Hucast21

"So another question since how do I establish PTSD?"
As Broncovet said, the MH diagnosis of PTD must come from a VA MH doctor.
If you file for PTSD, your will get a C & P exam for it.And you will need a valid stressor.
A valid stressor is defined here:
Also -here are many veterans  here who have pes planus from service-if you search for Pes planus and/or Flat feet, you will see how they shaped their claim.
"Also is a question that would I be getting any kind of back pay disability for all these past 30 years if the decision is in my favor?"
No- if this is your first VA claim, and if it succeeds, they will pay you back to the date of the claim, the date -when you file it.
Also if you are claiming secondaries ( you mentioned PN as due to the per planus, ) that would take a SC for the pes planus as well as medical evidence , to include a diagnosis of PN, that the pes planus  caused the PN. You might need a IME from a podiatrist for the Pes planus claim.(Independent Medical EXam).
I have pes planus , and am a civilian. My podiatrist has years of medical records as to his treatment of my condition. It does get worse with time. You need to establish some sort of treatment for this- as, the VA will want to see whose treatment records, and it will help you deal with it better. 
My case is severe pronation. ...ratable at 40 0r 50% ,if I was a veteran.I need custom orthotics and they could help you too.They are however an expense that my insurance does not cover.
A piece of advice- I have never filed a claim I didnt think I could win.
Thoe claims regarded my husband's 2 claims pending when he died and multiple claims I had, as his surviving spouse.
"since I was not in 2 years I did not qualify for any health benefits. "
Did you fit into any of these criterias:
 
https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/ this is a different criteria than the Health care criteria and seems to cover you as far as filing a claim.
 
 
You may be able to get VA health care benefits if you served in the active military, naval, or air service and didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge.
If you enlisted after September 7, 1980, or entered active duty after October 16, 1981,you must have served 24 continuous months or the full period for which you were called to active duty, unless any of the descriptions below are true for you.

This minimum duty requirement may not apply if any of these are true. You:
Were discharged for a disability that was caused—or made worse—by your active-duty service, or Were discharged for a hardship or “early out,” or Served prior to September 7, 1980 If you’re a current or former member of the Reserves or National Guard, you must have been called to active duty by a federal order and completed the full period for which you were called or ordered to active duty. If you had or have active-duty status for training purposes only, you don’t qualify for VA health care.
https://www.va.gov/health-care/eligibility/

I tend to do some light gardening. Spices are simple, and can provide a simple sense of accomplishment you get to savor with your (family) meals. Other than that you'll catch my poking around in my shed, making crafts and simple projects that I can handle and put away for a time if I need to. I also surf the web, as most of us here do to some extent or another. Learning the ways of living for one's self can be an arduous process, and sometimes looking inward at oneself is too much for some. From the examples you wrote of those who made shallow choices - we can learn from their mistakes.
I'm "young" - and so I don't have a "plan" as to what I will do... My plan was to stay in the Corps 'till one day I retire.
Boy, that changed real fast...seems like a blur how fast I was flown through separation years ago, with many medical ailments in tow.
I make decisions planning "toward" a future, of one form or another,  but merely as guidelines meant to help keep the train from derailing.
Now it's something to the effect of - raise my kids, make more friends, smile and laugh when I can, and NEVER sweat the small stuff. Do random acts of kindness and good deeds where applicable.
 
Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift - that's why they call it the "present" !

Ms Tbird That's what i;m taklin' about! You have to try to make the best of things. Sitting in the house and just feeling sorry for yourself just doesn't help anything.
Nice to see you have a plan going forward.  Just give Amanda small bites at a time so she doesn't get overwhelmed  And people will step up and give a hand if needed. There's a lot of experience on here, including some of our computer nerds; all you have to do is ask, just like anything else on Hadit.

I plan on helping other veterans on Hadit until the day I die.
The way VA has rubber stamped denial for my claim even though I have documentation of my disabilities in SMRs, VA treatment records, and an IME w/IMO from a board-certified specialist has made me realize how adversarial the system is towards veterans.
It seems a veteran has to be lucky of getting a rater who actually follows CFR’s with an initial claim or DRO.

Get a vasectomy.

Sadly this can happen to vets. My opinion is this is their choice.  This is what makes them feel something. 
we all have tendencies and have done messed up things but it is a choice. 
Everything we do is a choice.  
me I keep working and keep my mind busy.   Right now is hard being at home all the time.  
ask yourself what you want out of life and go for it!  

You just have to wait on your decision letter.

Well I am pleased to announce I have another  check going out to Hadit from my back pay. I finally got an increase after 3 tries for CAD by way of Agent Orange. I am also a believer you share your good fortune, and without all the help here on Hadit I wouldn't have been able to do it. I encourage veterans to consider donating especially when they finally get what they deserve.

Happy Easter everyone!!!
Be safe, be well!

When I am talking to a parent of an active serviceman, I always ask them if they want some A #1 advise to pass on to their loved one. Tell them to promise that IF they go to medical for any reason, that they will request a copy of what happened. It is hands down one of the most valuable advise they will ever receive. I had one lady said well this is 2020 now, everything is digital,, they have everything now filed digitally. I said, Lady, we are talking about the VA and the DOD here; they were losing records back in George Washington's time, and are pretty good at it. If you have the record in hand, they have it no matter what.

Here is proof of my separation physical stating “migraine headaches, severe” and just one of many sick calls about my migraines stating my only relief is by sleeping in a dark room.

Always have your injuries/illnesses documented in the military because if your claim goes before a BVA judge, it will be easier to win your claim.
Everyone can see how the VA screws most veterans out of their benefits even if it was documented in the military.
It’s why I got representation quickly because the law firm looked at my SMRs and VA treatment records and realized the VA rubber stamped denial at the VARO level.
 

Hucast21 You have the right attitude. Whether it's poor training, lack of adequate training, the amount of volume they have to move to meet their "quota", the "adversarial" posture that the raters and examiners have, or whatever, it is just damn hard to get your claim approved and rated at the accurate level at the proper effective date.I saw data published by the VA that said 25% of all claims have an error. I seriously question the accuracy of that finding. But we can win if we keep at it; just takes time,  and unfortunately, some of us don't have enough of it. Keep at it Hucast21. "You don't lose until you quit trying!"

Just wanted to say thank you to everyone for the replies! It is sad that the VA system is clearly adversarial towards veterans, and that we have to continue fighting until we win.
 
When I win my case, I promise I will donate and help out Tbird.

The RVSRs at the VARO often ignore favorable evidence.
C&P exams are often inadequate yet the RVSRs accept them anyway.
It's a battle to get VA benefits.
You have to fight the VA for what is yours.
 
 

Don't give up the fight, look at it this way, VA would rather grant your least documented disabilities at 10%-20% paying out $142-$281 + other disabilities a month compared to granting your most documented disabilities at 50% paying out $893+ other disabilities a month and that is not even counting dependents.

It simply means that according to VA, they have everything they need to rate your appeal when it's your turn when the judge selects it.  You may or may not have several appeals before yours but after your appeal is decided your lawyer should get a copy of it or they can call to check the status of it.  Of course you should know that your appeal could be granted, denied, partially granted or remanded.  You can IRIS VA and ask them if they have received your IMO.  You may or may not get a response or your response may come after you get your rating but it is something you would have in writing instead of a phone call that no one can remember. I would say you should check back every two weeks to a month.  It may be faster but BVA doesn't move that fast.  Watch I be wrong and you get a call in about two weeks.😃
 

Hucast21 Sounds like they are telling you something, doesn't it. Nope. Doesn't mean anything. Not knowing anything at all about your claim, I'd recommend on checking it not more than once a day for a week or two. Then have your attorney check again.I assume he/she has VBMS and can see your file being developed. Or call Peggy once a week. Could be a long time. Sorry