Hello All,
I'm active duty Air Force and have served over 21 years. I'm currently in IDES due to mental health. I had a suicide attempt in Feb 2021 and was in a psych ward. I did a partial hospitalization as well. I suffer from Major Depressive Disorder Recurrent Severe with Anxious Distress and Insomnia.
I still have suicidal ideations on a daily basis since my suicide attempt. I also totally isolate myself from family, and I haven't been working at all for the past 4 months. It is mandatory for me to see a therapist every week and a psychiatrist every couple weeks. My Mental Health C&P exam last month was supposed to be video Telehealth. However, the examiner claimed that he couldn't connect and contacted me via phone call instead. The exam only lasted 20 minutes, and the examiner didn't really ask me that many questions about my symptoms. He seemed preoccupied.
I told the examiner everything I've mentioned in the previous paragraphs about how my mental health has affected me occupationally and socially. I asked the examiner if he read my record, and he said that he read some of it. I feel like I received a piss poor exam. He wrote that the insomnia and the major depression recurrence severe was confirmed. However, I feel like most of the symptoms that were checked off are not commensurate with my current condition.
From my interpretation of the DBQ, it looks like I would get a 50% rating. However, most of my symptoms should be in the 70% category.
4 symptoms in the 30% category are checked off. 3 symptoms in the 50% category are checked off. Lastly, only 2 symptoms in the 70% category are checked off.
In the occupational and social impairment section, "Occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity" is checked off (50% category).
Should I file a complaint with QTC and request another exam? Or should I wait until I get my proposed ratings and file an appeal?
I'm active duty Air Force and have served over 21 years. I'm currently in IDES due to mental health. I had a suicide attempt in Feb 2021 and was in a psych ward. I did a partial hospitalization as well. I suffer from Major Depressive Disorder Recurrent Severe with Anxious Distress and Insomnia.
I still have suicidal ideations on a daily basis since my suicide attempt. I also totally isolate myself from family, and I haven't been working at all for the past 4 months. It is mandatory for me to see a therapist every week and a psychiatrist every couple weeks. My Mental Health C&P exam last month was supposed to be video Telehealth. However, the examiner claimed that he couldn't connect and contacted me via phone call instead. The exam only lasted 20 minutes, and the examiner didn't really ask me that many questions about my symptoms. He seemed preoccupied.
I told the examiner everything I've mentioned in the previous paragraphs about how my mental health has affected me occupationally and socially. I asked the examiner if he read my record, and he said that he read some of it. I feel like I received a piss poor exam. He wrote that the insomnia and the major depression recurrence severe was confirmed. However, I feel like most of the symptoms that were checked off are not commensurate with my current condition.
From my interpretation of the DBQ, it looks like I would get a 50% rating. However, most of my symptoms should be in the 70% category.
4 symptoms in the 30% category are checked off. 3 symptoms in the 50% category are checked off. Lastly, only 2 symptoms in the 70% category are checked off.
In the occupational and social impairment section, "Occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity" is checked off (50% category).
Should I file a complaint with QTC and request another exam? Or should I wait until I get my proposed ratings and file an appeal?