Marineswife

Thank you all so much for your words of encouragement and support! I just can't totally take in the fact that on our first past FDC claim he was actually awarded 100 percent on his PTSD! Thank God for his AMAZING Psychiatrist- Dr. Ritesh Kool who provided the Nexus letter to tie everything together from get- go! We are also so thankful for the wealth of knowledge and support that this site has provided to us while I have been trying to navigate these totally un-charted waters (for both of us). We are over the moon happy with the decision! A very happy, Marineswife

Thanks Buck! The letter doesn't say anything about the P&T... I did check our account today and nothing yet. I still have that little voice telling me "don't celebrate yet" since the letter says "this is unofficial". I think I would feel a lot better if his letters or something on ebenes would change even though I know from everybody on here that ebenes is slooow to update.. I gotta tell ya, when I got that small white envelope from the DAV today, my heart skipped a beat thinking "Oh no, here we go with the NODs etc etc" So I was pleasantly surprised to read all this! I guess I just don't trust it until I get something "Official" or the money's in the bank! LOL

Well today we received a letter from a NSO in OK (where my husband's claim rating was apparently brokered to) and it states that it is an "Unofficial notification of VAs decision" So according to the DAV NSO here is the breakdown on the letter dated 8/28/15: SC for PTSD granted at 100 percent effective 11/20/2014 SC for tinnitus granted at 10 percent same date effective Basic eligibility for DEA established from 11/20/14 SC for hearing loss denied Nothing has changed on ebenes in his letters or anywhere except in the Dependents area I am listed as "awarded" in compensation area. They still have him in the "Prep for Notification" status. Should we be popping the cork on the Apple Cider yet? Or just cautiously optimistic? Frankly when I was shocked when I opened the letter because this is our first rodeo and as some of you might remember, we had a good Nexxus letter ( and a great C&P exam BTW) but forgot to file the 0781 with the FDC. We took the gamble and didn't send anything else so as not to be kicked out of the Express lane. Am I correct in assuming that it appears as if "letting sleeping dogs lie" was the right choice? Thank you all so much for your help and words of encouragement! I don't know what I would've done without this site! You can believe that Hadit.com will be on our "Pay it Forward" list when he does get paid! Thanks again, Marineswife

Thank you mrsfootball!

Hi drewski84, His letters (verification of benes etc) don't show any comp at all (this is his first claim). I don't know what an AB8 is? Thanks, Marineswife

Ok so I am wondering if it's a good sign or not that I am showing up as a Dependent "On his Award"(in the dependents area of ebenes) but, he is not showing up with any rating on ebenefits yet? Has anyone ever not shown up with a rating and been at the "Prepped for Notification" stage? This is his first FDC for PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnutus. He had an Excellent C and P for the PTSD where the Psychologist stated the magic "It is as likely as not that his "'Severe PTSD"" was caused by his service in Vietam. The hearing/tinnitus VA docs want him to get hearing aids but, I am not sure what the C and P Dr. said on that one. I called "Peggy" and of course, got not definitive information at all. I am just wondering if anyone else has seen a dependent show up with an "Award of benes" and still had their claim denied or if they are showing their hand by stating that? Any info might help reduce my stress level. We just got a 30 day notice to move from the landlord that we "thought" we were buying this house from. Apparently our VA preapproval for a loan was not fast enough and they have listed the house for sale. It is going to be nearly impossible both physically and $$ for us to move that quickly! It would just be nice to have something go right! It has been awhile. Hubby's PTSD is in full bloom with all this stress and waiting... I don't know how ya'll have done it that have been waiting years?

HI Buck, I just got his MOS from the wife. He was a 3071 Aviation Supply Clerk (Sargent). I guess that answers my question! Thank you so much for responding though. I was at a loss. Marineswife

Awesome! Congratulations and Thank You for your service! marineswife

Good afternoon! I am sorry in advance if this is not the appropriate forum, I couldn't find an area for general questions. I am helping the wife of a friend file her husbands FDC. My problem is that his job title/MOS on his DD214 states "Norsechief" and I can't find that anywhere! I have even been on the Viernam era Marine Corps MOS site and nada! He was out of Camp LaJeune and then onto Cambodia and Laos with Charlie company in 1970-71 and is listed as a VFMA314? Anybody? I am at a loss after spending an entire morning looking for this.... Thank you, marineswife

Does anyone have any new and improved sites for researching Marine Corps morning reports and/or Command Chronology, and also for Establishing Combat Eligibility? The ones that are pinned (here and on several different "help" sites) are not valid any longer. I am getting "File not Found" from the VA site (surprise, surprise! lol) and the search engine will only locate info regarding the Persian War- I am in need of Vietnam War info. Thanks in advance for your help, marineswife

I was just called by a Ms. Montgomery at Vietnam Center and Archive in Texas and she located the crash and the names of the men who were KIA aboard both helicopters including the tail numbers on both helicopters. She is going to email me the copy of the official report for our records and to submit for proof. There is an excellent site that she gave me in case anyone else is looking for Helicopter/Vietnam information- It is the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association the website is www.vhpa.org this site gives all kinds of information including all of the Pilots/Co-pilots and Helicopters that were lost on a daily basis in Vietnam. A sobering site to say the least. Now, I need to find information on the bombings of the DaNang Air Base and/or records of patrols my husbands unit and we will be good to go. Thanks to all that have helped me and hopefully you can add the helicopter pilots site to the data base if you don't already have it. marineswife

Thanks so Much Berta! Great information! I will definitely use it. I have already begun filling out a few "stressor" 0781 forms and am in the process of trying to verify the original 2 that are mentioned on his Nexus letter. The only non-compliance issue that I see immediately in his VA Drs Nexus letter is that he failed to state "I have reviewed the pts. Service Records and his MOS are in line with the verbal accounts by the pt." So when we see that Dr. again, I am going to ask him if he will maybe have another letter made for my hubby with his Gen Anxiety Issues and the fact that his Unit was under attack on many occasions and then reference that he reviewed his MSRS... I am also working with a lady at the Vietnam Archive Center to try to establish dates and/or any daily reports mentioning the stressors he has identified. You mention a research center (JSRRC) in your reply but, I thought I read somewhere that the JSRRC does not keep Marine Corps records and I have been unable to log on to the recommended site for the Corps.... We have an appt with a VSO at the DAV on Thurs. and we will turn in the 0781 at that time. The 12 months additional retro (although nice) is not a driving force for us as much as just getting his foot in the door. So far, we are stuck in the "Under Review" for almost 90 days. I guess that is not too horrible compared to what I am seeing from a lot of people on here but, it sure isn't the "120 day completion" time frame as advertised. I am learning that with the VA NOTHING is "as advertised". Thanks again for your help, marieswife

Thank you and I have Good News! While doing some research today I found a legal site which stated that due to an ammendment to the VA rules in 2010, we can either prove he was in a combat environment (as you stated- which we can do because of where he was and when) and/or Have a VA Dr. give a diagnosis of PTSD and then a "stressor" proof is not needed!! So we can and have already got both of those things covered! Now, if I can just find what "Amendment" they are talking about and print it off to "remind" VA about their rules, we are good! I am breathing a little easier tonight! Thanks so much everyone! marineswife

That is very helpful Gastone! Ed didn't receive any medals that fit the requirement. Part of his "issues" regarding Vietnam were with a (2) helicopter crash on the Air base in DaNang where he was an MP and first Responder. I won't go into the details (I am working on researching the exact date in 1970) but, as soon as I am able to verify the event (Both Pilots and Co-pilots were killed) I will definitely send it on with his other info. Most of his PTSD issues do not have to do with directly firing upon someone but he does have issues regarding the mortars and "incoming" flashbacks when helicopters or aircraft fly overhead to this day. His Dr. specifically stated that he could not fill out a DBQ for the reasons that you stated and also as he stated, "Ed would be giving up all Dr. patient confidentiality" which we definitely don't want to do. That is why he chose the Nexus letter. I assumed he knew what he was doing. I am learning that ass-uming is never a good idea when it comes to the VA His MSRs just arrived today (requested 3 months ago) so, I am going through them and putting the pieces together of "what happened, when". Not an easy chore... From everything I am reading and hearing from ya'll, he will probably be taken out of the FDC track anyway (for not enough documetation) so, I am going to work on preparing all of his other contentions so that when they (finally) notify us that they need more information, I will just go ahead and submit everything at that time. Although I vacillate between letting them make a decision on these two contentions first (to get his foot in the door) and just turning all of his medical issues and supporting documentation in when they ask for info on the first two... Not sure about that one. What do you think?