Donio

Yes I see what you mean. My main anger is towards the VFW guy who told me to file for PTSD. I just wish the VA had recomended seeing someone at my first C&P then I might not have cotemplated suicide or gone through a divorce. I recieved treatment in the service so why not after discharge, but no they only did C&Ps. I am recieveing treatment now and have been for the last 4 years or so. I unstand why they didn't keep me at 100%, but as I told the shrink at the C&Ps, things haddn't seemed to change. Seems like that would have been a red flag for treatment. Thanks for all yours and everyones input. If only this site had been around YEARS ago.

I know people here are trying to help. The statement "ask for help and this is what I got" concerned the VFW not people on this site. I'm not sure everyone noticed but I spent 4 or 5 months on a psyic ward. It's no more than a jail except a wide open area instead of individual cells and heavy wire screens on the inside. This was just before discharge. They had shrinks talk to me but even with that in my record they never set up appointments to talk to anyone after I got out so I had no idea what was going in my head. I wasn't real sure if anything was wrong. I have been seeing a shrink at a VA hospital for the past 4 years. But because of being locked up for 4 or 5 months it's very hard just to walk into the doors of the hospital. The fraud statement was pretty course but the last paragraph in vikings post put me on edge which isn't hard to do. I'm sorry to all on here for my last post. My anger towards the VA seems to spill over on everyone I come into contact with.

First - A guy at the VFW help me with the paper work. He never told me what you just said about being rated the same. Second - I do have a stressor. I also contacted a friend, who is one of four I've tried to find, and he sent a letter verifing what we experienced in vietnam. Third - The contract Dr. the VA sent me to confirmed I suffered from PTSD. Forth - I was changed to major depression but not PTSD. Fifth - Yes I knew about paranoia and nervous condition but didn't know why my temper was hard to control, why I was antisocial, depression. Sixth - There was only the visits for rating every 2 or 3 years. Was not refered to a shrink to talk about what was going on. They showed I was getting better by the reduced ratings. I'm not a total dumb ass. I sought help with the claim and this is what I got. It may look to you like I'm a fraud looking for money but I did serve in nam the same time a my brother who was in the Army up north by Phu Bai and he knows I'm not the same.

If that's so I wish they would have helped me a long time ago. From the time I was discharged until I filed to increase my percentage I quit my job held two other jobs went back to my first job to work in a different area, got really drunk one night and tried to shoot myself with my shot gun and wound up in a crises intervention center, and went thru a divorce. During that time I had no real idea what was wrong with me nor did they offer any treatments. I forgot to mention just before my discharge I spent 4 months on a phsyc ward which was the only treatment I recieved. Had I known what was really worng with me I would have ask for help. All they did was tell me I was getting better when I was really getting worse. I now see a VA psychiatrist on a regular bases.

Berta - I was discharged from the Marines diagnosied with acute paranoria and nervous condition at 100%. I was kept at 100% for about 3 years then was lowered to 70% for about 2 years then lowered to 50% for about 2 years then lowered to 30% from 1981 until I filed for PTSD in 2001. I didn't file sooner because I didn't know what PTSD was until a coworkerand I were talking about serving in nam and after telling him about my discharge he said I should file a claim. I was raised to 50% in 2002. I appealed and went to a video conference. My claim was remanded back to Regional for more information then was taken over by AMC. AMC asked Regonial to schedual me for an examination. The exam was very short. The shrink said he would ask me some very specific questions which were mainly am I working, do I think my condition was worse and so on. There wasn't very many questions. That is where I'm at right now. I retired July 2006, I have worked one job for about 3 months then quit. 4 ther places I had applied either turned me down or never contacted me. I prefer to workalone or with few other people and sometimes have a problem with my temper. I haven't received any form for TIUD and I'm not sure what it stands for either.

I have had a claim in since 2001. I recieved an increase of 20% in 2003. My appeal was remanded to the regonial office then taken over by AMC. I recieved a letter from the Regonial office last month to go to a C&P and it also stated that it would have to be a family emergency to reschedual because there was very limited time to complete the C&P and finish my claim. WTH is this all about? I have had my paper work in for 6 years and now they want me to rush around for them? Does this mean they will hurry up and finish my claim? I went to the C&P July 3rd. and haven't heard anything yet. ;)