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Q159: Does anyone have any tips to help me win compensation for Mild Depressive Disorder (MDD) and PTSD?
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A1: Fill in form VA 21-0781 and contact a Disabiled Veterans Association representative for additional guidance. (AA) 10/18/18
A2: Get yourself a GOOD advocate who is also a lawyer. Do not use VA doctors for any of your examinations, use private doctors, they have more pull. Then when everything is compiled, do NOT go see the QTC doctor for your final approval. They were hired to say, "Denied", to the tune of 6.9 BILLION dollars a year. (TT) 10/18/18
A3: 1. Do NOT get a lawyer. A friend used a law firm years ago. He showed me what the law firm sent to the VA. It did not include any details about his combat experiences and reasons why he suffered from PTSD. In short, the law firm short-changed my buddy and did not take a personal interest in his case.
a. My Brother in Arms finally sent a VA form 21-526EZ form, sent it Certified Mail. He was rated 30% for PTSD. Then, he filed a Notice of Disagreement. The VA increased his PTSD disability to 70%.
b. Only YOU know the circumstances of your disability.
2. Remember: you have ONE YEAR from the date of your notification to appeal the VAs decision. The VA will include instructions on how to file a Notice of Disagreement.
3. Do NOT fill out the VA form 21-4138. Open the website below:
https://www.veteranslawblog.org/va-form-21-4138/
I filed a VA form 21-526 EZ, requesting an increase in my rating, and sent it via Certified Mail. I receive a response in less than 45 days.
https://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-21-526EZ-ARE.pdf
Recommend you use headers on your correspondence: In the upper right hand corner put:
Your name
Case file number (or the last four of your SSAN)
Telephone number
Email address
Additionally, I recommend putting page 'x' of 'y' footers (recommend lower right) at the bottom of the pages. This way, the VA cannot misplace a page or say they cannot rate you because a full justification was not included. I have seen people drop pages out of folders and do not know the order of the pages or who the pages belong to.
Use the phrase: "Under penalty of perjury, I swear the statements and evidence presented are true? This is much stronger than saying: "To the best of my knowledge and belief . . ."
Send in copies of your medical records to support your claim. Be detailed and support each disability requested.
I have never heard of a VA form 21-0781; but, it looks like a great way to communicate with the VA. VA Form 21 0781: What Is It?
https://formswift.com/va-form-21-0781
A VA Form 21-0781 is used by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. This form is known as a Statement in Support of Claim for Service Connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This form will be completed by a veteran who has been diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. They will need to document the stressful events that contributed to the disorder during their military service.
This form has room for two stressful incidents, although more can be included if necessary. For each event, the filer will need to include the date it occurred, where it occurred, what unit the soldier was assigned to, and a detailed description of the event. If a serviceperson was killed or injured during the stressful incident, this information should be included as well. This allows the Department of Veterans Affairs to assess the situation and understand what happened.
Best of luck on your disability claim. (SB) 10/18/18
A4: Have you filed for either? That would be the first thing to do. Get logged in on eBenefits and file yourself. When you are scheduled for a C&P, don't miss it and be completely honest with yourself AND the with the examiner. For PTS, if you don't have a combat distinguishing device, you'll have to write a statement. Additionally, get any buddy statements and family member statements possible. FYI, in most cases the VBA will normally only rate you in one behavioral disability, rarely not two. (TB) 10/18/18