B 2/75

Sorry, Pete. I got myself all worked up and forgot your question. We're kicking ass and taking names. No joke. This isn't Iraq. Nothing at all like it. It is VERY common to for our guys to take out 50 - 75 bad guys who ambush a convoy... our guys under fire say a few magic words into the radio, and a few moments later the hillside erupts as a B1-B roars by... Makes my old wardog heart happy as hell. Just wish I could be out there with them again. Really it does.

You know, it is funny perhaps, but there is language in my VA shrink's clinical records which says that a return to active duty would be far better for me than any course of pharmacological treatment he could possibly prescribe. This whole thing has got me pretty irritated, to put it mildly. I'm an Army LTC. Still in as a Reservist w/ 15 active and 15 reserve. I'll hit 30 years in a few weeks. Was on track for going all the way to full COL. Instead I got ate the F#$% up after OIF 1 and went to get help. Big mistake as far as the Army was concerned, but I digress. I'm still full of problems, and while I'm employed, fer God's sake, it isn't like I'm working at the senior field grade officer level anymore. I'm the damn ops officer of a unit that has 26 people in it. Not too far removed from asking "would you like fries with that?" You'd think that they'd take that into account, at least just a little bit. So yeah, I've got a job.... about 4 rungs down from where I was. Do they want me on unemployment, or living under a damn bridge? WTF?

Ricky, Thanks for the honest answer. Truthfully, I hadn't put myself into their seat much at all. Mine was a 3 year reeval, not for any particular cause. I was assigned to the 5th Special Forces Group during OIF 1, and was out the gate on more than 250 missions. No particular stressor other than a full year of some big-time missions and getting shot at all the time. Now I'm an Operations Manager for a company that is supporting the military with a lot of computer geeks. I'm not one of them, I just keep track of what they're up to. I am never, ever out the gate. I have changed from a snake-eater to a full-time Fobbit, a dweller of the rear-echelon. We don't get mortared, or rocketed, or even have insults hurled at us. Nothing. Other than the dirt in the air and the fighters taking off on the airstrip at all hours, this could be, well, anyplace alot nicer. So, to compare my military experience in Iraq with this civilian trip to Afghanistan is apples and oranges. So, how do I go about appealing the decision? Just fill out the form and send it in? Seems a bit underpowered to me. Feels like I need some 16" naval guns on this job.

I'm mad as I can possibly be... Sure enough, here I am, in fooking Afghanistan, and the VA decided that they had enough evidence to reevaluate me despite my multiple notifications that I'm out of the country. The result is that they've decided to change my rating from 80% to 30% overall, with the PTSD portion going from 70% to 10%, frostbite portion being unchanged. I've never even heard of a chop that extreme. Bottom line, I need a referral for a Veteran's rights lawyer in the St. Pete Florida area ASAP. Need to file for a personal hearing, with the attorney to be my proxy since I obviously can't attend. Any information will be appreciated, as so far I've been unable to find any representation from here.

We're talking about putting them off for a year... I'm leaving on 29 Sep, and won't be returning until Sep 2008. Are we all talking the same thing... that I should simply request a reschedule of the appointment for next year?

HELP!!! I've received a letter dated 12 SEP notifying me of a VARO C&P in Gainesville FL, to be conducted on 5 OCT. The problem is that I'm on short final for a civilian deployment to Afganistan, departing on 29 SEP. I'll be in DC getting briefings from the 17th to the 25th, and won't be able to change my schedule at all. What will the VA do if I don't make their appointment? I'm sure I need to notify them, certified return receipt, that I'm not going to be in the country. Are they going to cut me off? Reevaluate me in a negative fashion in absentia? Do I need a lawyer? I'm really worried about this. I feel like I'm about to get the cruddy end of the stick, because of their timing. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. I'm flying out Monday morning, and I think I should have a letter going out to the St. Pete VARO pretty soon, right?

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Howdy, folks. I've got another newbie question for you. I'm rated 80% right now, for PTSD and bilateral frostbite. I consider myself a newbie because I somehow managed to breeze through the system before even knowing that it could be a nightmare. I had an appointment for audiology today, and it turns out that I now have a rather significant high freq hearing loss, and Tinitus. If I were to file a claim for this, could there be any detrimental affect on my current rating?

Once you're in the system, see your primary care provider (sic) and tell him what you're taking and for what. Bring your perscriptions / bottles with you in case he wants to see them. There's as good a chance as not that you'll get the meds from the VA. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Florida is pretty kind to its Vets.... If you are rated you get a $5,000. discount on the assessed value of your home for property tax purposes, in addition to the $25,000 homestead exemption. Carving 30K off the assessed value ain't too bad. But... If you are 100% then you pay NO property taxes at all, get your auto license tag for free, hunting / fishing for free, and parking meters don't have to be fed if you are using the Disabled Vet licence plate.

Toposurveyer, were you mapping for the Engineers / Defense Mapping Agency, or where you a Field Artillery surveyor? Either way, in my book you were out and about, well exposed to getting zapped. Thanks for helping create the base that our modern forces are standing so tall upon. I'm an OIF Vet, currently 80%. Believe me, you're doing well. Very well. Being rather emotionally flat is something I'm getting pretty used to being, other than when I'm around other Vets, just as you said. Regards, - J

Perhaps I shouldn't be surprised, but doesn't this come up frequently? Is this really such an unusual topic? Dean quoted me that I was "just about back to normal".... I'd think that anybody who encounters suicidal thoughts will never get rid of them completely, and will therefore always be "just about back to normal". But what's this about "You could still snap under pressure"? Are you talking about going postal? Or that I might just fold up under the pressure? I've got a regular job. I've managed to keep it since I got back. Yes, I've gotten into trouble a couple of times, and have pretty much moved from the bosses' A list to his S list, but I have a mid-management administrative job that is rather stressful. So regarding your concern that I might snap under the pressure, not likely. Will it cure or hurt my PTSD? Who knows? But for me, sometimes the greater good is more important than the individual's good. So, am I just being foolish? Is my rating more important than career? Or health? If you had a bum shoulder, but could go back in, would you risk reinjuring it, especially when you are REALLY needed, as all soldiers are these days? .02 Kopeks

dman, Yes, I'm a Ranger. Enlisted service as an 11B2V in 2nd Bat, old scroll. Went the ROTC route after ETS in 82, and have been assigned to various SOF units throughout my career. Now I'm a LTC, so there is no enlistment contract uponwhich I might have commited fraud. And rest assured that my unit, which is headed up by one of the 4 star CINCs, is fully aware of my 80% rating. Whenever I put on my uniform and perform for pay, my VA benefits go away for that period. That includes pay and meds. If I'm working for points only, I keep the VA compensation. My question has been about returning to Active Duty, not drilling as a Reservist, and it looks like you guys have answerd (confirmed) my questions, particularly with the quotation. I'm assuming that §3.654 Active service pay is from the USC. If I understand correctly, I can go back onto AD, perform the job, then go back into a reserve status and then reinstate the (unchanged & exact same) VA benefits so long as I'm not drawing any pay from the Army. If my condition has been aggravated by the tour, then I can file a new claim with the VA. Am I getting it right? Folks, don't worry about my PTSD being a threat to my buddies, and those who's back I should have. I was a Major in Iraq. As such, I was out the gate in Hadjiville every day. Now that I've been promoted the chances of getting out the gate are next to zilch. Rest assured that I've been promoted into pencil pushing status... something that isn't too likely to "set me off..." Believe it or not, there are actually quite a large number of people out there on active duty in the Rangers and SF who are completely ate up with PTSD, but because of continued ignorance and masking of information by commands are not getting any help, for fear of injuring their careers. All we want to do is our jobs, which involves taking the battle to the bad guys. Getting compensation from the VA is secondary. Getting help is what they really need.

Believe me, getting rated wasn't something I wanted. Within a month of my return home in Mar 04, I was seriously suicidal. Was working out scenarios where I'd be gone but the insurances would pay off for the accidental death. I also had some anxiety and rage issues going on. Went to the VA clinic in town and the rest is history. Meds and hard work have gotten me (just about) back to normal. As a reservist I've always had a decent civilian job. I've still got it, although I'm no longer the "fair-haired golden boy" of the organization. My job performance DID suffer some. Why am I still in the reserves? Perhaps because nobody has kicked me out, and they certainly know that I'm VA rated. Also maybe because I don't want to hang up the spurs quite yet. As a matter of fact, the VA doc I've been seeing put into his clinical notes the entry that "This soldier would best be served by a return to active duy, a treatment far better than any regimen of pharmacological agents I could offer." As a matter of fact, that entry, along with the two mil docs who have seen me, are the primary basis for me wanting to continue to be at it. I suppose if I can still function then I can still be used as cannon fodder? Is there a glossary somewhere? What is a C+P? In reading through other threads you guys use a bunch of acronyms and jargon that are completely alien to me. Regards B

Howdy, folks. I've searched for any info on this topic, but am bringing up a blank, and I'm hoping to be able to start a discussion on the topic and glean some useful information, as I know of quite a few folks out here who are in a similar boat as mine. I'm an Army guy with 29 years of service, 15 active, 14 reserve. I'm still in, as regular drilling reservist. I'm also 80% combined, 70 for PTSD and 10 for frostbite. Last year I tried to go on a tour of Extended Active Duty at my unit. Everything went well as the package was routed from office to office. The Command Surgeon signed off with an OK after I had been seen by both an Army Dr. and an Air Force Dr: both of them gave me a thumbs up as good to go. Unfortunately, when the package got to the Chief of Staff's office, it was killed. The rather lame excuse I got was along the lines of "The Army can't interfere with a VA bennie" I've got another opportunity for a tour of AD. I don't think that this command will kill the application (a bit less testosterone in the second command) and I'd like to try and find out what implications are involved. I know that it is a simple single page form to fillout with the VA to suspend payments. This has to happen... you can't get both. But, will the VA give me any grief about doing yet another tour? There is a high probability that If I do go back onto AD I'll have to go back into Iraq and likely Afghanistan too, for short 30 day trips. Ideas?