I am a 15 year post OIF Marine combat infantry veteran Seargent. I lived for 15 years in denial about having PTSD symptoms never listening to my loved ones and too proud to ever try and receive disability compensation. Finally after 1 divorce and another marriage on the verge of divorce and years of drinking my wife convinced me to go to a mental health therapist where after only 2 sessions I was told that I suffer from PTSD and congratulated on having lived with it for 15 years on my own with no help. Also, I felt like I haven’t slept a good night sleep in years because I’m constantly feeling remorse, guilt and paranoia and went to a sleep clinic where I was diagnosed with moderate sleep apnea and given a CPAP machine. I served in Iraq during OIF alongside Gunnery SGT. Jack Coughlin in the most forward infantry battalion during the invasion and participated and witnessed all of the fighting all the way to Baghdad and was there when the saddam statue was toppled. After speaking with my local VA Rep, he explained that because I had a knee surgery in the military and that I complain of constant ringing in the ears and headaches that he would set me up with a C&P exam to discuss the issues. After the exam, about 3 months later I was awarded 10% service connection for my knee & 10% service connection for Tinnitus. Then he filed a claim for PTSD and sleep apnea as a result of PTSD because I was able to get all the notes from the sessions and paperwork from my mental health therapist where she put her “diagnoses” of PTSD and depression, etc., he scanned all of that and sent it down range to VA headquarters and told me to wait about 60 days. Has anyone had a similar situation with the PTSD & sleep apnea and what is to be expected next? Is there another C&P exam for both, even though I have a diagnoses from a private therapist? If so, what is the C&P exam for this going to be like?. Thank you to all of you who have served! OoRah & Sempra Fi!
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