Pockets

It's been a little more than two years since the VA has received my NOD for a DRO review. I think the average is about 260 days or around 9 months but I believe it depends on the RO. I am out of Roanoke. I started to get the impression that I'm failing myself so in September I decided to give them a monthly reminder. I am hoping they read my statement when I call? In October I went through the chat and was told it's in the final review but I didn't know what that meant until I called on December the 28th. Apparently, final review means I'm a liar because it hasn't been touched since it was received November 18, 2016.

WHAT? Your company commander wrote a statement and that is normal protocol? I don't like to share my ignorance but Wow. I had no idea. From this thread that sounds like normal protocol. I'm going to do some research but thanks for this info. I can't believe I didn't know. I figured my statement would be there but I never thought my company commander would have to file a statement. I wonder if he did. HOw long has this been going on. I realize some commanders are failures in many things but it seems to me my commander would have been encouraged to file one since I filed a statement with battalion. I'm not saying he did. I'm just saying i'd love to read his opinion on my lack of cooperation with being abused. Hope you find what your looking for.

oh~ well maybe I said this wrong. I know the NVSP has their own lawyers but in my case, they agreed to take my case pro bono and hold power of attorney. But I'm represented by a lawyer in a firm that also has a power of attorney. NOt sure how it works but the way I understand it the NVLSP actually maintains my power of attorney. The VA has the lawyer with a firm listed as my representation not the NVLSP. I hope that makes sense. When I asked about RAMP the lawyer did not recommend me to go that route and from what I understood it was discussed with NVLSP. When I get upset I write them both. So~I don't want it to sound like the lawyers at NVLSP are representing me. If that is what it sounded like, I apologize. I don't share very well so I'm not always clear. NVLSP holds power of attorney but my lawyer work with another firm. I did write my lawyer about this topic. I asked if I qualify taking out all MST and just dealing with trauma. He said he'd check into things and get back with me later this week.

Wow~ I guess I'm a freaking idiot because none of this makes sense to me. I hear what everyone is saying but it is not what I have experienced. I must be a misunderstanding. At this point, I hope I don't qualify because wow...This information hurts. I feel so betrayed. I think i'll ask my lawyer. KC~ Best of luck in your healing.

I don't understand how anyone can lie about being involved in an investigation. I don't understand how the VA didn't learn he was in another country when one suicide happened. I know exactly where I am in the investigation that I was a part of but the information reads like I was questioned off base when fact is, I was picked up in full uniform, on base driving the vehicle of a soldier that was found murdered. Obviously it was a chaotic scene but I was escorted to the MP station where I "chatted" with a friendly MP until Civilian Detectives arrived to inform me of my friends murder. So, I know CID reports can be misleading but I don't know how a person can lie and claim to be in an investigation and not be in the investigation. My sarcasm is screaming to mention that the CID report I received from my friends mother is redacted but my name does slip through a few years later in the investigation when someone was talking about she and I being roommates. Maybe I should have sent that to the VA but I didn't want to promote that misinformation either. We were roommates prior to her murder but not for the last several months. I guess what I am saying is VA doesn't investigate any better than the Army. That's a shame because I was really hoping otherwise.

I understand what you are saying but i'm telling you the VA has denied me medical and mental health services. I was honorble discharged. I was using the VA mental health services under the MST program before my claim was denied. After my claim was denied my Mental Health appointments were canceled. The VA is telling me I don't qualify for services. Maybe this is why the NVLSP took my case?

I"m just trying to explain that in spit of the link you posted I don't qualify and I am a veteran with an honorable discharge.

This minimum duty requirement may not apply if any of these are true. You: Were discharged for a disability that was caused—or made worse—by your active-duty service, or Were discharged for a hardship or “early out,” or Served prior to September 7, 1980 This explains my circumstance. I had no idea. I don't qualify because I got out after my childhood friend and co-enlistee was raped tortured and murdered. hmm I think I read that wrong. I shouldn't have to have minimum because of my hardship? I don't know. At first I was thinking it disqualified me because I got out early? I don't know. makes no difference at this point. I'm a little more than two years into my appeal with the DRO. Last month they said it was in the final stages of review but nothing has changed on vets.gov or ebennies. I figure this will all be settled when my claim is settled. BUT I had no idea. I did think a person had to be combat vet or something to make them qualify. Maybe they were just hoping i'd go away. I just want to add when Obama care came out the Military did send me the paperwork to apply for VA medical and they said I didn't qualify as well. But maybe that's because the DOD was not acknowledging my married name? I was under the impression at that time my husband made too much money. that was before I went to the VA.

They say if your non combat issues are related to Military Sexual Trauma (MST) then you can receive free services for those issues. I was told I qualified for MST services but they charged my insurance an emergency room visit as well as a mental health office visit but I think they were preparing for me to be a liar. I was not billed for what my insurance wasn't paying but I started complaining about the first one so maybe that helped. Eventually, they refunded most of the money to my insurance and what they didn't was probably a fair amount for the services I received. After I was denied service connection they canceled my appointments. When I went to register at the VAMC which I had to do before I could see a mental health specialist they also asked about finances and he told me I didn't qualify. He said they'd charge me about a thousand dollars if I went to my therapy session and he didn't care what the MST coordinator said. He was obviously on to something but it did get worked out. I say go and register at the VAMC and see what happens. Maybe you'll get in but be prepared to pay an emergency room visit as well as a mental health office visit if you don't qualify. I was only in for about 34 months in the 80's. being a vet isn't enough to get services.

Didn't they go back and review old MST claims back in 2015 0r 1016 because they weren't processing the claims properly or something like that? I wonder if they are making the same mistakes.

I had a little more than 18 months but never heard about the early release. I just wanted out of the state but it was easier to put me out than transfer me. it was easier to play stupid with me out of the picture. Years later they came to talk to me and was pissed to learn who I was. WTF. Sneaky is a bit of a compliment if you ask me but I'm a bit jaded. I wish you luck!

I served in a time of "peace" and fear my sentiments will be lost but I had to respond. There are times when the army is so accommodating it's sickning. All I had to do was write a letter and they let me out. Hell~ they even gave me a good conduct medal on the way out. It's my badge of shame!

Forgiveness is overrated. It’s what they tell us so our family/friends/enemies are not held accountable for their actions. We are not allowing our victims to feel and I believe my repression of hate is what kept me attached. Every since i’ve allowed myself to hate, I’ve stopped being a coward. When I was telling myself I didn’t hate, I was angry at my Lord for the possibility of forgiveness but now I find peace in knowing my enemy must repent. Forgiveness isn’t a given. I want justice and ’ll be happy to not enjoy the destruction but I don't need forgiveness for that. I just need to be a better person then him.

Did you request the Form or was your letter written as an invitation as well? My letter wasn't barcoded but the form was at the bottom and I figured that was a scan for my cfile. I guess I don't have to send it in as a cover it just says failure to do so may delay review of material. I'm just curious as to why all the confusion. Maybe my letter was requested months ago and its taken this long to be sent. Maybe that's why veterans have not been opting in. Is everyone receiving letters? I'm sure those that didn't receive an invitation would appreciate the assistance.

Mine was November 2016 I was denied initially December 2015. I just received an invitation but now i'm all confused. The form I received was already filled out with a bar code and must be used as a cover letter.