General Va Question, Not Sure How To Proceed

[echo4whiskey]

First off, thx to the mods for this board and for allowing me to join. I've always enjoyed being around fellow service brothers and sisters regardless of the branch.

I'm having some issues and I'm not exactly sure what to do and was hoping someone on here could give me some advice.

I was honorably discharge, medically, from the marines in Dec of 97 due to flat feet. They still hurt to this day, but this isn't the reason I'm posting here. The reason I'm posting here is that on average of about once a week (saying average here as sometimes it's 2 to 3 per week other weeks none) I have very vivid dreams of being called back to military service. These started a few weeks after I was discharged. When I have these dreams I'll wake up in a very frantic/paniced state. My chest feels tight and most times I'll lie in bed until the panic stops or I'll go out to the couch to try to calm down. Sometimes I want to wake my wife to ask her if everything is OK and I'm not actually going back. Some days I'll call off work and tell my boss I wasn't feeling well that day. The dreams will often affect the rest of my day leaving me irritable and wanting to be left alone. I left the service with a lot of guilt and shame of having this type of discharge and the feeling of leaving my fellow Marines behind.

My question is am I still eligible to go back to the VA to address this issue? I know I've been out for awhile, but I've been carrying this around for the past 14 years and it feels like it's eating me up inside. When I have bad days I'll snap at my wife over the littlest of things, but never get violent with her. I've shared some of this with her in the past, but think it's time to sit down with her and have a heart to heart over what I'm dealing with.

I'm employed right now and the job helps bring structure to my life.

I'll file a claim if I need to, but to be honest a disability rating isn't that important to me rather than getting help and learning how to put this behind me or at least how to deal with it when it happens.

Thanks everyone.

[Tbird]

you can get a therapist and a psych doc from the VA, but as far as a claim is concerned based on what you've said i don't think there is a claim there.

[USMC_VET]

I agree with T-bird, while this sounds like what they call a nocturnal panic attack (im not a doctor, this is nowhere close to gospel truth), however as with any MH case you have to prove, beyond a shadow of doubt two things.

1) the issue was CAUSED in service

2) the issue was AGGRAVATED in service.

for #1 you will need to show a few things, that there was what they call and IN SERVICE STRESSOR, something that happened to you, you saw, you did, that directly caused this MH condition arise and that it was not present prior to you going in.

for #2 you would need to prove you had said MH illness prior to going in but your time in service aggravated the condition. IE you had a very mild anxiety issue, but you saw say a 7 ton turn over on someone and now your anxiety is bad.

I believe you when you say this is happening, that is causes you stress and pain. However i dont see from what youve written that there was a pre-existing condition that was made worse or that there was a specific incident in the military that triggered these panic attacks.

All that being said.

You said you were discharged for Pes Planus (flat feet). That is compensable with the VA and is from what i understand one of the few things they dont fight too much.

Read my post that is in mysignature line on how to gather/submit evidence.

If you dont have it get your med discharge papers together, get your medical records together. Get ALL of you private physician papers that relate in ANY WAY to your feet, any orthopedic visits, etc.

Get all of that together.

Also make a appointment today with a orthopedic specialist and have them take a look at your feet and how they are now. get x rays the whole 9 yards, get it all done. Let them know that you are were med discharged for this issue and you are trying to get the VA to cover it and that you need a report on them and if they could fill out the DBQ for pes planus. If you are having pain in your feet you can file for Pes Planus and then if plantar fascitis is found you file for that as a secondary. Private message me so we can talk more about this if you need help. and message me before you send anything in so i can make sure you have it all put together and airtight.

If you get your rating for flatfeet and all that if its over 30% you can get treated for the panic attacks through the VA without paying out of pocket and get the help you need. If your feet were so bad to be discharged and its both feet you could be seeing 50%, one severe foot 30%

here are the ratings criteria for flatfoot

The Foot

Rating 5276

Flatfoot, acquired:

Pronounced; marked pronation, extreme tenderness of plantar surfaces of the feet, marked inward displacement and severe spasm of the tendo achillis on manipulation, not improved by orthopedic shoes or appliances

Bilateral 50 Unilateral 30

Severe; objective evidence of marked deformity (pronation, abduction, etc.), pain on manipulation and use accentuated, indication of swelling on use, characteristic callosities:

Bilateral 30

Unilateral 20

Moderate; weight-bearing line over or medial to great toe, inward bowing of the tendo achillis, pain on manipulation and use of the feet,

bilateral or unilateral 10

Mild; symptoms relieved by built-up shoe or arch support

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Edited August 6, 2015 by USMC_VET