shannan

Navy4life and Shannon,

I will pray for healing and restoration of your hearts and souls, I can't even begin to imagine the road you both have gone down. My wife and I had a foster baby for 14 months and then the system decided he was going to be a number instead of a sucess story. On the exact 1 year anniversary of his disappearance, my wife's dad died. Then a 3 months later she had a miscarraige. I know my point of view and experience is small potatoes, and even my wife thinks I feel no pain from those losses, but my heart cries for you 2.

Semper Fi

Shannon
I have been fighting for PTSD due to mst since 1984.
I went to my commander and the bn commander who both refused to forward the paperwork. I wa a recruiter and working remote from a military facility and I worked with the Son of a Bitch daily because they would not transfer me.
I, too , went AWOL but was given a Honorable Discharge.
Finally DSM V allows that markers showing distress from the attack must be looked at

Good luck !

m

Andyman, thank you for your support. Your point of view is not small potatoes. Several years ago, I read somewhere (cant remember where) that a study had been done. The study stated that often times a man suffers more from the pain that comes from the miscarriage than a women. The reason being is, not only has a man suffered the loss of the child as the woman has, but the man also feels sorrow for his wife's loss and pain. In other words, most men's natural instinct is to protect what is theirs. And often times men suffer losing the child, plus not being able to protect their wife from the pain. Dont ever think that your feelings are not valid on this matter. I am sorry for your loss.

Shannon;

You can't ever put the "what if" in your mind b/c in reality it is never going to happen....The facts remain we lost the child for some reason...For me the "trigger" that set me off during my whole ordeal with my claim process wasn't the rape so much as the loss of the child. I kept asking myself why? Why did I lose this child? My fault....I blamed myself...I have lived with the guilt for many many years and I am finally coming to terms with the fact that it wasn't my fault...I can't continue to blame myself or wonder if I had had the child the "what if's"...It's too painful for me at least....

Get the help..you need it my fellow sister...I hope to one day have inner peace and not have these ugly demons that I have inside of me....

Navy4life, I am glad you were able to have some children. I cant imagine that having a child fixes the pain from losing one, but I imagine maybe it helps to sooth the pain a little bit. I'm glad you are able to experience the joys of motherhood :)

Thanks for the reply's everyone they are really appreciated. I may go with some cameras soon, I most certainly try melatonin and Transcendental Meditation

Yep, aren't I lucky!?!

Shannon;

I did it too last month...GOE as well and FDC since 2/15

Thank you Pete53 :)

Hey Shannan. Question. Did you say you were OTH-Other than honorable? Did they do a character of discharge at the VA? I know that having UTH-Under honorable discharge puts you in the clear. But even having an OTH in your circumstance with the MST-PTSD is in your favor. I did a character of discharge at the VA where I work. The VA has to make the decision to overturn OTH or sometimes dishonorable discharges for VA disability benefits. If you have a valid reason for the discharge, which it looks like you do then it will all work out.

What happens is the VSR that develops your claim will send you a letter with a suspense date of 65 days letting you know that we are aware of your character of discharge. Once the time is up the VSR looks or has looked in your file such as service treatment records and personnel records to verify what you were discharged for. Then the claim is given to a supervisor in order for them to make the determination as to grant you eligibility to disability benefits.

You can definitely use the MST as your leverage for the discharge you received in order to get the benefits you are claiming.

Also I hope other vets on here are reading this because I want to make a very important statement.
WHENEVER THE VA ASK YOU FOR INFORMATION OR FROM A THIRD PARTY FOR YOU SUCH AS MEDICAL PROVIDER ETC...PLEASE TURN IN PROMPTLY...SO MANY TIMES CLAIMS ARE HELD UP BECAUSE OF THIS...LASTLY IF THE VA CALLS YOU FOR INFORMATION PLEASE PROVIDE THEM WITH THE INFORMATION AND DONT LEAVE ANYTHING OUT.....THANK YOU...GOOD LUCK.

Did you fill out the VA 21-0781a? You must fill that out for your PTSD/MST claim. Please read the form and fill out and submit. You are your own best advocate. The clear marker's are good for you. Not continuing your therapy isn't good and I would recommend you go back to therapy. You need it for your state of mind.

Welcome to Hadit!

My first question, are you getting treatment for your PTSD/MST? You indicated the VA diagnosed you with PTSD/MST which is good BUT did they Service Connect it to your active duty? That is crucial!

I too was raped while on AD and became pregnant. Never reported it and I lost the child in my first trimester. I never discussed it with anyone and shut it out of my life for many years. Over lapping this with my eating disorder with this was very hard.

The VA has allowed a lot of people to come forward that hid their rapes but for you to get s/c it would be good to have a "clear marker" -this is something indicating the rape could have happened. For me, my clear marker was the pregnancy and it was documented.

Rape is common and I know it is a struggle to live with every day.....I am in therapy as we speak and I had not had any therapy for over two decades.

You filed an FDC but it might have to go the traditional route in order for you to get this accomplished.

Did you file out the VA 21-0781a?

http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-21-0781a-ARE.pdf- STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF CLAIM FOR SERVICE CONNECTION FOR POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD) SECONDARY TO PERSONAL ASSAULT

You should fill this out and provide as much evidence you can

Take Care
Steph

This is some of the OTH info here and more is available under a OTH search here at hadit:









http://c-hit.org/2012/07/12/conn-_vet_wins_rare_va_appeal_advocates_hope_it_stirs_more/

http://www.swords-to-plowshares.org/2012/09/27/va-character-of-service-determination-an-alternative-to-discharge-review/

http://helpdesk.vetsfirst.org/index.php?pg=kb.page&id=2164

Have you applied to the Discharge Review Board (DRB) or to the Board of Correction of Military Records (BCMR)?

Perhaps based on your evidence, your POA felt an administrative decision from the VA,under the claims process, would be best.

The OTH is not necessarily a bar to benefits.We have info here on that.


"I dont want to re-send the evidence for fear they will knock me into a regular claim. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you. "

If they dont use the evidence, they will deny you right off the bat or put you into a regular claim anyhow..

With an OTH that might have to be the case, as well, because they might have to make a 'character of service' determination.

Did AMVETS explain that to you?

You can use IRIS and tell them of the evidence they already have and who submitted it for you.

IRIS is at www.va.gov....go to the Contact Us Section and then to the Ask a Question Section.and ask them for email ( they can make stuff up by phone) verification of what evidence they have received.

Was this a 5103 Waiver that you signed for AMVETS ?

I didnt get one for over 2 1/2 years.But that timeline is unusual.

The 5103......I strongly suggest when a vet signs this form and tells VA they have no further evidence to send in, that they list the evidence on the form, the date they sent it in and give a brief description of it and also the USPS tracking numbers and date.

And make copy of the form, sign it and then send that in to the intake center with proof of mailing as well.

Shannon,

Welcome to the Hadit.com family. I am so sorry to hear what happened to you. I have a male friend who was drugged and raped during his MOS school. He was so badly injured that he spent a few months in the hospital and required a few surgeries to rebuild the damaged area. Fortunately for him, the perp left "DNA" that was used to id him, and convict as well.

I guess you have learned, since you said you've been reading the posts for a while, that the VA catagorically(sp?) dinies 85% of all claims. Most of us have received those letters and/or variations of same, over the years. You will probably even get a letter or two saying "we are working hard on your claim, but we are very busy, and can't really say how long this may take". Which is their way of saying "your call is very important to us, please continue to hold".

Don't be discouraged, remember this, You have more courage speaking out, than the one who will not be named. If you haven't already, perhaps you may want to speak to legal representative.

Semper Fi.
Andy