SgtDBrownRet
11-04-08, 08:25 PM
Please take the time to read my post under the VA section “VA Claims Tips”. Here are some things that have helped me in assisting others in filing claims for PTSD.
1. The Marine Corps is the best branch of service when it comes to documenting and giving the VA access to their unit’s actions. If your SMRs, or Service records have been lost or destroyed, try and request the unit records. The VA has access to Marine Corps morning reports going back in some cases to the Korean War. Sick call records, or damage of gear maybe documented.
2. You can submit statements of Marines or Corpsmen that served with you to verify your stressor for PTSD. If loved ones saved letters, they can be submitted as verification of an incident happening.
3. Without a documented combat award, the development time can be long. It may be easier to file for depression secondary to a service-connected condition rather than PTSD for an incident that may not have been documented. The rating symptoms are the same, but it may take years to verify a stressor. A simple diagnosis of depression secondary to an already service-connected may only take months to grant. Pick your battle, if you are service connected for diabetes, and have complications due that condition, do you really want to waste years fighting for principal, or do you want to provide for your family now and after you are gone? CRSC will consider depression as secondary diabetes, cancer or other Agent Orange related conditions as related due to exposure to Agent Orange.
4. Make sure you get a copy of your records after every doctor’s visit. Sometimes the doctor may change diagnosis, based on change in funding for programs or what you talk about most. If at your appointments you talk about how your spouse cheated on you, and how you are pending divorce, then that’s what they are going to document. This has nothing to do with your military service. If you tell them that you and your spouse are having problems because of the flashback, nightmares, irritability, lack of connecting with others, etc… then you can talk about it all day long. Remember, everything needs to be related to you military service. CHECK YOUR RECORDS!
5. Remember, each case is different. Just because your buddy is getting compensated for PTSD, does not mean you are entitled. If you and that person did not served side-by-side (attached at the hip) from the yellow footprints to the time you both were handed your DD214, their experience(s) do not apply to you.
6. Be honest. For all of you “too proud” Marines, get beyond that. When you are with your doctor during your regular one-on-one visits that is the time to let it out. Part of the problem with PTSD is people hold everything inside, and it slowly eats away at them. No one can help you if your answer to a question is “sometimes”, “not much” or “I can’t remember”. Although PTSD groups may not be the highlight of your week, remember you are in a place where everyone understands that you did what you had to do because you were ordered, or you were trying to come home. The things you cannot or will not tell your spouse or even best friend you can tell there. Many of the documented records for these groups just state what the topic discussed and what the group came up with as a way to help deal with the topic problem. (This may vary) Keep in mind though, just like this site “posers” will be caught. Service members in group are or (should be) there to get help, not for their stories to be stolen for profit (VA benefits). If you don’t like or trust the VA, try your local Vet Center. Many VAs have walk-in clinic for those “bad” days.
7. Remember, any VA representative can only argue the law, and the evidence of records. It is up to you to give them the ammo to fire the weapon of justice. Be pro-active in your treatment (going to appointments at least every 3 months), review your treatment records, renewing your prescribed medications, researching your unit or “The Wall” for stressor documentation and getting that evidence to your representative. Because of the HIPPA Act, your representative may not be able to access your records until after they become a part of your VA file. This maybe too late, as once it is in you file, it is permanent.
8. Compensation and Pension (C&P) exams are short because the examiner has set questions to ask, then they review your file. Your ongoing treatment records play a big part in their decision. You can request a copy of your C&P exam and treatment records through the VA Medical Center Release of Information office.
Hope this helps. Any questions can be posted as a private message on this site to me.
1. The Marine Corps is the best branch of service when it comes to documenting and giving the VA access to their unit’s actions. If your SMRs, or Service records have been lost or destroyed, try and request the unit records. The VA has access to Marine Corps morning reports going back in some cases to the Korean War. Sick call records, or damage of gear maybe documented.
2. You can submit statements of Marines or Corpsmen that served with you to verify your stressor for PTSD. If loved ones saved letters, they can be submitted as verification of an incident happening.
3. Without a documented combat award, the development time can be long. It may be easier to file for depression secondary to a service-connected condition rather than PTSD for an incident that may not have been documented. The rating symptoms are the same, but it may take years to verify a stressor. A simple diagnosis of depression secondary to an already service-connected may only take months to grant. Pick your battle, if you are service connected for diabetes, and have complications due that condition, do you really want to waste years fighting for principal, or do you want to provide for your family now and after you are gone? CRSC will consider depression as secondary diabetes, cancer or other Agent Orange related conditions as related due to exposure to Agent Orange.
4. Make sure you get a copy of your records after every doctor’s visit. Sometimes the doctor may change diagnosis, based on change in funding for programs or what you talk about most. If at your appointments you talk about how your spouse cheated on you, and how you are pending divorce, then that’s what they are going to document. This has nothing to do with your military service. If you tell them that you and your spouse are having problems because of the flashback, nightmares, irritability, lack of connecting with others, etc… then you can talk about it all day long. Remember, everything needs to be related to you military service. CHECK YOUR RECORDS!
5. Remember, each case is different. Just because your buddy is getting compensated for PTSD, does not mean you are entitled. If you and that person did not served side-by-side (attached at the hip) from the yellow footprints to the time you both were handed your DD214, their experience(s) do not apply to you.
6. Be honest. For all of you “too proud” Marines, get beyond that. When you are with your doctor during your regular one-on-one visits that is the time to let it out. Part of the problem with PTSD is people hold everything inside, and it slowly eats away at them. No one can help you if your answer to a question is “sometimes”, “not much” or “I can’t remember”. Although PTSD groups may not be the highlight of your week, remember you are in a place where everyone understands that you did what you had to do because you were ordered, or you were trying to come home. The things you cannot or will not tell your spouse or even best friend you can tell there. Many of the documented records for these groups just state what the topic discussed and what the group came up with as a way to help deal with the topic problem. (This may vary) Keep in mind though, just like this site “posers” will be caught. Service members in group are or (should be) there to get help, not for their stories to be stolen for profit (VA benefits). If you don’t like or trust the VA, try your local Vet Center. Many VAs have walk-in clinic for those “bad” days.
7. Remember, any VA representative can only argue the law, and the evidence of records. It is up to you to give them the ammo to fire the weapon of justice. Be pro-active in your treatment (going to appointments at least every 3 months), review your treatment records, renewing your prescribed medications, researching your unit or “The Wall” for stressor documentation and getting that evidence to your representative. Because of the HIPPA Act, your representative may not be able to access your records until after they become a part of your VA file. This maybe too late, as once it is in you file, it is permanent.
8. Compensation and Pension (C&P) exams are short because the examiner has set questions to ask, then they review your file. Your ongoing treatment records play a big part in their decision. You can request a copy of your C&P exam and treatment records through the VA Medical Center Release of Information office.
Hope this helps. Any questions can be posted as a private message on this site to me.