bobbyq

HAMSLICE, SIR I believe you hit it on the head. I have forwarded your reply to the ROTC fellow. That should answer his question I hope. Can always depend on you guys.

was in an ROTC program voluntarily for 3 years and one quarter at Santa Clara University Sept 1975 - November 1979. I attended the Officers Summer (boot) camp at Ft. Lewis Washington for 12 weeks (I think it may have been 15 or 16 weeks) during the summer of 1979. My question is then, does the above entitle him to a discharge and entitles him to a DD214?

The problem is we can not get a DD 214, the NPR will not give him one and VA is denying.

Recieved the following information from a "Vet"?? and I guess the question is, is this veteran entitled to a DD 214 for the military service he performed. I was in an ROTC program voluntarily for 3 years and one quarter at Santa Clara University Sept 1975 - November 1979. I attended the Officers Summer (boot) camp at Ft. Lewis Washington for 12 weeks (I think it may have been 15 or 16 weeks) during the summer of 1979. I had a traumatic injury to both of my ankles the first week at camp, but I toughed it out and completed summer officer's camp. The Madigan hospital radiologist did not understand why I didn't have any broken bones, but admitted they had a rotten Xray machine and that I probably had many hairline fractures through both of my ankles. I was on a full ROTC scholarship for the last two years. My professor of military science offered me a deal. There was a change in years of service required that he felt was unfair to me, plus, if I did not hold the U.S. government responsible for my injury they would release me from my military obligation. I was not tendered a commission, but was given an honorable discharge per letter from my commander. Of course, I had to give up my ROTC scholarship (I had turned down a full California State scholoarship for the ROTC scholarship) so I am stumped by this and do not know what to tell him. Any feedback?

Honestly I have over 8 claims at that VARO and I am still waiting for a decision on them for almost two years on some. They are not really complicated claims, hearing loss, A/O related illnesse's etc. PTSD. I have a DRO over 22 months.......so???? I think they tell you what you want to hear really, I am just not happy with them, but you have no choice but to wait them out. Thankfully only one vet has died on me.

i remember going to the "FILE ROOM" here in Phx and they had a fairly new building (this was way before Nehmer) yet they had underestimated the claims they would recieve, there was no room for them. They had stacks and stack of files (hundreds) just here and over there. Now with Nehmer they are sending them out to other VARO's but what I can not understand is why do they send some to Denver and Denver sends some to San Diego etc. Are they so specialized that only certain VARO's can work specific claims? The VA is very good at creating thier own problems. CAse in point had a vet with a Purple Heart and they had denied his claim because the sharpnel were not service connected. What the hey? Of course we went back and showed them the error of their ways, but the point is how does this happen? They have coaches that oversee I assume all the decisions but you have decisions like that. I know a there are vets out there that will take advantage of the situation but overall I would say 90% at least are honorable and only looking for what they rightfully entitled to. To me it is a wonder that some vet has not gone down to the local VARO and punched someone in the face. I have two that I know of that had to be escorted out of the VARO, and as far as I know it was just prolong action on their claim and they are at the starvation point. I guess overall they do not SEE what financial crisis this country is in and they do not put a human touch to some of the claims that are filed as hardship, they really do not look at the overall time span a claim has been in, the personal touch is not there. I will get to it tomorrow, I have to go home and watch the game, see the movies, whatever. All the problems the VA has were created by the VA, I do not care what any one else says. Look at Agent Orange.........how long was that denied? PTSD and the porgnosis of it? Now look at the attachment, more problems for VA. Who caused them? If you run a business and are constantly on the defensive you would be out of business.

"This information conflicts with the USAS UR which states that the USS Power " etc.... Have you attempted to get this report? Yeah, I got the report and it says they docked, but you know what I cannot handle? It is the lackadaisical attitude that you seem to run into. I have done A LOT of investigative work in my life and I found that the facts speak for themselves and A LOT of time you have to use COMMON SENSE. The book of rules that you use does not have all the answers and you sometimes have to use your own initiative to reach a conclusion. It is not all black and white. You tell me that you live in Podunk, Idaho, I send you mail there, and have done so for the past year, but now for whatever reason I am not going to believe you and I am going to require that you give me a lease or rental agreement to prove where you live. Why? No one will tell you why we just want proof of residency. Oh yeah.........why, what came up. They will not tell you. I file a claim with the spouse as a dependant and the veteran is getting paid with dependency. Now six months later you want a marriage certiicate? Why can you not use common sense and look at the original 21-526 and look at the marriage cert on file. This came out of nowhere when the vet died. Another thing is this 1800-8271000 number you can not get any information out of it. Yeah they are working on the claim and is in such and such department. Well look I recieved correspondence regarding the claim why can I not talk directly to the person adjudicating the claim. Why can't he/she call me? There is no personal interaction at all. They should just use the call center in India, China, where ever. I can honestly say there is no compassion, it is just a job and a paycheck. Far and in between do you find someone who cares enough to take a personal interest in your case. Oh well

To be honest I do not how too..................

Attached is the deck log. Here is what the VARO decision said...."the letter from Mr. AD ADASDF said the he served with you and the USS Power docked for refueling Da Nang Harbor and anchored so that all you had to do to disembark by gangplank. This information conflicts with the USAS UR which states that the USS Power anchored in Da Nang Harbor for seven hours and motor whaleboat operations were conducted from the ship to the beach with the Commanding Officer and other personnel aboard for briefings ashore. The evidence does not show in-country Vietnam service. I do not know I have more evidence from the Shad experiments that I need to look at also because the USS Power was in the middle of that and I am currently waiting for the DRO decision to come back. So...............................I really appreciate all the feedback. Learning is what it is all about and all these different approaches give me strength/ Thank

The VARO did inform us OVER two weeks ago that our DRO decision would be coming. Still waiting, but I am hopeful we will prevail there. As previsously stated the air around us is not restricted and we are all breathing the same air. The ship docked. FACT He was on board. FACT It docked more than once. FACT He has the illness'es related to AO. FACT He has a buddy letter from a sailor on board that they docked and went off ship. FACT etc etc.

You know my head must of been somewhere else, I cannot tell you how much I appreciate this additional help. Thank you. I have the USS Power at ANCHOR in Da Nang but the VA says I cannot prove that the sailor had feet on ground. The ship itself is grounded and present in the harbor and the sailor is part of the ship. What is the problem? To the best of my knowledge they did not put a tent apparatus around/over the ship so that it would not be contaminated by outside contact. I know that is stupid but that is basically what the VA is saying. Any comments? Thanks again for the information, I am on my way to the vet and show him what we have. Q

Wanted you folks to know I got a hold of the National Archives at College Park and those people outdid themselves. I got the deck logs I requested by email in about three days. I was dumbfounded. They are to be commended.

I have a claim for a veteran in Phoenix for adjudication. Phoenix sent it to Seattle for adjudication!! I have a claim for a veteran in San Diego and his claim was sent to Denver to get worked!! What the hey is this all about? Do they keep shuffling the paperwork around until we die? These claims are from 2009 and are in the last phase, I just do not understand this. Then they wonder why you want to go out and tattoo someone's butt!!

You need to submit for a correction of military records and send a copy of your two DD 214's and also a copy of your social security card. The center will then make one correct DD 214. Takes about four to six weeks. Good luck

Ok so the stuff flows down but what I want to know is when is Congress going to curtail all their bennies? You do not ever see any dismay or grief in Congress, they know they have the whip and they can just continue to beat our butts to death. They know they will always take care of their own and the heck with everyone else. Why does lightning not hit Congrees and help us start out with a new slate.? Until we clean house we will continue getting stiffed!!

Hey guys thanks, I will get right on that. The VA says his ship was there and he is on the roster, but they say he wasn't. How does that work? Are we there but not there and does that make us a nothing since we were not there? Where was I when I was not there?

. I represent a Vietnam Navy vet with health issues A/O related. His ship docked in Da Nang and the Veterans Administration themselves gave us proof of this action THEMSELVES. Further the veteran provided a letter from a fellow seaman attesting to the fact they did dock in Da Nang. The VA has denied the claim and we are going on almost two years back and forth. They say, I quote: We have weighed the evience submitted in support of your claim and have determined that there is conflicting information in your letter submitted by R Cellille and the response from USASCRUR. You submitted a letter by RC stating that he served with you in the Navy on the USS POWER. Mr. RC stated that the USS POWER docked for refueling DA NANG Harbor and anchored so that all you had to do was disembark by the gangplank. This information conflicts with the information verified by USASCUR which states that the USS Power anchored in DA NANG Harbor for seven hours and motor whaleboat operations were conducted from the ship to the beach with the Commanding Officer and other personnel aboard for briefings ashore. The evidence submitted does not show that you have in-country Vietnam service. The veteran should not have to put with this and he should be granted service connection. The veteran was there and it is documented! He has the medical issues related to AO! There is at least a plausible causality of his exposure and the burden of proof is met.

There is NO eye care or Dental available through CHAMP VA............sorry you can go to your regular doctor for other medical conditions and he can refer you unless you know a dermatologist already.

As I stated I provided foreclosure notices, utility cut off notices, etc. Is the VARO doing anything for the widow? No.....eventually we will get to her claim. I sincerly believe that no one really reads all the information. I am requesting a Combat Infantry Badge for a Korean veteran. He is 11bravo, infantry, we have a buddy statement they were under fire, I have a report from US Army records they were under fire, and yet when the Army replies, all they tell me is what the qualifications are for the CIB. The government does not READ!! I already know the qualifications, I even have a pay voucher that shows the vet was recieving hostile fire pay. It is the same for his Agent Orange claim with the VARO (stationed DMZ 1968). VARO tells me there is no evidence of the veteran being in Vietnam!! Hello............I said Korea dipwad. READ READ READ! I just do no know what we can do. Burn the place down and start over? I know we have to grateful for what we have, those of us who have, but we are also entitled to see that those behind us are also taken care of in the utmost professional manner and caring.

You know, I spend as much time on the phone as a service rep as most of you do and I have finally had it!! I have some DRO hrgs requested from LAST year and I have just appealed them. It will probably be faster than waiting for the VARO to give me the old "we are working on it". I believe that we need to further swamp appeals and maybe the VARO will do something to adjudicate claims in a timely manner. I have DIC claims, because they involve Nehmer, they sent the claim to Seattle and the DIC is i Phoenix, and in the meantime we have eviction, foreclosure notieces, utility cut off notices. VA has been notified but we are not getting no results. What the heck is the answer? I am thankful everyday that I am not in this mess and got my entitlement ten years ago, and that was not gimme but at least I did not have to wait over a year. We need a BIG HAMMER to somebodies head to get to a climax. This cannot continue, or can it? I know a lot of you out there are frustrated and I would like some feedback on this. This country and this administration has to address this issue and resolve it. I am scared to say we need a revolution ala the Bonus Army that marched on Washington. Any thoughts?

You know, you have to do what you feel is right, but I am ALWAYS leery of these "get rich" schemes that come around. Every veteran in America knows how we are getting the short end of the stick since the VA is so backed up and our claims are just NOT getting done. We are not the only ones aware of that, and then you have some outfit who can all of a sudden cure you? I just do not trust these "folks" and I would let your claim take its course. Eventually we will prevail huh? The waiting is what kills us, and especially if we are hurting for money, which is the case for most of us. God bless.

I have a VARO memo that concedes the USS POWER did dock in Da Nang during the period of August thru October of 1969

For what it is worth, I have several claims pending and FINALLY got a direct call from VARO and they told me that ALL claims are on hold EXCEPT the Nehmer claims. Ischemic Heart is ALL they are working on. That is what I was told and some of my claims are OVER a year old, all is done just no determinations. I am at a loss at what we can do???? Sorry

Yep and I just got off the phone with the NEW VSO boss from the Marine Corps League and things might be looking up for us now. Thanks for all your help and I will see what I can do about the OP. Q

Berta, this is the decision that came from the VA back in December 1996. What do you make of it? my email is bobbyq-ree66@msn.com if you can go direct to me. Thanks I am a service officer for the MCL MOISES MA.txt