I was initially rated 70% for my referring condition. The proposed rating stated:
We have assigned a 70 percent evaluation for your major depressive disorder based on:
...
A higher evaluation of 100 percent is not warranted for a mental disorder unless the evidence shows total occupational and social impairment, due to such symptoms as:
• Gross impairment in thought processes or communication
• Persistent delusions or hallucinations
• Grossly inappropriate behavior
• Persistent danger of hurting self or others
• Intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene)
• Disorientation to time or place
• Memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name.
I submitted a VARR for an increase on the grounds of "Persistent danger of hurting self", "Intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene)", and "Grossly inappropriate behavior". I was told today by my PEBLO that the VARR was rejected without an increase but I was not given an decision letter or told how my evidence was considered by the raters.
Evidence:
I've been hospitalized for MDD twice, the first time was voluntary (suicidal ideation) and the second time was involuntary, I was committed to the act and mentioned it online which tipped OSI off who then told my command to have me admitted. The second time I was in the hospital I was then transferred out of state afterwards to a second hospital on a more long-term basis. Both the initial hospital (that I'd been to twice) and the second hospital state explicitly in their report's that I was a persistent danger to myself and they were positively worried that I would harm myself if given the opportunity, and the second hospital stated that “The patient frankly revealed that he had decided to kill himself. He was therefore, not interested in further treatment or help. The patient expressed determination to kill himself upon discharge and was therefore, considered a candidate for Lithium, since he was not responding adequately to other therapies.”
I submitted the logs from on-base showing that I was involuntarily admitted by OSI and my command, and the record from both the hospitals I was in that state explicitly that I was a persistent danger to myself.
Regarding "Intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene)", this perfectly describes my situation, I've had difficulty showering regularly or even bushing my teeth daily. I provided my dental records from on base showing that every time I've gone in for my annual inspection they've found cavities on several of my teeth, which has required me to undergo dental surgery to fiix them multiple times. Just this past month before I submitted the VARR I had new cavities discovered. I do not mean to brag by saying that I do not brush my teeth, but I just don't understand how you can argue that I do not have exactly the symptom being described here.
On the subject of "grossly inappropriate behavior", each psychiatric hospital I've been in has documented in my medical record that I have serious social issues, it is explicitly logged in each record that I d not have any friends or family and do not maintain contact with a single individual in any meaningful capacity. The first hospital I was in diagnosed me as having sociopathic personality disorder and then changed it to borderline personality disorder. Then the second hospital I was in diagnosed me with schizoid personality disorder.
My expectations with the VARR were minimal and I fully expected them to reject it, but even when they did I am still surprised. I just don't understand how you can look at the evidence I submitted and conclude that I don't have precisely those symptoms. And they don't even give me a decision letter or statement explaining why my VARR was rejected or why the evidence I submitted didn't matter.
My PEBLO is now requesting I fill and return a pre-separation worksheet that lists what address I can be reached at after I separate. I do not have an address to be reached at, I'm about to become homeless. I don't understand what part of "I do not have family contacts" people don't understand or refuse to understand.
We have assigned a 70 percent evaluation for your major depressive disorder based on:
...
A higher evaluation of 100 percent is not warranted for a mental disorder unless the evidence shows total occupational and social impairment, due to such symptoms as:
• Gross impairment in thought processes or communication
• Persistent delusions or hallucinations
• Grossly inappropriate behavior
• Persistent danger of hurting self or others
• Intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene)
• Disorientation to time or place
• Memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name.
I submitted a VARR for an increase on the grounds of "Persistent danger of hurting self", "Intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene)", and "Grossly inappropriate behavior". I was told today by my PEBLO that the VARR was rejected without an increase but I was not given an decision letter or told how my evidence was considered by the raters.
Evidence:
I've been hospitalized for MDD twice, the first time was voluntary (suicidal ideation) and the second time was involuntary, I was committed to the act and mentioned it online which tipped OSI off who then told my command to have me admitted. The second time I was in the hospital I was then transferred out of state afterwards to a second hospital on a more long-term basis. Both the initial hospital (that I'd been to twice) and the second hospital state explicitly in their report's that I was a persistent danger to myself and they were positively worried that I would harm myself if given the opportunity, and the second hospital stated that “The patient frankly revealed that he had decided to kill himself. He was therefore, not interested in further treatment or help. The patient expressed determination to kill himself upon discharge and was therefore, considered a candidate for Lithium, since he was not responding adequately to other therapies.”
I submitted the logs from on-base showing that I was involuntarily admitted by OSI and my command, and the record from both the hospitals I was in that state explicitly that I was a persistent danger to myself.
Regarding "Intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene)", this perfectly describes my situation, I've had difficulty showering regularly or even bushing my teeth daily. I provided my dental records from on base showing that every time I've gone in for my annual inspection they've found cavities on several of my teeth, which has required me to undergo dental surgery to fiix them multiple times. Just this past month before I submitted the VARR I had new cavities discovered. I do not mean to brag by saying that I do not brush my teeth, but I just don't understand how you can argue that I do not have exactly the symptom being described here.
On the subject of "grossly inappropriate behavior", each psychiatric hospital I've been in has documented in my medical record that I have serious social issues, it is explicitly logged in each record that I d not have any friends or family and do not maintain contact with a single individual in any meaningful capacity. The first hospital I was in diagnosed me as having sociopathic personality disorder and then changed it to borderline personality disorder. Then the second hospital I was in diagnosed me with schizoid personality disorder.
My expectations with the VARR were minimal and I fully expected them to reject it, but even when they did I am still surprised. I just don't understand how you can look at the evidence I submitted and conclude that I don't have precisely those symptoms. And they don't even give me a decision letter or statement explaining why my VARR was rejected or why the evidence I submitted didn't matter.
My PEBLO is now requesting I fill and return a pre-separation worksheet that lists what address I can be reached at after I separate. I do not have an address to be reached at, I'm about to become homeless. I don't understand what part of "I do not have family contacts" people don't understand or refuse to understand.
