humiliari

My brother served at Tyndall Airforce Base in the United States Airforce. He now has Young Onset Parkinsons Disease. We have no family history of this in our family. I started to research causes of his condition, this led me to finding out about environmental contaminates and Parkinsons. I came across disturbing information about Tyndall AFB and contaminates of concern noted by the EPA at this post. It is a Superfund site. I was sickened by what I found. Numerous contaminates, complete negligence and disregard by Tyndall AFB, etc. I am now helping my brother to file for service connection. I have compiled overwhelming evidence (pictures, test results, letters to Tyndall from EPA, news reports, scholarly articles, known medical opines on the matter, etc.) from reputable sources. I am continuing this effort by going on sites, such as this one, trying to get firsthand accounts and knowledge from anyone who has served at this instillation, and mainly, has acquired motor system disorders, due to environmental contaminates. But I am open to any knowledge about any disorder acquired from environmental contaminates at this instillation. I would greatly appreciate any thoughts about this topic as well. Thank you for your time and effort in regards to this matter.

Thank you, I contacted my VRE, but I will also follow up with my service organization, and more research. I would like to be gainfully employed again, so no SSDI. I am 100% PT, but I want to contribute to society in my own way if I can (not that anyone on ANY disability doesn't) , but I need help from VRE to get back to being as productive as possible considering my service connected conditions. I feel that I should be given that chance considering my circumstances. I fought as hard as possible to keep my last job, but I lost that fight. I really appreciate everyone who took the time to help their brother. I hope to help others the same way in the future... I plan on updating this post as I find out more concrete information in hopes of doing just that.

I was in the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VRE) program for about two years and I was placed in a job by the VRE employment coordinator that I worked for about 3 years. I was determined to be rehabilitated by VRE. I was medically retired from the job due directly to my service connected conditions. This is well documented as the reason I could no longer work at my job. Because of the 5 years spent preparing for and working at this job, I am over my 12 year eligibility period from my first rating of disability making me eligible. I am in the process of a Serious Employment Handicap (SEH) determination to make me eligible for extended services, but I found something that makes me wonder if this SEH determination is even necessary: §21.284 Reentrance into a rehabilitation program. (a) Reentrance into rehabilitation to the point of employability following a determination of rehabilitation. A veteran who has been found rehabilitated under provisions of §21.283 may be provided an additional period of training or services only if the following conditions are met: (1) The veteran has a compensable service-connected disability and either; (2) Current facts, including any relevant medical findings, establish that the veteran's service-connected disability has worsened to the extent that the effects of the service-connected disability considered in relation to other facts precludes him or her from performing the duties of the occupation for which the veteran previously was found rehabilitated; or (3) The occupation for which the veteran previously was found rehabilitated under Chapter 31 is found to be unsuitable on the basis of the veteran's specific employment handicap and capabilities. (Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3101(a)) (b) Reentrance into a program of independent living services following a determination of rehabilitation. A finding of rehabilitation following a program of independent living services may only be set aside, and an additional period of independent living services provided, if the following conditions are met: (1) Either: (i) The veteran's condition has worsened and as a result the veteran has sustained a substantial loss of independence; or (ii) Other changes in the veteran's circumstances have caused a substantial loss of independence; and (2) The provisions of §21.162 pertaining to participation in a program of independent living services are met. (Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3109) (c) Reentrance into rehabilitation to the point of employability during a period of employment services. A finding of rehabilitation to the point of employability by VA may be set aside during a period of employment services and an additional period of training and related services provided, if any of the following conditions are met: (1) The conditions for setting aside a finding of rehabilitation under paragraph (a) of this section are found; (2) The rehabilitation services originally given to the veteran are now inadequate to make the veteran employable in the occupation for which he or she pursued rehabilitation; (3) Experience during the period of employment services has demonstrated that employment in the objective or field for which the veteran was rehabilitated to the point of employability should not reasonably have been expected at the time the program was originally developed; or (4) The veteran, because of technological change which occurred subsequent to the declaration of rehabilitation to the point of employability, is no longer able: (i) To perform the duties of the occupation for which he or she trained, or in a related occupation; or (ii) To secure employment in the occupation for which he or she trained, or in a related occupation. (Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3117) [49 FR 40814, Oct. 18, 1984, as amended at 58 FR 68769, Dec. 29, 1993] Is a SEH determination necessary? I was once in the program and now I just want to reenter because my service connected conditions caused me to lose my job. Does this regulation require that I am in my basic 12 year eligibility period, or since I was once in, I can get back in without worrying about anything other than showing that this regulation applies to me? I greatly would appreciate help in this matter. Thank you!

Does anyone know or they themselves ever received assistance through Voc Rehab for self employment? I need specific information... I would greatly appreciate anyone's help and I am going to share what I find after reviewing Board of Veterans Appeals Decisions in regards to the matter. Maybe no one ever has? §21.257 Self-employment. (a) Approval of self-employment as a vocational goal. A program of vocational rehabilitation benefits and services may include self-employment for an individual if VA determines that such an objective is a suitable vocational goal. VA will make this determination based on— (1) The results of the individual's initial evaluation conducted in accordance with the provisions of §21.50; and (2) The provisions of this section. (Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3104(a)) (b) Definition. For purposes of this subpart, individuals with the most severe service-connected disability(ies) who require self-employment means individuals who have been determined by VA to have limitations affecting employability arising from the effects of each individual's service-connected disability(ies), which are so severe as to necessitate selection of self-employment as the only reasonably feasible vocational goal for the individuals. (Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3104) (c) Scope of self-employment benefits and services. (1) VA may provide the self-employment services listed in paragraph (d) of this section to program participants who are pursuing the vocational goal of self-employment. (2) VA may provide the more extensive services listed in paragraph (e) of this section to individuals with the most severe service-connected disability(ies) who require self-employment. (Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3104(a)) (d) Assistance for other individuals in self-employment. Subject to the provisions of §21.258, VA may provide the following assistance to any individual for whom self-employment is determined to be a suitable vocational goal— (1) Vocational training; (2) Incidental training in the management of a business; (3) License or other fees required for self-employment; (4) Necessary tools and supplies for the occupation; and (5) Services described in §21.252. (Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3104(a)) (e) Special self-employment services for individuals with the most severe service-connected disability(ies) who require self-employment. Individuals described in paragraph (b) of this section who are in a self-employment program may receive— (1) The services described in paragraph (d) of this section; and (2) The assistance described in §21.214. (Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3104, 3116, 3117) (f) Feasibility analysis of a proposed self-employment business plan. VA will conduct a comprehensive review and analysis of the feasibility of a proposed business plan, as submitted by the individual or developed with VA's assistance, prior to authorizing a rehabilitation plan leading to self-employment (a “self-employment plan”). The feasibility analysis must include— (1) An analysis of the economic viability of the proposed business; (2) A cost analysis specifying the amount and types of assistance that VA will provide; (3) A market analysis for the individual's proposed services or products; (4) Availability of financing from non-VA sources, including the individual's personal resources, local banks, and other sources; (5) Evidence of coordination with the Small Business Administration to secure special consideration under section 8 of the Small Business Act, as amended; (6) The location of the site for the proposed business and the cost of the site, if any; and (7) A training plan to operate a successful business. (Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3104) [75 FR 3170, Jan. 20, 2010] §21.258 Cost limitations on approval of self-employment plans. A self-employment plan with an estimated or actual cost of less than $25,000 may be approved by the VR&E Officer with jurisdiction. Any self-employment plan with an estimated or actual cost of $25,000 or more must be approved by the Director, VR&E Service. (Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3104) [75 FR 3170, Jan. 20, 2010]