I am currently rated 70% DOD on PDRL and 100% VA P&T.
I was medically retired from the Army for Major Depression and Anxiety in 2016. I ended up on the PDRL with 70% DOD rating with the determination that it was not caused by combat or an instrument of war. I always thought that my depression and anxiety had their roots in traumatic experiences while deployed to Afghanistan in 2005. However, I wasn't able to get a PTSD diagnosis while in the Army due to not fitting perfectly into their diagnostic criteria. I was unable to answer yes to the questions like if I was having nightmares as I am completely unable to remember dreams, good or bad. I also avoided bringing up my deployments when going through therapy while on active duty. I was ashamed and also discounted the severity of my own experiences. Sweeping them under the rug essentially. Until today, I have never talked with anyone about my experiences downrange, not even with my family and friends. I have now finally been diagnosed with PTSD by VA and is currently being treated at their PTSD Clinic. I was also recently made 100% P&T by VA.
Is there any reason for me to file some kind of appeal or request for correction of record to get my non-combat PDRL retirement be changed to combat-related? At the time of my medical retirement I had 17 years of active duty time.
I was medically retired from the Army for Major Depression and Anxiety in 2016. I ended up on the PDRL with 70% DOD rating with the determination that it was not caused by combat or an instrument of war. I always thought that my depression and anxiety had their roots in traumatic experiences while deployed to Afghanistan in 2005. However, I wasn't able to get a PTSD diagnosis while in the Army due to not fitting perfectly into their diagnostic criteria. I was unable to answer yes to the questions like if I was having nightmares as I am completely unable to remember dreams, good or bad. I also avoided bringing up my deployments when going through therapy while on active duty. I was ashamed and also discounted the severity of my own experiences. Sweeping them under the rug essentially. Until today, I have never talked with anyone about my experiences downrange, not even with my family and friends. I have now finally been diagnosed with PTSD by VA and is currently being treated at their PTSD Clinic. I was also recently made 100% P&T by VA.
Is there any reason for me to file some kind of appeal or request for correction of record to get my non-combat PDRL retirement be changed to combat-related? At the time of my medical retirement I had 17 years of active duty time.
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