I am offering you 27+ years of experience in veterans service work. I have filed multiple thousands of PTSD claim and as a result of research we win the overwhelming majority. You do need several basic criteria in order to have success. 1. a stressor. 2. the stressor is compatible with DSM IV. 3. the stressor can be linked to your service. You must have a diagnosis from competent medical authority i.e., a doctor who is a psychiatrist, or a psychologist who is level 13 in the VA system.
There are others in the system who will tell you many other factors. Those above are those that my clients are abiding by. I do not agree with the VA on many issues. I know for a fact all stressors are not carved in stone and all stressors do not get you a medal of valor. That is the VA's problem. We usually can work around those issues if you have 1,2 &3 above!
http://www.geocities.com/dave_barker_amvet/index.html

Working a PTSD claim within the VA system can be a very stressful exercise in its own right. Anyone pursuing a PTSD claim should have competent and knowledgeable assistance with deep experience within the system.

One of the problems with PTSD claims within the VA is that you are 'forced' to relieve some experiences which are causing difficulties and that can be very hard to deal with. In addition, many VA personnel, until approved, challenge many claims made by applicants for claims.

It's just good to know these things...further, the claims process takes a while...in some cases a couple of years.

Finally, PTSD claims are not uniformly managed within the Regional Offices. Connecticut, for example, is a tough regional office for PTSD claims, others are less stringent.

Find a great service office to help you. Go to a Vet Center and stay in touch there, at least on a bi-weekly experience.

When you get your award, it may not be as big a deal as you thought it would be, so many people say: It is a beginning of a life, not the end of an old one and it will take some getting used to.

If you feel that you have PTSD issues, make your claim without guilt or shame.

Originally posted by OldAFCop:
"Find a great service office to help you. Go to a Vet Center and stay in touch there, at least on a bi-weekly experience."

This is outstanding Advice. BTW after all of the requests for a PTSD forum and the "powers that be" granting this site, it sure got awful quiet!

Dave, maybe folks are waiting for an appointed Mod for the forum.

Hello. Clearance is required on the PTSD forum. If my understanding is correct, this PTSD forum is for veterans and their family members. I do not know how that status is determined. I just got my email conformation to validate my right to post from Tom. I asked some real basic questions in a return email. I wanted to know what direction the PTSD forum intends to go and I offered my help and support in any effort.

I would like to suggest something on membership. I was thinking that we could post some kind of general invitation information on the other PTSD Website. I estimate that we have about 80 regular posters on the MC PTSD Website with some who might be interested in this PTSD Website. It might be a harder sell to those who have grown accustomed to a safe zone to post to switch to a post area where there are different rules. Some posters would not benefit from a rough and tumble. Some thrive in that and some do not.

I thought we could ask for interested parties to contact one of the MC PTSD Moderators with a request to supply contact information required to confirm access to the Military Spot PTSD forum. As you are aware, Military.com emails are not a direct contact with the exchange of email addresses between parties. We are going to have to ask people to volunteer information that is not public in a profile.

The membership request could be forwarded to the appropriate party at Military Spot in batch or as received. It might speed up the process if the Moderators previously validated to some extent the qualifications of the enrollees.

I volunteer to help in the membership process. Request emails could be sent to me. My membership screening in the past has been to determine if a person had PTSD and was willing to follow some basic forum rules. The common request I received was for a link to view the posting content before people made a commitment.

Trust is a major issue. Our MC PTSD forum was open to anyone who had an interest in PTSD. We also had the authority to limit the damage done by others. We do not have that same authority here.

What is needed is some discussion as to what our PTSD forum intentions are and the procedures that function for us as contributors? I can help screen membership request emails. I could work with Alpha via the DoD files to confirm what is possible to confirm as to veteran status. We are aware that the DoD files are somewhat limited and flawed. I could not find myself in those files. We may have to trust people until we find out that people are not as they appear.

Cherry

quote:

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Originally posted by alphadog:
Dave, maybe folks are waiting for an appointed Mod for the forum.

---

Hello AlphaDog! I believe you are right, we await the appointment of a moderator on this site. It looks like a good selection is available. Hopefully it will be soon.

There are a number of people looking over the shoulders of this particular forum and can help it nurture and grow.

Yes, PTSD is an extremely sensitive area for both posters and readers alike; just like in real life. And because any internet forum has a certain degree of anonymity, people often feel they have the freedom to say things that they might not say in ordinary conversation.

As participants in this form we can set the tone and work toward building trust for all concerned; there may be glitches, but with anything new, goodwill and a positive attitude will go a long way towards making it a useful forum, helpful to those who want/need to have some support and direction to get help and further assistance in dealing with the VA and others.

Content deleted on purpose because it no longer applies. Entire post could be deleted but I don't see that option.

Cherry

This message has been edited. Last edited by: CherryRead,

TO AFCOP:

Since Bob, Cherry, Dave and I (VietVetArmyReservMOM, aka MOM here) all work actively on another PTSD Forum, we know what works there from two years of trial and error.

When this issue first arose and dialogue was first started about the need for a PTSD area on this military forum, you indicated that you would like to see that happen.

Since you have posted on our existing forum on the other military site, and would like to see one on this site....

.....I really think your input with as much detail as possible, would really help Cherry, Dave, Alpha and even myself get a handle on how you personally would prefer to have changes and differences made from the one PTSD site we work on currently.

What would YOU like to see, AFCOP? I know your perspective would be different than Dave, Cherry, Alpha's or mine?

Bottom line is:

I can garuntee these fine male vets can help immensely and have vast experience in guiding your newbie Ptsd Site to the way those of you on this military forum choose to go. We who are willing to help get you up and running though, need to know from both the admin and those who are interested in posting, what you all want and the way you want this to go.

I also would like to see TOW GUNNY having mega input here as some great folks try to help you get started on the right foot.

I do know this.....moderation coverage, even on this PROTECTED access PTSD topic, must be very diligent and as close to 24/7 coverage as possible. That is exactly why we have four mods on the other site.

Trust is such an issue and once it IS achieved, betrayal can be a huge stressor and trigger. Troll and poser posts need to disappear hopefully before any damage can be done to the actual posters and prior to them even seeing the disturbing post.

That has been our goal and although we fail sometimes, most posts that make a PTSD sufferer's health worse instead of better are alleviated before they can adversely impact someone.

So, AFCOP, can you give us some ideas that you would like to see implemented differently from the ones of us who work on another site have?

I think we just need to get a handle on how we can help get you going here and where it is you wanna go.

God Bless,

MOM

I really don't have that much experience with any other sites other than mc; and don't find that board to be particularly 'secure,' which is obvious to all.

By requiring a separate sign in here, 'trolls' and 'posers' at least have to jump through a pretty big hurdle.

I have been an 'encourager' here because the environment seems to be much more helpful and less aggressive than some other sites and thought that it would be a good idea to have PTSD and AO related areas for people to post in, that's my interest.

It's going to take some time for people to take a look and get comfortable with this site; oddly enough, once people hit the 'save' on the favorites page they often forget other, newer and better sites may be around. Just human nature.

Be patient, I am sure we will see plenty of customers for you as time rolls along.

Thanks for your input!

Just to kick in another 2 cents. Some folks may wish to have open assault on one another on a PTSD board. Not I. On a daily basis I work with veterans, who suffer total disability, due to their PTSD. In that pattern of thought, I simply feel people need understanding and not attacks. One of the reasons I avoid with passion, a few of the other PTSD boards is personal experience. Several years ago a female veteran continued to e-mail me, cursing me in every sentence. Why? She discovered I am an Attorney In Fact under 38 CFR. She figured I was a lawyer and for the next several weeks I paid the price for achieving my status as a VSO.
My e-mails are sometime intercepted by others (alleged errors) and people e-mailing me using vile language does not please those intercepting my mail (nor I as a matter of fact).
However, set it up as you may desire. I am not in charge and options are open, "to be, or not to be."
I am a POP (plain ol' poster!)

Here is 2 more cents worth of reading from my book "The Combat Veteran From WWII To The Present":
It seems as if intelligent beings as we are, and with compassion that we allegedly have within our souls. The VA would be able to consider PTSD as a condition that can exist without combat being a prerequisite; but, it is not exactly the way we want it; nor, it is not the way it should be. It is very difficult to convince the VA that a person's PTSD is service connected without the benefit of a combat MOS, such as 11B in the Army or 0311 in the Marines, etc. or the recipient of a medal for valor.

Let us use a case in point. A veteran has filed a claim for PTSD, Chronic, delayed. The veteran has a documented diagnosis from a qualified physician, who is a psychiatrist. The veteran has presented a stressor, which is a life threatening situation, out of the normal realm of human experience. This veteran is a clerk, who is assigned to the headquarters unit in a normally safe area. During a rocket attack on the post, the veteran is in a storage area that is the brunt of the rocket attack. The veteran is not physically harmed, has not been discovered to be in an unauthorized area, has not performed any act of courage, in other words, this veteran has done nothing to get their name logged into a military report. Thus, we have a stressor, that is very real, very terrifying, and very undocumented in scope. This leads us to the unfortunate situation of not being able to prove the stressor to the VA. Why is this so? Is there not the "buddy statement" to be considered? The answer is yes, there is the good ol' buddy statement to be considered. The problem is they are not given much credence by the Rating Boards of the VA. Why? Well, one reason is the overwhelming fabrications that have come about in the past several years, especially since being a veteran has become popular. There is a group know as "wannabees", who have made life very difficult for those that actually have borne the battle. The people who are called "wannabees" often were in the service; but, as a result of some factor, did not achieve the degree of heroism they desired. They add to their saga and now are able to compete in the war stories at the local post or tavern. Just as tragic as the "wannabees" are those who actually did the claimed situations, but cannot prove it. Today, we find people who were never in the service falsifying someone else’s DD-214 to join veterans organizations or attempting to gain benefits from the VA or other governmental agencies.

When a veteran has requested their military personnel file and the file does not produce the required documentation for a stressor, such as there is no combat MOS, there is no mention the veteran was in, or near a rocket attack, is the veteran to just quit? The answer is definitely, No! The resources are available, send a letter to the U.S. Army Environmental Support Group , and request "unit data" being sure to give the complete and exact identification of the unit involved. You must also ask for "After Action Reports" as well as "Lessons Learned Reports" and the "Duty Officers Log" When you have the unit records at your disposal you can then start trying to locate more than one "buddy" to get statements from to prove the event actually happened. The After Action , Lessons Learned reports, or the Duty Officers Log, will often give you the information sought.

Even with this information to document the veterans statement, the VA is often unwilling to yield on the stressor. We need to firmly plead our case before the VA in person, taking as much documentation as possible. I have found with all of the above data in hand, the Decision Review Officers will give positive consideration to the veteran.

Dave;

Good post, and especially with an example to show the situ, the steps to resolving the case and possible outcome.

It might be of some interest, if you could speculate; if VA Central Office does in fact get it's act together and evens up the distribution of benefits for vets, would that mean that some some existing benefits would be reduced?

Would it mean that there may be some 100% P/T ratings which could be reversed and/or challenged?

This may be a helpful discussion here.

Thanks in advance.

quote:

---

Originally posted by OldAFCop:
It might be of some interest, if you could speculate; if VA Central Office does in fact get it's act together and evens up the distribution of benefits for vets, would that mean that some some existing benefits would be reduced?

Would it mean that there may be some 100% P/T ratings which could be reversed and/or challenged?

This may be a helpful discussion here.

Thanks in advance.

---

I would not think the ratings would be reversed in a manner of systematic review. I feel the pending cases and those to be filed in the future, would meet a different set of standards. Some of the VARO's are far more lenient than others. It is due to interpretation and attitude. I would presume we will always have those two factors involved.

A House appointed commission is checking on toughening standards for certain VA benefits including PTSD. This issue is being pushed by two major news media organizaiotns Knight-Ridder and the Associated Press. Their separate reports, indicated investigators found that 25 percent of the VA approved cases of post-traumatic stress disorder they reviewed, lacked the proof they expected of the required event or series of events that led to the ailment. Which led the budget oriented Veterans Affairs Secretary James Nicholson to say this report had turned up "some information that demands the attention of this agency." The Associated Press reported Nicholson further saying "The amount of dollars involved is huge and the lives involved are important," Our number one goal is to take care of those veterans who are deserving." It somewhat leaves me wondering which has priority, the veteran or the budget.

Will the news media determine if the accepted stressors meet the Commissions opinion of a suitable stressor? A prescident which will over rule the American Psychiatric Association's research work for the past 28 years. Is this new commission to review this particular condition? Is their knowledge going to override decades of American Psychiatric Association research?
Watch out veterans. If you follow past traditions, which is ignore it, it will go away, think again. The politicans are cutting the budget. You are it!

I did the following article in response to the 2005 Knight Ridder and non-veteran politicians attack on the VA and PTSD claims. The article is on my website and was published by "The Ohio AMVET" our Department newspaper.

PTSD: 25 Years And Still Under Fire
by Dave Barker, AMVETS Department of Ohio SSO.

Over 25 years ago, I first became aware of posttraumatic stress disorder and the affect it had upon many I knew. At the time, I was a VFW post service officer taking the job very serious. I was representing a former POW Ray Allen, in his quest to obtain VA dental benefits. In many interviews with Ray I found that he and a few other former POW's had common problems as nightmares, flashbacks and a quick temper.

PTSD issues have been a target of the naysayer, since I filed my first case of PTSD for a veteran in February 1983. I was employed by the Veterans Service Office in Columbus, Ohio. The director was a gentleman, who believed, PTSD was non existent excuse for Vietnam veterans to act different. He was followed by a compassionate man who knew and understood the condition. We had in the early days of PTSD claims, both those who believed and those who did not believe. My first director tried to stop me from filing PTSD claims, the second director in 1985 encouraged me to do so.

Currently there are those in the media trying to stop veterans from receiving benefits for PTSD because they do not believe the issues in DSM-IV are as stated. When I checked their biographies, I saw no mention of prior military service. I only wish those all knowing, possibly non-veteran writers would spend a day in my office. They would change their minds I am sure.

The first of two recent examples are Knight-Ridder's investigation dated May 19, 2005 which stated in part "The report's findings mirror the results of a March (2005) Knight Ridder series on the VA's disability compensation program, which found payments for mental ailments are subject to wide swings and veterans in certain states are far more likely to get high post-traumatic stress disorder payments than those in other states. The exclusive Knight Ridder analysis was based on a review of 2.5 million veteran claims records, released only after Knight Ridder sued the VA in federal court last November."
Is the purpose of Knight-Ridder to help those who shed not only blood, but their ability to function in society; or to make it even more difficult for those who defend this nations policies to obtain their benefits? This question bothers me considerably.

In another article entitled "VA Lays Blame In Disability Disparities" by the Associated Press dated May 20, 2005 it states in part " Staffing shortages and an outdated system for assessing claims are among the reasons for wide differences in disability payments for veterans, the government said Thursday." It further stated "Claims examiners use 60-year-old guidelines to assess ailments; the guidelines don't include nonphysical conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder that are now recognized, according to a report from the Veterans Affairs Department."

The article quickly goes into the financial aspects of claims processing such as the budget and dollars available. It continues by stating "More than one-third of the variance in disability compensation results from different rates of acceptance for certain ailments, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, according to an investigation by the department's inspector general."

The report also indicated investigators found that 25 percent of the VA approved cases of post-traumatic stress disorder they reviewed, lacked the proof they expected of the required event or series of events that led to the ailment. Which led the budget oriented Veterans Affairs Secretary James Nicholson to say this report had turned up "some information that demands the attention of this agency." The Associated Press reported Nicholson further saying "The amount of dollars involved is huge and the lives involved are important," Our number one goal is to take care of those veterans who are deserving." It somewhat leaves me wondering which has priority, the veteran or the budget.

There is now a major push, to review Post Traumatic Stress Disorder claims. This is to determine if the accepted stressors meet the Commissions opinion of a suitable stressor; which will over rule the American Psychiatric Association's research work for the past 28 years. Is the new commission to review this particular condition? Is their knowledge going to override decades of American Psychiatric Association research? Perish the thought.

"Diagnostic Criteria

A. The person has been exposed to a traumatic event in which both of the following were present:
1. the person experienced, witnessed, or was confronted with an event or events that involved actual
or threatened death or serious injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of self or others

2. the person's response involved intense fear, helplessness, or horror."

These PTSD claims do take a very long time. One issue that bears mention is the VA only does as current regulation requires. The changes in PTSD criteria was not and is not set by the VA. It is established by congressional mandate through the Federal Register by direction or request of the Secretary of the VA. This normally is a result of the American Psychiatric Association and the Diagnostic Statistical Manual Of Mental Disorders (DSM). We are now working with the DSM-IV which had been in print over two years, before the VA got on the same page. It was an additional year, in some cases that all rating specialists rated according to DSM-IV.

If the opinion of the review will save the taxpayer money, the veteran had better watch out.

HEY VA! HAVE YOU HEARD? March 14, 2006
"Courage After Fire" is a new book for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan written by San Francisco VA Medical Center psychiatric social worker Keith Armstrong, LCSW, and two of his mental health colleagues, Suzanne Best, Ph.D., and Paula Domenci, Ph.D. The 230-page book is filled with valuable information, helpful tips, exercises and examples for veterans who are dealing with their reactions to war, returning to work and community, and/or reconnecting with their loved ones. The book has been well received by active duty personnel and the veteran community because it takes a complex topic and distills it into plain English. Armstrong said he and his colleagues decided to write the book because there wasn't a comprehensive text available to help returning veterans and their families with stateside readjustment difficulties. Learn more at: http://www.courageafterfire.com/.

thanks for the heads up Dave...will pass on the info to our local Vets Center...

De Oppresso Liber

I appreciate the information everyone has been giving.

I just got out of the Dallas VA MH ward...spent 12 days there.

Major Depression Disorder, recurrent, severe
PTSD
Anxiety

A little background....I'm a 45 yo USMC Vet, a Major, who was a Huey pilot from '83 to 94(Semper Fi to all! ).

40% VA disability for neck and back problems. Service related due to helo crash in the Persian Gulf in Oct, '87(tail rotor failure, NVG's over water, the other pilot was never found...although I found his helmet floating on the surface).

I'm going to due frequent appointments, following up with Pain Mgmt, Psychiatris and Psycologist. I will likely file for PTSD compensation sometime in the next couple of months, and will be checking in here for tips on the filing, as well as getting some tips regarding coping.

Looking forward to your help, and as I progress, to helping others.



P.S. Is there anyway to get a helicopter smilie in there?!

PTSD is real and doesn't go away. But help can be found to prevent the problem from becoming worse in most cases. Without proper treatment the PTSD condition only becomes worse. Anyone seeking help for possible PTSD should always be evaluated by a trained doctor specializing in this field ... considering the fact that PTSD still lacks more research for this condition and its symptoms.
The tricky part .. finding a qualified doctor.
The VA allegedly has medical staff who claim to know about PTSD and that can properly diagnose a veteran having this disorder.
Get as many opinions as you can get from them in their examinations for determining a valid illness. Do not give up seeking help. If your PTSD is detected early enough .. they can probably help you through some therapy programs, medication may be necessary to assist you as well. Don't let PTSD destroy your life ... deal with it in the best way you possibly can .. so that you are able to carry on with your every day functions. You owe it to your family and friends .. and especially to yourself. If you know of somebody showing symptoms ..Get them some help. I have a severe case of it as I am sure others do too, I am presently under VA care.