a med. refill and two weeks later he was in intake clinic. His blood pressure and blood sugar were out of control! Hang in there. Sally

O.K., my head is ready to pop off of my body... Husband had an appointment with the new shrink on base (at Co. clinic), I talked with him on the phone on 9/4. We set up the appt. for yesterday at 11am. We get there and check in, and we were told that there is NO appt. for him !!!! I told them that I set it up, and spoke with the Dr., "nope, sorry" is what we're told. She said "you can sit and wait for something to open up, but I don't know when that'll be"...
He didn't want to wait, he was pissed. We came home and called his Dr. at the deployment health clinic, and as of now, no one has returned our call. I am going to call again in a little bit. (I figure I am better off venting here than at the Dr.)
I am so sick and tired, and fed up....this sh*t has been going on for 1 year. I told him last night, that I wanted to take him to the ER, but he is afraid he'll be locked up on a phych. hold. So he won't go.
He woke up this morning thinking he was in Iraq, when I told him --No, you are home--, he told me to stop f**king with him. It took me a good 1/2 hour to make him realize where he was.
He needs help and we are getting NO WHERE fast...
Sorry this is so long, and thank you for letting me vent, you all are the best

Roxie, Hi! Take your husband to urgent care walk in clinic. Is your husband still in the military? Demand that he gets an appointment in mental health clinic, STAT. Call the patient advocate STAT and explain the run around that you are getting! Sally

Sally, Thanks for your suggestion, I will do just that. Yes, he is active duty army. When you say urgent care walk in clinic, do you mean a civilian faciilty or on post? Maybe the post hospital?
How do I find a patient advocate? Should we go to the veterans services at the Army Community Service building?
We have never needed this kind of help before, and I feel so lost as to where to turn, and what our options are.
I can't say Thank you enough.

Roxie,

He needs to go to sick call tomorrow morning. If he goes to the ER, they will not see him for most of the day (You know how busy they are there) unless he says he is over the edge and ready to do violence and yes, they may hold him if he mentions violence.

Send him to sick call at the unit tomorrow. He will see probably see his BN PA but he needs to tell him that he can't sleep, nightmares, startle response, etc and that its getting out of hand. The doc is going to put him on something to chill him out and send him to CSC, depending on what Battalion he's in, this may take a few days to get there. Once he see's a counselor, he has to lay it all out.

Although this is frusterating, Campbell has a half decent program for returning soldiers. He just has to push a little bit and as long as he doesn't say he wants to do violence to himself or others they won't hospitalize him.

The long and short is this - you can't force his care. He has to do it. If he's a Rakasan or in one of the other infantry battalions, there is a tendency on the part of the soldiers to not want to seem like a wimp and if he's in the aviation BNs, he'll be worried about flight status. None of that matters but he has to come to that conclusion himself.

As an officer and aviator I understand how that happens but as the husband of an enlisted 100% disbaled Iraq vet I've seen it. We're two years post Iraq medevac and my wife waited a long time to get help because of those reasons. As a result, it has been worse for her, me and especially the kids. I couldn't make that decision though. She had to do it.

I hope this helps a little. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Its just a long *** tunnel.

I understand what you are saying, but he has seen his BN PA, and that's where some of the frustration is. Last time he saw one,(I went in with him because of his memory)I had to tell her about his high B/P, she didn't know about it. And that's where we went on Tues. for his Psych. appt., and they said he didn't have one. Behavioral Health at the hospital won't see him (Dr. at deployment health clinic wanted him to go there), they said he HAD to go to LaPointe.

I understand about not being able to force his care, that he has to do it. I am in total agreement about how they don't want to seem like wimps, it is so true. When he came home last fall, everytime he asked (and told) his unit that he needed to go to sick call, they called him a pus*y, baby, and told him to quit faking. The way they treated him about this just got worse, so he stopped telling them what was wrong. He is not the only soldier this has happened to at his unit.

Please tell me where to find a half decent program. Because from what I have seen first hand, I am not impressed at all. I have witnessed him being treated like he's trying to get out of deployment, and he is not even going over there this time. The only reason he has seen ANY Dr. (only one MD, a some PA's) is because he was transferred to a non-deployable unit.
He told me Tues. night that they obviously don't care, so why should he. All I can do is be there for him, and be strong for both of us. I love him so much, and I would do anything for him. I've just been encouraging him to hang in there, and keep pushing forward. I just feel like we keep taking 2 steps forward and 5 steps back. We have had no problems at all with the Dr. appt's. that are off post. The problems are always on post.

I wish you and your wife the best of luck with everything you are going through. All we can do is be there for our spouses and each other, here. Being able to talk about it all here has really helped me. Thank you

Roxie, Take your husband to the hospital on base urgent care. It is connected to the ER. Have him right down what is happening to him or you write it down. Ask at the information desk where the patient advocate office is located. When I was in the Army 1971-1974 there was no help offered for treatment for PTSD. At least your husband is willing to go seek help! I wanted nothing to do with the VA and or military hospitals. Sick call is a waste of time unless it is in the ER/urgent care ! When I was in the Army, I worked as ward clerk at Noble Army Hospital Outpatient clinic /ER. Take Care, Sally

Thanks Sally, and I agree that sick call is a waste of time.

A patient advocate is exactly what we need. I am holding my tongue and keeping my mouth shut, and trying to be respectful. I have to keep reminding myself that I am only the wife, and he belongs to Uncle Sam. Do you have any idea how hard that is for a full blooded Italian woman (who is pissed off) to do !!?? LOL
It is taking alot of effort to tone down my normal outspoken personality. But I will for my husbands sake.

I know I say this at the end of every post, but it's true---all of you are the best. Taking the time to give me advice, with everything you all have going on yourselves.

Roxie, This forum is like a family! We are all brothers and sisters who have PTSD and or know someone who does. We all help each other. Check out all the threads and there is alot of information. You can be outspoken and use words to convey your message. Let us know what happens. Sally

Hello -
My husband retired early this year, finally got his rating in July. 90%. He is a Purple Heart Recepient, returning Combat Vet and it took that long for a rating.
Anyway - they rated 50% TBI/PTSD combined. Is this normal for them to do that? Combine the two?
He just got an appt(for DEC) at the PTSD clinic since waiting to get in since Feb. We have been going to someone on the outside on our own and paying the $25 out of pocket. If not, he would of really gone down hill w/out the help.