Go to the profile of Cynthia Crutchfield Hunter
Cynthia Crutchfield Hunter

AGORAPHOBIA @ Veteran’s Administration

Outside is a Panic Attack

I have PTSD, panic, anxiety and agoraphobia.

Veteran’s Administration sent me to a C&P exam this Summer. VA refuses to print the word Agoraphobia anywhere on any letter from them or communication about me, with me or with others. My claim is over 10 years old. VA refuses to rate my Agoraphobia.

>Below you can see how the Veteran’s Administration Compensation and Pension examiner summarized my social and occupational functioning in July 2016.

  • I told the examiner I stopped driving due to panic attacks.
  • I told the examiner that a safe person drives me — she refers to him as my roommate.
  • I told the examiner I drove to customer appointments 11 years ago.
  • I told the examiner I had face-to-face conferences with customers 11 years ago.

The C&P examiner followed the structure of a DBQ form on her computer screen as she asked me questions.

>This is a DBQ for PTSD. http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-21-0960P-3-ARE.pdf

Here’s the actual C&P examiner summary in response to VA regional office questions they want her to answer:

The veteran’s PTSD results in impairment in social functioning. She
does not feel safe outside of her home, and has few social interactions other
than those with her roommate and her family members.
Her condition also limits her occupational functioning. She did work
successfully for a number of years (1997–2005), but this was a computer
web design business that she ran from her own home. She did not have to
travel to work, and she did not have to interact in person with other
people.

Her anxiety when away from home would limit her ability to work in most
work settings. Her discomfort around other people would limit her ability
to work in busy settings or settings which require interpersonal
interaction. Her anxiety and panic symptoms would limit her ability to
maintain consistent work pace and productivity.

The same C&P examiner rated me at 50% three years ago. VA only sent me to another C&P exam because my lawyer threatened to file a Writ of Mandamus to force VA to do something with my case. VA rated me to be 50% again. Why is this taking so long and wrong too? Agoraphobia is not mentioned one time on the C&P exam report.

VA continued to rate me at 50% again this month and VA said in the denial letter that I should be able to work independently.

DUH!

11 years ago, I worked designing realtor websites online. I had to drive to the customer’s office to meet them and work out the details of their website and online presence. After the first meeting, I could work on their websites from home.

There were times I had to take photos to include on the websites and I had to drive and interact with customers. That was 11 years ago.

I’ve been determined disabled by the Social Security Administration for PTSD. panic, anxiety and Agoraphobia since 2006.

Veteran’s Administration has my SSA records.

A VA rater used my lawyer’s legal argument as a NOD notice of disagreement instead of sending it to appeals where the BVA, Board of Veteran Appeals law judge could see it. The judge did not rule on the issues due to not knowing about them and not seeing the legal argument.

A BVA law judge did rule on other issues, but remanded them to the regional office for more information. A VA rater did not put my lawyer’s legal argument in my C File and that’s why I’m still waiting for a resolution.

I’m tired of the this antagonistic fight with the Veteran’s Administration. VA does not read claim issues sympathetically and rate them accordingly. They do the least amount of investigation and a minimum of work to decide claims. At least it appears that way to me.

@ Veterans Administration: I HAVE AGORAPHOBIA

This is my life.