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wildcat
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Posts posted by wildcat
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Jim,
I missed this post and found it today. I was going to ask on my next post if you thought you might have been slipped LSD. At this time I am not sure how it would affect your claim if in fact you had been given the drug. LSD is known to be psycho memick. (Not sure about the spelling). That is it mimics psychosis.
On one hand it would give reason for a shrink to say your psychosis was not part of any ongoing condition. On the other hand that fact that you did not know what caused the psychotic event could in and of itself cause an ongoing and developing mental condition. The fact that you were discharged for the psychotic event and the fact that there is no evidence one way or the other that you were slipped LSD should work in your favor. Again, the benefit of the doubt rule would apply if there was no way of telling what actually happened.
The post I put up in response to "puntative diagnosis" by Susan cites a CBS 60 minutews special where active duty members of the military were given drugs without the patient being informed. The research was to find "truth serums" CBS did cite LSD as one of the drugs the military shrinks were giving to active military for test purposes. The 60 minute special on this subject could have been 15 years ago.
Hoppy,
Thanks for your response to Jim S. and to a degree myself. I am very depressed to learn that the Army
and my government "medically abused" me without any possible reason. I was a model soldier - no
article 15s. or any other displinary infractions. It was a drastice "lack of staff/supervision" that lead to
my over medication of Thorazine (chemical strait jacket) in order to be tranquil and VERY easy to
monitor - supervise to meals, shower time, light outs, etc. It was a management decision...callous
and indifferent but necessary in their eyes. Screw em. Imagine finding out about this stuff when you've
been out of the Army 37 years ( 1968). The bad memories have reintruded my mind. How many other
soldiers, Marines, sailors, military personnel did they "chemically strait jacket" over the years?
I bet NOT one has been compensated for such unprofession medical conduct for as to do so would
establish a PRECEDENT and we all know what that means. A well grounded decision for payment
establishes a solid (hopefully) precedent to "pay all" who suffered Thorazine brain damage various
degress of compensation - -
Stay tuned - - -
Wild Cat Bien Hoa 1967
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good luck, I have it in my records I was given LSD by the Army, they told me that since I am already being paid for PTSD forget being compensated again for the flashbacks. I have the records to prove I was at Edgewood High, that the doctors classified me as a level a test subject for use in pyscho chemical tests. The VARO has never once mentioned in the tests at Edgewood Arsenal Maryland in 1974 in the 3 years my claim has been played with. Good luck on trying to get that scenario SC
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Test Vet,
My claim has not been adjudicated yet. Thanks for your direct evidence
about LSD testing in the Army. I may get compensated for PTSD but
since my claim was mis filed (for PTSD) I really should be compensated
for "aggravation of ..??" Screwy situation. I guess some - if not examiners" are
really tight on the medical evidence and adherence to the CFRs.
Wild Cat Bien Hoa 1967
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Jim,
I would not be surprised if someone did give you an "improper drug"
as part of research project. Look up my previous post under Wildcat
and my episode with Thorazine. I will never know what happened as
it was so far back ( Japan, 1967).
I suspect - really - that I was given a dose of LSD in Japan just prior
to going for recreation period. Once on the basketball court...the sky started
swirling, all sorts of colors. massive disoreintation,etc. Scared to death.
Had to be assisted back to the small hospital. I read, on the net, that
Thorazine is oftern used to bring people "down" and "level out" from
an "acid trip". Problem was they did not know I was a bipolar II and
over medicated me with Thorazine for 4-6 monts. I was a zombie.
My case is being finalized at the regional office...and I suspect I will
be "low balled " or denied. IF I get a good %...a precedent is established
and therefore more claims come in for this THORAZINE ABUSE.
This was back in 1967..when the Army was critically understaffed in medical
units, hospitals, etc. So when you don't have enough staff to properly
supervise , counsel, group counseling, periodic assessments - you DOPE
em up and "ware house em" cuz it's cost effective. Many military shrinks
were "semi war protestors" and didn't do their job! They came on the ward
and gave the patients a smile and a "wave!" then walked out.
This really happened to me.
I hope you have good military records with good notations - not chicken
scratching writing - so you can write a good stressor letter and tie into
"aggravation of mental disorder",etc. Be specific tie in pertinent CFRs
to your situation.
You have to write like a lawyer! And many vets. will tell you to "high light"
specific evidence to INSURE the examiner reads it. The examiners have huge
case loads...and if they have a bad day and your claim file hits their desk...
...well - - - -???
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RO's do not dot the I's, cross the T's, nor look up the big words they do not understand. My first denial was totally based on the fact that the RO did not associate the fact that different doctors use different diagnostic terms for the same condition. Had they looked up the diagnostic terms they would not have made such a blunder as to say I was not treated in-service for my condition.
In my second denial the RO started to make up new laws. I learned how to argue against these when I started researching trust laws. The RO did what attorneys call "inventing false standards of law". The RO turned medical principals into legal arguments. Service connection is not based on a specific number of diagnostic references in the SMR. Would you believe they denied it the second time saying there were not enough references in my SMR. That is a false standard of law. There is no law that says how many times the condition needs to be diagnosed. The medical principals established by medical opinions determine how many events are necessary. In my case the condition was diagnosed in service and had no known cure. Thus, once you have it you will always have it.
The problem is that the RO's adjudicators are undertrained. They wind up on tangents that they should never venture into. That is why you wind up taKing cases to DRO's and the BVA. The senior adjudicators have a better understanding of the lasw do a better job.
Hoppy
100% for angioedema with secondary conditions
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hoppy,
A big thanks to you and others for the guidance,suggestions, and cautions
about dealing with the VA. God - If I had been so stubborn and insensitive
during my sp.ed. administrative career "the parents" and staff would have
had my arse fired in a " New York minute". I really appreciate the help and
now know that I am walking in a "bi-polar mine field" with these examiners,
board reviews, etc. As I told Jay last night on the phone...I am amazed at
the "lack of trust" between a huge govt agency that is suppose to be
helpful - but is not. It would help if we had fewer fraudulent claims that
clog up the system and delay legitimate claims. I may get a "dime" or
two or a denial - than I too become a "street lawyer!". I won't toss in the
towel.
Thanks again for the emotional support and guidance !
Wildcat Bi-Polar Guy Bien Hoa 67-68 "Old Goat !"
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Wild,
You can call Dale White at (206)220-6124 (ask for Dale White), or you can call "Frank I." at the same number and punch in his direct extension of x2927. If they give you any trouble from the 220-6124 number then say you got it from Chris Arnold (the director of the regional office)...both men work for team one or something and act as direct go between men for the raters (they collect and bring all your information to the raters)...hope it helps:-)
P.S. - You can say I sent you.. they hate me:-)
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Give me a ring...for clarification purposes (360) 798 - 3507
Thanks,
Sully U of Arizona USC sucks !
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Wildcat
The VA will shoot down any opinion for any reason. You just have to get the best board certified doctor to write your opinion for you and keep fighting. Me and a friend went to the same shrink for IME's. The VA accepted mine and shot down his. I read his IME and it was perfect but the VA would not accept it. They said he was doctor shopping.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>
John,
I agree and will get a very good board certified shrink to write an opinion-
with all the legal jargon that the VA REQUIRES for any veteran to get their
"just due". All we want is for THEM to be reasonable and fair in the rating
system but they appear to dot all the "i s" and crosse very "t" before they
make a decision.
Wildcat
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Wildcat,
I went through the same frustration when I started realizing how much better treatment I rec'd as the result of injuries I recieved while at work. I started comparing the VA system to the system at work. The idea that Veterans were second class citizens was depressing. However, it was a reality.
I was injured in a traffic accident at work. The next morning I could not bend my leg. My supervisor drove me to the office of the employers doctor. I was treated by the employers doctor. He told me I needed knee surgury. I chose my own doctor to do the surgery. After the surgery I had continued knee problems. I went to my union and told a union rep. They sent me to see an MD/JD. This guy was a doctor who went to law school and specialized in fighting for employee rights. He scheduled $5,000.00 worth of MRI's and re=evaluated everything the employers doctor and my surgeon did and sent the employer the bill.
Could you imagine such a requirement for veterans. I was discharged in 1970. They said everything that was wrong with me could not be service connected. If I was given a lawyer in 1970 I would be $700,000.00 richer than I am today. Not only could the mutitude of in service symptoms be service connected they would have been service connected if I was given a lawyer who assumed that every thing the military told you was subject to proof. I did get an SO in 1970. However, the SO was not a doctor with legal training and did not know the right questions to ask or pursue for ongoing medical evaluations.
My disabilities involved complex symptoms associated with Angioedema. The SO was helpful getting a knee disability service connected. However, the Angioedema went right over their head. 26 years after my discharge I bought a computer and went on line. The internet is infact impowering the little man and deserves the name "Information Super Highway". Hadit is impowering. I jioned a support group for persons with hereditary angioedema. They soon told me I did not have the hereditary form of the disease. I started investigating and later figured out that my condition was infact considered an industrial illness caused by repetious exposure to organic chemicals. I was first diagnosed with the disease and had active symptoms while serving in the armed forces and working with enoumous exposures to organic chemicals. My case was a slam dunk for service connection.
Hoppy
100$ for Angioedema with secondary complications
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hoppy,
Thanks for the information and guidance. I will phone the Seattle/VA#800
number tomorrow to see if my file went back to the compensation panel.
If I get a less that fair adjudication, which I believe should be %70 or more
I am going to get a good military lawyer. This stuff is just too stressful to
pursue on your own at my age (63 yrs). Yes, I agree you can find key
supportive info on "Google" and I will do the same. The VA is extremely
suspicious and cautious due to all the "fraudulent claims" put in by
wanna bes over the years. This just makes it had for the "honest vet"
to get a fair shake !
Wildcat
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I have been reading hadit.com as a "guest" for many months now. I think
the advice given out by Tbird and others has been excellent. My claim for
PTSD,Aggravtion of "bi-polar condition", heart, etc has been in Seattl just over
a year now. I k now this not bad as many vets claims have taken considerably
longer.
I called the 800 # last week and the person said my claim has been up to
"the review panel twice". I can't understand the problem / situation. I have
a letter from my LA shrink ( a VA pysch. examiner for 15 yrs. early in his
career) stating definite aggravation of bi-polar "if the board is reasonable".
I was doped up massively on Thorazine and in Vally Forge Hosp. 400 miligrams
and was a "zombie". Some call it a chemical labotomy (sp). This was back in 1967-
and yes I am a boots on ground Nam vet.
Saw my VA shrink yesterday..."mood disorders clinic" and gave him an article
about the bad effects of Thorazine. He agreed. He appears to processing me
for a "major depressive disorder" rating. Or, that is the feeling I am getting.
Is the Seattle panel awaiting a VA shrink opinion because THEY don't believe
my private sector shrink of 9 years. I worked for LA unified school in south
central for 10 years. I went "off on the job" to my supervisor and went on sick
leave for 30 days. Had to be evaluated by an independent shrink before
returning to a transfer job.
I was a sp. ed. administrator too for many years and can't believe the extremely
poor process to notifiy Vietnam vets of what is available to them during 1965 - 1971.
In Sp.Ed. legislation (1975) all school districts had to do "Search and Serve"
notices in newspapers, etc to notify people that if they had a child with problems-
contact your local school district. This was LAW! Now as a 63 year old man with
a stent in his heart, loyal citizen, I chat with a 51 yr. old shrink was in jr. hi when
I started basic traing in Fort Bliss in May 1966.
Should I relax and just wait for Seattle to make a decision. Or do I have to been
more depressed in my November session so the Portland shrink will state major
depression...and nofify Seattle
Wildcat Bien Hoa 1967 - 68
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Berta,
I did you reply to your information earlier today. But I don't see it posted on
hadit.com? Did you get it ?
Wildcat
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Dear Wild cat- as long as you have the nexus- that is the link to your service for PTSD and bi polar-
the medical opinion you ofered from your LA shrink should help
BUT-
stating definite aggravation of bi-polar "if the board is reasonable"-
I didnt quite get what the doc meant by that- is this a psychologist or a psychiatrist?
In an independent medical opinion the VA wants medical rationale-
a solid reason that the doc is opining as to service connected-
also it sure doesnt hurt to have the doctor state his/her credentials-
being a past VA doc will give him some credibility-odd as that sounds-
They might be fishing around to get a VA opinion to knock this down-
the 'board' has nothing to do with being reaonable-
that isnt a medical statement-
There are some Independent Medical Opinion templates here somewhere at hadit.
The opinion has to be strong enough to be as likely as not due to service or secondary service connection or better yet- more than likely-
and the doc has to state medically why they say this.
Example of what I mean- this is from one of my IMOs-not exact words but almost
the veteran's demise was more than likely due to complications of DMII due to AO incurred while the veteran was in USMC,Vietnam 1965-66.
the cerebral and cardiac involement on autopsy is consistent with
peripheral arteriol disease due to undiagnosed and untreated diabetes
per Braunwald-
something like that and this doc quoted the exact treatise.
then he mentioned the veterans MRIs, ECHO,X rays etc, and correlated his own clinic experience with same involving thousands of diabetics
as to the clinical record.
See what I mean -the doc has to opine as to some specific medical facts
to connect secondary conditions.
And then back up their statements.
Stent in your heart? Are you a diabetic?
If so have you requested DMII to be service connected due to AO?
Do you have any SC rating at all yet and what is it for?
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>
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Welcome to Hadit. I would not depend on a VA Shrink to report anything the VARO. Instead you might consider requesting a copy of all your progress notes and sending copies of thsoe to the VARO.
Good Luck on your claim.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Thanks for your help. I find it amazing that the regional office
may not believe my shrink with 15 years as a psych VA examiner.
I will phone the VA/Seattle 800 #..on Friday. They may have made
a decision as to a compensation % or a denial.
Wildcat
-
I have been reading hadit.com as a "guest" for many months now. I think
the advice given out by Tbird and others has been excellent. My claim for
PTSD,Aggravtion of "bi-polar condition", heart, etc has been in Seattl just over
a year now. I k now this not bad as many vets claims have taken considerably
longer.
I called the 800 # last week and the person said my claim has been up to
"the review panel twice". I can't understand the problem / situation. I have
a letter from my LA shrink ( a VA pysch. examiner for 15 yrs. early in his
career) stating definite aggravation of bi-polar "if the board is reasonable".
I was doped up massively on Thorazine and in Vally Forge Hosp. 400 miligrams
and was a "zombie". Some call it a chemical labotomy (sp). This was back in 1967-
and yes I am a boots on ground Nam vet.
Saw my VA shrink yesterday..."mood disorders clinic" and gave him an article
about the bad effects of Thorazine. He agreed. He appears to processing me
for a "major depressive disorder" rating. Or, that is the feeling I am getting.
Is the Seattle panel awaiting a VA shrink opinion because THEY don't believe
my private sector shrink of 9 years. I worked for LA unified school in south
central for 10 years. I went "off on the job" to my supervisor and went on sick
leave for 30 days. Had to be evaluated by an independent shrink before
returning to a transfer job.
I was a sp. ed. administrator too for many years and can't believe the extremely
poor process to notifiy Vietnam vets of what is available to them during 1965 - 1971.
In Sp.Ed. legislation (1975) all school districts had to do "Search and Serve"
notices in newspapers, etc to notify people that if they had a child with problems-
contact your local school district. This was LAW! Now as a 63 year old man with
a stent in his heart, loyal citizen, I chat with a 51 yr. old shrink was in jr. hi when
I started basic traing in Fort Bliss in May 1966.
Should I relax and just wait for Seattle to make a decision. Or do I have to been
more depressed in my November session so the Portland shrink will state major
depression...and nofify Seattle
Wildcat Bien Hoa 1967 - 68
Claims Process/regional Office
in PTSD Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Claims
Posted