Jump to content
VA Disability Community via Hadit.com

VA Disability Claims Articles

Ask Your VA Claims Question | Current Forum Posts Search | Rules | View All Forums
VA Disability Articles | Chats and Other Events | Donate | Blogs | New Users

  • hohomepage-banner-2024-2.png

  • 27-year-anniversary-leaderboard.png

    advice-disclaimer.jpg

  • donate-be-a-hero.png

  • 0

Ptsd

Rate this question


Bob-e

Question

If as a boy I had witnessed my little brother drown (CPR resuscitated) in the family pool then as an adult I witnessed one of my classmates in SAR school drown (Oxygen bottle resuscitated). The SAR drowning exacerbated the earlier PTSD from childhood. Does that fall under the purview of the law?

Also, as a Navy whistle-blower in 1985., when the US Navy branded, slandered and libeled me publicly in the press, and in the very halls of Congress while I testified to Congress about the $320,000,000 fraud, waste and abuse on the USS Kitty Hawk. The mental trauma I received prior to that from being thrown into the streets with seventy-two days left on active duty, without any support from the Navy, made me feel as abandoned as Chuck Connors in the television show Branded™. Being branded, and drummed out of service, and then having the VA turn its back on me since 1993, has left me twenty-five years later with Dysthymia, MDD, PTSD and Panic Attacks.

I am not in good health and am mentally and 100% physically permanently disabled. I went to the VA last week for a meeting with my third psychiatrist in five months. Yeah, one part assembly-line socialized medicine, one part shuffle the buck and the final piece - having my psychologist insult me multiple times.

Anyway, I had a melt down and yelled at the new psychiatrist, which turns out is NOT a good way to let off anger. Of course, until the VA approves my service connected, and service caused claim, the shrinks can't actually talk with me about what is causing my mental problems and anguish - Catch-22.

They almost admitted me - that scares me. My wife was there and assured them just because I yelled doesn't make me dangerous. I was just pissed-off about be pissed-on by the VA.

I just want fair and legal compensation, and treatment, so I can have an opportunity to once again see happiness in the world - instead, of hidden threats from ghostly foes.

Please read my blog if you want to know more: http://cid-5d732de5984e829c.profile.live.com/

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Answers 33
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters For This Question

Recommended Posts

  • HadIt.com Elder
I am going to rant about Lawyers so be warned if you want to pass or ignore it...

...I see over time many Veterans who fight the idea of hiring a Lawyer. And yet although 20% of a retro check can be a lot of money I submit the following.

Thanks for that excellent lawyer rant, Pete53.

I remember when you could not get an attorney to represent a vet, because the regs read that a lawyer could only charge no more than $10.00.

I am certainly going to hire an attorney to represent me.

Edited by Commander Bob
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • HadIt.com Elder
When I first filed for IU I made many mistakes that came back to bite me in the ass.

So true, John999. I hope your foot is healing well. You may need it to return the favor to the VA. I'm glad you have a lawyer now.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am going to rant about Lawyers so be warned if you want to pass or ignore it.

I see over time many Veterans who fight the idea of hiring a Lawyer. And yet although 20% of a retro check can be a lot of money I submit the following.

I won Social Security in 4 months using VA Medical Evidence. It took me 5 and 1/2 years to win and than I lost 27 months of back pay cause of VA trickery. Every day I see Veterans who say that they are cheated out of proper effective dates and many who complain of long waits.

If I had been able to hire a lawyer in 1991 I submit that a Lawyer would have gotten the claim finished sooner and I would have gotten a proper effective date. So instead of paying a lawyer 10 or 20 thousand I lost the use of a proper check for 5 and one half years and and over 53 thousand dollars by my estimate not to mention the grief and hardship I endured.

So when I see a Veteran bitching about paying a lawyer I really have very little sympathy.

When we are injured and we fight the VA we make a lot of mistakes and it is personal also. I know because of dumb things I did I lost time and money.

If I had it to do over and the VA would allow Lawyers I would have hired one as soon as I saw what a bunch of bastards I was dealing with.

So if you don't want to hire a lawyer that is your business but I see a lot of people who get wrapped up and obsessed with their claim and it sits and sits and sits.

There has been rumors that claims who are handled by lawyers are given to special teams at VA.

The VA is not your friend and they are not here to help you. Your claim is yours not your Service Officers or anyone else. Many Veterans see a Service Officer who helps them fill out paper work and go home under the delusion that someone is minding the store and as most of us know that really does not happen.

The fact is most who have been on Hadit a few months are better informed than 90% of the Service Officers.

Just my opinion.

The VA uses Laws and Regulations and medical evidence. Going to VA for treatment is something but unless you submit and ask the right questions I doubt that your Rating Officer even reads it.

I submit that lawyers can be of great assistance, but choose carefully. I have mentioned previously that when trying to find a lawyer to represent you do the following research:

  • Anyone who uses Hadit.com has access to a wealth of accurate information and therefore have access to what to do and when to do it. Lawyers are not always the first choice. It makes sense to contact an EXPERIENCED Laywer. Last time I checked many offer a 30 minute consult at little or no charge.
  • I wholeheartedly agree that I use my DSO for form processing (if SO's actually work for the Veterans best interest they don't last long), but experience has taught me that I need to be the driving force. DON'T WAIT 5 YEARS and then go OMG I need to do somthing.
  • Make sure they are in good standing with the Bar Association
  • Make sure the Lawyer has substantial experience when handling VA claims
  • Ask the Lawyer for success rate, time in process...essentially is this guy good enough to get the job done and thereby worth the 20% PLUS EXPENSES.
  • Lawyer's often have - with Informed Consent - references.
  • Check with Hadit.com there are other options. There are a lot of knowledgeable Brothers and Sisters on Hadit.com. Years ago I started looking on Hadit when I first began navigating the VA labyrith. I found the information I needed to proceed successfully. I did have to write my Congressman at one point and this took care of it.

The whole thing can be overwhelming especially when the VA medicates us - in my case the meds they use to treat my PTSD have caused me permanent short term memory issues. This is why Hadit.com was a life saver for me.

Just some suggestions. I am not an Elder, but hope that something I contribute will give back.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Seaman -

I don't bitch about Lawyers I just submitted some recommendations above. I did see a post where a Brother met with a lawyer and the lawyer gave him some bad advice.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • HadIt.com Elder

You don't have to be an Elder to make suggestions on Hadit. In fact if a suggestion does not make sense to you talk to us and lets see what a good answer is.

Years ago there was a loophole on hiring lawyers for Vets and that was the Vet could not hire the lawyer but a third party could. The VA went to the time and trouble to close that loophole.

Believe it or not but some of the strongest opponents to Veterans being able to hire lawyers was the damn Service Organizations who were supposed to have Veterans interests in mind.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There is not anything in this link AT ALL, that supports the statistics that stated,

"95% of people with Dysthymia do commit suicide."

carlie

My point exactly!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Guidelines and Terms of Use