BamaCoast

thanks Carlie

I was at the Mobile, AL VA clinic with my son who is 100% disabled and while I was there I spoke to a guy that had a doctors appointment and he told me about a program he was in that served any veteran who had a honorable discharge. He had served three years in the military with no service connected disability and had recently been approved for this program (not sure what the program is called) and he is saving a lot of money on prescription drugs for his enlarge prostate. Has anyone heard of this program and provide a link to information?

I got this from Army One Source yesterday. Thousands of PTSD vets may get benefits boost By Kelly Kennedy - Staff writer Posted : Wednesday Jan 27, 2010 5:25:24 EST Military officials have agreed to pay potentially millions of dollars to service members who were medically retired for post-traumatic stress disorder with disability ratings of less than 50 percent. According to federal law, the military is required to give anyone whose PTSD is bad enough to warrant discharge a rating of at least 50 percent — a level that quialifies them for lifetime medical treatment for the veteran and his family, as well as monthly tax-free retirement payments if the rating is combat-related. However, in a class action lawsuit filed in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, pro bono attorneys for National Veterans Legal Services Program argued that at least 4,300 veterans diagnosed with PTSD by the military received ratings of less than 50 percent between Dec. 17, 2002, and Oct. 14, 2008. The seven original plaintiffs in the suit each received ratings of 10 percent for PTSD. The military’s position “was that they were not bound by the 50-percent law,” said Bart Stichman, co-director of National Veterans Legal Services Program. In October 2008, the Defense Department sent out a memo ordering adjudicators to automatically give a rating of 50 percent for PTSD for service members going through the medical retirement process. “They recognized, under duress, that it was wrong, but they did nothing to undo what had been done” to service members prior to the policy change, Stichman said. “Hence, our lawsuit.” The agreement between the plaintiffs and government states that anyone rated at less than 50 percent for PTSD between Dec. 17, 2002, and Oct. 14, 2008, will automatically receive a rating of 50 percent for six months. That means back pay for anyone whose PTSD is combat-related. Then, the military must put those cases on a priority list for further review. “The veterans have nothing to lose,” said Ami Neiberger-Miller, a spokesperson for National Veterans Legal Services Program. “The military is not allowed to lower the ratings.” Lawsuit could be dropped The lawsuit was filed in December 2008. Under the negotiated agreement, if the military adheres to the terms for the next year, the lawsuit will be dropped. Both sides will give the court monthly updates. A court-ordered letter went out Monday to the 4,300 veterans inviting them to join in the lawsuit. It is an opt-in lawsuit, which means veterans must sign up to benefit from it. The deadline for joining is July 24. The PTSD does not have to be the direct result of combat; service members rated for other kinds of trauma, such as rape or another violent crime, also qualify for the higher rating. As an example, Marine Cpl. Tyler Einarson was shot in the arm and chest during combat in Afghanistan in 2005. During his military medical retirement process, the military rated him at 10 percent for PTSD and 10 percent for nerve damage in his right arm from one of his wounds. Two months later, using the same law as a guide, the Department of Veterans Affairs rated Einarson at 50 percent for his PTSD, 30 percent for his arm, and 60 percent for lost lung capacity. Because of the agreement, Einarson will receive $24,000 in back pay from the military, as well as tax-free monthly retirement payments because his wounds were combat-related. James Kelly of Morgan, Lewis and Bockius, which argued the case, said they are not seeking damages for the service members — just “what they’re due.” Kelly said he hoped the agreement would help hasten recovery for veterans, as well as put an end to some of the delays on the cases that have been sent back for appeal through the military system. Anyone who would like to add his or her name to the lawsuit, or to get

I spoke with a representive from the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center today. Hopefully this will be the place where he can get the care that he needs. She is going to review his medical records and call me back tomorrow.

My son is rated at 100% by the VA. His closed head injury was part of the rating. I have talked many times to his iraqi freedom rep about tbi. Nothing seems to get done. He does not have a vso working on his tbi claim. I don't think biloxi has anyone who specializes in tbi treatment. He sleeps very little and especially at night and is not able to work. He has met a very nice girl who is going to move in with him soon. He spends most of his time alone and this is not good. My wife and I has taken countless hours taking our son for treatment and we can't do it all anymore. We both work and my wife is working seven days a week. Hopefully his new girl friend will work out and she can help him with his medical needs such as appointments. I have talked over and over again with the va about his treatment plan and they have not detailed a plan at all. We have about lost all confidence in the VA. I did call the defense and veterans head injury program and did not get anyone on the phone. I did get a return call but missed however the lady did say she would call me again tomorrow. Thanks for any help.

My wife and I have been at a lost understanding the mood swings, up and downs, problems remember things, he cannot sleep most nights and problems with balance. Sometimes we think he is over medicating but cannot find any evidence that he is but he almost seems drunk at times. These periods come an go and seem to be happening more often. We almost believe his tbi has cause him to be bi-polar however we are not getting much help from his local VA mental health and medical care provider locally is not very good. He has an appointment with a VA Phyciratist every 90 days and that is it. I don't think they have a good understanding of TBI as least not here. We live just outside of Mobile, AL. Does anyone know if the new state of the art clinic in Pensacola, FL has a good treatment plan for TBI? It is just about an hour drive from where we live. I have about had it with the care he is receiving right now. I am going to talk the defense and veterans brain injury center tomorrow. We have to find help.