Wolfhound88

Thanks Proudvet and Whirlybird! I just now signed up for Myhealth.va now and am not able to find where I can download a copy of my c&p? Can you please point me in the right direction? Thanks!

Wow! Been checking Ebenefits daily...expecting that I would see the same thing every day. Opened it up this morning and was really suprised! My file has been moved from "Gathering Evidence" to "Preparation for Decsion". I know I shouldn't get too hopeful yet, because it could sit there for months and months or longer, but it's nice to see that it's hopefully moving in the right direction!

Thanks both of you. :) Yup, I have an appointment for my feet today, and on Tuesday for my hearing, and going to make both of those. It's funny, because before my PTSD C&P I did a lot of reading online about what I should say, what I shouldn't say, etc. I couldn't possibly remember all that stuff if I tried, LOL. I was really nervous going into it, but the examiner did a really good job of putting me at ease and getting me to open up. It seemed she was genuinely concerned and looking out for my well-being, which mad things much better. :)

And thank you both for your service as well! :)

Right on Proudvet, I agree., and thanks! It was hard at first and I was really nervous, but she was pretty empathetic and it was easier to open up to her once it got started. I was a little worried too about the work thing and how it may affect my PTSD claim...I've got to stay busy, it has always helped to keep my mind off of things. It's easier when I stay busy to avoid thinking about other things. Plus...the courts wouldn't really listen to any claims of PTSD if I wasnt paying child support. I even told the lady that at my exam...She asked about work, and I told her I had to work no matter how hard it was because if I didnt, I wouldnt have been able to make it to the exam because I would be in jail, LOL. It's just a wait and see now!

Congrats! Hope you hear something soon! I went to Prep for Decision January 23, Pending Decision Approval yesterday, and Prep for Notification today...Anxiety at an all time high right now. Just hoping for the best whenever it comes!

Thanks Thadine and Navy! I know I shouldn't be, but I'll be watching Ebennies like a hawk today...I mean, it would only make sense that they would want to get this claim off their books before the next Monday Morning Report, doesn't it? LOL!

Congrats! Hope you hear something soon! I went to Prep for Decision January 23, Pending Decision Approval yesterday, and Prep for Notification today...Anxiety at an all time high right now. Just hoping for the best whenever it comes!

Just some advice from someone that's right there with ya brother...I've been working through a lot of the same things as you over the years.

First...try to focus on those kiddo's. You'll always be their Dad...and they'll always love ya. Just do your best to make sure they know you love them too. My kids have always been a balance for me...I can't tell you how many times I've thought of eating a .45, and when it boiled down to it, I just couldn't do it, because I couldn't possibly do that to my little girls. Life's been rough for me, and at many times not fair, but there is no way I ever want my girls to have to live without a Dad because I couldn't deal with things.

Second...Get that claim into the VA for PTSD. It's hard, you don't know where to start...I get it. Find a VSO at the American Legion, VFW, DAV...somewhere and just at least submit the claim to get the ball rolling. The sooner you start, the sooner it will EVENTUALLY be done.

Third...Get back in that gym. You loved it at one time...If you need to, do like I do. Early in the morning or late at night when hardly anyone else is there. Put on those headphones, don't talk to anyone else...just you and the weights. It will take a little extra motivation to get back into the routine, but as you know from being there before, once you make it a habit and a passion again, you'll hate MISSING a day in the gym.

Hope some of these things might be a start...You definitely aren't alone brother...

Congratulations on your much deserved victory!!!

Congrats! Hope you hear something soon! I went to Prep for Decision January 23, Pending Decision Approval yesterday, and Prep for Notification today...Anxiety at an all time high right now. Just hoping for the best whenever it comes!

Congrats on the increase!

I was an Agent last year with the State Tracking Violent Sex Offenders. You would not believe how many of them were collecting SSDI before they went it, got out of jail, fill out a few forms, no exams, and getting SSDI again. I had Offenders that once they got out of Prison, they were living and eating for free. I had to check their bank statements once a month, and it would make me sick, these guys would have THOUSANDS of not HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of DOLLARS in the BANK, and living off of us. Yet, when it comes to DISABLED VETS we are having to fight Tooth and Nail for as little as the Govt will give us. I can not even get FOOD STAMPS. The County said that I have too many ASSETS, she told me " Well if you sell a Vehicle and your 4-Wheeler, you will qualify for $152 a month of Food Stamps, WTH!" There are a lot of Disabled Vets that don't deserve to be in Prison, and they should get the same benefits as the rest of us.

Thank you guys for all your kind words. It has been very hard for me, as it is for you guys. Most of all it bothers me that my wonderful Wife and Daughters had to put up with me being crazy the last few months. I have always tried so hard to not let me Mental and Physical health be a strain on them. I know that they love me very much, I just don't want to have them relive the hurt like I do every day. God bless all of you, and I truly mean it.

Congrats Ryan...

I was B 1/27 and was NBC NCO. I learned a lot from those grunts. They walked and flew in BlackHawks everywhere they went.

Ebenefits,

only has to update every 30-45 days. So there are too many days in there for us to lose our patience.

I lost my wife too...Looking back, I know exactly how. Really wish I would have known then what I know now. Do what you can to get yourself help and hold on to her. Don't wait until it's too late, because once you lose her, you will wish you hadn't, and it may be too late to fix it. Good luck brother...You can do it. :)

Today was my Wife's Birthday, Valentines, and our 10 year wedding anniversary. She spent the day working, and I spent the day at VA, doing 6 C&P exams for current FDC increase. We decided to go on Sunday, when the crowds are smaller. We were separated twice while I was in the Navy, Once due to being gone too much on Deployments, 5 years straight in OIF/OEF, and once when I spent 3 months in a Mental Hospital for PTSD. We are still together and I love her, and more attracted to her then when we first me years ago. I am very fortunate to have a Wonderful wife and 2 daughters. It is not always easy, and she has developed a lot of hate towards the Govt. Not a perfect life, but I would not trade it for the world. God bless to all of you, and wish you the best.

Yet they still seem to be mystified at why we don't trust them?

I have something else to say, although this doesn't pertain to the thread…...

I want to personally thank the Vietnam Vets for the war they raged with the VA to get all of us here…this far. Without them forging a way, a path, we would still be begging for scraps.

Thank you from an OIF vet!!

It is back up now with no change in status.

Hard to ignore Ebennies when it is the only game in town.

Too bad the Site access function only shows MY access and not when they access it! Not a useful tool for any Veteran.

Your C/P exams were conducted by a contractor, thus you will need to submit a request to the VARO for a copy of your exams. I would not do this until your claim has been completed and you receive your rating decision.
When a veteran request a copy of his/her c/p exams or medical records while a claim is pending, once va receives the request, they send the request to the office/individual that has your claim. They in turn send your claim to the copying room to get copied. Once they are completed, they then return your claim to where it was before you requested. This process (depends on the VARO) will add about 3-4 additional months to your claim.
Again, my suggestion is to wait until you receive your rating decision then request the records that you need to do...

Thanks to everyone here for all the ecouragement and advice.

I recieved more help here than through my VSO. This site and it's people should be a 501C4 and sanctioned by the VA. Notice I did not say 'regulated'. The help here cannot be duplicated anywhere else.

Holy Moly Whirlybird, I just saw this! Congrats, and it looks like your claim moved along pretty quickly!

Getting therapy after Vietnam saved my life. Once you get rated for PTSD the VA can't charge your insurance. I would just walk through fire to get your ptsd rated by the VA. If you have made suicide attempts the VA has to treat you. Not everyone in PTSD group is a combat vet. We are all vets now.

John