ptsd 100% Ptsd Unemployability

[MArinepoop]

Hi all,

I am A marine Vet who served in 2003 on the ground in Iraq as first invading force.

SO several months ago was awarded 100% PTSD employability with possible future exams to re-avaluate my condition. They tell you so little about what the guidelines are for everything, but am I unable to work at all based on this determination? DO odd jobs and part time count against me now?

Secondly, I was awarded for "PTSD" but I have so many problems including internal bleeding, diarrhea for years, eosinophilic esophagitis (swollen esophpogas) and just many other physical issues I think are related to Iraq.

I don't know if I should take the 100% rating regardless or if I should appeal the claim and try for Gulf war syndrome ratings. I feel lke this is going to end up being a trick where they take all my problems and lump it into a "mental" condition and act like I am imagining all these things and down the road when I am re-evaluated the only diagnosis they will talk about is the mental aspect.

I also got many anthrax shots and I get strange rashes all over. I have been to dermatologists and allergy specialists at the va as well as years of other visits with all these problems documented.

I have never had food allergies n my life before this and the only diagnosis I got was the Eosinophilic Esophogitis, but I know that all these issues are secondary to my tour in Iraq.

Has anyone gotten a rating for these kinds of conditions?

Isit worth me trying to fight for what is right by getting my other issues included in my rating?

If I don't, and you don't will that ultimately be doing us an injustice.. I mean we all have to fight them to document this right?

[john999]

Have you already filed for Gulf War Illness and been denied or would these be new claims?

[jbasser]

You take the 100 percent. You also file any additional claims you are entitled to file. Keep them alive for someday the gulf war stuff will be easier to service connect. You are caught up in the confusion stage of the VA. They take their time to start to put new items on the list like gulf war illness. Keep it alive means do not let it go away. Keep the Appeals going and dont miss time lines. The VA does pay above 100 percent as you could qualify for a SMC down the road.

JBasser

[Navy04]

Jbasser, hit it right on the head. You take the 100% and just submit new claims so that if the VA ever takes 1 or 2 conditions from you, then you would still be 100%.

[Berta]

Right and also, at some point other GW Illnesses could possibly give you a separate 60% rating, and that would kick in SMC.

There are links within this thread as to GW Illnesses.

The presumptives are good for all GWVs and OIF OEF vets until December 2016 (I expect the VA to extend that date again in the future)

We did an SVR show on the 9 additional presumptives

http://www.hadit.com/svr.html

go to 6-16-2010 Berta 9 New Presumptives, DIC, Gulf War Illnesses

and click on the Music no9te Icon and the show should pop u in your PC media player.

Those 9 new presumptives VA added in 2010 are fairly rare infectious illnesses but then again.....

I remember when the AO regs only had 2 presumptives and that list sure has grown.

Absolutely file the claim for these additional problems. It pays however to read here all the GWV info you can.

I have seen vets denied because they simply claimed “Gulf War Syndrome”. The VA cannot rate Gulf War syndrome. They CAN rate those disabilities that fall into the GW criteria for the medical presumptives.

Also every vet with a spouse needs to consider that they might have a “0” SC or 10% SC ,that could possibly contribute substantially to their death .One never knows.

If the disability,even with a small rating, is already SCed by VA, in the veteran's lifetime, the spouse would be eligible for DIC ,if the disability caused or substantially contributed to their death,(as noted on the death certificate or autopsy if done) without a potential long road to prove SC death.

[Navy04]

Berta always has the best advice.

[MArinepoop]

Have you already filed for Gulf War Illness and been denied or would these be new claims?

This would be new claim