SERVING
Those That
SERVED
Questions & Answers
INSTRUCTIONS: Please read each question carefully. If you are able to answer question appropriately use the form below the question to respond. Your name will not appear on the public answer page. Only your initials and date of your response will be visible.
Q730: Big problem. I filed for depression as a service-connected disability, but the VA denied me indicating that my depression was not service-connected. In other words, there is no link for my depression with direct military service that would show in my military service records. Well, the problem is that I did not see any psychologists on base, I saw a civilian for more than two years off base. I needed a letter from the psychologist, so I found the guy on the Internet and called him and asked for a letter indicating that he saw me for two years treating my depression. Unfortunately, the guy doesn’t remember me, which I find hard to believe, we went through some pretty heavy stuff. The guy said he would not write a letter for someone he can’t remember. Also, the guy said he only keeps treatment records for 5 years, then he shreds them. So, how can I prove I was seeing an outside shrink for two years to help link my depression to military service?
If you have a question about benefits, compensation, pension or VA related issues please submit here.
Use Form Below To Respond
Your generous gift will go directly to helping veterans and dependents. We simply cannot continue without your help for our community of veterans and dependents who count on us for our Veteran Pantry. Your support will make a lasting impact.
A1: Unfortunately, thats the way the VA looked at it when you dont have that in your military record nor you have existing documentation from Psych --as they always saying to keep record or written note from the doctor you have seen. I did file the same for depression and what I had was a letter from my psychologist whom I had seen for more than 5 years. However the psychologist was not a medical doctor so I was denied. If you feel that you are still experiencing this disability, you may connect your depression as SECONDARY to your approved VA disabilty...ie Degenerative Arthritis or anything you are experiencing chronic pain as a result of your primary approved disability which leads to depression. I did that and I got approval for Depression....Good luck. (RM) 6/10/21
A2: There's always receipts from the off base clinics and who you saw...Drs name. (HA) 6/10/21
A3: Get friends and family members to write you letters and submit them as a lay statement as a new material evidence. (AF) 6/10/21
A4: Your best bet to prove that you were treated by the psychologist is going to be a buddy letter. Someone that knew you well that you confided in or your spouse. You might also find some receipts that you payed this PhD. Neither is a guarantee. The VA only rates chronic disabilities. You are claiming that you were treated for depression for two years while you were in the military and now have filed a claim for many years later. The VA is wondering why, if this is a chronic disability, is there no chronicity of treatment? If you can show you were treated continuously since you last were treated by the PhD, you have a better chance of linking your depression on a direct basis. The other option is to have whomever you are seeing now, and has diagnosed you, to write a nexus letter relating your depression to whatever happened in the military or your service connected disabilities (secondary basis). (DS) 6/10/21
A5: Did you pay through insurance? If you did, they will have a record of the payments. (RJ) 6/10/21
A6: How did you pay him? Did you use your insurance? There is a paper trail out there you just have to find it. (DB) 6/10/21
A7: Not too BIG of a problem. Let's approach it this way: The psychologist that you saw off base, did he prescribe any kind of medication? If he did, do you have, by ANY chance, a prescription bottle where the medication came in? In your records (hard copies or otherwise) do you have the doctor's prescription where he prescribed medication? If your answer is "No" for any of the above, then where did you fill the prescription (Walgreens, Walmart, CVS, OR Wherever) ? Go back there and give them your information (about the medication from the psychologist) and it should be in their computer. With your I.D. they can go back in the records and print you out a hard copy of all the medication that the psychologist prescribed. It will have the doctor's name, date, medication AND the dosage. That would be the "Evidence" that VA is looking for and your proof that you did see a psychologist on the outside. Don't give up. Where there's will, there's a way. Good Luck, Brother. (RA) 6/10/21
A8: Without this being documented in your military records or someone who you served with knew about you seeing this Dr off base to show that this happened during your military time I don't see any other Avenue for you to get this service connected. (GR) 6/10/21
A9: Do you have bank records or did you tell a friend or family member of your appointments or did you write them in a calender? You can get those friends or family members to write a letter stating the facts. Don't give up. Try and try again, good luck. (EA) 6/10/21
A10: Go back through your bank records; and your insurance records. You paid for the sessions somehow and that is the link that you need. But, if you paid cash, didn't keep the records then you're probably SOL. It isn't easy to re-create records. If you go with buddy statements and statements from your family remember that they can only describe symptoms that you had. They cannot diagnose the illness unless they are medical professionals. That's the big problem with buddy statements and with your own recollections. Veteran's have a tendency to state that they had "Depression/anxiety" and use the terms to indicate a diagnosis rather than describing the type of depression/anxiety. If you say that I felt down all the time. Or that I was always on edge if this happened or that happened. Or that I always worried that I wouldn't fill out my income tax forms correctly and that the IRS would penalize me for my mistakes. That describes what you were going through and is not a diagnosis. You are qualified to describe symptoms but are not qualified to diagnose the feelings. (CP) 6/12/21
A11: Your doctor may not remember you, but his accountant should have records. Track the money trail. (RH) 6/12/21