PTSD from MST (Military Sexual Trauma)

[DeltaDawg]

Howdy y’all. I just joined this community today. Happy to be here. I scrolled around for a little while but couldn’t find a thread for members having gone through IDES or MEB. I’m currently in the Reserves (I experienced traumatic events while active duty stationed overseas) and getting med-boarded out. I’ve already had 2 of my exams so far. One for tinnitus/hearing loss and the most recent one was for PTSD and other mental health conditions.

At my Behavioral Health appointment she said that there was more than enough evidence to support the claim and diagnosis for PTSD. However, I left the appointment realizing that some things weren’t said, and kind of just felt like I didn’t paint the picture correctly, as I have trauma related to MST and I fear that because I didn’t mention ‘MST’ specifically that my ratings won’t be completely accurate.

My next appointment is for my back and other trauma related musculoskeletal problems.

Side-note: I listed several things (like 14) that I am claiming. Does the VA give out a rating for each individual thing being claimed, or do they bundle things together say for instance, like claiming multiple different mental health diagnoses?

I’m mainly just wondering if there’s anyone here who has been through IDES/MEB process for PTSD from MST and has any tips, insight, or advice to offer.

I appreciate all of you and anything this community can provide.

Cheers

 

[Dazy_Hazelnuts_5894]

I've been going through the MEB process for the same, PTSD from 3x(MST). It's a bit of a messy process for me and I can explain more if it helps. But I do know that you can only have one "top" mental health diagnosis, for example with your case PTSD would be queen and then the rest of your mental health diagnosis would fall under it. For me, PTSD would be the referring condition, but Major Depressive Disorder, General Anxiety Disorder, and Adjustment Disorder would fall under it.

 

[PolloxTroy08]

The VA will definitely assign a percent for each item claimed to be found service-connected (even if it's 0%) and then give an overall rating. However, the PEB will only use the rating for unfitting conditions which sounds like in your case would probably be your PTSD. I recently was just found UNFIT by the PEB for Depression with PTSD and was rated at 70% DoD (that was my only unfitting condition) and rated 100% by the VA with everything else combined.

Also, and I'm no expert, but if you believe the VA hasn't correctly rated you for your conditions you can request a reconsideration. On the DA Form 199 I received it gave this option stating:

I request VA reconsider my disability ratings. My written request for VA reconsideration is attached. I understand VA will only reconsider ratings if new medical evidence is received or I am able to provide sufficient justification to warrant reconsideration. I understand this is a one-time request for reconsideration of the rating(s) from the DRAS for the conditions the PEB determined to be unfitting. I also understand that counsel is available to represent me with my request for VA Reconsideration and that if I request a formal hearing, my request for reconsideration of my VA rating will be processed after the formal hearing is conducted.

 

[koxin222]

The difficulty with MST claims often stems from the evidentiary "markers" the board looks for, which frequently ignore the reality of how these incidents were reported (or suppressed) at the time. Navigating a Physical Evaluation Board is essentially an adversarial legal process disguised as a medical review. When I was involved in a complex federal litigation matter recently (retained Oberheiden P.C. because fighting a government entity's legal shield is nearly impossible solo), I learned that the only way to win is to overwhelm them with precise, documented evidence that meets their specific legal thresholds. Make sure your private doctor is using the exact terminology required by the VA/DoD schedule to minimize their room for a denial.