[Multiple Scrapnel Wounds]

i was lost when i found this site, been lost since............ feel bout' the same as i did as a grunt when i'd come into firebase for a couple day standown. out of flippin' place......... don't know how to work this flippin' machine, don't know how to explain case......... whats it matter anyway.. it was a lick then. been a lick since......... wasn't fightin' this claim for my own good............. how the hell they do this to anybody????? just thought it was wrong for the system to do this crap........... fought em' 38 years........... i'm sick, tired........... good luck to you all........... sick of pain, sick of morphine.......sick a being hidden gimp.......... don't know when to say quit......... the sickness begins with the airborne creed....... this wasn't a claim.. it was a staement of fact, being hidden by the dva. does anybody claim? to be wounded to darn near every area of ones body? doesn't every appeal won prove the dva was in error? how many appeals have been won in last 30 years? by all veterans? what a sick system......... this system was originally probably started to work for us.............. when's everybody gonna get sick of it...... we play right into it.. what a lie it all is......... we were kids when it started..... and you know what i haven't seen it get better at the dva....... they've just got more expert at denial, and very proficeint at kickin' back while we die.......... i walk away shakin' my head in shame.......

[C&p Exam]

How long does it take once QTC is notified for them to schedule an appointment?

Thank you.

hi, can't answer question.......... but surf the site close.............. i'm new too....... hang in there . just sayin' hello. takes a while to see what all's happenin' here.......

[C&p Exam For Iu]

So, a C&P Exam for IU looks at ones SC conditions.("The purpose of the C&P exam is to provide very specific information in order to ensure a proper evaluation of the claimed disability rather than to provide medical treatment. A treatment examination is written for clinicians to understand, but a compensation and pension examination is written for RVSRs, lawyers, and judges to understand.")

So I should be thinking evidence? They have already ruled that I have SC conditions. The nature of the conditions says they will not improve.SSD has declared me disabled. A letter from Pvt Doctor "can not work because of DM2 & PN".Have not worked in 14 months.All of this is already documented and recorded by VA. I have no new evidence.Perhaps they want to see "What condition my condition is in!" http://www.hadit.com/forums/uploads/emoticons/default_rolleyes.gif' alt=':rolleyes:'>

lets hope dr.s evaluate each s/c you have, and a rating specialist (?) fairly determines how these conditions interfere with you gaining, keeping employment. the issue can get complex - especially if you're rated on a combined schedule of ratings.. do you have a rep? evidence is the key word for sure. use the search engine on this site.... they got a lot of info..... :(

[Greetings From The Flatlands Of Kansas]

hey howdy. kansas huh? marines? best regards to ya. traveling board? try to avoid traveling or going alone.... try to arrange in advance a place you'll go after the meeting. where you'll be able to relax , get a grip on things so to say......... these things (personal hearings) can be quite trying on patience, etc.. the "board" oft times is one person..... the board is going to want to see evidence/history of stressors.. hope you have rep?..... really try to surf this site.. there are tips on using site... i'm new to hadit. and cyber world in general. read tbirds "how to get questions answered" link?.

[Just Joined]

Well for starters my husband is a Viet Nam Veteran 1967-1969 Army 173rd Airborne 3/319th. We filed his claim for compensation Feb 2007. He has not even had a C&P exam yet. I have found out that his file is at the VAMC in DC. We live in Maryland. His claim includes Tinnuitis (sp) PTSD, Loss of Ribs and lower lobes of lung. Since we filed his claim other medical issues have come up that have been determined to be service connected. He goes to the Martinsburg WV VAMC. Well our state VSO has advised us not to add any more claims at this point as it would delay the claim even more. He has been awarded SSD since we filed his compensation claim. So here we are in VA limbo. I was linked to this site by 2 other sites that I belong to.

hi. please tell your ole man... hello....... i was with herd .. a co... 1969...... i may be able to personally substantiate any thing he says... or find out how. from who. if needed... my old bn xo lives phx area.. i do have a lot of after action reports, lesson's learned reports..... these reports document battle actions, etc........ the herd has quite a documented history.. my team worked with redlegs (fo.. etc) considerably..... right down in the dirt with the grunts.....god bless arty..... anything i can do????????? please email ya get a chance

[Introduction]

Greetings; newbie from Minnesota and glad to join in and wished I'd found this site sooner.

I just filed a claim for PTSD after being diagnosed with chronic PTSD and major depression by the VA.

No CIB or PH on record, however I did submit a copy of the official MACV report of my Firebase being

overrun. I also found out my unit was awarded the Valorous Unit Award for that action. Will these help

in supporting my claim?

Here is a link to the Vietnam Archives at Texas Tech University which I found very useful.

http://star.vietnam.ttu.edu/starweb/vva/se...ath=vva/vva.web

marines? hi, i'm new to this community too.. served in 69 w/ the 173rd airborne bde central highlands....... got a close brother marine lives a couple blocks away. you still lookin' for any/all assist.... i'll some how drag his ole' grey carcus over here, or somehow try ta link ya up. he's 100% s/c on issue..... several tours... i'm rated 70% for same..... all the comments ya got from members is right on the money..... i found out i'd made the mistake of not gleaning thses pages of this site well enough before i started posting.. better late than never they say.. if ya can get a copy of the "stressors of war" "an example viet nam" by Dr. arther Blank (spell?) read it. its not really a book. more like a study report sponsored by the gov of penn st. i think..... i got the report from dav org..... the study has a way of breaking many of the stressors down into laymans terms. which can really maybe aid you in writing about your personal experiences in the war......... stay on top of your rep......... say hi if ya just need ta talk... i'm out montana way. watchin' northern front. best ta ya

[Amending Topic Titles W "trigger".]

how can i amend my title???????? somebody wanna amend my topic title for me? and place "trigger" alongside? mediator? it threw a cold shot of water on me this morning when i read the trigger alert from tbird..... thank you so much for the reality shot............... i'm reminded of what a empty word "sorry" can be at times i stand in debt, and humbled before a very special group of humans..... how can i help????? i'm tryin' to point out some of the difficulties i've faced with claim (case), while tryin' to point out assistance at the same time... ya can't fix something till' ya find out where its broke........ i'm referring to claims system... not my claim... my claim is just an example.. like so many thousands of others.

[Purple Heart From 1969]

I finally received my PH today for wounds received in 1969. Never realized it wasn't on my DD-214 until about a year ago. Luckily there was plenty of documentation in my military records to support the award. The VA has never questioned my wounds because of the documentation contained in my file. I have only been in the system at VA for a few months. It took almost 9 months to the day from the day I asked the DOA to issue the medal based on my military records. They sent a new form called a DD-215 that I assume attaches to the DD-214. This was pretty timely in that my license plates expire on my truck in June and they will now cost me $3.00 instead of $90.00. Not much of a success story but it's a start.

hey partner. if i see the plate. you'll sure hear my horn honk..... and a friendly wave.. right on!

[Iu]

Hi, just recieved letter for sc. Came back 80% which was great. 50% for ptsd, 20% for dmII, 10% FOR PN For each limb,20% for ears and 10% for tinninus.

My question is this what do you think my odds are of getting IU?

My va rep filed it for me and I was worried about whether they would give ma a 100% with IU. Anyone wanting to answer this on their experience would be great. Thanks Carson

hey, congratulations on making it through the gauntlet, and getting any kind of rating. its the beast being subjected to it all...... i sure agree with the other responses here.... i have been rated pretty similiar for awhile to the rating's (at least in percentage)you receive at present.... you're first hurdle may be - being rated under a combined schedule of ratings - don't get me wrong here. it's just a hurdle....maybe.... got to see for sure what the hurdle is. negotiate it..... first - look up regs like suggested.. i think there was a portion of qualifying conditions that one of the ratings (of the combined) must be of at least a certain amount. as in 50%-70%?? and please don't quote those numbers. just find out.... knowledge is your weapon of choice in this battle friend. if you've stood in line for, and served your country, amoungst all the other kind a warriors.... just use your instincts, conscience as your guide to applying for what benefits, assistance. the system is underfunded, plugged up as usual, so the most important thing to do may be to insure that your claim remains active somehow.. stay alive. kinda like gettin' stuck on observation post duty. by yourself. while tryin' real hard to believe ya got back up just over the hill. meanwhile you're still hearin' noises out there........ hey ... come back - your not alone.... bunch of us out here on op....... collectively we stand a chance.... dig up the regs. or ask a friend to.... see the reality of what your facin'.. to some degree. so to say............ hey its this simple to me. none of us asked to be injured, disabled.... its called earned benefits.... therefore it boils down to damage = compensation....... whats the beef. hey. we lay our life right smack on the line. so...... hold your head how you wish.... from what i've seen might wanna keep da head low, backside covered........... best o luck don't give up on something you believe in

[Important Topics - Please Review This Thread.]

Please Do NOT post any personal identifying information on the forum. This is for your protection, make sure if you post anything or attach a file that none of your personal information is visible. The internet is a wide open place and we don't want anyone to use your information in a nefarious way.

Thanks

hey wow what a site. i'm new here.. and yep........... i gave my my docket# out of my claim on the forum... the dva has buried it so long - i want folks to read claim.... not the first mistake i've made... given out the number.......... got any idea of possible probes i may get, or areas of harm i've exposed myself to....... please email if think of major concern .. i'd be most thankful. know you got ta be busy... thanks......... and those words of being "adrift" lost on some bizzarre sea.... scuse' me. sort of hangin' on the side catchin' my breath here......... i'll try my best not to flip anything over. very nice, poetic words you've spoken............ with respect to you, and the whole raft i'll try my best to keep my bearings. and my hat is off to any and all that have made this site what it is.... thanks. got plenty bear, lion wildlife up here in the northern rockies. not much information or brotherhood...

[Important Topics - Please Review This Thread.]

Please Do NOT post any personal identifying information on the forum. This is for your protection, make sure if you post anything or attach a file that none of your personal information is visible. The internet is a wide open place and we don't want anyone to use your information in a nefarious way.

Thanks

[Going For 100%, Question...]

if possible, do a back up plan.... if possible talk to boss (company rep?), other employees and see if they will write statement. yeah - even in laymans terms....... of what they've observed.... of behavior, symtoms that may be associated with your conditions affecting your job performance, abilities. dated duration, submission. keep copy - send these staements in support of claim to dva... luck to ya....a173

[Important Topics - Please Review This Thread.]

hey the list is nice to find. thanks...

[Multiple Scrapnel Wounds]

the point of my claim and facts of my claim are the dva made a mistake in original 69 evaluation (?) they never examined, documented, nor rated any of residuals of sfw's - period! oh, yeah history shows how a bush vet was treated by dva during era.... all but 2 (20%) of s/c's were awarded at later dates - 1983,4,5,7, 1992,4,6, 2003,05. it took me from 1969 - 1977 before i could get a dva dr. to anatomically locate, document the evidence. (wow - our bodies are the evidence - and the dva won't examine? document?) then it took till' 1983 before the dva would order the proper exam to start to document residuals. then - lo an behold - numerous dva rating dr.s start finding evidence of deep muscle scarring, etc. in 2003-05 lets see - most of the holes are 1" to baseball size holes into muscle - all with a relative path of travel of 4" to 8". i guess dr.s just needed someone to stay in traction few months in japan, then needed litter space filled for transport back to stateside hospital for several more months of traction . oh boy - those times of being lifted by crane into whirlpool so scabs can soften and be pulled off one at a time - at least one for each state in the union. wow - must have been minor injuries. oh good, the military discharges the draftee from medical hospital straight to street.......... muscle loss is muscle loss.......... part of my claim with va is eff date issue . yeah - every sfw s/c condition from that one incident should have the same effective date....... yeah and that means i feel i'm entitled to retroactive comp. i won these claims... that's around 260% of ratings for physical damage done to my body.. schedule of ratings be d----d........ the 20% s/c ($40.00) i was forced to exist with from 1969 to 1983 was wrong... it would seem all the now later awarded s/c's would substantiate that... let alone raise reasonable doubt........ it would seem i have a claim when a law firm backs evidence on my claim in actual case law applicable to granting benefits........ and the lawyers been helping for 21 years? i wonder what stinks??????? I know i was physically fubar those first 10 years after getting out of that hospital....... wow.... check it out........ laws apply scenerio occurs........ i'm granted every claim. issued some check that amounts to about most middle class american's yearly income............. my grandkids love me.... (those of generation's that have survived birth defects) i've stood in battle beside some of the bravest, craziest men on earth, and in history............. its a good day......... wrap me in my ignorance....... i don't know whether to feel insulted, reprimanded, admonished....... where's the spell check? forum?........ for em'?................. stimulating conversation ya can run across out here in hadit land........ think i'll go bbq an elk steak........ grab my guitar, try to cover some martin and holiday tunes..... aka two weary warriors........ then meditate on the day.......... memories ya know? break squelch twice if everythings allright.. sit rep neg.. this proves the fact that any reply at times may be better than none? bless everybodies heart that gets envolved in veterans issues........

[Multiple Scrapnel Wounds]

ok. this is for everyone thats had the big boom happen in thier lap and have to negotiate the claims process. if you have multiple injury sites, to multiple muscle groups.. please take note! 1st- by whatever means (even if its not a rating exam- it can possibly be concidered an informal claim request later) - get a dva dr. to document the sites, and have it become record in file. anatomically locate, measure, list each and every individual site that required sutures to close skin. if there is even the possibility of retained foriegn bodies - x-ray the entire area - they travel considerable distances. rfb's can be used as evidence to determine deep penetrating muscle damage. (*(a)if you have a large number of wound sites be prepared for the dr, getting frustrated with dealing with it. be patient, somehow get him to be thorough, accurate, discriptive). try to insure that he notes what muscle groups are involved. atrophy (muscle deformity, loss, etc) needs to be noted for each site - it may be more noticable when the muscle is in one position compared to another (refer *(a)) high velocity - low velocity missles - sort of look at it like this i guess - 5.56 mm round travels faster than frag from grenade, etc. therfore possibility of more deep, explosive effect on muscles? or maybe how far were you from the propellent thats pushing the fragment? - anyway this detail needs to be noted somehow - got any way of describing ordinance that blew? get it noted in dva record. 2nd - there is often a breakdown in whats ordered from between rating board and the rating examiner. over the years i've seen them order my exams be given for burn residuals when it was obvious i was needing rating for multiple scrapnel residuals -*the examiners won't look at anything but whats ordered - so back through whole process - if you catch the mistake! ask what you're being examined for, and check form if you can. i've gone through numerous rating exams thinking i was being examined for all wound sites, only to find out later they had only been ordered to examine two of 58, etc., etc. once this system makes a mistake you will have a tiger by the tail getting them to correct it! the more mistakes - the bigger the tiger. now this next is for anyone trying to help someone thats had the big boom go off in thier lap......my big boom was a booby trapped anti personnel device explosion from about a meter away... rattled my cage at 19 years old. now i look back at 58 years old this year...... tryin' to describe life those first ten years. brain shake .... this is as close as i can come. i think maybe i felt like the lens of one of those old movie projectors.... and every once in a while someone? would focus the lens in and out occasionally. while the whole time tryin' to fiquire how to act that same 190 lb. airborne (11b4p) jungle runnin' team leader - in a 100 lb. shattered shell. Now, at present i can't in my wildest dreams imagine the effect of what i'm hearing about these ied's these warriors are facing and being injured by. so... represent... form brain tanks. this new technolgy? hope i haven't been repetative of whats out here in cyberspace, or in past forums on hadit. thanks for the vent.

[38 Year Claim]

hello, i'm new at this cyberspace como. but here goes... the va has forced me to get basically one wound site at a time rated over a 38 year period with seperate eff dates spread over that time period. these s/c's are from single incident - booby trap explosion, gunshot during dust off. i've appealed on my own every year till' 87 when private attorney started helping, and rep'd since. can't say enough bout' him - 21 years he's hung tough..... and it has helped.... claims before cova are; (1)earlier effective date for all s/c current to be 1969 which total 290% for 15 sites - some are 10% each under 3 diagnostic codes for 1 site, other may be 20% for another individual site. the injuries are diagnosed under several codes; muscle loss, painful scar, etc. (2) failure to diagnose and rate 43 other wound sites (3) chronic pain syndrome (4) smc due to 3 seperate s/c disabilities - 1- multiple shrapnel wounds @ 100%. 2- ptsd @ 70%. (5)- chronic pain syndrome ? (6) diference of opinion - va is arquing with its self........ and all are probably going to be remanded back to ro again. i've steadily won claims since early 80's. it's just that 1 to 5 year process of appeal, and remands........ smokescreen... won earlier eff date back to 83 in 96 for unemployability........... won 100% in 98. my current docket # is 06-1854 i think... and i hope the whole world reads the case!! va's a bunch of thievin' rascals............. who ever you are ......... have a much earned happy, enjoyable memorial day week end out there. peace to you and yours. a173

[38 Year Claim]

Can you give us the citation number and the docket number of the last BVA decision that you appealed to the CAVC?

BVA decisions are public record and we could help more if we knew what the decision said that you are appealing.

I see you are 100%- is this a claim for SMC? Special monthly Compensation

100% SC for one disability and 60% or more for additional but independent disability equals SMC.

[38 Year Claim]

does anybody else out there have a 38 year active claim going for multiple shell fragment wounds? I've been to bva dozens of times, cova several times, fed ct appeals once on same claim.... started out 20% s/c for 2 of 58 wound sites to all areas of body in 69 and have fought every year since... one dime at a time I've busted 290% for 15 of 58 wound sites...... and still plan to straighten this snafu out yet.... yeah, that combined rating tech is akin to jungle rot.. but some times its one step at a time....i'm before cova again on effective date issues, and other wound site issues.. and yeah. probably be remanded due to va error again for umteenth time....... too much blood been spilt brothers...... not just mine..... nope ......won't stop till' it's straight. I have learnt a few things about the mess... and anybody comin' home from this present kill zone with multiple scrapnel wounds, and multiple disabilities can use some real point element work done for them. advise, knowledge, etc. I have hit a lot of va snares, traps, pitfalls, smokescreens in this battle. so waz up?