TDRL C&P Exam

J

jhurdt

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PEB Forum Veteran
Registered Member
Hello all.

I am currently on TDRL after being medically retired for PTSD and Cyclothymic disorder on July 28th, 2020. 100% P&T rating from the VA and 70% DOD.

Since my discharge I have seen the VA almost exclusively for my mental health care so that the Army can see it upon my TDRL evaluation. Since my discharge the VA has also diagnosed me with panic disorder and bipolar disorder. I saw MH weekly for almost 8 months this past year and have been on a variety on MH medications. I have also gone through a divorce, dropped out of school, and am unemployed and working on salesforce certifications to obtain a remote employment opportunity.

My question is, will the VA automatically initiate a MH review exam or since I am within a year of my discharge I am thinking about requesting a review for PTSD and Cyclothymic disorder "for military retirement" (by putting those words on the claim form) and adding in bipolar and panic disorder with the following documents:

- Initial PTSD/MH evaluation results which state I must be reevaluated due to a my medical discharge from the Army.
- A personal statement on VA form 21-4138 which I have written with the help of my roommate which describes how my PTSD has affected my previous marriage, work, social, school functioning. I did this because I know it will be hard for me to remember/describe fully how my PTSD has effected my life in the eval.
- A PTSD DBQ conducted by a private medical provider (I tried getting linked up with a psych but am working with a licensed clinical social worker) which confirms the "70%" box check in section 3a.
- My divorce decree

I would appreciate any input from this forum since at the current moment in time I would be homeless without the compensation I receive from the VA/Army. I do not in any way want to jeopardize my ratings, but do feel like I have done everything possible to maintain my rating and do not think I can deal with the stress of not knowing when/if I will be evaluated. Even at a 50% rating for mental health I would still be at a 100% rating for the VA and moved to PDRL. I would rather be evaluated now before I attempt to become employed so I can focus completely on employment and becoming a functional member of society.

Like I said, any input is appreciated. I know since I am P&T any additional review puts everything under review but since I will have to be reevaluated anyway and I believe I have done my due diligence AND since I am still within a year of my discharge I do not believe I am in jeopardy of losing my ratings but instead just being moved to PDRL. I really do not want to wait and have to be reevaluated by the Army. I would much rather get the evaluation done by the VA and move on with my life.
 
Update: I am getting two different Independent Medical Opinions (from Telemynd and Telemedica) as opposed to just one, my personal statement, my divorce decree, the 199 and VA evaluation notes that state I have to be reevaluated. This along with all my other VA notes/appointments (weekly for almost 8 months) and I feel safe going this route. Not sure if anyone else has tried to force the VAs hand for an evaluation so they could get moved to TDRL, but I wanted to put this out there on the forum and share my process and hopefully good outcome. I would rather be able to upload my additional documentation for the eval then wait for a call saying I need to schedule one and have to walk into the C&P exam with paperwork. Would rather give the evaluator every reason to maintain my percentage before the exam even begins.
 
Your VA and DOD ratings are two separate ratings. You already have 100% P&T from the VA so I would NOT file another claim with the VA.

TDRL revaluation has nothing to do with the VA claim. TDRL is DOD only.

Your TDRL revaluation is for your DOD rating. Submit all your evidence to the DOD provider when you come back up for your TDRL revaluation. You want the military to see that your condition has gotten worse/stabilized to you can be moved from the DOD TDRL to the PDRL. DOD will get all your VA records for you. Any non DOD or VA medical records will need to be submitted to the PEBLO when your revaluation happens.

Again, VA and DOD ratings are separate. I would not file another VA claim because it could put your 100% P&T in jeopardy.
 
FmrArmyAvatr said:
Your VA and DOD ratings are two separate ratings. You already have 100% P&T from the VA so I would NOT file another claim with the VA.

TDRL revaluation has nothing to do with the VA claim. TDRL is DOD only.

Your TDRL revaluation is for your DOD rating. Submit all your evidence to the DOD provider when you come back up for your TDRL revaluation. You want the military to see that your condition has gotten worse/stabilized to you can be moved from the DOD TDRL to the PDRL. DOD will get all your VA records for you. Any non DOD or VA medical records will need to be submitted to the PEBLO when your revaluation happens.

Again, VA and DOD ratings are separate. I would not file another VA claim because it could put your 100% P&T in jeopardy.
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Okay. I talked to the TDRL Lawyer and he told me that if the VA Reevaluates me and finds my mental health at 70% again that that is the rating TDRL will use for PDRL. I would just rather get reevaluated by the VA and get it all over with. I know you got reevaluated by both DOD and VA. I just feel pretty confident in my case with all of my records and two independent medical opinions to back it up.
 
jhurdt said:
Okay. I talked to the TDRL Lawyer and he told me that if the VA Reevaluates me and finds my mental health at 70% again that that is the rating TDRL will use for PDRL. I would just rather get reevaluated by the VA and get it all over with. I know you got reevaluated by both DOD and VA. I just feel pretty confident in my case with all of my records and two independent medical opinions to back it up.
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If that is what your attorney advised and you feel confident with that decision, then go with it. I always tell everyone on here that the attorney is the subject matter expert on these matters.

I know in my situation (which it looks like you have read my previous post about) I trust the VA contractor about as far as I can throw them. The DOD provider’s sole job is to do the TDRL revaluation exam vs the VA contractor doing it for money as a side gig.

I truly hope this works out for you and you get PDRL, it really relieves a lot of stress and anxiety knowing you don’t have to deal/worry about it anymore.
 
FmrArmyAvatr said:
If that is what your attorney advised and you feel confident with that decision, then go with it. I always tell everyone on here that the attorney is the subject matter expert on these matters.

I know in my situation (which it looks like you have read my previous post about) I trust the VA contractor about as far as I can throw them. The DOD provider’s sole job is to do the TDRL revaluation exam vs the VA contractor doing it for money as a side gig.

I truly hope this works out for you and you get PDRL, it really relieves a lot of stress and anxiety knowing you don’t have to deal/worry about it anymore.
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The TDRL lawyer told me that if I have been seeing the VA and my condition has not improved that that is the best course of action he has seen. Mental health wise he said that if the VA reevaluates me then that is what the DOD will use for PDRL. Reductions he has seen come from DOD. I am confident that with all my documentation and history screaming 70% it should be an easy decision for the rater. Not saying it isn't stress free, but I would like to move on with my life. Every other condition I have rated by the VA is physical and I have seen the doctor and am getting treated for everything.

I would rather be able to present the rater with all the documentation proving I am 70% and that I need to be reevaluated and do that. Obviously in my records there is only evidence that my occupational and social impairment has only gotten worse, which it has.

@Jason Perry @RonG @chaplaincharlie obviously though I would welcome more opinions. I still have time before I do anything
 
Update: I am not going to submit a claim for a reeval of my mental health. I am just going to wait and hope for the best
 
I think you already decided your course of action based on the last post.

Here are some comments based on the previous posts.

I hope all goes well for you and you get what you are entitled to receive from your service!

jhurdt said:
Okay. I talked to the TDRL Lawyer and he told me that if the VA Reevaluates me and finds my mental health at 70% again that that is the rating TDRL will use for PDRL. I would just rather get reevaluated by the VA and get it all over with. I know you got reevaluated by both DOD and VA. I just feel pretty confident in my case with all of my records and two independent medical opinions to back it up.
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That seems accurate, however, it also seems "optimistic" that a rating would be issued from the VA in time to make a difference (especially, given your 100% P&T rating....it might be difficult to get a timely opinion anyway, and they might just respond that the current rating is a complete grant of your requested ratings...).
jhurdt said:
The TDRL lawyer told me that if I have been seeing the VA and my condition has not improved that that is the best course of action he has seen. Mental health wise he said that if the VA reevaluates me then that is what the DOD will use for PDRL. Reductions he has seen come from DOD. I am confident that with all my documentation and history screaming 70% it should be an easy decision for the rater. Not saying it isn't stress free, but I would like to move on with my life. Every other condition I have rated by the VA is physical and I have seen the doctor and am getting treated for everything.

I would rather be able to present the rater with all the documentation proving I am 70% and that I need to be reevaluated and do that. Obviously in my records there is only evidence that my occupational and social impairment has only gotten worse, which it has.
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Yeah, it is hard to get a totally fair review of the case (both VA and military). However, I suspect you will be good when it is all said and done (and, if not, you have a stong appeal case).
jhurdt said:
Update: I am not going to submit a claim for a reeval of my mental health. I am just going to wait and hope for the best
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Hope it goes well for you! Best of luck!
 
Jason Perry said:
I think you already decided your course of action based on the last post.

Here are some comments based on the previous posts.

I hope all goes well for you and you get what you are entitled to receive from your service!



That seems accurate, however, it also seems "optimistic" that a rating would be issued from the VA in time to make a difference (especially, given your 100% P&T rating....it might be difficult to get a timely opinion anyway, and they might just respond that the current rating is a complete grant of your requested ratings...).

Yeah, it is hard to get a totally fair review of the case (both VA and military). However, I suspect you will be good when it is all said and done (and, if not, you have a stong appeal case).

Hope it goes well for you! Best of luck!
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Agree on all accounts. Thank you!
 
Hello, I will piggyback here to see if any of you have the answer to my questions. I was put on TDRL on June 2020. (Medically retired due to 3 conditions, 2 of them permanent but the PTSD was not permanent and was subject to reevaluation). On June 2021 I had my reevaluation for PTSD and I got a letter from VA stating the rate still the same for PTSD (50%). My question is: Am I know be transferred to PDRL ? Should I expect more evaluations? How I know if I am on PDRL ? I have not received anything saying that I am on PDRL.
Thank you to anybody who can provide me with some guidance.
 

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