ADodge

What bothers me is the top paragraph of page 4 of 8 . To Quote it states " The effective date of this grant is September 9, 2014. Service connection has been established from the day VA received your claim. When a claim of service connection is received more than one year after discharge from active duty, the effective date is the date VA received the claim." SO What I gather from this statement is even thought it states that they had my file in front of them at the time this decision was made, they did NOT look through my file and see that I HAD PREVIOUSLY filed a claim for SC Asthma!! And that the previous claim was in fact filed the same year I was discharged from the Navy!!! There was no new information to supply except for the fact that my condition had gotten worse over the years. That is all that had changed. My FEV-1 was a lot worse but the medication side of it was basically the same. ANd that is how it normally is with Asthma. Some days the breathing tests can look good and some days they look real bad. IN my case though by 1983 the Navy Doctor I was seeing while active duty was talking about Early COPD or some kind of restrictive lung disease. But as I looked through my medical records I don't see any notes like that from him!!! Why am I not surprised!!!! I have gone though my records and what I have come to realize is that no matter what you are treated for while you are active duty, unless there is an undeniable diagnosis to be made it will not be listed in your medical record. Such as the fact that I was diagnosed with endometriosis while I was active duty. And it specifically states that I have endometriosis through no fault of my own!!! Get that!!! I didn't give myself or cause myself or no act of mine cause me to have endometriosis!!! Several times it states in my medical record that I have Asthma. It does not state that I developed Asthma while I was in the service. But that diagnosis suddenly shows up in my medical record right after I finished Seaman Apprentice training and reported for my first duty duty station. I was then offered a medical discharge and said NO WAY!! I hadn't joined the Navy to get Asthma and be sent home. I joined to become a Hospital Corpsman.and other things but well the best laid plans of men and mice right!!! SO every year that I couldn't complete the running part of my PT test I was given a medical waiver due to having Asthma. Boy I'll tell you this really pisses me off and this is just Asthma. I can most certainly sympathize with those Vets that have had to fight for Compensation for an illness or diagnosis of an illness that is so much worse!!!! I think I am going to go and have a talk with my Congressman about this BS. Because as far as I see it that is all it is!!! Either someone was just too damn lazy to actually look at my record or someone just decided to make some quick decision thinking I would look any further into the matter. This would have totally slipped by me if I hadn't been denied the PTSD Claim, Because once that happened I started to look for help with my claim and the eBenefits site kept listing that I had picked some Veterans organization back in 1984 to represent me in filing my Appeals??? And I was thinking why the hell would I do that??? Then the person I called from eBenefits said it was the DAV in Chicago. And I started to think about it and slowly it all came back to me. Now wouldn't that have been grand!!! I do have to say thank you to those on this site for educating me though about getting copies of my files and all the other VERY useful KNOWLEDGE I have gotten from this site. You have all been invaluable to me!!!! I am so VERY GRATEFUL!!!! Aileen

OK I think I have it all together now!!!! Right WIth ADHD I could say that a million times a day and still be missing shit. But Here goes The first file is the 1984 denial at least every thing I have received or that is contained in my records. The last few pages are the start of the 2015 approval decision for the SC Asthma claim I filed in 2014. The 2nd set of files is the end iof that claim and I just love what is said in that letter. On page 4 of 8 the top paragraph last sentence!!!! I mean realy??? They had my records they could see that I filed a claim in 1984 the year I was discharged!!!! WTF is this CRAP!!! I have to file a NOD because someone just doesn't want to acknowledge that I filed a claim the year I was discharged???? There by causing me to have to wait another 5 years or more!!! Honestly there must be something else I can do??? 1984 VA claim pt 1.pdf 2015 VA claim pt 2.pdf

So this is just grand. I asked for a complete copy of ALL my records. And I mean I covered all bases. I stated in the request that I wanted a copy of everything the regional office had with my name and or Social security number on it. Now of course this would be a copy of the recent decision which awarded me 60% for SC asthma. I had a hard copy of it but am having a hard time locating it in all these paper files. But that is why I have a computer (Right?) anyway. I have to go into Boston and request a copy of that decision??? I mean honestly what else isn't on that computer CD??? SO I will also have to ask that person if there is anything else they have forgotten to give me a copy of??? I asked my DAV rep for a copy and that is what she told me to do!! Doesn't she have a copy of it? Didn't they send a copy to the DAV because they have sent them copies of everything else! Such as the last notice of denial for SC compensation claim I had filed. I really get this feeling like my rep wants to do as little as possible in helping me??? Has anyone else ever had that type of experience with a DAV rep? So tomorrow before my appointment at the VA. I will drop by the Regional Office and ask for a copy of that original decision. And also ask if they will check and see if there are more files they have somehow forgotten to give me copies of!!! Nothing like feeling I am pulling the teeth out of the mouth of an angry beast!!!

Ok How stupid of me was that not to see if my name and SSI # could be seen even after blacking it out with a sharpie!!! DUH I have removed them. God I hope I don't pay for that stupidity!!! Anyway Bertha you wrote "Did you download the recent decision that awarded the SC for the asthma? I assume it is recent (within the last year) because you filed a NOD. I just don't seem to see that decision here. We need to see how they awarded . You know I have just gone though the entire cd that I was given by the VA that is suppose to have copies of all records and letter on it. And that original letter in which I got notice of my claim being approved is NOT on the Disk.. I'm telling you from back in 1984 to the current date my files and claim have been screwed up in the strangest was possible. I didn't remember filing the claim back in 1984 until they told me I did. Yet there are references that state I never filed a claim previously, but they know I did!!! And they know it was denied!!! Did you raise 38 CFR 3.156 in the NOD? I don't know what this is and perhaps you could tell me. The DAV rep I have told me I had to write the NOD up that all she does is submit it once I have it written up. SO I a not really sure I covered everything that should have been covered. I really don't find her to be of very much help it really is rather annoying because when I filed my first claim No one ever got in touch with me or ever asked if I needed help. I was asked if I wanted to name an organization to help me file my claim and I picked the DAV the person at the VA said Someone from there would contact me. What a joke because that never happened. And it wouldn't have happened this time either if I hadn't called and asked why the ebenefits site listed me as having assigned an organization to represent me!!! The Congressman said today that Appeals are back up to 2022!!! But that they are working on trying to fix that!!!! I'm thinking I'll be dead before anything happens!!! Oh wait never mind If the leukemia gets real bad I can have my doctor write a statement and I can try to have the Appeal pushed forward to before I die!!! Right that is almost too funny and also way too sad a state of affairs too!!! I will have to call the local office or my DAV rep and tell her to provide me with a copy of the original notification of my claim being approved. I just hope she wont feel I'm asking too much of her!!!

Ok Well I hope I did that right and the files are viewable. I don't know how to upload them as open docs so they are loaded as PDF files. If there is a way to upload them as open files maybe someone could tell me because that would be grand!! Thanks Aileen

Broncovet I will post it under a new topic. Sorry you are absolutely right about it being seen. Thanks for the advice. And Berta I will scan and post what you suggested. Thank you. I'm just not sure about how to link the previous post so hopefully you will see it. Again Thank you so much for responding and also for that link. I hadn't seen that Appeal and I have been reviewing appeal that I find with something simular to mine. Aileen

I have reposted this because originally I had posted it under someone else's question and I was asked to repost under a new topic. Simply because I might get more answers and also there might be other VETs out there with a similar situation who could benefit from the advice given. I hope I am not repeating someone else's question. This is not at all easy to understand. So I'll just ask. I was discharged in 1984 from the Navy. I had married an active duty Navy enlisted and so my health care was still at the same base I was discharged from. After 3 months post discharge the Doctor that was handling my health care suggested I file a claim for Asthma service connected. Because when I joined the Service in 1980 I did not have Asthma but when I was discharged I was being treated for Asthma. So I filed the Claim in December if 1984. I was discharged the last day of March 1984. And my discharge was honorable so no problem there. The initial claim was that I filed was for Bronchial Asthma service connected. and it was denied in 1985. I didn't appeal it because back then I didn't know anything about appealing the denial and just figured that was it. The denial stated THE EVIDENCE DOES NOT ESTABLISH SERVICE CONNECTION FOR THE FOLLOWING BRONCHIAL ASTHMA DUE TO ALLERGY. Bronchial Asthma denied. (Funny that is what causes Asthma Allergies. but god knows I grew up on a farm and never had any problems with allergies at least not so much as to cause me a problem with breathing. And I had never been diagnosed with any allergies either before entering the service.) Anyway time passed and I forgot all about this claim. in 1997 I began receiving SSDI and part of my disability was the Asthma and by then I also had COPD. More time passed and in 2014 the VSO in the town I live in suggested I file a claim with the VA for service connected disability for asthma. So I did. And after again submitting to PFTs done by the VA I was approved at 60%. Now I would never have questioned anything after that except that when I filed for the COPD and a few other items I was told that my representative was the DAV. And I asked why was the DAV my representative and who in the DAV was. And I was told told that back in 1984 I picked the DAV to represent me. And I said " I did??? Why would I do that? and that response was "because you filed a claim back then. That was when I thought SHIT I need to get a copy of all my records. SO I finally did and that is when I learned and remember filing that claim. So Here is my question. Since Nothing except the severity of the Asthma has changed since 1984. Would that initial claim be a CUE? Wouldn't it be right to file a CUE regarding that claim so that the effective date of the current claim would date back to 1984? Currently I have a NOD filed regarding the effective date. But I really feel it is a CUE. Is that right or not? And if someone does answer this could you answer like you are explain this shit to a two year old!!!! LMAO because All of this is just so Damn confusing to me!!! Thanks a lot, I was asked to scan and post some VA C&P reports and I will do that as soon as I get back from meeting with my Local Congressman. I will keep you all in mind as I ask him about doing the back up of VET Appeals!!! And other Veteran topics!!! Aileen SO this is what Bertha asked in response to my previous post of this Question: Did you or the rep specifically state "Due to Allergy" on the claim? Do your SMRs reveal you did, in fact develop allergies in the military? Can you scan and attach here their reasons and bases for the 1984 claim denial and the evidence they used? Obviously, with the successful outcome of the 2014 claim for the asthma , the VA certainly considered your SMRs but it seems they missed something in the older denial....so maybe this would even by a 38 CFR 3.156 claim. I know it is confusing but if we can see the older decision (and we might need the newer one too) we can determine whether there is cause for potentially more retro due to a better EED. Did the 2014 claim state the asthma was 'due to' allergies? Cover C file number, name, address, prior to scanning and attaching it here. I focused on the 'due to ' part because statements like that can lock us in to one theory of entitlement when other theories could be 'due to exposure to chemicals, via your MOS etc etc. So Here is what I have but I also have this very strange 600 form that was placed in my medical record at the end of my in-active reserve time. Notice the date Apr 8 86 See all the things it list that I am suppose to be allergic to. Well if I had been allergic to all those things before I joined the Navy I would never have been able to join the Navy because I would have died as a child. Considering I grew up on a Farm!!!! I mean WTF who the hell is this Captain English and why is he putting this document in my Military medical record years after my discharge???? I don't understand!!!! This is way too screwy!!!

I hope I am not repeating someone else's question. This is not at all easy to understand. So I'll just ask. I was discharged in 1984 from the Navy. I had married an active duty Navy enlisted and so my health care was still at the same base I was discharged from. After 3 months post discharge the Doctor that was handling my health care suggested I file a claim for Asthma service connected. Because when I joined the Service in 1980 I did not have Asthma but when I was discharged I was being treated for Asthma. So I filed the Claim in December if 1984. I was discharged the last day of March 1984. And my discharge was honorable so no problem there. The initial claim was that I filed was for Bronchial Asthma service connected. and it was denied in 1985. I didn't appeal it because back then I didn't know anything about appealing the denial and just figured that was it. The denial stated THE EVIDENCE DOES NOT ESTABLISH SERVICE CONNECTION FOR THE FOLLOWING BRONCHIAL ASTHMA DUE TO ALLERGY. Bronchial Asthma denied. (Funny that is what causes Asthma Allergies. but god knows I grew up on a farm and never had any problems with allergies at least not so much as to cause me a problem with breathing. And I had never been diagnosed with any allergies either before entering the service.) Anyway time passed and I forgot all about this claim. in 1997 I began receiving SSDI and part of my disability was the Asthma and by then I also had COPD. More time passed and in 2014 the VSO in the town I live in suggested I file a claim with the VA for service connected disability for asthma. So I did. And after again submitting to PFTs done by the VA I was approved at 60%. Now I would never have questioned anything after that except that when I filed for the COPD and a few other items I was told that my representative was the DAV. And I asked why was the DAV my representative and who in the DAV was. And I was told told that back in 1984 I picked the DAV to represent me. And I said " I did??? Why would I do that? and that response was "because you filed a claim back then. That was when I thought SHIT I need to get a copy of all my records. SO I finally did and that is when I learned and remember filing that claim. So Here is my question. Since Nothing except the severity of the Asthma has changed since 1984. Would that initial claim be a CUE? Wouldn't it be right to file a CUE regarding that claim so that the effective date of the current claim would date back to 1984? Currently I have a NOD filed regarding the effective date. But I really feel it is a CUE. Is that right or not? And if someone does answer this could you answer like you are explain this shit to a two year old!!!! LMAO because All of this is just so Damn confusing to me!!! Thanks a lot,

I totally agree with Green! and I am eventually going to end up hiring an Attorney to handle my claim, whereas, it is far too complicated and stressful for me to handle on my own. I am already approved at 60% for my pulmonary disease and that is for Asthma. But that claim does not end there. Because when I was discharged in 1984 I had already been diagnosed with Asthma, COPD and Restrictive Lung Disease. When I joined the Navy in 1980 there was nothing wrong with my lungs. I began having problems breathing when I was in apprentice training in Florida! And believe me when I tell you those two weeks of Apprentice training were the scariest two weeks of my life. Every night I was taken to the ER because I couldn't breath. I would wake up wheezing and gasping for air!!! The Ambulance would arrive they would slap an O2 mask on me and hit me with an Epi shot and fly to the ER. There I would get another Epi shot and breathing treatments. This would totally freak me out. Every night I would spend at least two hours in the ER then go back to the Barracks all hyped up on the Asthma medication! I finally graduated and went to my first command. When I got there I was offered a medical discharge and refused it. I refused it because I didn't join the Navy only to be discharge and sent home. I wanted to be a hospital corpsman and there was NO WAY I was going to let them discharge me after going through that hellish experience at Apprentice training. And I felt that it was just the building and the AC, because I had never had a problem with breathing so I kind of blew it off. I was given a PT waiver for the annual PT testing and that was that. I never really thought too much about it. And even when I went to Great Lakes I thought it was the extreme cold that kept causing me problems. I had Pneumonia several times while stationed there and the Doctors said that was what damaged my lungs. And by the time I turned 23 I was diagnosed with Restrictive Lung Disease and shortly after that COPD. I really didn't take any of these diagnoses that serious simply because I was so young and felt that the only people who really suffer from those diseases are Old People. After I was discharged I think one of my Doctors may have told me to put a claim into the VA. And I think I did, but I think it must have been rejected or denied. And I must have just thought "Oh Well!" SO that is all water over the bridge until it comes to the here and now!!! I have been requesting a copy of ALL my records for sometime now. My Congressman's office has also been asking for a copy of all my records for some time now. His office is now starting to get a little pissed that they are having a problem with this request!!! Umm gee is it the same problem I have been having? Now I know the VA has a copy of my Service Medical Records and I have requested a copy from them so why the delay? Why not just give me a copy? I just don't understand what the big deal is. I do understand there are THOUSANDS of other veterans who have also requested copies of their records. But don't they have enough people working at the VA to make those copies? I can certainly understand that there may not be enough personnel employed in Saint Louise where a good percentage of Military records have been stored for years. And it may take them a long time to go through all those archived Service records and pull the exact record and then do what they need to do to get that record to the service member. I mean that must really be one hell of a job. But the VA already has a copy of my Service Medical Record as they have referred to it on several occasions after I have had a C&P exam. In fact I believe they also have a full copy of my entire Service Record because they have referred to having that also. And I did ask for a complete copy of ever bit of information they had in their files that contained any reference to me or my service in the Navy or Marines. (got a copy of a letter off the Federal Right to Information site and sent it along with the official request form and a copy of my license and SSI Card which I also had notarized for the signature.) Anyway as I posted in a previous post (that sounds like an Oxymoron, LMFAO) I am just playing the hurry up and wait game!!! RIGHT!!! So once I received all that I have requested, I will again contact the Attorney I had previously spoke to and just turn everything over to her and let her handle it!!! SO I won't really give up!!! I just sometimes hate dealing with some of the individuals that I personally have come in contact with that work for the VA. There have been a few that have been nice, they simply do their job and thanks so very much. I do appreciate it and have told those individuals that too! There is just one more thing I must comment on. My father was a US Marine. He served in Korea. He was injured over there when a Tank blew up. His injuries were to his back, his legs, his hearing and some were internal. He also suffered what was then called battle fatigue now known as Combat PTSD. Back then there was no claim for his Mental Illness and we as his family suffered through his Mental Illness we also suffered through his battle with the VA for every percentage he was allowed. He wasn't given 100% until I was in the Navy. I remember this, because one of my sister wrote to me and told me how happy he was about it!!!! When I became disabled in 1997 I never considered filing with the VA mostly because I remember what my father went through and thought there was no way I was ever going to put my family though that!!! And then about a year ago a VSO told me I really should put a claim in. That the VA had changed. And they have changed!!! They have changed a LOT from the days when my father began his battle with them!!! I know that at times I may write that it seems fruitless and that I feel like I am battling the Evil Empire but I know that the current VA system has CHANGED and is NOTHING like the way it was when my father dealt with them. And all I can say is THANK YOU to all those who cared enough to make sure that CHANGE did come about to this part of the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. And though more can be done I for one am thankful for the changes that have come about. Can you tell I am feeling better today!!!!

This is so true. I had to request a copy of my decision letter twice after I was continually told it was sent. I knew the claims had been denied. Well that's what I thought. So I finally get the letter and only two of the claims are listed and denied the 3rd claim wasn't even on the decision letter. And that was really crazy considering that was the claim I had the C&P exam for. So I call and ask why?? Ummm Well we really don't know but it looks like you reopened the claim anyway so it really doesn't matter right! WTF? Ummm I think it does!!! This whole thing is making me NUTS!!! Honestly this claim is turning out to cause me way too much stress and is interfering with my chemo therapy. Because the stress is causing my IBS and colitis to flare up. Which is then causing me unable to tolerate the Chemo. So it is coming to the point where I am going to have to decide which is more important. My life or this claim!!!! This really SUCKS!!! If I didn't have this character flaw which demands equality and justice I would have never started down this road!!!

I think it was around 1989 when I realized that I was extremely depressed, this was after I had finally found my son and gotten him back. And after my divorce and the birth of my second child. But once I realized I was severely depressed or that there was something wrong I got help.. I began treatment and therapy. And haven't stop receiving both since that time. As my children grew they also received therapy. And over those years there were times when some neighbor called the child social services on me and a social worker came and investigated my home. She also went and interviewed each one of the therapist that my children were seeing. And eventually the investigation was filed as unsupported claim of abuse and neglect. (living in a small town in Massachusetts can be dangerous for a single mum who pisses off some wealth ass hole by rejecting his gross advances toward her!! LMFAO) But years later I got a copy of that file and read the investigation and the interviews with the 3 therapist. And each one of those therapist told that social worker that I parented my children intellectually. That the only time that style of parenting was normally seen was in parents that had previously had experienced the death of a child or in cases such as mine when a child is kidnapped and missing for some time. But because I parented my children intellectually it would seem unlikely for me to either abuse or neglect them in anyway. When I read that report I cried because it was so true. That was how I parented my children. And I knew why. And It broke my heart to realize that no matter how much counselling I had received, nothing had changed the fact that there was this Wall that was never going to be broken through!! And to this day I know this. I have talked to my children and the oldest two have children of their own and they said they understand, And my youngest is 20 and she is very emphatic and I know she understands too. But for me it just doesn't make it any better or hurt any less!!!! And maybe it's because of how hard I fought to be a parent or maybe its a lot of other things but it really doesn't matter now does it!!! I still receive therapy every week and that is what works for me at this point in time.

OK SO this is really not so funny! I recently went for a C&P exam on a PTSD MST claim that as usual was rejected. And as usual I will have to file a NOD. Does anyone know the statistics for PTSD MST claims that are approved the first time around? I bet they are less than 2% of those claims filed especially for the Navy! Sorry if my negative attitude is showing but I am so pissed and just ....... I don't have words to describe how I feel. Anyway that isn't what this topic is about. The title of the topic is Discharge Physical. Now I am fairly sure every active duty member being discharged from active duty is suppose to have a discharge physical, right? And it's funny I don't remember mine. And I am wondering if that is because just before I was discharged I got married to an active duty member at the same command I was stationed at? So this is how I remember my discharge the medical side of it anyway. I was a hospital corpsman. I married a hospital corpsman. We were both stationed at the same command. I was discharged but continued to receive my medical care at the Naval hospital I had been stationed at. See I had my son a month before my discharge. I had 30 days maternity leave, reported back for my last day of active duty and discharge from active duty. I remember I had to come back and get papers signed by my command and then go over to the NAVPERS building on the other side of the base. Sign papers there and get my last pay check and that was it. I was no longer active duty status but was inactive reserve for 2 years. End of story. I did end up being employed shortly after discharge, but that had nothing to do with my discharge. My husband was stationed at the same hospital and eventually was transferred to Iceland. My son and I ended up going there too but I remember I had to get special permission due to the fact that I had issues with my lungs. Eventually I was cleared and allowed to follow him up there. But I do not remember ever having that discharge physical, which is funny because I do remember going to Dental for that discharge exam!! Now I will assume when I get a copy of my Military service medical record that exam is going to be in there, right?? SO what does the discharge exam show? Does anyone know? Also when I got this denial letter back for this latest claim it states that I appointed the DAV as my representative. SO I called eBenefits and asked why the VA states this? That I don't remember ever designating the DAV to be my representative at any point in time. Christ, I can never get in touch with anyone associated with that organization and believe me I have tried!!! And I was floored when the person from eBenefits said that back in December of 1984 I signed some form 2122 which designated the DAV as my representative? Now why would I have done that and under what circumstances would I be signing such a form? Would that be some kind of standard form they would want signed at discharge that they might have forgot to have me sign at that time. Because I was discharge in March of 1984. I have sent a letter to my local VA asking for a copy of my military medical service record which they have been using to make decision on my cases. And any other information they might have that pertains to me that I personally do not have in my possession. I also recently got an email from this legal group that my uncle told me about. Hill & Ponton Anyway in their email to me it states this " By now, VA should be actively working your case. If you have not received it already, you should be getting a letter from the VA called the Veterans Claims Assistance Act, or the “VCAA” letter. This letter is important to you because it will tell you what VA thinks your claims are." and at the end of this email it stated this " The VA is supposed to HELP you with your claim, but sitting back and relying on that is a dangerous proposition" And the end of that statement is so VERY TRUE!!! The first part I find to be a JOKE! SOMEONE please tell me when the VA has ever helped anyone with their claim? I suppose the word HELP is very subjective and can be defined several different ways! But personally I find that receiving or even expecting HELP from the medical claims side of the VA to be totally LACKING to almost nonexistence! And that the most Dangerous Misconception a Veteran could have is the belief that the Medical Exams of Claims side of the VA is there to help the Veteran with getting their claim approve and approved at the highest percentage possible!!! In other words if you are sent for a C&P exam after filing a claim, the basis of that exam is to rule out the claim, not approve it. Maybe I'm wrong in this belief but having done a lot of research on the number of Veterans claims filed in a one year time frame and then compare it to the number of Appeals that end up getting filed in that same year. Well those amounts would indicate my statement to be more the reality of what is going on than any written Government or Veterans Affairs Policy would. Oh I almost forgot to add What is the VCAA letter that Hill & Ponton addressed in their email??? I don't believe I have ever gotten one of those. Has anyone else? And maybe I have and it has been called something else?

Well I'm sure I will be contacting my congressman sooner or later regarding my case but I'm holding off because I want to contact him once about the whole case and not piece meal it!!! In other words I don't want to be a PITA when it comes to dealing with his office and staff. Years ago I worked for the congressman in my district and found that they seem to work more for those who had it together than for those who seem to be all over Jack's proverbial kitchen!!! And though that may not be the case in this day and age. I just think that will work better. SO believe me I absolutely believe and know where you are coming from as far as this so called 3 to 4 weeks promise but sometimes longer issue. And which we all know the sometimes longer is the actual time frame all of us are looking at when it comes to getting records from the archives. Nothing like making a person feel OLD!!!! Hmmmmm Telling a person that their records are in the ARCHIVES!!! Lets see I left active duty and reserve in 1986. That was 29 almost 30 years ago. However, by all standards it is 50 years that makes something, anything an antique!!! Yet my records are archived!!!! And I feel like an antique as far as my military service record goes!!!! And by the sound of it they are NOT going to tea stain the pages!!!! I am going to get a CD copy of my Service Record!!!! Well, how will I know EVERYTHING is contained in that record???? It really is something when we are all left to trust that certain individuals will do the job they are assigned to do without skipping over anything!!!! I trust that they will do their job with the very same due diligence and pride that I did my job when I was active duty and also a GSA employee! And that is the best we can all hope for, because there is no way I can rely on my memory to make sure all documents are present and accounted for, that's for damn sure!!!! LMAO.

Well I guess everyone has to have a job!!!! Right?

"Our goal is to reduce our response time on these types of requests to ten days or less." Why isn't their goal to have all archived records electronically accessible before the year 2020 or some year like that????? I mean wouldn't you think that would be the overall goal of handling all archived records and following the paper reduction act??? It's like this. I had to request a copy of my DD214 in writing!!! because it was not available electronically as some of them are!!! And still to this date it still is not available. Now one might think that when the request for my DD214 was received which had to have been pulled from my archived service record, that person who pulled it would have sat down and taken my service record and made it electronically accessible at that time. Instead of putting it back in the archives??? I mean that kind of makes sense to me!!!

Ok so last week I submitted my request for a complete copy of my Service record. This is the response I got via email Thank you for submitting a request to the National Personnel Records Center.We have received your signature authorization for request number X-XXXXXXXXXXThe average response time on the majority of these types of requests is three to four weeks, however, on occasion a greater response time may be experienced. We service approximately 20,000 requests each week and are working earnestly and successfully at reducing our response time. Our goal is to reduce our response time on these types of requests to ten days or less.Thank you.End of auto-generated message So let me translate this lengthy message in 4 short words " HURRY UP AND WAIT" SERIOUSLY I am totally LMFAO

Ok Sorry Andyman73 you may have answered this already somewhere down the line, but with ADD and CRS I'm at a loss. Where do I get a copy of my C-File?

USAF-Vet I just might take your advice considering I discharged in 1984 and I was also a dependent the day after discharge. I never thought of requesting those records and I really should. Thanks for the advice. I just checked the status of my last claim and it went from Gathering of Evidence back to Review of Evidence or visa versa so it went backwards. It took me a while to figure out why??? They I see they are asking for some documents from others. I click into that and for the life of me could not figure out what the hell they were asking for. I'm still not 100% sure but I clicked into the requested appointment area and the regional VA has requested an appointment for me??? Under the area where they are requesting documents from someone else below the due date and status (red dot) Needed there is this <VA Medical Facility> !!! Oh and the request for an appointment was dated today Oct 29, 2015. And I guess they are going to schedule it real soon because the due date for those documents needed was listed as 11/30/2015. Now this is all rather humorous considering there is no consideration for my time or availability given here!!! SO I wonder what happens? The local Va gets notice today and they just send out a letter to me with a scheduled appointment on it telling me to be there or screw your claim!!! (I know it will say I can reschedule AT THE EXPENSE OF DELAYING my claim) That's how they put it back on the Veteran. "Well You're the one that cancelled and had to reschedule the appointment we made for you, If you had gone to that original appointment your claim would not have taken so long to settle"!!! Ya right!!!! So more than likely I will get a letter in the mail next week telling me I have an appointment in a week. And if that Appointment interferes with my life or any other appointments I might have scheduled in my life? Well ain't life grand and just suck for you on that given day!. Cancel your other appointments and your life for that day. And just turn it over to the VA, after all it's only for maybe an hour, that of course does not include the travel time to and from that particular facility that you are assigned!!! Not to worry though it won't be that far as the pigeon flies!!!! (LMFAO) Thank you very much!!! Am I bitching??? Sorry Should be happy they have finally changed the status of this claim!!!

I have requested a Complete copy of my service Record. I have decided that doing this is the one best course of action I can take for myself at this point in time. I was not able to access my record on line and was directed to fill out a form, sign it and either FAX it to a given # or mail it to Saint Louis!!! SO now I will just hurry up and wait!! LMAO!!!

Ok So I have some Questions regarding the C&P exam report I got off line for my claim. I'm going to take it slow here and sorry if it seems like I am kind of thick headed!!! LOL Sometimes I think I am!!! Anyway here is the first part of the report. I highlighted the areas I have questions about then wrote the questions in a different FONT. LOCAL TITLE: COMPENSATION AND PENSION EXAM STANDARD TITLE: C & P EXAMINATION NOTE DATE OF NOTE: APR 18, 2015@12:00 ENTRY DATE: APR 18, 2015@13:10:32 AUTHOR: FREDERICKS,ANNMARIE EXP COSIGNER: URGENCY: STATUS: COMPLETED *** COMPENSATION AND PENSION EXAM Has ADDENDA *** Respiratory Conditions (Other Than Tuberculosis and Sleep Apnea) Disability Benefits Questionnaire Name of patient/Veteran: AMD Indicate method used to obtain medical information to complete this document: In-person examination Evidence review Was the Veteran's VA claims file (hard copy paper C-file) reviewed: Yes What is C-file? List any records that were reviewed but were not included in the Veteran's VA claims file: xx What is this Does the Veteran now have or has he/she ever been diagnosed with a respiratory condition? (This is the condition the Veteran is claiming or for which an exam has been requested): Yes [X] Asthma This was not the only respiratory condition I had claimed??? ICD code: 493 Date of diagnosis: 1980 ---------------------------- SECTION II: MEDICAL HISTORY Describe the history (including onset and course) of the Veteran's respiratory condition (brief summary): 55 yr female diagnosed with Asthma in 1980's while in Georgia at AFB (Warner Robins) prescribed inhalers. Veteran tells me that she experienced SOB and wheezy while at Apprentice Training in Orlando Florida -- medical care was sought via 911 ambulances at that time, She was treated with epi injection and oxygen therapy and nebulizer. (I told her this went on for the full two weeks I was in apprentice training. And I know it is noted in my medical file from when I was active duty.) Medical Discharge was offered at Area 3 HQ in Georgia and veteran declined at that time, a PT waiver was issued for Asthma. Pulmonary Reactive restrictive lung disease (COPD) diagnosed 1983. I did claim restrictive lung disease because that was the last known diagnosis I could remember receiving before I received my honorable discharge in 1984. I knew nothing about having a diagnosis of COPD back in 1983! and if I had I would have done something back then. (I was a corpsman in the Navy) And how many 23 year olds do you know with COPD!!! I don't think I actually acknowledged a diagnosis of COPD until 1990 sometime during a hospitalization for pneumonia. Does the Veteran's respiratory condition require the use of oral or parenteral corticosteroid medications: Yes [X] Requires intermittent courses or bursts of systemic (oral or parenteral) corticosteroids Indicate number of courses or bursts in past 12 months: 4 or more Does the Veteran's respiratory condition require the use of inhaled medications: Yes Check all that apply: [X] Inhalational bronchodilator therapy Indicate frequency: Intermittent [X] Inhalational anti-inflammatory medication Indicate frequency: Daily Does the Veteran's respiratory condition require the use of oral bronchodilators: No Does the Veteran's respiratory condition require the use of antibiotics: Yes List antibiotics, dose, frequency and condition for which antibiotics are prescribed: dicloxacillin for 10 days for current Asthma flare No for Current Pneumonia and Right lower lung collapse. Does the Veteran require outpatient oxygen therapy for his or her respiratory condition: No This is wrong because at the time of this visit I was still on outpatient O2 therapy I had it with me at the time of the visit!!!! SECTION III: Pulmonary conditions --------------------------------- Does the Veteran have any of the following pulmonary conditions: Yes [X] Asthma Has the Veteran had any asthma attacks with episodes of respiratory failure in the past 12 months? No Has the Veteran had any physician visits for required care of exacerbations? Yes Description of frequency and severity of exacerbations: November 2014 admission Beverly Hospital for pneumonia So this says I have Asthma and then asks if I have had any physicians visits for exacerbations? Of Asthma???? NO Which brings me to the next highlighted questions about the frequency and severity??? As it states correctly in this report the admission was for Pneumonia!!! NOT ASTHMA Indicate frequency of physician visits for required care of exacerbations over past 12 months: Less frequently than monthly Other pertinent physical findings, scars, complications, conditions, signs and/or symptoms -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Does the Veteran have any scars (surgical or otherwise) related to any conditions or to the treatment of any conditions listed in the diagnosis section above? No Does the Veteran have any other pertinent physical findings, complications, conditions, signs and/or symptoms related to any conditions listed in the Diagnosis section above? No Really well how about Idiopathic hypersomnia!! Or sometimes known as excessive day time sleepiness! Quite often found to go hand in hand with a lot of pulmonary illnesses!!! And it is also a condition I claimed. And I did send in my neurologists reports and all the sleep studies I have had done. SECTION IV: Diagnostic testing ------------------------------ Have imaging studies or procedures been performed? Yes [X] Chest x-ray Date: 12/12/13 This is also wrong because not only did I bring with me an x-ray result from Beverly Hospital dated 12/2014 for the right lower lobe collapse but I also submitted all my X-rays and CT Scans from the past 20 something years via scanning from my computer and also with signed releases. Results: Hyperinlfated lungs I have never seen any of my x-rays with this result written on them. And I did not have any x-rays done during any exams at the VA hospital. Has pulmonary function testing (PFT) been performed? Yes PFT results Date: May 1, 2015 Pre-bronchodilator: Post-bronchodilator, if indicated: FVC: % predicted FVC: % predicted FEV-1: % predicted FEV-1: % predicted FEV-1/FVC: % FEV-1/FVC: % DLCO: % predicted DLCO: % predicted Does the Veteran have multiple respiratory conditions? No This is obviously NOT TRUE!!! Has exercise capacity testing been performed? No Are there any other significant diagnostic test findings and/or results? No Really why did I bother sending in all those X-rays, CT Scans, EKG’s Biopsy reports, lab reports, hospital summaries, and permission for the VA to contact and obtain medical records from all the hospitals I have been treated in since having been discharged in 1984? SECTION V: Functional impact and remarks ---------------------------------------- 1. Functional impact -------------------- Does the Veteran's respiratory condition impact his or her ability to work? No Social Security does in fact consider me to be 100% disabled from my diagnoses of Asthma, COPD, and restrictive Lung disease with possible emphysema. Along with a couple other conditions that were submitted as Service Related. One that is considered related to having known pulmonary diseases. That is the idiopathic hypersomnia. There are very few people out there that will employ someone who falls asleep several times a day for no apparent reason!!! 2. Remarks, if any: ------------------- Followed by Beverly Leahy Pulmonary 978-998-4601 NOTE: VA may request additional medical information, including additional examinations if necessary to complete VA's review of the Veteran's application. PULMONARY FUNCTION TEST performed on May 1, 2015 Abnormal results consistent with COPD Now they list my results as being consistent with COPD and then Approve me for 60% on a claim for Asthma??? SPIROMETRY: Normal FVC (2.54 L, 83%) Moderately reduced FEV1 (1.19 L, 50%) Reduced FEV1/VC (42%; VC = 2.77 L) After bronchodilator there is no significant change in FVC and FEV1 LUNG VOLUME: Increased TLC (5.70 L, 120%; Predicted > 3.56 L) Increased FRC (160%) Increased RV (174%) Increased RV/TLC (145%) DIFFUSION: Mildly reduced DLCO (63%) Normal D/VA INTERPRETATION: Moderate obstructive ventilatory defect. Increased lung volumes c/w hyperinflation and airtrapping. Normal diffusion when adjusted for alveolar volume. What is strange with these PFTs is when I went and had these done I was still on O2 for the collapsed right lower lobe. I made sure to tell the tech doing the test this information. However there is no mention about the fact that I was on O2 therapy when these PFTs were done!!! /es/ ANNMARIE FREDERICKS,NP And I have no idea who this person is???? ACNS/Nurse Practitioner Signed: 05 Ok So after I go over all this crazy stuff I am thinking I should send a letter using that form which you would use for information supporting your claim. And in this letter I should ask them to explain themselves and all the discrepancies listed in this report. And also let them know that I am also going to contact the New Senator In Massachusetts who just happens to be a decorated USMC Veteran who really hates it when he hears about these types of screw up!!! SO any opinions about that idea??? Oh and could someone maybe give me some insight regarding this insane report. You know as I think about this whole mess.... What I really want to know is exactly what was I exposed to during those two weeks in Apprentice training? And did anyone else have this type of experience?? I went through bootcamp fine NO problem. I entered the Navy 100% healthy at 20 Y/O before that I was in the Marines at 17 and Very healthy!!! SO exactly what was it that I was exposed to that caused those two weeks of Every single night going to the ER via ambulance because I couldn't breath!!! I was sleeping on a top bunk and there was a vent that was blowing Air directly on me!!! I mentioned that several times, But being one step above a recruit I'm sure everyone knows how well that went!!!! LMFAO Anyway it really isn't a matter of upping my rating or anything like that. I just want to know what I was exposed to??? What has caused me a lifetime of breathing difficulties??? That's all I really want to know. And those buildings

Ok So I have some Questions regarding the C&P exam report I got off line for my claim. I'm going to take it slow here and sorry if it seems like I am kind of thick headed!!! LOL Sometimes I think I am!!! Anyway here is the first part of the report. I highlighted the areas I have questions about then wrote the questions in a different FONT. LOCAL TITLE: COMPENSATION AND PENSION EXAM STANDARD TITLE: C & P EXAMINATION NOTE DATE OF NOTE: APR 18, 2015@12:00 ENTRY DATE: APR 18, 2015@13:10:32 AUTHOR: FREDERICKS,ANNMARIE EXP COSIGNER: URGENCY: STATUS: COMPLETED *** COMPENSATION AND PENSION EXAM Has ADDENDA *** Respiratory Conditions (Other Than Tuberculosis and Sleep Apnea) Disability Benefits Questionnaire Name of patient/Veteran: AMD Indicate method used to obtain medical information to complete this document: In-person examination Evidence review Was the Veteran's VA claims file (hard copy paper C-file) reviewed: Yes What is C-file? List any records that were reviewed but were not included in the Veteran's VA claims file: xx What is this Does the Veteran now have or has he/she ever been diagnosed with a respiratory condition? (This is the condition the Veteran is claiming or for which an exam has been requested): Yes [X] Asthma This was not the only respiratory condition I had claimed??? ICD code: 493 Date of diagnosis: 1980 ---------------------------- SECTION II: MEDICAL HISTORY Describe the history (including onset and course) of the Veteran's respiratory condition (brief summary): 55 yr female diagnosed with Asthma in 1980's while in Georgia at AFB (Warner Robins) prescribed inhalers. Veteran tells me that she experienced SOB and wheezy while at Apprentice Training in Orlando Florida -- medical care was sought via 911 ambulances at that time, She was treated with epi injection and oxygen therapy and nebulizer. (I told her this went on for the full two weeks I was in apprentice training. And I know it is noted in my medical file from when I was active duty.) Medical Discharge was offered at Area 3 HQ in Georgia and veteran declined at that time, a PT waiver was issued for Asthma. Pulmonary Reactive restrictive lung disease (COPD) diagnosed 1983. I did claim restrictive lung disease because that was the last known diagnosis I could remember receiving before I received my honorable discharge in 1984. I knew nothing about having a diagnosis of COPD back in 1983! and if I had I would have done something back then. (I was a corpsman in the Navy) And how many 23 year olds do you know with COPD!!! I don't think I actually acknowledged a diagnosis of COPD until 1990 sometime during a hospitalization for pneumonia. Does the Veteran's respiratory condition require the use of oral or parenteral corticosteroid medications: Yes [X] Requires intermittent courses or bursts of systemic (oral or parenteral) corticosteroids Indicate number of courses or bursts in past 12 months: 4 or more Does the Veteran's respiratory condition require the use of inhaled medications: Yes Check all that apply: [X] Inhalational bronchodilator therapy Indicate frequency: Intermittent [X] Inhalational anti-inflammatory medication Indicate frequency: Daily Does the Veteran's respiratory condition require the use of oral bronchodilators: No Does the Veteran's respiratory condition require the use of antibiotics: Yes List antibiotics, dose, frequency and condition for which antibiotics are prescribed: dicloxacillin for 10 days for current Asthma flare No for Current Pneumonia and Right lower lung collapse. Does the Veteran require outpatient oxygen therapy for his or her respiratory condition: No This is wrong because at the time of this visit I was still on outpatient O2 therapy I had it with me at the time of the visit!!!! SECTION III: Pulmonary conditions --------------------------------- Does the Veteran have any of the following pulmonary conditions: Yes [X] Asthma Has the Veteran had any asthma attacks with episodes of respiratory failure in the past 12 months? No Has the Veteran had any physician visits for required care of exacerbations? Yes Description of frequency and severity of exacerbations: November 2014 admission Beverly Hospital for pneumonia So this says I have Asthma and then asks if I have had any physicians visits for exacerbations? Of Asthma???? NO Which brings me to the next highlighted questions about the frequency and severity??? As it states correctly in this report the admission was for Pneumonia!!! NOT ASTHMA Indicate frequency of physician visits for required care of exacerbations over past 12 months: Less frequently than monthly Other pertinent physical findings, scars, complications, conditions, signs and/or symptoms -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Does the Veteran have any scars (surgical or otherwise) related to any conditions or to the treatment of any conditions listed in the diagnosis section above? No Does the Veteran have any other pertinent physical findings, complications, conditions, signs and/or symptoms related to any conditions listed in the Diagnosis section above? No Really well how about Idiopathic hypersomnia!! Or sometimes known as excessive day time sleepiness! Quite often found to go hand in hand with a lot of pulmonary illnesses!!! And it is also a condition I claimed. And I did send in my neurologists reports and all the sleep studies I have had done. SECTION IV: Diagnostic testing ------------------------------ Have imaging studies or procedures been performed? Yes [X] Chest x-ray Date: 12/12/13 This is also wrong because not only did I bring with me an x-ray result from Beverly Hospital dated 12/2014 for the right lower lobe collapse but I also submitted all my X-rays and CT Scans from the past 20 something years via scanning from my computer and also with signed releases. Results: Hyperinlfated lungs I have never seen any of my x-rays with this result written on them. And I did not have any x-rays done during any exams at the VA hospital. Has pulmonary function testing (PFT) been performed? Yes PFT results Date: May 1, 2015 Pre-bronchodilator: Post-bronchodilator, if indicated: FVC: % predicted FVC: % predicted FEV-1: % predicted FEV-1: % predicted FEV-1/FVC: % FEV-1/FVC: % DLCO: % predicted DLCO: % predicted Does the Veteran have multiple respiratory conditions? No This is obviously NOT TRUE!!! Has exercise capacity testing been performed? No Are there any other significant diagnostic test findings and/or results? No Really why did I bother sending in all those X-rays, CT Scans, EKG’s Biopsy reports, lab reports, hospital summaries, and permission for the VA to contact and obtain medical records from all the hospitals I have been treated in since having been discharged in 1984? SECTION V: Functional impact and remarks ---------------------------------------- 1. Functional impact -------------------- Does the Veteran's respiratory condition impact his or her ability to work? No Social Security does in fact consider me to be 100% disabled from my diagnoses of Asthma, COPD, and restrictive Lung disease with possible emphysema. Along with a couple other conditions that were submitted as Service Related. One that is considered related to having known pulmonary diseases. That is the idiopathic hypersomnia. There are very few people out there that will employ someone who falls asleep several times a day for no apparent reason!!! 2. Remarks, if any: ------------------- Followed by Beverly Leahy Pulmonary 978-998-4601 NOTE: VA may request additional medical information, including additional examinations if necessary to complete VA's review of the Veteran's application. PULMONARY FUNCTION TEST performed on May 1, 2015 Abnormal results consistent with COPD Now they list my results as being consistent with COPD and then Approve me for 60% on a claim for Asthma??? SPIROMETRY: Normal FVC (2.54 L, 83%) Moderately reduced FEV1 (1.19 L, 50%) Reduced FEV1/VC (42%; VC = 2.77 L) After bronchodilator there is no significant change in FVC and FEV1 LUNG VOLUME: Increased TLC (5.70 L, 120%; Predicted > 3.56 L) Increased FRC (160%) Increased RV (174%) Increased RV/TLC (145%) DIFFUSION: Mildly reduced DLCO (63%) Normal D/VA INTERPRETATION: Moderate obstructive ventilatory defect. Increased lung volumes c/w hyperinflation and airtrapping. Normal diffusion when adjusted for alveolar volume. What is strange with these PFTs is when I went and had these done I was still on O2 for the collapsed right lower lobe. I made sure to tell the tech doing the test this information. However there is no mention about the fact that I was on O2 therapy when these PFTs were done!!! /es/ ANNMARIE FREDERICKS,NP And I have no idea who this person is???? ACNS/Nurse Practitioner Signed: 05 Ok So after I go over all this crazy stuff I am thinking I should send a letter using that form which you would use for information supporting your claim. And in this letter I should ask them to explain themselves and all the discrepancies listed in this report. And also let them know that I am also going to contact the New Senator In Massachusetts who just happens to be a decorated USMC Veteran who really hates it when he hears about

This is a new classification of PTSD under the DSM-V (Well as new as May 2013) There is not any ONE stressor per say when it comes to Complex PTSD. As you can see when you read below. Previous to this Diagnosis being added to the DSM-V it was very hard to Diagnoses straight PTSD especially when it came to individual from certain lifestyles. Such as those in the military, woman who have lived for years in abusive relationships, Children who grow up in extremely violent homes or children from the foster care system who are abused as children and then re-experience a traumatic event or events as adults too. So there never has to be just one stressor. We should all remember this when dealing with PTSD! So I thought I would post this bit of information regarding complex PTSD because maybe someone is a little confused as to what type of PTSD they have been diagnosed with or if in fact they have been given a definitive diagnosis of PTSD!!! Anyway I hope this info helps someone out there!!! Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) - is a condition that results from chronic or long-term exposure to emotional trauma over which a victim has little or no control and from which there is little or no hope of escape, such as in cases of: domestic emotional, physical or sexual abuse childhood emotional, physical or sexual abuse entrapment or kidnapping. slavery or enforced labor. long term imprisonment and torture repeated violations of personal boundaries. long-term objectification. exposure to gaslighting & false accusations long-term exposure to inconsistent, push-pull,splitting or alternating raging & hooveringbehaviors. long-term taking care of mentally ill or chronically sick family members. long term exposure to crisis conditions. When people have been trapped in a situation over which they had little or no control at the beginning, middle or end, they can carry an intense sense of dread even after that situation is removed. This is because they know how bad things can possibly be. And they know that it could possibly happen again. And they know that if it ever does happen again, it might be worse than before. The degree of C-PTSD trauma cannot be defined purely in terms of the trauma that a person has experienced. It is important to understand that each person is different and has a different tolerance level to trauma. Therefore, what one person may be able to shake off, another person may not. Therefore more or less exposure to trauma does not necessarily make the C-PTSD any more or less severe. C-PTSD sufferers may "stuff" or suppress their emotional reaction to traumatic events without resolution either because they believe each event by itself doesn't seem like such a big deal or because they see no satisfactory resolution opportunity available to them. This suppression of "emotional baggage" can continue for a long time either until a "last straw" event occurs, or a safer emotional environment emerges and the damn begins to break. The "Complex" in Complex Post Traumatic Disorder describes how one layer after another of trauma can interact with one another. Sometimes, it is mistakenly assumed that the most recent traumatic event in a person's life is the one that brought them to their knees. However, just addressing that single most-recent event may possibly be an invalidating experience for the C-PTSD sufferer. Therefore, it is important to recognize that those who suffer from C-PTSD may be experiencing feelings from all their traumatic exposure, even as they try to address the most recent traumatic event. This is what differentiates C-PTSD from the classic PTSD diagnosis - which typically describes an emotional response to a single or to a discrete number of traumatic events. This info is from Out of the Fog web site

What is the STR I know what my C-file is just don't know what my STR is

I put in two claims of PTSD one that was a sexual assault. The 2nd one happened while I was in Iceland as a dependent wife/Navy reserve. And the trauma I experienced there was if you can believe it worse than the sexual assault!!! When I tried to leave Iceland with my 2.5 yo son because my active duty husband and I were not getting along and I wanted to return to my home state until he was finished with his duty in Iceland. Then we could decide what we were going to do. I was scheduled to leave on a flight out. My son and I were signed up and had stayed at the Flight Center hotel where it is suggested all personal flying out the next morning should stay. Everything was fine and then an hour before we were to board my son and I were pulled aside and I was told that the Base Commander had pulled our tickets and that I was being ordered to stay. I was pissed and told the Legal Officer that came and told me this. That I had the right to leave, I had signed up weeks before and was approved for the flight. Why the hell was I being ordered to stay? He told me that the commander wanted my husband and I to come to some kind of agreement before I left Iceland with our son!!!! I returned back to my military housing after I spoke with the base commander who promised me that my husband would not be given leave or permission to leave Iceland either until this matter was settled. The next morning my husband asked if he could take our son on a picnic and I said sure no problem. Approximately 3 hours after he left a mutual friend came to the door and gave me a letter with pictures of my son and husband getting on an Icelandic Air flight out of Reykjavik, destination unknown. His commanding officer the Captain of the Naval Hospital had given him emergency leave. His friends had all chipped in to buy him and our son a plane ticket. My ACTIVE DUTY HUSBAND had kidnapped my son with the help of the NAVY!!!! That also most killed me!!! I had to have a congressman call the base commander to get me off that island. It took me over 70 days to find my son. They ordered my husband back right away but he went to Illinois and hid our son. So he returned to Iceland without our child. This trauma has had a life time affect on the level of love I have been able to give to my children. I didn't realize that is what had happened until I had my 2nd child and then my 3rd. My 2nd and 3rd child are 7 years apart. There was no way I could have anymore after the 3rd child and I realized this PTSD would forever affect the level of love I have for all the children in my life. That I will live forever knowing I will never again experience or feel that innocent, wholesome and untainted love I had for my son, before he was kidnapped by his father in Iceland with the help of the US NAVY!!! I am not sure what the VA us gong to say about this claim, if they will in fact even considered it. But if it is rejected I will Appeal it as many times as it takes.. And if I have to take it to a Federal court then so be it. Because this claim above all others for PTSD isn't just about me, it's about my children too. And if I had known previously to 2014 that the Navy was now taking responsibility for some of the Psychological Damage they have caused in the lives of American's that gave them so many years of their life serving their county. I most definitely would have filed back then!! And even as I write this (Please excuse me for sounding so angry) my heart breaks and I cry knowing what I lost for my kids and wondering if it affected them as they grew up.

Thank you very much for all of this information!!! I know it will help a great deal. I have already found out something I need to do that will quite possibly move my claim along faster. Again Thanks so very much.