Click To Ask Your VA Claims Questions | Click To Read Current Posts
Read Disability Claims Articles View All Forums | Donate | Blogs | New Users | Search | Rules
usdart
-
Posts
258 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
3
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
VA Disability and Benefits Information
VA Benefits News
Store
Posts posted by usdart
-
-
I forgot, the tinitus should go through too. He had no problem saying I had it!
-
Just got back from the last C&P exams. It all seems better than I anticipated for sure.
The Audiologist said I had "substantial hearing loss" and recomended hearing aids. He said that this type of Loss is consistant with Chronic Sinusitus. This is important because the VA denied my hearing loss and now it is linked to my Sinusitus that I currently have 10% disability for. I asked him to word it like that for me and he agreed. This was HIS diagnosis and I had not told him I had Chronic Sinusitus before the tests.
The Sinusitus appt this afternoon was good too. The doctor asked me why I was there. I told him I was seeking an increase since the VA could not help with the headaches and other symptons. He said "well in that case, let me ask you some questions to help you" He said 10% was way too low for my problems. He added, the inability for me to use a CPAP machine, The missing 2 days a week work, and dizzyness when I bent over etc. It all looks really good to me.
What do youse guys and gals think?
-
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.
-
Yes, I am working but, I did tell her my Job is in jeopardy. I told her they are auditing my absenteeism and pressuring me every chance they get.
She also knows (because I told her when asked) that I have had 50 jobs since Viet Nam. I don't know what to expect from the VARO for the next part of this.
-
An hour ago I had my C&P with the QTC.
I thought it went well for me, the Doc stated that I should not worry because I hit ALL the marks for PTSD. She showed me her computer screen with the checkmarks all the way down. Social, work, Home etc all were addressed. She assured me I had PTSD and not to worry about the rating.
She said I had the hard part done and to try to relax. She said her part will be submitted TODAY.
Now we will find out if honesty works or they are all out against me.
She recommended trying the medications that are available but only if I want to.
I am 'cautiosly optimistic' as the politicians say.
-
Should I take my Stressor Letter and other info with me?
They are not in my record because the C&P exams were scheduled before I sent the Stressor forms in. I do not think they had time to put them in and send to the local PSY for review because they were mailed to Phoenix last Tuesday.
-
Moved to different area
-
I searched on line and found 2 of the Doctors have an PSY in thier description. That means PTSD C&P exam.
I am shocked though because I just sent back the Evidence forms (21 0871) last thursday. They could not have processed it that quickly.
It all has to do with my getting the Congressman to help, I am sure. You Guys and Gals that are feeling forgotten would be wise to do the same if you have not already.
-
I have three C&P exams in two days scheduled. Only one of them tells me what it is for.
One is for Tinitus and the other two do not say.
I applied for Tinitus, Hearing loss, Sinusitus (increase) and PTSD.
Hearing loss was flatly denied due to a 1979 ruling against it.
I am guessing one of these is Sinusitis increase and I don't know what the other one is. MY PTSD was slowed down because they asked for proof of Combat which my Congressman only sent in last week. I am pretty sure that is not enough time.
Wish me luck and and that I can control my stress please. I will of course keep you in the loop. All you guys and gals deserve medals for your service to Vets...
-
The famous 'CROP DUSTING' Defense!
-
In the old days you could settle things that way. I have to really work to control myself and not go off on these types.
My Boss will not blame the instructor, It is my responsibility to take this training but, it is not in my job description so I am going to approach it that way to start out with. I have a written record of the last 7 years of descrimination and harrassment and I am adding this to it.
I am keeping that as an ace in the hole in case they want to reprimand or fire me. The Stress is very hard to endure,but, I don't have another option for retirement so I am stuck in the muck and mire.
-
I was in a Training session and the instructor made fun of me so I walked out.
This is Required Training and my Boss wants me to come by and 'talk about it'.
Boss knows I have PTSD but, I don't think he understands at all. Man, I am in deep doo-doo now.
What can I say to him to lesson my stress and get him off my backside?l
-
My Congressman is sending the Forms 21 0781 and 21 0781a in for me under his Letterhead. I think this should cause some activity as they have been communicating with him on my Case.
I sent attachments:
1. Discription of Combat Activity with Date abd times, casualties etc.
2. Buddy Statements from two Soldiers that were there with me.
3. A Behavior statement as to how it has affected me since that date.
4. A list of places to retrieve verifying documents including Myhealthevet (they didn't look before), The Doctors Name and the Shrinks name, and location of Clinic.
5. DD214 and Awards and decorations page showing Viet Nam Service, Unit assignments, Dates etc.
If that isn't enough 'evidence' I am certainly screwed.
-
I have the 'Combat Action Badge'. It is noted in my file.
-
dart,
Sorry, but I don't remember if you had something like a CIB or any award or decoration
on your 214 that already established a combat role / area.
If yes, then you should not need to go into details on the stressor form, just basic place &
approximate dates, etc . . .
jmho
My unit recieved a Combat Award so I also have that on my Awards and decorations records.
-
I was hoping for that. Thank you.
I also have the Commanders report I can attach.
As I understand it MY role and feelings, reactions are needed on the form.
So I will work on the hard part.
-
My unit is A Btry 2/35th..I need to make this fit on the VA form. I am totally lost how to write this as my stressor for the VA.
In the early morning hours of April 18, 1970, Fire Support Base Den, located a few klicks east of the village of Dinh Quan and FSB Nancy (and in a super-active sector of the 4-12th Infantry’s AO), was hit hard by a coordinated ground and rocket attack by elements of the 33rd NVA Regiment.Bravo and Charlie Companies of the 4-12th Infantry, a three gun section of 105’s from Charlie Battery, 2-40th Artillery, and a six gun section of Self-Propelled 155’s from A/2-35th Artillery were there to provide security and fire support for units operating in the area. (A couple of days before, an 8 inch gun from II Field Force had been there as well put pulled out to another location. "When this gun fired, it got everyone's attention.")Sometime after 0300 on 18 April, the firebase was hit with round after round of heavy mortar and RPG fire. During the barrage, several enemy sappers used the diversion to get inside the perimeter and begin hurling satchel charges and grenades. One NVA charge landed either in or near the FDC bunker where 1LT Charles F. Deeble was killed. (A large, dead tree stood in the center of the basecamp’s perimeter which was used as an aiming stake for the NVA gunners. It should have been removed when the base was being constructed but wasn’t. See the first image above for the tree).
At end of the barrage or at some point during the early stages of the ground attack, two of the SP 155’s were hit and destroyed by the NVA fire.
Roger Raymond of C/4-12 remembers smoke and spark trails from the countless RPG’s crisscrossing all over the perimeter and impacting before stopping. He and several other grunts from Charlie Company were manning a .50 caliber machine gun position on the perimeter line when the rounds starting screaming in. Directly behind them was a tracked ammunition carrier for the 155 SP’s in which they were seeking shelter during the barrage. As soon as the enemy artillery began to let up, they returned to their fighting positions and began to pump out return fire from the .50 caliber and their M-16’s.Several NVA RPG teams were located behind termite mounds less than 30 meters to their front.Towards the end of the artillery barrage, a large number of NVA infantrymen came charging out of the treeline intent on overrunning the base where they were cut down and stopped short by small-arms and 105/155 direct-fire utilizing high-explosive and beehive rounds. Some of the GI’s on the berm actually heard bugles blowing in the treeline when the NVA first attacked.By first light, with air-support and artillery fire increasing in intensity around the firebase, the fight was beginning to fizzle out as what was left of the NVA attackers being making their way back into the jungle. They left behind anywhere from 30 – 60 dead and large quantities of discarded weapons and equipment.
Redcatcher and A/2-35th Artillery personnel losses were heavy with two killed and an estimated 35 or more wounded.
-
My new VSO was very helpful. He read my stressor letters and advised me to make them more personal but, that I had plenty of dates and time lines and places. So I have some homework to do then he will submit the forms through his channels. He says he can send them directly to the desk of the requesting Authority Team assigned to my case and speed things up a tad.
He also recommended a private shrink that is Gov funded so it is free for me to use.
-
Do you actually know for a fact that VA was paying the salary of your VSO?
I might compress this into a "I didn't know I had PTSD until diagnosed by the VA" Now that I have been diagnosed they are questioning the claim. How is it that the VA can diagnose me with PTSD related to my Vietnam combat tours but the VBA says they need more evidence?
I need the assistance of your offices to get the VA to actually communicate between divisions and properly reslove my compensation issues.
However, I have pretty much wrote off Congress critters as being any use. There are too many of us with VA problems, it is sad to say they do not have the staffing to actually provide proper constituancy services.
Yes, the VSO told me He was paid by the VA and was proud of it.
I already sent the message, Anger made me a bit hasty but we will see if anyone really understands what I said.
-
Probably all in vain but now I am angry (again).
Basically the VA said it was all my fault for not submitting Evidence. Just as some of you said they would do.
However, this is a total failure of the VA system to help a VET and responsibility to assist.
Below is what I wrote to Congessman Hastings;
My VSO was trained and PAID by the VA. The VA failed to even read the submitted evidence as is noted from them about my Combat Badge not being proven. It was sent with my orig Doc's under the heading awards and decorations as part of my DD214 paperwork.
The 5103 form was returned by My VA rep. No ther request was made for info.
My DD214 Clearly states under awards and decorations a Combat Medal for The 'Sanctuary Offensive'. Obviously they did not look at my paperwork. They do these things as a delaying tactic to take you out of the FDC program.
My VSO who was trained by the VA with the Viet Nam Veterans Coalition told me ALL the evidence I need is in the paperwork he sent on my behalf. I don't care about the Hearing part, he added that and I did not ask for it.
PTSD, Tinitus, Sinusitus are my concerns.The VA Clinic in Richland started all this by Diagnosing me with PTSD. I had no idea what PTSD was until I was told I had it and why.That Diagnosis is in the paperwork submitted.
The VA Clinical Social Worker (DE A Conrad) has written in my Myhealthevet file the Service Connection to PTSD. All that is needed is to read the file info from the Doctor.
I have a meeting with a new VSO tomorrow and will be sending Stressor letters and other documents as he advises.
I consider the Failure to be on the part of my VA rep for not including more evidence and the VA for not reviewing the Evidence I sent with my FDC Claim.
It is bad enough to have to re-live and re-tell all this horrible stuff but then to be ignored and shoved aside is just one more nail in my coffin. The VA Clinic in Richland has mis-represented my visits by not including my side of issues. They have tried to decieve me by leading me into saying 'My health overall is good' I told them it is NOT. I have mental issues, I can't sleep, horrible nightmares (from Viet Nam) I can't breath through my nose, my ears ring and buzz and I have had massive migraines for 44 years now. Aside from that, I'm fine! None of this is noted in my health file and I have stated it EVERY time I have been asked. What am I supoosed to do if the VA won't help me?
-------------------------------------------- -
Posr moved-----------------------------------------
-
Thank you Berta, you are the BESTest!
I requested the following info from JSRRC as an urgent request.
Need any combat related action reports,Morning reports,afteraction reports
and anything else related to enemy contact/engagement, incoming, Fire fights, rounds fired casualty reports etc.
july 24 1969 to 17 July1970.From approximately 24 July 1969 to 10 Dec 1969
C Battery 2/13 Artillary 23rd Arty Group 2 field forcesfrom 10 Dec 1969 to 17 july 1970
A Battery 2/35th Artillary 23rd group 2 Field FOrcesAlso the participation in The Sanctuary Counter Ofensive while Iwaswith the A Btry 2/35
The datesare approximates and may vary from my memory of time lines.
-
I suggest getting a pack of manila folders, some highlighters and some tabs that stick on the folder labels.
Most of my claims have had multiple folders and I marked on the tabs what they hold.
You stated:
“I want this to be searchable and make sense “and PR had a good suggestion...keep it simple...
(I should talk, I have two file cabinets packed with VAOLA regarding over 2 decades of my claims as well as my husbands claims.)
Still it pays to keep it simple with anything you send to the VA.
Your new VSO is going to be concerned as to the same things we have discussed here already.
You need to establish a nexus to your service for your stressors and in my opinion that will take a strong buddy statement,maybe even more than one.
Getting organized can alleviate a lot of stress . For most of my claims I prepared a Battle Plan....(VA isn't the enemy however, time is)
I used a copy of a photo of my VARO in the middle of the page and then used war maneuver symbols all around the VARO photo,symbols I learned in military school , to make it fun....
The maneuver symbols stood for tactics I needed to use.to advance.
They all involved the most important thing every claim needs: Documented evidence!
I wrote that list down along with the symbols and checked them off as I accomplished my tactical 'missions'
This was for a claim for DMII due to AO that caused my husband's death.
He had never been diagnosed or treated for DMII by VA, his sole health care provider for decades.
The first tactic I used was to read the VA Diabetes training letter.I printed it off and put it into a manila tabbed folder (I have used it many times since for vets here or local vets)
The next tactic was to see if I could find a dentist to review his dental records,but I couldn't find a dentist ,with enough expertise to be willing to do that.
His dental records revealed a manifestation of diabetes.(That took many hours of research to be sure of that)Manila folder number 2
Next tactic was to find a former VA Neuro doctor ,who had made an entry in the med recs that had been crossed out)and see if he would give me an IMO.(That too many months but his brief free IMO was given much weight by the BVA)
Another tactic was to make overlays of an autopsied heart and brain and compare it with a diagram to my husbands autopsy and MRI results as evidence of untreated DMII.
In my manila folders I had ,in order by date, copies of med recs from the VA that had entries that lent to a finding of diabetes,in my lay opinion, and I had to prove them all.
Before I was willing to obtain any IMOs, I needed to be sure my investment would be sound.
Dr. Bash did 2 IMOs for me. I won that claim.
The BVA was the sole VA entity to even read my IMOs and evidence.
On my war plan I added from time to time other avenues to pursue for evidence.
I ended up with more evidence than I needed.All of above and more got its own tabbed manila folder.
I kept a copy of his VA medical records separately, adding copies to these folders as needed.
Thats OK on the additional evidence I found because I have had subsequent claims that evidence was needed for.
It can take an Extraordinary amount of stress and time, that many claims take, to finally succeed.
But hard work pays off.
For the 6 years that claim took, I went through my war plan every week so that nothing was overlooked in my quest for the evidence I needed.
The internet is far better today then when I filed that claim and certainly is the best way to find a buddy.
If TET is your main stressor, I am sure there will much TET info on the net as the anniversary of TET approaches us.
Your VSO might well suggest that you write to JSRRC yourself.....instead of waiting for VA to do that.....
and ,as one of of members correctly said, the key to proving a stressor is in the details.....
if you were in the same unit at same time of the after action report you mentioned, please show that to your VSO, as maybe that could even be enough proof of stressor but hard to say........dont know what action it involved....
or a copy of that report maybe enough for JSRRC to clarify.
You have gotten great advise here from everyone.....and I am glad you feel comfortable with a new VSO.
The last tactic I used was to obtain an IMO from Dr. Bash.
He told me in mere minutes after reading some of my evidence that I could succeed on this claim.
(My former vet rep told me it didn't stand a chance.)
We must NEVER give up!
Wow! Alot of useful advice..thankyou eveyone for the help.
What is JSRRC?
I was not in the TET Offensive. After TET, the last Offensive in Viet Nam Was 'The Sanctuary Counter Offensive'. This was done DURING the Nixon draw down in 1970. My first assigned Unit was 'Deactivated' and I was among those with 6 months more to serve in Theater so I was re-assigned to A Btry 2/35 23rd Arty 2 Field Forces to finish my 'senior trip'. I was caught unaware at 19 years old that War was like this until Then.
I tried to contact some others in my Unit with no results. I was only in the Unit for the 2 Months for this Operation so I did not make any friends and I can't even remember thier names 44 years later. My DD214 shows assignment to the unit at that time. awards and decorations state 'Sanctuary Counter Offensive". I have a good military description of the Offensive with my Unit noted in it. I was in an Artillary Unit and I was a Track Vehicle Repaiman for 155 SP Howitzers. I can prove time and place very easily.
I will wait and see what my new VSO has to say about my evidence and my Claim in general. He is supposed to be VERY good. That will be refreshing for sure.
-
I have an appt Frday with a new VSO.
Turns out my old VSO was not very knowledgeable and and mis-handled alot of Claims.
So, I am headed to Office Depot to get a folder to organize my paper work for him and the VA.
Page 1. DD214
2. Awards and decorations
3. Description of The Sanctuary Counter Offensive
4. etc etc
Well, you get the idea. I want this to be searchable and make sense. We can also reference pages as we write Evidence letters etc. Kind of like a book report....
If someone has a good organizing method I would like to hear about it please.
2 More C&p's Just Finished
in Veterans Compensation & Pension Exams
Posted
Good luck my friend! I am at the mercy of the 'Raters' now. Just try to remeber everything and state ALL the problems you have relative to your Case. Don't let them tell you what you say is not important so they dismiss it out of hand. As hard as it is to be assertive, I did it and you should too. Don't just 'take what you can get' but get what you deserve dammit.