Cliche Magnet

Thanks guys... The real problem for me here is that an IMO costs nearly all of my disability check which is used for rent and food. The rest is ironically easier to deal with, just gotta follow the tracks and contact old witnesses, NCOs, and Commanders.

Thanks.. I think I'll dig for an IMO and go to the IG if I can't get help.

Hey Bronco, thanks for the prompt and concise reply! I've 'basically' got the 1 and 2, but I am having serious problems with 3. " You get a letter from your doctor which explains your symptoms of PTSD are "at least as likely as not" due to watching your friend, helplessly, burn to death in service. " I am being treated for this and many other issues, but absolutely none of my V.A. doctors seem to have the balls to write a letter as such as written above with clear intent for a V.A. claim. "Duty to assist" is completely out the window and as a matter of fact the V.A. needs to just stop saying that shit if they aren't going to back it up. But, enough bitching on my part.. do you have any idea how I can go about with #3? I mean to say, is there a procedure or exam at the V.A. besides the ridiculous C&P exam where I can get a non-biased affirmation of item 3 above? I'd really like to get the V.A. to pay for a nexus examination outside of the V.A. ensuring they can't pull any b.s. but I have no clue how to do so... Thank you so much for your time. -CM

Guys I hate to dig up an old thread, but you're all hitting on a topic that would greatly assist me. I am having a problem getting a diagnosis. Sounds stupid, and it is, but I have been getting treatment for Bipolar Disorder for 5 years now from the V.A., and most recently a psychologist ordered PTSD computer based therapy.. but my psychiatrists and psychologists all keep saying the same bull: Well I'm not saying you have bipolar or PTSD, but I can go ahead and treat you for those conditions, and if you get better then we'll know it was bipolar or PTSD I'm getting worse and so fed up with the V.A. that I'm willing to pay cash for outside professionals to diagnose me and get it in writing that my conditions are service connected. I shouldn't have to do that! How do I go about wringing the V.A.'s arm to get adequate diagnosis instead of a bunch of bought-out doctors saying that they don't diagnose? TIA

Have any of you seen psychologists/psychiatrists for years after service and had documentation related to an incident in service, but with no diagnosis in-service? For instance did you get witness accounts and doctor's notes outside of service about a PTSD incident and then were able to connect this to service related conditions to get an award from the VA? I ask because I am likely able to get witness accounts, and possibly even a witness account from my Commander who noted changed behavior, but otherwise stellar performance. (I was selected for early promotion, but lost the board to another airmen.. CO and shop Chiefs noted severe stress/agitation too much anxiety during the board and at the time they shrugged it off but since I was well acquainted with everyone on the board they said afterwards that my behavior was markedly changed/out of character and had asked if something in life was causing problems) Thank you for your help. -cm

Hi Berta, With all due respect, and I mean a LOT of respect, I trust the department of justice about as much as I trust Satan.. the fact that the V.A. represents the DoJ is not a surprise to me whatsoever. That said, I simply cannot muster the courage to upload legal documents to be perused by members of the DoJ- they are prime target for lawsuits from me at this point. I have been in contact with my lawyer to find out how to proceed. Thank YOU. ~cm

How did you contact "the VA Secretary"? Just curious who exactly that was because I may need to go that route soon.

Thanks for the information. I haven't received anything whatsoever to indicate that my appeal has been sent to BVA other than since it has some docket number assigned, Peggy keeps thinking that it's a BVA docket number. But when I called BVA they don't have my appeal. And why should they, the lawyer indicated the checkbox that it wasn't going to get a BVA hearing, which as I mentioned back then that was supposed to mean an VRO appeal would occur. But you did give me an edge with the N&M route because I do have 3 years of clinician data to submit and perhaps that would get the ball rolling? Thanks again.

Hi Berta Thanks for responding! I haven't applied for PTSD yet, because for the entire length of time I have been going to the V.A. I never noticed (because PTSD was as of yet undiagnosed) but they had been specifically ignoring and trying not to discover that I had PTSD. I went to a new clinic in the 4th state that I had visited the V.A., and that clinic had PTSD questionnaires for in processing, where I finally was alerted to what some of my major problems have been. Since then I have brought it up to psychologists and psychiatrists, who have all responded that I have serious and debilitating PTSD that worsened due to neglect. The reason I started this post was just because I'm so used to V.A. denial letters that I want to submit a complete FDC that has a lower risk of being denied. I'm starting to think that it is impossible though.. perhaps they have a specific percentage of claims that they are forced to deny. Thx for everything you do Berta you are my Hero.

Right? And the worse thing is to see that U.S. companies and their rich business owners/shareholders are shuffling Half a Trillion dollars overseas and to other countries, meanwhile the V.A. camps on a few billion dollars while Veteran's simply die.

I'd like to chime in that I witnessed a gentlemen get denied SSDI when he had a broken back. The guy literally had a fractured spine pinching vital nerves and the government still said "no help from us!". The word on the beat is that they just deny everybody the first time and then back off when they get lawyers. On the other hand I have thousands of records with the V.A. medical system that Social Security can just pull on their own, if needed. That alone has been enough for me to get SSDI right away and to continue receiving SSDI after the 2-3 year exams routine. Good luck Ma'am THANK YOU for your service.

Just out of curiosity, you are saying that when you applied for SSDI, the social security office -did not- deny you SSDI, ever? Because I applied for SSDI and they said that I don't need the cash because I'm supposedly getting enough money from the VA. EDIT: Sorry I was thinking of "SSI", which is an addition to SSDI. I receive "SSDI" like these other fellas but was denied "SSI"

I've been reading a lot of posts throughout today and for several years now. Many of you are getting tired, you are suffering and you are poor. Some of you are even dying as a result of the VA's negligence and corruption. Let me explain to you that I am just like you and I am suffering too. I have been getting minimal assistance from the VA and it has led to me becoming very ill. I am dying. I weigh less than I did when I was in high school because I am so depressed and medical issues combined have led to me becoming a shade of the man I once was. But I am here now typing to you in the aftermath of yet another VA denial letter. I am suicidal and nothing anybody says or does can change that. But I came to this forum and I saw other veterans are suffering too and that made me recommit to myself that I won't give up. I have had no love life for several years now and women won't talk to me because I am poor, have nothing to offer, and one woman even called me "anorexic". (she doesn't understand my medical situation). But here I am, tired as hell but willing to type up yet another claim that will get denied by the VA. I am not giving up. So if I am not giving up, then neither can you. That is an order.

**d damn it chuck I hate to hear that from you. Please contact "Legal Help for Veterans" they will help anybody nationwide who has a solid claim or a solid appeal and I'm sure they would love to take over for your jerk lawyer. If you've got a lot coming to you, though, please consider calling not one but many lawyers because LHFV may ask for 20% (or more?) and you may not like that if another lawyer asks for 10%. On the other hand consider that their time is actually valuable. But yeah, http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ is legit.

Guys and Gals, I know that what I am about to say is going to sound a tad sensationalist. For those of you who have gone through the V.A. process and witnessed evidence being outright ignored, don't we have legal recourse to bring this shit to the attention of the FBI/Justice Department in order to bring legal recourse to the V.A's illegitimate processes? I'm saying that I believe the V.A. to be directly responsible for veteran's suicides, deaths, homelessness, and other suffering and that this is a violation of U.S. law to be making "pretend courts". What do you think? THANK YOU for your service.

I've gathered enough evidence to begin my claim for PTSD with the V.A., and to be as thorough as possible I'd like to have examples (word-for-word if possible!) of your denial letters. My specific scenario is that I suffered child abuse, situations exacerbating that PTSD before the service, and then witnessed a buddy get brutally mutilated to an inch of his life while in service. Problem is that he, (at least back then) blamed me for the situation based on what his nuts girlfriend said so I probably can't get a letter of evidence from him. I can likely get police records though... Anyways: What kinds of vile trickery has the V.A. used to deny your legitimate claims? THANK YOU for your service

I bet your denial letter is in the mail. Sorry that's mean but sadly I probably have a 95% chance of being correct. It takes up to ten days in the mail and you can call the 1 800 827 1000 number to verify your address, but they won't tell you whats in the letter. Edit: Hey I figured I should edit this about what I said above because in the event you actually do get denied, you should know that WE ALL GET DENIED. It's part of the process, and the process is long and it is grueling. Please, hang in there with us and don't give up! I'm so poor right now that I weigh less than I did when I was in high school, so if I haven't quit then neither can you.

Forgot to mention, that as far as I understand migraines, the last line of treatment involves surgery and that may also involve implanting a foreign device. If you elect not to get surgery or a device implant (perhaps in order to avoid paralysis or other complications), then you're going to want to ask your lawyer how to defend that decision to the V.A. as well. They can and will think of anything possible to deny you. Anything.

Examples of veterans cases that get denied for painful migraines A Case was denied on the grounds that "there is a likelihood of improvement". That, of course, is total bullshit. They literally and blatantly ignored doctors evidence with that statement and are going to do the same thing to you if you don't have any direct statements to the opposite. Another case was denied because the veteran did not submit evidence that showed her trying for, and being denied access to gainful employment. Apparently you're supposed to go out there and get fired from a bunch of jobs in order to satisfy some wealthy bastard at the V.A. who doesn't understand, or care to understand, disabling migraines. Please get a Veterans Lawyer and ask him how he wants you to avoid the above happening to you. Fair warning good luck

I've had an appeal filed since may of 2013. Back then, the 21-0958 had a checkbox to select that you "would not like the appeal to the BVA", which, at least back then, was supposed to mean that the appeal was seen by the VRO, and if the VRO knee-jerk-denied it, then you could still go to the BVA afterwards. Now, I see that the 21-0958 has been changed so the checkboxes read precisely which review process you are appealing to. At any rate, every time I call the V.A. to find out where the FUDGE my appeal is, they simply state that it has a docket number assigned to it, and that the BVA is backed up so "shut up and wait". But now I've determined from the BVA call center that it is definitely NOT their docket number. It's like I have a magical freaking docket number that is useless except to make me think my appeal is in due process. Is there anything I can do? Should I drive downtown to Denver and ask to talk to the VRO? THANK YOU for your service.

Hey congratulations! Just for information's sake, can you please share with us the dates that got you through to the reward? For instance I've had an appeal given a VRO docket number but not a BVA number for over three years (may 2013 filed).