ToxicSgt73

Thanks, Got it. Developing the claims right now, I believe I have this set of issues answered to where with what I have read.....I have some work cut out for me to do right now.

This post is for my benefit. So, it is not addressed to any individual. I own the reason for wanting to do so, and own the need to do so. That said, I must quote from a prior post, from GeekySquid, "really doubt you will do this. In fact I suspect this whole response will just piss you off even more. I also don't think you will be honest about that facet in any response you make." What I own, I believe I must change what I did when I signed up here. The reasons and anything else really don't matter, and should not be brought here. There is no reason, there is no excuse. I have read through other emotional posts and threads and some found some keywords used by me and others that illicit a hearty response. I see the value 'now' of removing all of that from here. It will be good training to have a good chance at success in my claims. I 'now' see, at least that is what I see from this. So, I am appreciative of being 'pissed' off in the 'present', so 5 minutes later I could wonder why? so I could see the value of what that accomplishes in real time. I have been closed off in a box so long, in solitary, that social skills are not something I use very often and I can see where I am using the above, I am not getting the results I want. I have had some high bars to hurdle before, and I usually grin when I hear the word impossible, I am not always successful, but I am brutally honest to myself either way. So, once again I set myself a high bar, not for anyone else, but for myself and for my family. I know I will have setbacks, but I won't live with failure, I never have. Whatever setbacks cost me, well that is the cost of admission, and I turned in my ticket a long time ago. I want to rehabilitate myself as being eligible to veterans benefits, having a honorable discharge, and having in service events, and chronicity and present chronic diseases and conditions, and questions. And I have questions, ( I can see this is ongoing education, that never stops) my wife and I are assembling a war room for the long haul, as the toxic claim in me will definitely take a long haul to SC, but only after I get into the system with smaller claims. I am going to move on with questions.

If you visit here again, please contact me, I have direct exposure to nastiest of nasties here and starting the process of doing something about it.

thanks for all the details, Got form 10-10 ready for sending out on Monday. So, really the only unclear area, is that last question? I am still trying to understand if I were to submit say 1) tininitus, and it is rated, and then I submitted toenails and it was anything but rated......does the tinnitus follow the toes, until it gets to a point of a denial or award? Does that make sense? And one can have only one claim? That claim can have multiple conditions or a single condition on it, but only one claim at a time? I can see where an understanding of what actually can happen is important to strategy in a complex situation. My goal I am thinking is to get a rating for something, while I don't need the $, and use that time to perfect my other claim. I probably should have as little friction in my first claim as possible, if I am understanding all of this.

thanks for all the great advice from all of you. That is why I choose to sign up here. I will pick and choose just like anyone else what I think will work for me, and thanks again for all for helping to realize why I came here. I hope I choose wisely. I do want to start over so now, after being reminded, I do understand that this is not the place for feelings, this a place for serious business, of which I am needing some very much, so I will refrain from any feelings now and in the future, and I am truly sorry for this that I own, what I have caused here. I understand the implications. I realize I could have said the same things without a few colorful words and everything would be fine, I realize that now. But, more importantly I should not have said them now in this context. I do have a lot that I want to accomplish. I will stop trying to accomplish so much at one time. I am writing this down so that it will happen. I own this. I commit to this. I expect the consequences. I ask that I may start over. With just questions about how to navigate the system. If I can do that, by pulling what we have been talking about above and getting it into a plan I can understand, in a visual format that I can understand. I may write something that doesn't require any answer, its just that if I don't write it at that moment....it won't happen. I can take the consequences of that, because I have no choice, and I am very familiar with them. NO feeling here. I have mild cognitive impairment, I am dripping with sweat to type this (I say this not to illicit any feelings from anyone, but to ask for understanding of why you are seeing it). Its all a question of expenditure of resources of the individual. This is this important to me right now. Only one more limitation I must clear up. I do not handle being overwhelmed in any area of brain function, what happens is other systems start shutting down and then only BASE systems work....I have almost ten years of practice of working with this with some level of knowledge of what is going on with me....most times I can back out of something before I escalate the BASE functions and sometimes I misjudge and I pay the consequences. So, I am not asking for a pass....just understanding of the what...if I own the consequences I pay. As soon as the internal escalation is gone I usually understand what has happened, but it is already done. I do want to explain why I choose my user name. The toxic part is what is in my blood, the arsenic and cadmium and lead, and whatever else, not supposed to represent an attitude, I will commit to living that. So: I have my 10-10 ez form mostly filled out. I have my DD214. I have two question about the form, I plan on calling the number on the form to find out more info on medical expenditures for the previous year and supporting documents (this is not a problem having them, just knowing what to have and what to do with them). I can make it under the income limits with my medical expenses. Question: What to do with the form: Local Clinic ( I was told at the local clinic, it would be sent to the Medical Center, if I remember correctly) Medical Center Regional Office Mail it in Fill in online I understand there are different reasons for doing each and what anyone is able to do. Any of the above is within my reach. I haven't decided yet which way I will go. GBArmy, when you typed VMAC, is that VAMC? Are you referring to Veterans Affairs Medical Center? 1. at VAMC get in system, get picture, get I.D. get initial medical appt. (this is totally separate from any claim and do not discuss claims, got it) 2. at the point of making an appt, after being accepted.....does the VAMC have my service medical records in their system? (this was one of my earlier assumptions, to get into the system) (and to use my toenails as the excuse) (but from what I am reading, I really don't need any reason? to get an initial appt?) I am clueless here, but not for long. 3. make an appt. with Veterans Advocate at the VAMC? discuss medical care DO not discuss claims, got it. 4. file claim for the NOT COMPLEX ISSUES, I get this as a strategy. To get a rating sooner. This will lead me to a few other questions, so I will ask them here. a) I have about 2 years until my disability is cut in half. (at retirement age I lose my workplace disability insurance) right now I have enough to live off of, I have SSDI (not SSI) I have a Medicare Advantage Plan, I go to Mayo clinic once a year, and get a week of diagnostics for my brain disease under research studies, this disease is not service connected). But as more and more issues grow and bloom, my medical expenses take everything. Stated this to work through strategy. So, I could survive the next two years, with difficulty in working through a strategy for getting any VA claims rated. b) I won't achieve any windfall if I do get any $ rating, before the two years as the workplace disability will reduce by the same amount, but I would get the needed extra medical help and the ball would get rolling for the next step, the toxic part. c) I definitely need to replace what I am losing to survive in two years. d) I can't file anything until I get my service medical records, I have located almost all of after service records, it is massive, I have pruned it down to a concise diagnostic picture of two file boxes (now I know I don't submit two boxes, this is what I have for that part to draw upon) My service records shouldn't be that much of a stack, but it should support the first 3, even a hearing loss a 0%, this is what I was thinking was the way to go with the first claim. And I plan on working up a practice DBQ and VLB chart for Ischemic Heart Disease, as I believe I have that in service connected, and continuity, and this would really lay ground work for the toxic part. If I got all of that through I don't have the ratings in front of me but I should be over 30%+ there. I am not settled yet on this depending on what I have in my service records. 5. Question: If I submit a claim and it has any number of individual items in it, the claim is completed as a whole of all the parts, or does it split if one or more items are rated and one or more items are denied or any of the other things that I am trying to grasp that happen to claims. So does it all go up or down or sideways together? I believe what I am trying to ask, The whole claim is settled or it is not settled? All at the same moment? I do appreciate the time everyone gives to answer these questions, it is quite overwhelming, coming at it with ideas that are 42 years stale. Thanks.

its all good. I could tell I had rubbed you wrong and I was trying to make it better...man, that didn't work... I won't try to explain as much, it doesn't matter what anyone thinks of me just as you said. its all good, I talk too much. I will find a better way to just get to questions and I will not be so thorough as I feel I need to be to be understood. I agree with you, I should have never brought my separation, the connection won't be seen till all the dots are connected. Back to step one. By the way, I am proud of my service, and my son's service. I am proud of every day I served. I just want to find out how to connect some dots. I will take your advice, but, I don't like your application of what you think I am, I also speak what I truly believe. I don't care if you are blunt, I can take it, as long as there is anything in there I can use, and I found plenty in what you said.

GeekySquid, I think all of you are right. I know nothing and I know it. I have lost some filters in communication, although my fingers fly sometimes over the keyboard. I will claim that I have retained some use of by brain, but matching the right word to what I actually want to say the first time? I do not have a good record of getting the right words out the first time. Certified actually here too. Unfortunately. That doesn't need to addressed with the VA or here now, yes I am complicated. 1) I think all of you are right. I am open to suggestions, that is why I am here. I am visual, so I put it on paper, can't carry anything in my head. 2) yes I guess I was talking about a community clinic. I can see where I need to educate myself on the system in this aspect. Medical Center, okay bigger makes sense, and RO that is regional office, so if I wanted to speed things up go file this 10-10 form at RO? and apply for VA medical card, or filing is the same step? and then at this time we are talking only about getting them to look at the toenails, and they are no little thing, we are talking about something out of a horror movie. 3) letting VA tackle from the get go.....yea, sounds like I haven't absorbed anything from anywhere.....I only meant to let them look at my toes and get into the system. Just into the medical system, not the claims process, I have read about that, it is not the way it is. 4) priority of having VA correct something, that is not really what I was attempting to ask. I was trying to ask about getting into the system any faster, or another way to put it....getting into the system in multiple ways....I don't need VA to do anything yet....will cover this answer in following bullet points. 5) and 6) I talk too much. I also have trouble staying with a linear conversation (no straight lines of communication, sorry, I do what I can do). Idiocy of ratings, I stand by that in my understanding of all definitions as my interpretation. Some ratings make sense and some don't. Some combinations make sense and some don't. I will ask you here to believe me that I am not here to scam anyone, if you haven't go back if you want a good read and read my intro post. My Dad volunteered at the end of WWII, he spent a year in a hospital because of a bad batch of boots, contracted a fungus that he carried his life, drew min $ rating his whole life, my Uncle was a front line runner in USMC in Korea, came back without a scratch (on the outside).....and never used the VA, I joined at the end of VN and I wouldn't not have left until I carried out.....and its been 42 years since then, and if I didn't need to collect what is mineI wouldn't be here, I have tried to stay away.....I am not saying that anyone said anything, I am just asking give me the benefit of the doubt until you know me, my story is going to take some time to absorb, becoming a toxic time bomb is not an easy thing to describe, until I connect the rest of the dots. 7) Railroading....yea, I should have had a V-8....I stand by my statement. And the Air Force is still killing airmen every year with the same program. Air Force Times saying that not me. and the War College report from 1978 where the Air Force was faced with the fact that they were killing more airmen than they could legitimately continue to do so and keep getting away with it.....but....they still do.....1978 report date, was one year after I was railroaded out..... no bad conduct, no lost days, no nothing.....I didn't weigh air force standards when I went in, I didn't weigh air force standards when I left basic, I didn't weigh air force standards after destroying my knees running in combat boots while on forced air force amphetamines and existing on iceberg lettuce and many forced dehydrations while metabolizing my toxic fat cells for food (mainlining every D combo, heavy metal, PAH, and even what if I had breathed the air over SEA ' but, I didn't' ) and therefore mainlining those toxins to every cell in my body....organs first....and some of those toxins leap out of the blood and cross the blood, brain barrier..... But.....I am not going there yet......I am going through the back door with a simple easy ( I know that doesn't exist, but it sure is easier than what I just laid out? isn't it? ) so now do understand how I can make that mistake? Ischemic Heart Disease if my service records are intact, will service connect.....whether or not it is presumptive of anything, I have the evidence of 100 flavors from day one out of the service, and 100 percent evidence of gastro not being the problem in the begining. my personal definition of railroaded? after losing 38 lbs.... one month I gained a couple of pounds (this is addressed in 1978 report along with a million other places) I was placed on control roster, thereby ending my career, one visit to the lawyer, and then a note to go to CBPO and 7 days later I was a civilian on the other side of the globe......was made to cancel medical appts, got no separation physical, no kiss......just an honorable discharge coded real fancy.....and a good conduct medal with no days lost.....railroaded.... I believe what you believe about railroaded out is about half true. so, I know what you mean, and I know what I mean.....do you know what I mean? 8 ) rock solid, chronic, I did not mean to say all service connected from the start.....it probably looked like that. geez.....I do talk too much.....I am hoping to not connect what SSDI put me out to pasture with, VA won't go there, and I don't want them there. Its not ratable. SSDI awarded me for a 'word' under compassionate allowance. those are some awful big assumptions about my financial affairs, and about my fatness....so I will set things straight, I am broke and fat, has absolutely nothing to do with anything, about claims, about getting in the clinic? yes, but the reasons for being broke, not a thing..... I have lost and started over from zero 3 times in my adult life thanks to my short air force career and luck of when I when born. each time I was able to start over and build up a good life......each time I knocked down and kicked when down......I did own where I was at and pulled myself up......I never drew one week of unemployment in my life, I have never been to VA clinic for treatment.......I did use some educational benefits, but the program that I enlisted in was supposed to offer me educational benefits until I died, was changed just before I was railroaded out to ten years after seperation.......so when I was 1 year and 3 months into a 2 year program when I hit my ten years......you guessed it....it was in the idiotic rules......RULES......ten years are up......I survived anyway...... I did use my VA mortagage loan twice, paid in full both times. I get SS disability, the kind you pay into, and I paid a lot into it, and I get a lot from it....more than what they consider rich.... And at present I get disability from my work, which runs out at retirement age.... if I could I would leave this check and medical for the warriors and soldiers....and PTSD.... I was just a bus driver.....a boy scout....I know all the routines, and I am good with them....I didn't sign up for what I got.....if they could not carry my weight they should have never left me out of basic....but, they just couldn't get my frame down to that weight, believe me......they tried..... you don't know me.....your guesses are way off.... am I bitter? probably why I take antidepressants.....I have fought an invisible enemy until just recently......my 3 years 8 months and 29 days......the gift that keep on giving.......so, I read a cat scan I had in Jan, along with a head mri...... pineal cyst so what its tiny lung nodules scattered.....tiny.....3mm hazy base both lungs....Pneumonia at 29 yrs one lung less than normal size......Pleurisy at 29 yrs Renal cyst.....26mm.....dare anyone to call that small, but they do....obscures the width of the whole kidney intra heptic (inside of liver) and extra heptic (outside of liver) bile duct dilalations (sounds inocent enough? ) means theres something inside of them making them bigger....( I have had Acute Pancreatitis hospitalized) and suffer at least weekly with chronic pancreatitis. small....again small....intramuscular lipoma......(I sure hope they are right and its not a sarcoma) in left thigh In my intro, I was told to give a timeline so others may help.....before I did that I thought it wise to soften up the defenses to so big of list of what 'could' be service connected.....not that I would claim all of them.....I just need to keep a roof over my head. 9 ) tinnutus.....if I have any problems with this one.....I will refer to 5 ) and 6 ) idiocy. But, I won't be surprised thanks to the prior experiences of many. 10 ) I don't have the presumptive. I do have evidence of exposure to just about everything else in a hot spot, and until I develop my evidence more, that is where that is. And I am not talking about bathing in hydraulic fluid, which I did, nor about huffing jp-4 exhaust all day, which I did, nor solder fumes....none of that easy stuff. I am only working up rock solid, chronic conditions that I already have diagnoses for and that have existed for the duration or show up on a presumptive list that I 'deduce' from my research to be 'rock solid' connected with my exposure. NOT VA 'rock solid'. That would be foolish, my research denotes no such animal, ever....100%. ****** I know I don't have any filters, but, here I am still trying.....will you try with me? I mean no one any ill will, no slight, I only ask for understanding.....I am asking for allowances....I will try not to abuse them.

GBArmy, Form 10-10 EZ that looks like what I was given at the clinic. What you said, matches what the clinic said. thanks

Oh yea, I know they are not my friend, I was railroaded out, and I haven't much encouraging stuff online, the only encouraging stuff I hear is from those I meet who are singing the praise of what they have been awarded. So, I understand that. And I was not including any of the secondary stuff to the toes in this question, I have absorbed about the secondary issue, that is why I just got the diagnosis from civilian doc for the knees right now, I am going to get rock solid diagnoses on all the stuff that I have that I don't have rock solid medical papers on.....no worries about any that....my rock solid list will fill a book. No, I am not presumptive by VA's definition and I don't want to tackle the big boys through the front door. I don't have to. So, lets move all talk about anything but toes on this post, I have not seen any civilian docs that I can get any records from, already tried. I should have multiple in service records. I have requested medical records from NPRC, waiting on them. It took ten days for me to get a DD214 from them last month. I am about 11 or 12 days in waiting right now for medical records. I got an email eta of 4 to 6 weeks at receipt of signature, I called at ten days and was told mine was Sept somthin' at the end of the month. But, typically requests such as what I had made take 3 to 6 months. Do you know of another way? Would attempting another way complicate what I already started? I have NEVER been seen after the service by a VA anything for medical. I got out in APR 77. Correct, no SEA, no VN, K, G, no Pacific or Asia. I will tackle that in my diseases, I will only deal in diseases that I actually have chronic conditions.....I couldn't possible tackle all that I think are actually connected. I see multiple specialists for multiple things, chronic and bad. Toes are just an easy one. Anyone can see the injury. So, that is what I was asking, if I can get in the VA Clinic, I am in a rural area, clinic is just down the road, no line, just walk up to window, and empty seats.....if I can get in on low priority, I have been total disablity since 2010 SSDI...and workplace income replacement....but when I hit retirement age, I am down to just SS..that is why I didn't show up sooner.....I thought I was being noble....instead I was an idiot. So, if I can get into the VA clinic.....just for the toenails, let them do the diagnosis, it is what it is, or maybe they can fix it right then and skip the rating.....I don't care.....I will flip 100% a few times......I am just asking if any benefit to doing this.....all I have is time. I keep breaking my own rules.....tinnitus.....yes.....flight line.....F106....Weapons Control System Mech 32251A, and I worked Red Balls, I have that documentation, I did not attend 1/2 day ojt training in classroom, my trainer took me on flightline with him to carry his tool box from day one....my training records reflect that....I have them.....my ears had both ends of engines running surrounding me most of my work days for two years. That sound has never left me. Not for a second. and I did have hearing loss in service, if those records show up....and I have at least 3 hearing test with the right diagnositic code for hearing loss, and one audiogram? the actual plot of hearing loss.....with 70db loss in one ear on high end.....but with the other ear starting out at 0db......on the low end.....its equal to 0% 20 years ago....what it is now will take another doctor. So, Toes and VA Clinic attempt? now? any positives from this? any negatives? Records, sit back and wait, while I fill out my DBQ's for practice.....I have sorted out two file boxes of doctor diagnosis and hospital visits.......Ischemic Heart Disease, Angina, Myocardial Infarction, Stent, AFIF + hypertension + more? and I have a half a dozen gastro visits, and scope jobs.....BUT.....I have one about 15 years ago......clean as a whistle and have the endoscope pictures to prove it.....so....chest pains = heart.....

1). Have not been to VA for health care. 2). I am about a week and half into request on service medical records, eta is end of Sept, or 3 months or 6 months... 3). I do have a new diagnosis of knee arthritis with no evidence of injury, but, I haven't seen the radiologist report yet, just my soon to fired family doc's visit.....records request already in the works....learned that lesson already, and yes, will have to go to a foot doctor to get current diagnosis, I have thought about going to the local VA clinic, actually I did, I got a blank form and nice welcome from receptionist, and some tips, she suggested I fill out the form and come back when I got my DD214, I have received it, but (not connected I am recovering from Shingles) she suggest that I could have that paperwork forwarded through that desk and someone up the chain might approve me seeing someone. Thoughts? Knowledge? My Thoughts are to let VA tackle this one from the get go....there is no denial here, unless they deny it was done in service. Is there any priority for correcting a service medical problem without a rating? This is so complex....and so counter intuitive.....logic seems to have no bearing on anything. I am going to post another one that I am working DBQ on Ischemic Heart Disease....with an ER medical visit in service, with an EKG done. My wife and I are working that one up first....toes and tinnittus....and the 99 other things whenever.....I just want to keep a roof over my head....its just that as I go through this stuff...its all there. So, just toes on this one. It looks like to me under some interpretation of the idiocy of ratings.....I come up with 10% for each great toe, because of multiple reasons, chronic scarred tissue opening up because of deformed nails, pain and tenderness...chronic, constant maintenance, I am unable to perform anymore.....trying to figure out what that means in VA talk.

Question: I am not even sure yet what my question is? Situation: I had ingrown toenails on great toe bilateral chronic in service. Aggravated by weight control program policy (I was on 3 years, 8 months, 29 days) of running in combat boots, and last ditch effort of adding speed (amphetamines USAF strength). I did a lot of running from basic till the end, a lot more than I had not been on that program. After multiple inservice removals of nails (complete). USAF hospital at Tyndall removed nails and cauterized the 'matrix' the 'roots, or bed' of the nails where the nail grows from. The idea was my nails would not grow back? Bad idea.... An Airman First Class was assigned the task. Result: My nails grew back. Except neither one the same, and neither as original stock equipment. I have 3 nails remnants on one toe, I have one nail that grows 90 degrees to the horizontal flat plane of the top of my toe. This causes repeated open wounds? breaks in skin? over scar tissue? They are a nightmare to trim, as they are deformed and multiples times as thick as originals. Varying degrees of pain during the time span between trimming, and great pain, open wounds and blood every time trimming is necessary. I can no longer trim them myself as my tremor isn't part time much of the time. This has limited my choice of footwear over the years, as hard shoes don't feel that great with a toenail growing straight up. Probably affected my gait, posture, etc. (never thought about it that way) until now that i have arthritis in my knees, just had an xray of my right knee, no obvious trauma to knee, just arthritis from oral report (request in for written and image). I do know that my running days were over when I left the service. I am starting to build my claim. I am using VLB template along with my other research into everything.....and I still am stumped as to how to treat this one. I have read a lot of denials for ingrown toenails on the web, and only one instance period of anyone having this cauterization done. I though I would use this injury as first question about go about the claim process as it seems to be multiple routes. Would this be pyramiding if I also have peripheral nephropathy? I am going to have a lot of doctors visits ahead if I need doctors to diagnose everything that isn't documented (I know the answer to this one). Where does this injury fit into the claims types?

I can see after 3 days now getting nothing but no's its time to move on to greener pastures... its time to determine that 10 year window going backward, and get everything I can that falls within it... and then build on what I have.....thanks for the confirmation of what I am experiencing, looks like a legal wall...nothing beyond its time required, even if it exists, or I can imagine some doctors having the equivalent of mortage burning parties every year at rollover time....whatever their state requires for retention, in some cases as little as 5 years....sometimes you gotta hate google. I just aggravated myself and NPRC with a phone call....and that torturous routine of repeating 'don't you want the instructions of how to check your status of record request online'? NO.....I want my money's worth.....get a person on the line....boy, was she ever miffed that I had the audacity to wait .....what did she say ' 3 to 6 months'......is normal.....but your estimated time is sept 24. So, I don't even know if I have any medical records in service.....I will be shocked if I do.....at least they admit I served 3 yr, 8 m, 29, d active.....3yr, 10m, 11d total. 1 yr, 10 d, foreign (wrong side of the globe), good conduct, honorable, but fat.....and no we don't want to come back, not convenient at this time......at least I have that... I am settled in for the long haul...what else do I have to do? I am getting so sick that I hardly go outside anymore, summertime is housebound time for me, so nothing else for me to do. I had no clue it was like this....any of this, I could have done this a lot sooner. So, I have a DD214, waiting on medical records. (I wish I would have come on here before I requested them....I was very specific in my request for certain things? don't know if that is good or not? ) I have plenty of medical records with just about a little of almost everything one can have seems an impossibility to have all of this without being poisoned somewhere...... I have a few weeks of EPA, ATSDR, Superfund, NWF? a bunch of studies of chemicals and medical studies that scare me silly....have to laugh with all the growths I have.....I just discovered this morning I had a nasal polyp back in 1992....yea, I have that MRI report, and the valium and inderal receipts from the pharmacy, for the essential tremor......but not the diagnosis from the dead doctor...... the tremor started in service.....but, I didn't advertise it then.....

Situation: I am trying to locate my old civilian doctors and hospitals for records of care (of which I had tons of) 1. My old pharmacy has records for 5 years. 2. My old internist old practice is gone, multiple ones actually. 3. My old allergist has destroyed records, should I travel to my old state and make an appointment to see him? 4. One of my old internists still practices (don't you love that word?)....should I make an appointment to see him? his records also with old practice....destroyed.... 5. I did contact one of my old surgeons, of course records destroyed, he retired 2 years ago, we were both boy scout leaders.....he remembered carrying me down the mountain when I dehydrated and other pertinent things in the scout arena......as soon as I switched to the surgery......'I know nothing' about 5 times then 'I have to go' click..... I believe it is too convenient to have all these medical record destruction laws.....I sure didn't know this was the case..... I am seeing now my ongoing depression and anger and hostility that existed since I was railroaded out and then compounded by the avalanche of symptoms and issues only drove away everyone who could have been helpful in helping me recreate my timeline...... I had a lot of problems in the first 8 years, but I am not finding much of anything on paper, or many of the people from then that are even alive, and then even willing to talk to me....about anything.... I have plenty of records from 8 years post service forward...... How does one do this? What am I missing? How have you successfully pulled a rabbit out of this hat? This one looks insurmountable, and looks to be purposeful...... What am I missing?