SLEDGE

I get their propaganda in the US Mail. The paper is a little stiff for wipin my ass so I use it to light the grill. sledge

I was told by my primary care doc that I had to see a shrink to get thyroid medication. So, I made an appointment with the shrink. She asked me why was I there, what did I expect from seeing her. I told her that I was not being provided the best care that congress says we are getting. Was I imagining this? Number 1, Why do I need to see a shrink to get thyroid pills? 1a, Why do I need to spend 2 weeks in the mental health lock-down ward for detox when I'm not taking anything that's not prescribed or drinking anything. 2, Why did the doctor's order for my knee x-ray get tossed into the trash while I waited In the appropriate area at the correct time, In front of me? 3, Why were the records of my 1984 spinal exam tossed out? 4, Why did the Head-Dude-in-Charge of the whole VA facility refuse to treat my well documented and properly diagnosed severe spinal stenosis? 5, Why was I given an appointment for a diagnostic clinic that did not exist? 6, Why do they claim that I was a no-show for the clinic that does not exist? 7, Why was I treated like some kind of malingering fraud when I showed up for the clinic appointment, for the clinic that did not exist? 8, Why does the Regional Office say that I have a pre-existing personality disorder when there are absolutely no records to back up the diagnosis that was made by the Regional Office. 9, Why did the Medical Facility Administrator claim that I was planning to bomb the hospital when there was never any threat made by me or anyone else? 10, I have pinched nerves in my ankle. Why can't I be seen by a specialist, since my primary doc won't touch it? 11, Why are all of my medications non-formulary? 12, Why don't you want to hear about all of that stuff, you asked? 13, You don't want to make me another appointment? Being treated badly pisses me off. VA shrinks that don't want to hear about what's bothering me really piss me off. They have asked me to show up for lab work and another finger wave next week. I'll be pissed off when I check out cause nobody will do anything else for me. sledge

Ladies and Gents: Here are the facts: 50 % PTSD 40 % Lumbar Disc Disease 20 % Right Knee, Limited Motion 20 % Left Knee, Limited Motion 10 % Tinnitis 10 % Scar, Painful 10 % Residuals Cyst Removals 0 % SC for Chronic Sinunitis Those percentages look very much like mine did when IU was awarded. My PTSD has been increased to 70 percent since IU was awarded though. After I hired an SSD lawyer I was awarded 'Fully Favorable' in a few months. A lawyer that only does VA claims for veterans got the IU for me in about 2 years. I'm still in the system fighting for retro. You will get it. Don't give up, sledge

From my own experience, some busybody will tell the whole known world that you flim-flammed the government outa a million bucks. Whatever you get from the VA, you earned it, and more. sledge

John, The VA does not have to do anything for anybody! If they want to save the cost of the implants that are used during spinal fusion surgery, they will give you some lame excuse for not doing the surgery. After 3 operations, my implants have cost over 80 grand. And, I'll probably have to sell half my liver and a kidney to pay for them. Our veterans get the best care, sledge

For validation of chronic cervical spine problems/pain you will need help from the private sector because 'pain' is not something that they, the VA, can measure with a blood test. An MRI is the best way to establish the chronic nature of the pain. Mine would scare ya. sledge

Why is it hard for a mental health pro to understand that people who have PTSD get angry a little too easily? They don't understand that people with PTSD don't normally put up with crap like they used to before they got PTSD. Anger is a symptom of the PTSD, not a personality disorder by/of itself. When I'm treated like a regular human, I act like a regular guy. When the VA, or anyone else, gives me a hard time, I usually act like I'm being mistreated. (Duh) sledge

In my humble opinion, PTSD is clearly defined as having hypervigilance at it's core. That hyperv can be translated into I'm lost, abandoned, forgotten, left out in the cold, every-man-for-himself, that coulda been me and 'Why can't we shoot back". After you come back from the service somewhat uninjured, but somehow sick, the VA will officially tell you that "Our veterans get the best care" while the VA will actually do as much as possible to discourage going to the VA for anything. The government's official 'unwritten policy' is find, feed, fight and forget. Congress and the VA do more to make the PTSD problem worse than any enemy ever could. PTSD is an ACQUIRED anxiety disorder. Why are counselors being made available to cops, firefighters, traumatized victims etc.? Because WE made them look into a syndrome that has plagued fighting men for thousands of years. PTSD is finally being recognized for what it is, what it does to you, how you acquire it and steps that can help to prevent it. The percentage of warriors that are seceptable to acquiring PTSD has not changed in thousands of years. What's changed are the numbers that have it, don't want it and can't get rid of it. The VA can't make it go away by calling it something else, they will only make it worse. sledge

Speaking Out, It's time to call out your congressman and see where that person stands on emergency care for vets. Like an old-time showdown at high noon, it's put-up or shut-up. We need to know who stands with us and who doesn't care. Besides, you have a better than even chance that something will happen in your favor. You don't have to take that VA crap anymore. Give them hell. sledge

The VA has refused to touch me on several medical conditions, c-spine being the latest. I'm going through the private sector. Yes, it's costing me a fortune but, what choice do I have. The medications that the VA refused to supply me with cost several thousand bucks on top of the surgeries. If my wife did not have a job I would be up the creek, most likely dead. After it's all said and done I believe I'm better off if the VA quacks never touch me again. From a gratefull nation. sledge

This is an update on my cervical stenosis. The first operation was wildly successful, a discectomy at three levels. Then the laminectomy at the same three levels made even more improvements. (Doc said my spinal cord plumped-up just like it was supposed to.) But, Complications dictated that one more level of discectomy be performed. That was performed two weeks ago and the healing process is going well again, been doing this neck stuff since June. Now we wait to see if another laminectomy will be needed after a couple more months of healing up from the latest mess. After the last operation ole nurse-e-poo just about ruined junior when she extracted the foley. Many of you gentlemen can relate to the pipe-grabbing, teeth-clenching, screaming, burning sensation involved with a social disease. That's what it was like for several days while hooked-up to those continuously feeding large IV bags. I'm not too old to imagine having a use for the lower appendage again some day so I'm gonna talk to doc about the foley situation, if there happens to be another operation. If I can ever get passed four months healing-up time I'll be able to have another procedure on my severely arthritic ankle to untrap a pesky nerve. At thirteen days out of the operating room I can almost swallow again. sledge

"I kept waiting to crash yesterday, but I never did. I was awake and alert the whole day. " That's pretty much what happened to me. After several years on the cpap and bi-pap they restudied me and said that I did not have obstructive apnea anymore. During the new study I used the bi-pap throughout the test, DUH. sledge

We got those 'smoke breaks' in basic and more in advanced training. Both of my drill instructors smoked all of the time. At my first duty station they asked me 4 questions up front. Do you smoke and what kind? Do you drink coffee and do you know how to make it? Then I started drinking to much coffee and chain smoking. This is interesting: "Just acted like she was pissed off that she had to waste her time on someone like me." I've run into that doctor in 4 different VA medical facilities. They must be clones. sledge

I find this interesting, " However, no such evidence exists and it is not the function of judicial review simply to accord the government a remand to obtain such evidence. " Why would they state it in such a way unless the VA was known to use remands to facilitate evidence 'witch-hunting' and buying opinions to specifically deny claims that have been proved to be valid? Congress is in charge, the secretary just follows orders. sledge

When was the last time the secretary was 'forced' to do anything? By anyone or anything? It 'may' be in the court's interest to talk-the-talk but, they will never go beyond lip service. Appointees do not bite the hand that feeds them. The VA was/is set-up to delay at the worst, and deny at the best, every veteran who is unfortunate enough to ask for their legally earned benefits. The attitude of the government will not change until we use our right to vote to cause a change. sledge

I take six medications, none of which are 'formulary'. They won't even x-ray my service connected knee, they might have to treat me. They refuse to examine my service connected ankle, they might have to treat me. My spinal surgery was very successful, it cost me 120,000 bucks, the VA refused the operations. I can't get any thyroid medication, which I actually need, without becoming a mental patient. I can't get pain medication. The secretary is the biggest liar on the planet. In general terms, VA health care stinks. Specifically, what care? Patting their own backs over record keeping does not equal quality medical care. I save lives every day by NOT running over kids in the crosswalk. Simply my opinions. sledge

What enforcement entity is in place to make sure the secretary does anything??? sledge

PTSD causes drinking problems and subsequently many other social problems. Back in the late 80's the medical community was largely ignorant of PTSD. The fact that it was mentioned at all is profoundly significant. sledge

Well, I'm at the Court again. Just received my copy of the VA version of the designation of record and, as always, they have left out certain things that support my contentions. However, my lawyer has had a legal specialist go through my stuff and crucify the VA claims process in my case. The court's gonna love it. They, the VA, still hold a nice lump of my estate and we might get it this time. Anyhow, another of my vets has been notified that his case has been handled so badly by the military and then the VA that he has a multi-million dollar winner on his hands if he takes them to Federal Court. When he gets up from the table I hope he remembers to leave a tip. I'm helping vets in 3 other states now, I could use more energy and more than one finger to type with. sledge

quote "C ongress should do away with ro, and let bva handle everything Trunks" To start with, congress is the entity that is responsible for the way that the VA treats us. There are always new vets to help. I help other vets take care of their claims like others before me, helped me. I love the warm fuzzy, it's what I live for. sledge

The VA does not answer to anyone, especially congress. sledge

I've never used pot so I have to ask. Does one need to get high or does the medical benefit take affect at a lower dose? sledge

Whenever you call the VA Medical Facilities around here you get a recording. It says to call 911. sledge

Everytime somebody asks the SECRETARY if the VA has enough money to do the job, he says that they do. How does somebody sleep knowing that they are causing more suffering for our veterans than the enemy? I'm outa here. sledge

Moe, How far did you fall when you hit your head?? sledge