You're not alone. Every little thing you say can be recorded during your CP exam for PTSD benefits. However, sometimes they just do a mental status exam which takes about 15 minutes. For the best possible outcome, you need to be prepared and that’s what this article will help you do. CP stands for “Compensation and Pension”. 4. Hear from fellow Veterans just like you, with many of our Veteran Success Managers having gone through our programs. If you only have flare-ups of depression once a month, mention that to the doctor even if you are as happy as a lark the day of your exam. Ketamine has shown promise in treating symptoms of mental illness. It is true that CP examiners review thousands of veterans per year. Name: SSN: Date of Exam: ... ascertainable on exam or testing please state why. Be sure to ask about the benefits and risks of each treatment. Therefore they may not have the time, patience, or resources to spend a lot of time digging into your case. Once you file a claim for PTSD, the VA will schedule a CP exam for VA benefits for you to undergo. 37,868 veterans (2.2% of claimants) have a 0 percent VA rating for PTSD. Since 2016, VA Claims Insider has helped thousands of Veterans just like you get the VA rating and compensation they deserve in less time. They could give the doctor some idea of your medical conditions. This doesn’t mean to lie, it just means to be honest about your symptoms and how you are struggling. It’s FREE to get started, so click “Go Elite Now” below to complete our 3-step intake process. Every little thing you say can be recorded during your CP exam for PTSD benefits. Know what you are going to say when the C and P exam doc says, “How are you?” While many of us automatically respond, “fine”, to this question, you may have to do lots of backpedaling if you do this. This exam is to verify the diagnosis of PTSD, even if you already have another diagnosis from a medical professional. The best strategy for a PTSD exam, whether you’re a veteran or civilian suffering in its grip, is to be truthful. Many veterans are diagnosed with PTSD, so please know that you’re not alone. Finally, you may want to check out these articles to better prepare for your VA C&P exam, and to ensure you file the strongest claim possible for PTSD.And if you still don’t feel confident, we have a great team of VA Insiders ready to assist you! NI Multisim Live lets you create, share, collaborate, and discover circuits and electronics online with SPICE simulation included. Keep the discussion about your condition and avoid wandering into topics about unrelated circumstances or things in your life that may be going well. Telling the truth may be difficult through no fault of your own – given your mental wellness and overall health – but your chances of receiving benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or the U.S. Social Security Administration increases exponentially based on the strength of the evidence presented through medical and psychological test results. In reality, there isn’t a “pass/fail” system in place. Also, because they are looking for reasons to assign you benefits, your examiner will be looking for specific details to determine the severity of your PTSD condition. With these shocking statistics, you can believe that the VA is used to treating veterans for PTSD and granting them benefits. Do you have difficulty concentrating or sleeping? This is why you should be prepared to be as clear and specific as possible during your exam time. We know the pain of feeling stuck, frustrated, and alone, and we want to make this process as easy and painless as possible for you. Is the exam to establish service connection? What to Expect Before the PTSD C&P Exam In some cases, veterans are given the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) to complete while sitting in the waiting room before their appointments. A: The VA requests a C&P exam for PTSD when it finds gaps in your disability benefits claim application. This doesn’t mean to lie, it just means to be honest about your symptoms and how you are struggling. We want you to be as prepared as possible so that you can receive the highest VA disability for PTSD for your unique circumstances. It’s important that you don’t downplay what you are experiencing. A mental health evaluation performed by a psychiatrist, psychologist, or other licensed mental health professional. Every detail you possibly can about your symptoms and the history of your condition. freedom11b. 70% PTSD Rating. More than 5 million people in the United States suffer from PTSD, including a large percentage of civilians. Veterans frequently gloss-over how bad things are when they talk to people. Don’t do that here! I submitted a supplemental form and questioned the doctors final review, because she totally contradicting what I told her, which made the rater think I … An incomplete or inaccurate exam is a time burner. In the information that follows you will be provided with tips to get the highest rating for PTSD. This is meant to be an initial assessment of both the presence and severity of the veteran’s PTSD symptoms. While primary care professionals typically receive training in mental health, they rarely have the depth of knowledge to understand all of the ways PTSD symptoms can manifest. How to Get a 100 Percent VA Rating (if deserved)! It is important to remember that C&P examiners are examining thousands of veterans per year, and most of the examiners do not have the patience, time, or resources to try to figure out how a veteran really feels or to dig deep to figure out what the veterans symptoms really are. 5. I'm a bit nervious about it to say the least. Although he did say I had symptoms of PTSD, I was left feeling like he didn't actually say I had PTSD. Read to the end and you’ll know how to pass your CP exam for VA disability benefits for PTSD. 125,056 veterans (7.1%) have a 10 percent VA rating for PTSD. Did the veteran take pain medication prior to going into their spine, knee, elbow, or other joint examination? As a fellow disabled Veteran this is shameful and I’m on a mission to change it. As a mental disorder, PTSD can be very tough to diagnose objectively. How does the VA rate PTSD? The PTSD Compensation and Pension Exam, beware of this trap. They are rejecting vets … Learning that a relative or close friend was exposed to a trauma, Indirect exposure to details of the trauma, Very negative thoughts and assumptions about yourself and the world, Exaggerated blaming of yourself or others for trauma, Difficulty experiencing positive feelings or thoughts. Well, you came to the right place! Signup to never miss a beat with special offers, blog updates, exclusive trainings, and more delivered right to your inbox! Since the stressor occurred, have you had negative thoughts or feelings that either started or became worse? 164. For example, some veterans and family members might want to learn details about psychological and medical (psychiatric) research and assessment methods. I saw the doctor for a total of 4 minutes and the doctor actually checked me out for a total of 79 seconds. And it can be very helpful to have someone fill out a letter of support for you (a “buddy letter”) on VA Form 21-4138. Were you exposed to threatened death, actual or threatened injury, or actual or threatened sexual violence during your time in the military through: This is where you are persistently reliving the trauma through either: This is where the PTSD causes you to avoid anything that might be related to trauma. You must meet all of the criteria to be validly diagnosed. Symptoms differ by person: The best strategy for a PTSD exam, whether you’re a veteran or civilian suffering in its grip, is to be truthful.