PTSD, Bi polar, Depression are they diferent by VA standerds? in Mental Health Issues Forum

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PTSD, Bi polar, Depression are they diferent by VA standerds?

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jnb367	PTSD, Bi polar, Depression are they diferent by VA standerds?		Lead	[-]
Posts: 23 May 4 12 5:19 PM	I have been given a 10% PTSD rating but also have been diagnosed with depression and possible Bi polar disorder. One, if I am diagnosed with either or of those things is that something I can file a claim for? Two, If I do file a claime for those two things what should I have from my doctors in writing other than the diagnoses? Three, my mental health doctor has reccmended me for the residency PTSD treatment program and also an expermental drug trial for PTSD involving lithium. Anyone got any helpful hints?
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brewha44		#1	[url]	[-]
Posts: 996 May 4 12 10:31 PM	JNB, Stay the hell away from the Lithium! If the Doc is recommending PTSD treatment program then you need to file for a PTSD increase and do the program! Best of Luck Also PTSD can mimic bipolar in an acute phase! Do the program and then see if they still think you are bipolar. Edited 1 time by brewha44 May 4 12 10:34 PM.
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The Old Medic		#2	[url]	[-]
Posts: 6031 May 4 12 11:00 PM	Do NOT listen to the advice to "stay away" from Lithium. It has helped hundreds of thousands of patients with depression. It must be closely monitored, and you will have to undergo frequent blood tests to make certain that the level of the Lithium is not getting into the toxic level. It is NOT a drug that you can take more of than is prescribed (it CAN kill you, cause organ failure, etc. if you overdose with it). BUT, it is one of the most effective drugs available for some people. My niece happens to be one of them. Without Lithium, she has to take massive doses of anti-depressants, and they still do not control her depression. With Lithium, she not only has had her very severe depression controlled, but she was able to return to work for the first time in 15 years. It does not help everyone, and a tiny minority of people have severe reactions to it (generally when they are started on a relatively high dose). But, it is far safer than some of the people on these forums would have you believe. Yes, the VA does indeed consider PTSD, Bi-Polar Disorder and Depression as being separate mental conditions. And yes, you can indeed have more than one mental disorder. BUT, you could have PTSD and Bi-Polar Disorder, or PTSD and Depression, but not all three. US Army 1959-1969; Germany 1960-63; Medic 1964-69 SFC E-7 MOS: 55G10 (60-63) , 91B40, 91C40, 91F40 (64-69) Registered Nurse, 1968-2005 (Licensed, not practicing after 1975) Ed.D in Rehabilitation Counseling, Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Retired, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Independent Social Security Contract Vocational Expert 1983-2005, Contract Medical Expert 1987-2005 60% Service Connected Disabled; Life Member of the DAV since 1980
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brewha44		#3	[url]	[-]
Posts: 996 May 4 12 11:10 PM	I agree to disagree with Old Medic! Lithium works very well, but patients do not tend to tolerate the side effects well! Can easily become toxic! Also almost 50 percent of all patients taking lithium tend to develop some form of thyroid disease within the first 2 years. Lithium destroys the kidneys and a host of other side effects! Just to many other options these days. Edited 1 time by brewha44 May 4 12 11:32 PM.
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jpapa		#4	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1950 May 5 12 7:20 AM	I agree to both advised also, I was prescribed with a Lithium for mood and depression then took me off and gave other meds( I have a kidney issues)...DX changed Meds changed, plus I'm taking heavy narcotics also... Good luck jnb and be safe...Let your Dr know and follow his orders....get your Quality of Life! Honor Bound To Defend Freedom! Retired USN 70% PTSD/ 90% SC, 100% TDIU SSDI
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ONeal Paul		#5	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1175 May 5 12 10:38 AM	My son ended up with Thyroid Cancer and he took lithium in his teens. I can't say for certain that it was lithium, but it was not the hereditary form of cancer. The military was trying so hard to say it was heredity so they wouldn't have to pay compensation, but after all the tests, it showed NOT from heredity. So, yes be careful with lithium. Branch: Navy 1979 to 1994 Rate/Rank: OSC(SW)/E-7 Job: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operations_Specialist_(US_Navy) Conflicts: Iran War--Operation Eagle Claw (Rescue Attempt of 52 American Hostages) 1980 Iran/Iraq/Tanker War--Operation Ernest Will 1987-1988 Desert Storm/Shield--Operation Provide Comfort 1990-1991 Iraq No Fly Zone--Operation Southern Watch 1991-2003 "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Patrick428		#6	[url]	[-]
Posts: 5214 May 5 12 4:27 PM Go Tar Heels! Closet Vols Fan	A veteran can only be compensated for one mental disorder regardless of how many mental disorders have been diagnosed. Having PTSD with other associated disorders can aid in strengthening the severity of a claim of PTSD. As to Lithium it is not uncommon to add as a supplement to other medications. A usual dose of 300 mgs is added to buffer other antidepressants and is very effective. Lithium is used in place of other Bipolar medications because of the risk of seizures other medications may cause. This is why you see Depakote used to treat Bipolar as Depakote is also an antiseizure medication. As with any medication, read the side effects and consult with your doctor. Patrick U.S. Marine Corps, Vietnam 1965-66 and 1966-67, Honorable Discharge,1969, E-5 Two Purple Hearts, Bronze Star w/Combat Device, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry w/palm Ph.D. Clinical Psychology (retired) Specializing in PTSD and Forensics Former C and P and Social Security Examiner 100% P and T plus SMC-S Housebound "If you're going to throw beer cans on stage, you could at least make sure they're full" Grace Slick, Jefferson Airplane
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brewha44		#7	[url]	[-]
Posts: 996 May 5 12 5:07 PM	I think depakote, trileptal and some of the other antiseizure drugs are very good! Every drug has a side effect, but i feel Lithium should be used as a last resort for severe patients! I know of one patient that was hospitalized frequently until he was placed on Lithium. His doctor baby sits him with his blood work and sees him weekly. Some people also develop diabetes insipidus with Lithium where the kidneys cannot retain water. This can be irreversible. I agree that it has its place in medicine but i just think it should be a last resort. JMHO
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bhudspat	Depakote	#8	[url]	[-]
Posts: 17 Jun 7 12 2:45 PM	I would go with depakote before trying lithium for the reasons shown above. Obviously everyone is different and you should follow your doctors orders as they know what is best for your particular situation. For me I am PTSD and Bipolar and take Depakote, Abilify and Zoloft. It took alot of working with my psychiatrist to tweak the correct dosages but I feel leveled out now, almost normal compared to what I was experiencing several months ago. If you are already rated for PTSD but not the bipolar resubmit your claim so that your mental conditions reflect all that your doctor is diagnosing you with, this should raise your service connection. Operation Iraqi Freedom II: February 2004 - December 2004 4th Platoon, D 2-108 IN, 2 BCT, 1 ID 105th Refugees 50% Bipolar/PTSD 20% Blurry Vision 10% Tinnitus 10% Right Knee 10% Lower Back Overall 70%
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Swarthy	Patrick,	#9	[url]	[-]
Posts: 80 Jul 2 12 4:35 AM	what about working PTSD into an Acquired Psychiatric condiiton claim? My Shrinkwrapper has my problem sheet listed with Bi-Polar I, then GAD, and tells me that he will put in a consult for CAPs, because he thinks that the PTSD is drving the bi-polar and anxiety.. Can't I just let the current appeal with Bipolar I and GAD go through as a new claim with aquired psych with BiPolar and GAD then add PTSD later depending on my test results? None of my historical DX (10 years worth) mentuion PTSD- thou one 'assessment' was "Anxiety r/t military service, but that is as close as it got to PTSD. My dx, they are all depression/anxiety/Bi-polar/uni polar depression. Since I already have an appeal in theworks and i am on the first appeal stage for a aquiared psych condition to include PTSD' claim denial- and fiule for the Aquired Psych with bi-polar and GAD, then solidify it with a PTSDdx. You recommend the other way around, what are thr pros and cons of doing this way? thanks, S
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Patrick428		#10	[url]	[-]
Posts: 5214 Jul 4 12 12:20 PM Go Tar Heels! Closet Vols Fan	First you already have a diagnosis for Bipolar, GAD, and Depression. They may be fueled by PTSD, however the VA will only compensate you for one mental disorder even if you have been diagnosed with 10 mental disorders. They grant compensation on the most severe problem, and look at the other diagnoses to see if they fuel or exacerbate your current condition. If they do, then it is the obligation of the raters to give leeway and benefit of the doubt to a higher rating for the most severe disorder. I would wait and see what the appeal turns out to be. Filing a new claim for PTSD will in effect, do nothing because you have diagnoses in other areas. Second, it will cause the appeal to be held up until the new claim is dealt with. If you doctor wrote up that PTSD is an Acquired Psychiatric condition based on your other mental disorders, then all you can do is wait for the outcome of your appeal. Patrick U.S. Marine Corps, Vietnam 1965-66 and 1966-67, Honorable Discharge,1969, E-5 Two Purple Hearts, Bronze Star w/Combat Device, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry w/palm Ph.D. Clinical Psychology (retired) Specializing in PTSD and Forensics Former C and P and Social Security Examiner 100% P and T plus SMC-S Housebound "If you're going to throw beer cans on stage, you could at least make sure they're full" Grace Slick, Jefferson Airplane
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AbleMinded		#11	[url]	[-]
Posts: 273 Jul 11 12 10:57 PM	Hi Swarthy, Patrick is very right about the VA only providing benefits for the worst, more dominant mental diagnosis. But you shouldn't worry about that. These diagnosis have very similar and overlapping symptoms. The measure is how will you function within normal society. btw... none of us fit normal. My advise is simple. Be very honest in any C&P, even if the information is embarrassing. Don't make anything up. Be true. What is difficult is describing your life prior to the stressor vs. life after the stressor. Complicating things is you may identify the stressor. I haven't. But, I was able to describe my life before and now. It's okay to admit things are changing. Do it. Let the docs figure out the technical stuff. Express your life and challenges. That's your role in this process. Combat Arms, Big Red One, Desert Storm; US Army Retired
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