sandboxsquid

Depending on the area of the country you are in, the road to federal employment can be quite difficult. Here in the Dayton, Oh area you can pretty much forget about any GS positions unless you have connections. If you score higher than their "preferred" candidate, they just close the vacancy announcmeent and re-open it a week later with some bizare skill-sets they are pretty sure only their chosen candidate has. I have been trying for over 5 years, have been referred not selected 47 times for various positions, and I have one interview to show for it. This interview was a sham at best, a waste of mine and the hiring managers time. It was quite onvious from the get go they had no intention of hiring me and they were "just going through the motions." The good 'ole boy network is alive and well in Dayton regarding federal employment. Other areas of the country, such as the Washington DC area, give a 10 point vet a much better chance of landing the job. And I agree with broncovet that there really isn't anything you can do if you don't get the job. Appealing will get you nowhere, and also it may label you as a "troublemaker" to any other hiring managers in the area.

Thanks for all the help on this question. I had my intitial interview a few weeks ago, and will finalize everything here in the next week with all the completed necessary paperwork. Hopefully I will be able to start school in January.

Congrats, and welcome. You must have done an excellent job having all your ducks in a row to get your claim settled so fast.

kw, Good luck. I totally understand the not being able to quit work part. I'm in the same boat. Hopefully it all works out for you.

Yes, you can work full or part-time while on Voc Rehab. You can also receive extra training or education in your current field as long as you can show it will keep you gainfully employed in the future. I'm living proof of that. I'm not 100% sure, but I thought I heard you can only use Voc Rehab or GI bill, but not both. You can't "double dip."

Citalopram put me in nether nether land, and it also had some negative sexual urge side effects. Heard from someone it can be used to treat premature ejaculation. Went off too fast, and had some bad reactions. Extremely nauseous to the point of vomiting, headaches, electric like flashes in the brain. They have seemed to finally disappear after being off of med for a month.

It has been over a year since my award, and I went through my C&P originally back in early 2008. My stressors, medals, and all things connected are already a matter of record as well, so I think I'm just going to fillout the online claim as well. If I have to go through another C&P exam, so be it.

I'm currently at 30% for PTSD, and I'm ready to file for an increase. Nightmares have gotten worse, insomnia is the norm, intrusive thoughts throughout the day, bouncing from job to job, realtionship with the wife is getting rockier by the day, etc. (you get the picture) My question is will another C&P exam need to be performed? I am currently receiving counseling from a VA social worker twice monthly and have a VA shrink dispensing the meds, so my file would be an open book for them to review. Any info you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

I only saw the VA shrink for drugs about every three months, but I did get hooked up with a VA Social Worker I currently see every two weeks, and he has been a tremendous help. I had to jump through some hoops to be able to meet one on one rather than in a group setting, but it can be done.

Here in Dayton, OH it is pretty near impossible to get a govy job at Wright-Patterson AFB unless you know someone. I have been an analyst contractor for a few years on base, and have two bachelor's degrees, and all I have to show for it is one interview in five years of applying. (and the interview was a sham at best, a waste of mine and the interviewer's time) They know who they want to hire, and they just go through the motions to appease the powers that be. I have been 100% qualified for analyst jobs when applying and submitting KSAs, and then a week later the job is closed and reopens with some bizarre skillset they are looking for. I'm sure it is somehting they are hoping only their preferred candidate has. People keep telling me how I should be a lock for some of these jobs as a 40% disabled veteran. I just haven't seen it yet.

I applied for Voc rehab benefits over a month ago. What is a reasonable length of time to expect answers from the va on my application? I am 40% SC disabled, and also meet all the other criteria for the benefits.

I agree the finances of the state of Ohio are currently in shambles. But due to my mobilization as a reservist for 15 months to go to Iraq, (and another 6 months earlier in my career for Kosovo) my family's are as well due to severe paycuts we were forced to endure. I understand everyone going to a warzone makes sacrifices, and there are a heck of a lot of people who were worse off than my family and I. I raised my right hand and took the oath, just as everyone honored to serve this country has. While not thrilled of being mobilized twice in my short reserve career, I went without reservations and didn't try to "get out of it" as some reservists I know did. I am proud I was able to serve my country, as I am sure everyone on Hadit has been. Due to my service I now have some issues I'm dealing with, and will be for the rest of my life. I am sure the Ohio veterans of WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam didn't deny any of the money the state gave to them. I don't feel this money is "owed" to me, nor am I expecting any handouts. But if the state wants to thank me for my service monetarily, I would be crazy to turn it down in our current situation. JMHO

Purple, Thanks for the update.

Test Message

I had the shots as well, and they helped for a few weeks. I am now looking to Radio/Frequency, R/F, where they fry the nerves leading to my neck causing the pain. Not so sure I want to let the VA do this, but the pain is pretty unbearable some days. Getting by on Tramadol and PT for now, along with my TENS unit. I hope they work out for you John. Keep us updated.