Sgt Savage

During Vietnam, I served with the Rangers which period originated my PTSD tho it had supplement help from other wars. I encourage you not to petition to reduce your PTSD rating in that not only the financial support will be valuable to you but such a rating might save you from unemployment someday. Doctors decided how severe your PTSD was and it may not always be that severe but you can bet, if it is chronic, you will have many reoccurrences during your lifetime and you may need the support if your teaching supervision want to let you go. Also if you disclose your condition, someone may choose you the first to go in a budget reduction or downsizing. While the latter should not be done, it will be difficult to prove that "they" discriminated. I have a 100% PTSD rating since 2013, w/Special Monthly Compensation since Dec 2015, with unemployability since 2002, 70% PTSD since 1990 and 10% PTSD since 1980. Although I had a regular nonmedical retirement in 2002 and went on 100% the next day, my last few years of employment was stressful and not as productive as earlier. First of all, it is no one's business in your employment hierarchy to inquire about your health problems or substance of your VA claim as long as you can productive handle your work. If you can not satisfactorily do the work, then that is another matter but they may still be required to give you accommodation so you can remain employed. I too was a college teacher in the evening for many years but in 1990 I noticed my mind not being able to recall the substance of what I had taught many times so I quit that job and I was also an Army reserve officer with excellent ratings until after my 20th year to qualify for retirement. Because I had become overweight for the first time, I was sent for a medical board and the two repeated physical examination boards which both unanimously recommended that I be retired for PTSD. But the Walter Reed disability retirement agency would not permit that and reduced my rating down to 10% and that forced me out.You may recall all the horror stories that the military faced from t3here about their discharges but mine was pre 9/11 and the military never tried to correct those injustices. Nevertheless,I made it to my 30th employment year and retired from the civil service. Now I generally remained silent about my PTSD for most of those years since I did not want to face discrimination and suspicion of being unable to do my work. PTSD through life comes and goes in up and down cycles. Numerous times I disclosed my PTSD treatment when supervisors would know that something was not right in Dodge City with me. I did not have to do that but when the supervisor sees you constantly going on sick call for an undisclosed medical appointment or if PTSD symptoms squeak out in the work day, there needed to be an explanation. Also a few times I had to go for hospitalized treatment or had to have a doctor's note to take off a few weeks to recover. They had a right to know why I did not show up for work. Fortunately, I worked for some good people who I trusted and who unofficially accommodated me during some periods. Still I was not always happy when the people I served did not follow my advice since they discounted my "PTSD" opinions. The first supervisor that I had to disclose to was a non-vet and someone who did not support me. Thereafter the next job I disclosed when I was able to "hide out" at the job when I was in a PTSD slumber at work but I did outstanding work overall. The next job I got mad when my EAP counselor disclosed my PTSD to my supervisor. (Others were concerned about me) I did disclose to my chief admin person working for me since he was a SGM in the Army and could help me through the periods. Lastly, I was transferred from a job that was ending to another supervisor at another location by my higher chain. They did not disclose tho I suspected wrongly that they did. However, my last three years were barely functionable at times. My last year I disclosed to my office that I was disabled from PTSD in a special meeting moderated by the EAP psychologist. I did not make it to retirement before I was hospitalized for an extended period during which I did retire. I am enjoying my retirement but I earned it. I did have help from some pretty good people.

Is someone who DOES NOT have 24 months of service but has been awarded a VA pension eligible for VA medical care?