Hey y'all,
Been digging through all this information for a while and I would though I would throw it all out there.
I received my denials today after many years of fighting the system. I have 30% already for migraines and was trying for more as I have them more than once a week and have to inject Imitrex and get in a dark room with white noise and I am down and out (to the point of punching myself in the head) for anywhere from 1-4 days. I have all my leave records printed out from the pay system etc and have started to keep a log. I see the VA Neuro (finally) next month.
I also filed for MDD and PTSD. Both were denied. I was in an in-patient psychiactric unit at Fitzsimmons AMC in Denver for 9 weeks or so and medicated to the gills after attempting suicide. My ex-wife had had an affair while I was deployed and told me on mid tour. She said she would continue the relationship when I returned to duty and noone would allow me to extend mid tour or curtail and I couldn't bear duty continuing knowing that was going on so I deciced to take myself out with my trusty ol' magnum. The VA's reson for denial was "marriage related and not service related" so I really don't know how to proceed on that.
In the psyche-ward, I injured my neck and shoulder which I filed for also. That has also been denied. After returning to duty, my career went into the toilet. The powers-that-be at Fitsimmons and my First Shirt of my unit were of the opinion, "Suck it up or we'll kick your ass out!"
I wish I had taken the MEB. The depression went on throughout the rest of my career, and I went from a high-flying airman (honor-grad from basic and tech school, ALS, Levitow award winner, BTZ board, Airman of the Year nom, multiple citations, joint service citation, etc.) all the way down to Article 15's and Correctional Custody. I re-injured my neck and shoulder in martial arts class. I had also had a car crash in Germany where I hit my head and injured my neck. Had some good times getting shot at by Taliban sympathizers in Germany, and having my 60 ready to rock, and just have to sit there and let it happen due to SOFA.
Poor to horrible impulse control, anger issues, dark fugues, etc that are with me to this day. I have panic attacks at least weekly, along with the migraines, the classic hyperawareness from other situations, insomnia even medicated, anger issues. Sometimes I freak when my new wife (10 years now) have even the smallest argument. I am on more medications than Johnny Cash and more than half are from the VA for both the depression and the migraines.
So i sit here, migraine thumping, depressed again looking at a stack of denial paperwork. I have been working through the Texas Veterans Comission and filing paperwork, but I just don't really see them DOING anything. They said I was because I filed it before I came to them. I am going to talk to them tomorrow about all this but this has really got me down. Should I say EFF it all and get a lawyer? Or am i missing something important? DO y'all have any input on the Texas Vets Comm?
Sorry to dump all this as a newb here but I am about to give up. It is affecting my work, home life and general outlook. It causes almost as much depression as the issues I got it from. I have also filed for some knee and ankle injuries (dislocations, etc) and they said there was NO RECORD! I still had the boot they cut off my foot up till a few years ago!!!!
Thanks for understanding.
SullyTex
(Big Blue Hairy Monster in Texas)