PTSD Interim assessments

Hey Bert, I am going through the same process. I have been given 10%. I just got a letter a few weeks ago advising my condition has not stabilized and it will be eight months for this to be completed. I guess we just have to hang in there until then. Take care. Newf

Burton, I am in the same situation as you find yourself. You will not loose anything you have gained just as teentitan indicated. Stay strong, my friend.

Test

berton78 wrote:Ok. I did call and im waiting for the paramedical clerk to call me back. They really emphasized that 10% was only interim and not to appeal until they completed my assessment in 8 minths, to give me time to stabilize. So im at 8 months and wondering where this complete assessment is headed. Obviously im stable now but ptsd doesnt just go away, so I dont know what their looking for. All my questionnaires from the osi are available for them to review over the last 8 months. Like, it sounds as if I get better I loose my benefits. Is that true ?

Hey Bert don't worry. I went through the same thing as you. Do you have a case manager? Him or her should be your source of knowledge. I had a direct line to my CM and she was the best.The 10% means they acknowledge your are disabled but the final number you will be given relies on the full assessments once they are are done. I had to go to a VAC hired psychologist for their assessment and my psychologist's report and my psychiatrist's report. All these need to be done so they can determine how disabled you are and how much is duty related. It is no picnic but necessary to obtain the benefits you should be eligible for. When you go through all this it's not about how you feel at the time it's about your worst days and anyone that's gone through it knows it's not hard to remember your worst days. Good luck, be strong and be patient. Do not despair, once it's over you will feel better.

You are correct PTSD does not go away. That said the 10% is not to be taken away from you. Because if VAC does take it away then they have to prove that you are PTSD free.

Ok. I did call and im waiting for the paramedical clerk to call me back. They really emphasized that 10% was only interim and not to appeal until they completed my assessment in 8 minths, to give me time to stabilize. So im at 8 months and wondering where this complete assessment is headed. Obviously im stable now but ptsd doesnt just go away, so I dont know what their looking for. All my questionnaires from the osi are available for them to review over the last 8 months. Like, it sounds as if I get better I loose my benefits. Is that true ?

Have you talked to your Case Manager (CM) at your VAC office? If not I suggest you call your CM (via the 1-866-522-2122).

I believe, and don't take this as accurate info, that the adjudicator is looking at the final reports from the OSI clinic to determine if the 10% is either accurate or wrong.

If this is the situation please don't let it gnaw at you. VAC is notoriously famous for taking months to adjudicate claims, re-assessments. So please relax and call your CM and ask your questions.

Ok. So here I am 8 months after my 10% interkm assessment. Im being contacted by a paramedical clerk at the VAC office. Im still in the dark. My treatment only finished a few months ago and was just released from the OSI clinic last month. So, I suppose their comments on my assessment decision that "we will need to wait until your condition is more stable to complete your assessment" does make sense. At this time their saying either " a medical exam and/or for more information needed to correctly assess the extent of your condition" If anyone has any idea where this is gonna go, please let me know. Im assuming they'll want all the OSI questionaires ive completed in the last 8 months and amything else to get a stable view of my condition. I do not understand this potential medical exam. Kinda stressing me out cause Im not interested in revisiting all the trauma and thkngs that ive already processed and done therapy for. Any insight would be helpful. Also, im new to this , but im rcmp and wondering what all these class action lawsuits are about and if I need to be concerned about anything else. Im not retired, still active. Just taking my disability monthly payments and waiting for DVA to complete my assessment. I guess 10% was to acknowledge they recognize the disability. I certainly feel 10% is a slap in the face. Maybe thats standard for interim assessments. Thanks

bert just me talking so take this with a pinch of salt but its a test in front of a computer plus questionnaires and other tests with a specialist. it takes two half days to do. not sure if this would be it but before my release this was the test being used on the more severe cases.

propat

Ok. Thanks for the info. What is an in depth medical 1 ? I've been going to the OSI clinic since day 1, and the psychiatrist there diagnosed me. I go every 3 months, and meet him, and fill out the ptsd questionnaires. Are you saying that in 8 months I'm gonna go through the whole song and dance routine again ?

Interim means simply just a quick payout meaning they support your PTSD Claim for now until a full review is completed, this definitely means you potential will be entitled to more that 10%. I initially began at 10% and then after my in depth medical 1 was well above the initial 10%. Good luck and be strong Berton and you are far from alone.

I was just notified by VAC that they are granting me a 10% disability pension for my PTSD claim. They say however that this is "only an interim assessment", and that they will contact me in 8 months to arrange a medical exam and/or for more information to correctly assess the extent of my condition. They say also that they need to wait until my condition is stable.

Does anyone have any information on this, and what this means. I certainly thought I would be getting more than 10%. They further state that the assessment is not complete, and to wait before asking Veterans Review and Appeal Board to review the assessment.

In my own humble opinion, I think they are playing a card game with me. I was in very very rough shape when I submitted the claim, so from their vantage point, the longer they wait to make a final assessment, the better my health gets, and the less they pay. Is that what is happening, or should I expect a bump from 10%. I certainly will appeal, if it stays at 10%.

Any insight on this would be appreciated.

Thanks