DebbieS118

On Jan 16, we went to the local veterans regional center to find out what was going on. We asked for a copy of his c files. They said they are on a disk now and have to be mailed. We asked if there was anyway we could just look at them. They said no. Also asked why he received letter stating the information he send in was considered new evidence and the denial letter said there was no new evidence. Their response was when the evidence was first reviewed it looked like new evidence. After going to the rater, they determined it was not. The representative said they probably didn’t even look at the evidence because it was a new dbq. A dbq was previously sent in a year ago.Therefore it is not considered new evidence. Does this make sense? He did sign up with DAV. Maybe they can tell us exactly what is needed.

We filed claim for PTSD/alcoholism

Thank you all for your responses and advice. We do have a year to reopen the claim. I just don’t understand what more the VA wants. We have send in everything they requested. He has a diagnosis of PTSD from a psychologist and a VA psychiatrist. The psychiatrist had him on medication for PTSD.

So I just filed a 21-4138 to get a copy of his c-file. Does anyone know anything about a fire in 1973 that destroyed all records at the National Archives

Thank you all for your responses and advice. We do have a year to reopen the claim. I just don’t understand what more the VA wants. We have send in everything they requested. He has a diagnosis of PTSD from a psychologist and a VA psychiatrist. The psychiatrist had him on medication for PTSD.

I will scan everything I have when I get a chance. I am the one doing all the work on this claim bc husband said he doesn’t know how to do it.

I am so ready to give this whole thing up.

Berta, Yes it was denied twice. No it was not a C&P exam. It was a psychologist recommended to him. His practice is family psychologists. He does contract work for the VA. He has never even been sent for a C&P exam.

So that could be part of the problem?

How do we get an accurate DD 214

He enlisted for two years in active Duty in Marines. Then 4 years reserves. His total obligation was 6 years.

His Dd214 doesn’t specify Okinawa just says overseas 9 months 28 days. Very blurry though

Berta You are so right. I’ve been married to him for 40 years and only after he became sober 5 years ago I am hearing little events about it. He still doesn’t really say to much about it. We believe he was holding it all in bc of alcohol. It wasn’t until after he started seeing a psychologist that all this came out hence the reason why it took so long to file a claim

He was a welder/sheet metal and went to different bases while in Okinawa.

Maybe I haven’t worded this correctly. One psychologist and one VA psychiatrist have diagnosed him with PTSD/alcoholism. Both doctors have said it most likely came from being in Okinawa on standby to Vietnam for 5 months. During his time there he became anxious about going there. He heard all the stories from the other soilders coming back from Nam. He witnessed several hundred soilders returning daily in body bags. To ease his anxiety he began drinking. (Self medicating) By the time he was discharged he was an alcoholic. It’s hard for me to explain the exact stressors as he doesn’t like to talk about it much

I did post the letter, have no idea where it went though. Sorry but this is all new to me and I have no idea what I am doing

A NOD was filed in Nov 2016. I do have the letter dated 11/29/2017 saying they have received new evidence and they are reopening the claim.

Attached are the copies. First letter received 11/29 stating it is new evidence. The evidence was a dbq from his doctor. second letter states they never received new evidence. it also states on the letter his benefit amount remains unchanged. He doesn’t get any benefit

Two years ago my husband was diagnosed PTSD from a veterans contract psychologist. Although he is 66 years old, and the Vietnam war has long been over for decades his symptoms did not appear until he became sober five years ago when he quit the alcohol. He never actively seemed help for his alcoholism because he was self medicating. The psychologist send him to a va psychiatrist for medication. Both doctors believe his ptsd was caused by the anxiety of being on standby to deploy to Vietnam for 5 months. He started drinking heavily while in Okinawa and by the time he was discharged he was already an alcoholic. To make a long story short, he filed a claim with VA. Of course he was denied. Did a reconsideration claim. Said he needed new/material evidence which was sent in. It was a dbq for ptsd. We received acknowledgment of the new letter stating it was indeed new evidence and claim would be going to rater. Got another denial of claim 2 weeks later saying they never received new evidence so reconsideration claim was denied. Now what? This process is so frustrating makes you want to quit