Combat PTSD?

I

ItsADadsLyfe

Well-Known Member
PEB Forum Veteran
Registered Member
As I am working towards my goal of medical retirement my spouse believes it’s not the best route to go through mental health I disagree due to My therapist writing a memo outlining combat PTSD and a handful of other mental health issues. Been in and out of therapy for 10 years have a documented TBI from getting knocked out in combat. I requested my online medical records and I have over 2,000 pages of medical history with multiple mental, and physical diagnoses… all I need is 30 percent Dod but I am confident I can get 100 for my PTSD alone but I’m not an expert…Would love to hear some others opinions. Here’s what my therapist wrote

I am writing this memorandum regarding a patient who was under my care from August 2023 to November 2024, until they transferred duty stations due to a Permanent Change of Station (PCS). During our therapeutic engagement, the patient presented with symptoms consistent with combat-related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which they reported originated following a traumatic brain injury (TBI) sustained in combat in 2012.

Over the course of treatment, the patient reported experiencing impairments in cognitive functioning, emotional regulation, concentration, and memory. They also presented with anxiety, intrusive thoughts, sleep disruption, and emotional shutdown under stress.

The treatment plan incorporated evidence-based modalities, with a focus on trauma-informed interventions. Techniques such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure Therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) were employed to address and process traumatic memories.

Our work centered on establishing a collaborative and trusting therapeutic relationship. The patient engaged in the therapeutic process and demonstrated commitment to personal growth and recovery.

Progress over the course of treatment was variable, with periods of improvement followed by episodes of increased symptom severity. The patient experienced both productive weeks with reduced PTSD symptoms and greater emotional regulation, as well as more challenging weeks marked by heightened distress, avoidance behaviors, and emotional reactivity. This pattern is consistent with the nature of PTSD and reflects the ongoing work of trauma processing and stabilization.
 
Based on what you've described, you should be able to pursue a medical retirement due to a mental health condition. PTSD alone can qualify you for a 100% VA rating if the symptoms severely interfere with your ability to function in daily life or maintain employment. I think it is 100% if total occupational and social impairment, but you’ll need strong evidence that you can’t work or engage socially
 
Hey man, I was medically retired in 2020 for PTSD, all combat related and reflected on my PEB/Retirement orders for taxation purposes. Happy to discuss if you have questions.

Silver bullet for me in service was presenting documentation to BH that confirmed the combat event, and geographic location, and just being incredibly transparent about how it affected me and my ability to continue service. FWIW, when going through the board, I was against the MEB/PEB and wanted to continue to stay in, and was still found unfit due to my symptoms.

I agree w/ Cristina above that 100% impairment is hard to obtain, I'd read the DBQ/VA regulations on it, but yes, total social impairment backed by strong supporting evidence that you can not work or engage socially.

I was retired at 70% DoD for PTSD and later dropped to 50% when placed on the PDRL because I was able to hold a job/attend school classes, but for VA purposes, you'd be able to get 100% total rating with your TBI and other presumptive PACT act conditions if they apply to you.

Best of luck!
 
eldritchbebop said:
Hey man, I was medically retired in 2020 for PTSD, all combat related and reflected on my PEB/Retirement orders for taxation purposes. Happy to discuss if you have questions.

Silver bullet for me in service was presenting documentation to BH that confirmed the combat event, and geographic location, and just being incredibly transparent about how it affected me and my ability to continue service. FWIW, when going through the board, I was against the MEB/PEB and wanted to continue to stay in, and was still found unfit due to my symptoms.

I agree w/ Cristina above that 100% impairment is hard to obtain, I'd read the DBQ/VA regulations on it, but yes, total social impairment backed by strong supporting evidence that you can not work or engage socially.

I was retired at 70% DoD for PTSD and later dropped to 50% when placed on the PDRL because I was able to hold a job/attend school classes, but for VA purposes, you'd be able to get 100% total rating with your TBI and other presumptive PACT act conditions if they apply to you.

Best of luck!
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How many years did you do? Are you getting CSRC? How long was your process?
 
i think you have a good shot at getting medically retired with mental health. You just need that provider in mental health to refer you. They might not without 1 period of LIMDU for mental health though. You might also risk looking a lil sus with the MTF at the med board when they review your package for getting one referral, having it canceled and then going to a new provider to get the referral again. Hard to prove you are doing something “wrong” but as a corpsman you probably know all the providers on a med board are discussing everything such as this.

On the CRSC front… I was over 20 but went through a PEB. I fought to be found fit with PTSD as I felt like I was never given the opportunity to seek and receive proper treatment. Long story short I was retired at 70 percent for the disability percentage but I had 21 years. I do receive CRSC as it is financially beneficially for me now. The Navy denied CRSC for my first application as they wanted my award 1650s for reconsideration. I included my PEB paperwork the first go and my medical records from numerous providers. It was still a no until they saw my awards. You should absolutely still apply if/when you are retired but be prepared for them to ask for a CAR 1650 at the very least.

To add to the mental health med board… you also run the risk of the Navy saying okay we retired you at whatever percentage for PTSD then say 6 months to a year later you got better if you are holding employment, not seeking treatment and then you find yourself going from TDRL to medically separated losing a lot of benefits.
 
iamthewalrus016 said:
i think you have a good shot at getting medically retired with mental health. You just need that provider in mental health to refer you. They might not without 1 period of LIMDU for mental health though. You might also risk looking a lil sus with the MTF at the med board when they review your package for getting one referral, having it canceled and then going to a new provider to get the referral again. Hard to prove you are doing something “wrong” but as a corpsman you probably know all the providers on a med board are discussing everything such as this.

On the CRSC front… I was over 20 but went through a PEB. I fought to be found fit with PTSD as I felt like I was never given the opportunity to seek and receive proper treatment. Long story short I was retired at 70 percent for the disability percentage but I had 21 years. I do receive CRSC as it is financially beneficially for me now. The Navy denied CRSC for my first application as they wanted my award 1650s for reconsideration. I included my PEB paperwork the first go and my medical records from numerous providers. It was still a no until they saw my awards. You should absolutely still apply if/when you are retired but be prepared for them to ask for a CAR 1650 at the very least.

To add to the mental health med board… you also run the risk of the Navy saying okay we retired you at whatever percentage for PTSD then say 6 months to a year later you got better if you are holding employment, not seeking treatment and then you find yourself going from TDRL to medically separated losing a lot of benefits.
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I’m at 15 years and my PCM referred me to behavioral health to do a fit for duty assessment
 
I did 11 years, going through the CRSC process now, I'm fortunate that I have written statements and awards confirming combat so we'll see how they receive it.
 
Following up on what was said about the medboard, going from TDRL to PDRL.
When I had my PDRL follow up they were very interested in my employment, though thankfully I was able to show I was hired under a wounded warriors program, and had received a reasonable accommodation with my employer to facility my PTSD, and work independently on night shifts because of my struggles to work with others in normal circumstances. I also included medical records showing that I had continued to receive follow on care and medication for PTSD AFTER exiting service. Even with all of that they still dropped me from 70% to 50% so I'm not sure what would have happened had I not continued treatment, and held a normal day job.
 
iamthewalrus016 said:
i think you have a good shot at getting medically retired with mental health. You just need that provider in mental health to refer you. They might not without 1 period of LIMDU for mental health though. You might also risk looking a lil sus with the MTF at the med board when they review your package for getting one referral, having it canceled and then going to a new provider to get the referral again. Hard to prove you are doing something “wrong” but as a corpsman you probably know all the providers on a med board are discussing everything such as this.

On the CRSC front… I was over 20 but went through a PEB. I fought to be found fit with PTSD as I felt like I was never given the opportunity to seek and receive proper treatment. Long story short I was retired at 70 percent for the disability percentage but I had 21 years. I do receive CRSC as it is financially beneficially for me now. The Navy denied CRSC for my first application as they wanted my award 1650s for reconsideration. I included my PEB paperwork the first go and my medical records from numerous providers. It was still a no until they saw my awards. You should absolutely still apply if/when you are retired but be prepared for them to ask for a CAR 1650 at the very least.

To add to the mental health med board… you also run the risk of the Navy saying okay we retired you at whatever percentage for PTSD then say 6 months to a year later you got better if you are holding employment, not seeking treatment and then you find yourself going from TDRL to medically separated losing a lot of benefits.
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I have an extensive history with mental health and documentation spanning the last 10 years. I would hope that the provider would be competent enough to see that my mental health will not improve and just refer me I will not be employed when I retire so I will not loose benefits
 
ItsADadsLyfe said:
I have an extensive history with mental health and documentation spanning the last 10 years. I would hope that the provider would be competent enough to see that my mental health will not improve and just refer me I will not be employed when I retire so I will not loose benefits
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I understand what you are saying but it may look like you are throwing everything at the wall trying to get a medical retirement. One provider cancels your MEB referral and you ask to be referred again for a different condition. I'm not saying it won't happen, I was just trying to give you a realistic possibility on the outcome.

I mentioned losing benefits if you aren't extremely proactive in your post service treatment you run the risk of being reduced by the Navy when they review your TDRL status. It is not uncommon for the Navy to say you didn't seek treatment post service and then reduce the percentage they retired you with.

Also its not my intention to come off abrasive. I apologize if I do or did. I don't like reading the numerous posts of people saying no one told me X, Y or Z.
 
Oh no you good! You weren’t being abrasive! I’m just trying to do what I think is best for me and my family and I appreciate everyone’s opinions/experiences
 
ItsADadsLyfe said:
Oh no you good! You weren’t being abrasive! I’m just trying to do what I think is best for me and my family and I appreciate everyone’s opinions/experiences
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For sure! I feel that. I was stationed at Balboa in undersea medicine and I was honestly shocked at all the things discussed at the med boards between providers.
 
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