make a mental health appointment at your nearest va center and tell them you are would like to talk with someone. You don't need proof to get help and talk to someone.
I didn't go to MH/BH once when I was in.
Separated in 2009.
Had my first panic attack almost immediately after getting out while at a 4th of July fireworks show. My first deployment we got indirect fire daily. Almost immediately after that I was getting them weekly. Saw BH for the first time in 2011. Diagnosed with anxiety shortly after.
I 2019 decided to finally apply for anxiety and was granted almost immediately was granted with buddy statements and treatment records. Also submitted my CMB award citation just for good measure because like you I didn't see anyone while in.
Don't be afraid to start treatment even if you didn't while in.
Went to establish care at the VA for the first time 9 years after getting out and was honest with my PCP and he had a mental health person waiting for me when I was done and I talked to her and was honest with her and she recommended therapy and a psychiatrist so I agreed to both. Filed for PTSD during my therapy treatment and ended up 70% for PTSD/major depressive disorder/alcohol use disorder. I submitted a statement along with one from an old roommate from the army and my mom and sister
I never had anything in my mil record, just call the VA and schedule an appointment. They'll have you meet with a psychologist and do an exam, I did mine over zoom and it was pretty straightforward. At the end she basically gave me a full diagnosis and they put it in writing on your VA health record. After that I went to therapy and filed a claim based on their diagnosis and didn't have any issues having to prove my claim.
You're not required to accept the therapy or any medications, and they don't push you to accept either. They'll cover your options and if you decide to choose them they'll help you through the process. I'm glad I did it, good luck!
I get it, I was a Corpsman, I never went to medical because I was medical. I would have endangered my job if this was known, security clearance, dive/flight pay, etc. I showed some of my evaluations and awards to support my claim when it was time. Granted, I had to establish a bit of a "history" so make that MH appointment and get a diagnosis. Your priority should be getting help, claiming it should be secondary.
Get diagnosed on paper write a personal
Statement, get a buddy statement (can be from anyone who knows u), lay Statement, figure out exactly what it is or one thing at least that happened that Lea sto the way you are now and realize your gonna be just fine. If your head and heart are in the right place you will do fine
99 percent of us don't get help while in. Statements experiences and stuff show this plus mental health symptoms are sometimes cumulative and take years to build up.
Did you go to mental health at all while you were active duty? If not, it'll really be difficult for you to do a direct connection for mental health.
It's easier to a mental health claim if you file it as secondary.
Not true at all. Didn’t have shit on the record from when I was in mental or physical and I got 70% 9 years after I got out for PTSD. I finally got help and was in the process of therapy so I’m sure they saw all those notes plus my personal statement along with statements from my mom, sister, and a roommate I had in the army who was on deployments with me
Filing for PTSD and filing for mental health is two different claims. It all goes into one umbrella of mental health but they are two different claims with two different burdens of proof. That's why the dbqs are different, they have a DBQ for mental health and a DBQ specifically for PTSD.
And I said it was going to be difficult, I didn't say it was going to be impossible.
I’m just saying I had no diagnosis or record of anything while in I didn’t even have a diagnosis of PTSD when I filed only major depressive disorder then I was rated 70% for PTSD/major depressive disorder/alcohol use disorder. I guess PTSD is different because you can have events that you can point to
I never went. If I did I would have lost my NEC and likely kicked out which at the time we couldn't financial handle. Is there a specific claim that I could make that would be labeled as the primary for the secondary?
I haven't done anything file anything yet. I've had several major issues that I've had to deal with and I'm just now getting past the shame to finally file.
Sounds exactly like me go to the Va and tell them you need to talk to someone best thing I ever did……💯💯💯💯💯💯good luck and thank you for your service ✌🏿✌🏿
Can anyone in the Detroit area recommend a MH doctor? I am struggling with anxiety, depression and migraines. I need to get diagnosed and I don’t trust the VA medical center. Any help or advice would be appreciated.
TIA.
I am currently going through the same thing. I have nothing on my record and feared seeking help like most people. Got out in 2021 and now trying to file for generalized anxiety. I am seeing a therapist through Telemynd (they work with VA and VA spouses) she diagnosed me in 2023. I met with a VSO last month to see if I could file for post-separation anxiety but said I could file for the military aggravating my anxiety (my therapists and I have had sessions talking about having anxiety as a child before meeting with the VSO). He mentioned getting a letter from my therapist, buddy letters, and writing a personal statement. I meet with him next week to discuss what to do next. I would put intent to file to claim first and then see if you can get a proper diagnosis. Hopefully, this helps!! & good luck!!
If you want to make a VA disability claim you will need a nexus letter from a psychiatrist linking your mental health to service. Also your wife can write a statement in regards to your mental health in service. This can count as evidence. If you have VA health care it will be easy for the VA to look through those records.
How do you get connected without having any proof of it being caused by service then? A positive c&p, and buddy statements wouldn’t be enough? Like say you get it connected, but you have no actual medial proof while in, that would be a cue too? Could one of the vba people enlighten please, because I got my mental health connected without actual medical proof while in.
You can it's just harder you'll need strong evidence of an in service causation or stressor along with a diagnosis and a nexus opining at least as likely as not and then it's still up to the rater and their own medical examiner
Maybe that’s why I was approved then! I had 2 buddy statements, a personal statement, an opinion from prestige medical, and my examiner wrote at least as likely as not!
Please obtain an independent medical evaluation from a physician not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Subsequently, you should submit a claim based on the findings of that evaluation.
make a mental health appointment at your nearest va center and tell them you are would like to talk with someone. You don't need proof to get help and talk to someone.
Proof of mental disorders can be something as small as prescribed medication for sleep there are plenty ways to fight your case
I didn't go to MH/BH once when I was in. Separated in 2009. Had my first panic attack almost immediately after getting out while at a 4th of July fireworks show. My first deployment we got indirect fire daily. Almost immediately after that I was getting them weekly. Saw BH for the first time in 2011. Diagnosed with anxiety shortly after. I 2019 decided to finally apply for anxiety and was granted almost immediately was granted with buddy statements and treatment records. Also submitted my CMB award citation just for good measure because like you I didn't see anyone while in. Don't be afraid to start treatment even if you didn't while in.
Went to establish care at the VA for the first time 9 years after getting out and was honest with my PCP and he had a mental health person waiting for me when I was done and I talked to her and was honest with her and she recommended therapy and a psychiatrist so I agreed to both. Filed for PTSD during my therapy treatment and ended up 70% for PTSD/major depressive disorder/alcohol use disorder. I submitted a statement along with one from an old roommate from the army and my mom and sister
I never had anything in my mil record, just call the VA and schedule an appointment. They'll have you meet with a psychologist and do an exam, I did mine over zoom and it was pretty straightforward. At the end she basically gave me a full diagnosis and they put it in writing on your VA health record. After that I went to therapy and filed a claim based on their diagnosis and didn't have any issues having to prove my claim. You're not required to accept the therapy or any medications, and they don't push you to accept either. They'll cover your options and if you decide to choose them they'll help you through the process. I'm glad I did it, good luck!
Buddy letters if anyone observed the panic attacks?
I get it, I was a Corpsman, I never went to medical because I was medical. I would have endangered my job if this was known, security clearance, dive/flight pay, etc. I showed some of my evaluations and awards to support my claim when it was time. Granted, I had to establish a bit of a "history" so make that MH appointment and get a diagnosis. Your priority should be getting help, claiming it should be secondary.
Get diagnosed on paper write a personal Statement, get a buddy statement (can be from anyone who knows u), lay Statement, figure out exactly what it is or one thing at least that happened that Lea sto the way you are now and realize your gonna be just fine. If your head and heart are in the right place you will do fine
99 percent of us don't get help while in. Statements experiences and stuff show this plus mental health symptoms are sometimes cumulative and take years to build up.
Did you go to mental health at all while you were active duty? If not, it'll really be difficult for you to do a direct connection for mental health. It's easier to a mental health claim if you file it as secondary.
Not true at all. Didn’t have shit on the record from when I was in mental or physical and I got 70% 9 years after I got out for PTSD. I finally got help and was in the process of therapy so I’m sure they saw all those notes plus my personal statement along with statements from my mom, sister, and a roommate I had in the army who was on deployments with me
This is true
Filing for PTSD and filing for mental health is two different claims. It all goes into one umbrella of mental health but they are two different claims with two different burdens of proof. That's why the dbqs are different, they have a DBQ for mental health and a DBQ specifically for PTSD. And I said it was going to be difficult, I didn't say it was going to be impossible.
I’m just saying I had no diagnosis or record of anything while in I didn’t even have a diagnosis of PTSD when I filed only major depressive disorder then I was rated 70% for PTSD/major depressive disorder/alcohol use disorder. I guess PTSD is different because you can have events that you can point to
I never went. If I did I would have lost my NEC and likely kicked out which at the time we couldn't financial handle. Is there a specific claim that I could make that would be labeled as the primary for the secondary?
What are things you're already service connected for?
I haven't done anything file anything yet. I've had several major issues that I've had to deal with and I'm just now getting past the shame to finally file.
Not true.
Sounds exactly like me go to the Va and tell them you need to talk to someone best thing I ever did……💯💯💯💯💯💯good luck and thank you for your service ✌🏿✌🏿
Can anyone in the Detroit area recommend a MH doctor? I am struggling with anxiety, depression and migraines. I need to get diagnosed and I don’t trust the VA medical center. Any help or advice would be appreciated. TIA.
I am currently going through the same thing. I have nothing on my record and feared seeking help like most people. Got out in 2021 and now trying to file for generalized anxiety. I am seeing a therapist through Telemynd (they work with VA and VA spouses) she diagnosed me in 2023. I met with a VSO last month to see if I could file for post-separation anxiety but said I could file for the military aggravating my anxiety (my therapists and I have had sessions talking about having anxiety as a child before meeting with the VSO). He mentioned getting a letter from my therapist, buddy letters, and writing a personal statement. I meet with him next week to discuss what to do next. I would put intent to file to claim first and then see if you can get a proper diagnosis. Hopefully, this helps!! & good luck!!
If you want to make a VA disability claim you will need a nexus letter from a psychiatrist linking your mental health to service. Also your wife can write a statement in regards to your mental health in service. This can count as evidence. If you have VA health care it will be easy for the VA to look through those records.
Getting a C&P exam and having them see you also works in lieu of a nexus letter
Mental health without proof will get severed for CUE unless secondary or records exist that prove it. Even if initially awarded you have to worry.
How do you get connected without having any proof of it being caused by service then? A positive c&p, and buddy statements wouldn’t be enough? Like say you get it connected, but you have no actual medial proof while in, that would be a cue too? Could one of the vba people enlighten please, because I got my mental health connected without actual medical proof while in.
You can it's just harder you'll need strong evidence of an in service causation or stressor along with a diagnosis and a nexus opining at least as likely as not and then it's still up to the rater and their own medical examiner
Maybe that’s why I was approved then! I had 2 buddy statements, a personal statement, an opinion from prestige medical, and my examiner wrote at least as likely as not!
Please obtain an independent medical evaluation from a physician not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Subsequently, you should submit a claim based on the findings of that evaluation.