joe_lyn

I was awarded 70% sc after 28 months. I was being treated at a VAMC and was reimbursed for my co pays by the VA. But the VAMC sent me to a teaching hospital for treatment for some reason. There I am covered under my wife's medical insurance and have to pay co pays under her policy, also scrips have to go to CVS instead of to the VA. My question is how do I get the VA to reimburse me? Thank you for your time, and I thank God for this website I would never have won my claim if not for what I learned here

Recently I recieved what I now consider BAD information from the VA Billing Department. I have good medical coverage under my wife's work. I was told the VA pays for everything with NO second payer. This didn't seem right then and now looking at the posts here are fairly sure it isn't correct. I'd like to read thier rule book.

Recently I saw a post here concerning spn codes on DD214's then I saw this on orders transferring me to another company in Nam call me paranoid but I was wondering if there was a hidden meaning here also.

Recently I had to write letters to 17 former members of my unit in Nam. It would have been nice/easier if there were some examples of what I should have done. I did look here for some sort of guidance on this but sadly there was none that I could find. I eventually put a packet (yes packet) together and mailed it my former company members. It took several drafts to get what I wanted down in writing and as close to fool proof as I could get/make it. I've started to feel compassion for those VARO employees that have to deal with us nammy pammy PTSD vets. After all, we come into their workplace looking grungy and ill mannered. Sure we have to fit the model of the poster child for PTSD but that's no excuse for temper tantrums and harsh words, why if we're not careful we will infect then with our disease. I still remember the look on the security guard's face when he asked me, "Do you have any weapons on you?" And I responded with, "I beginning to understand why you have to ask that question." I'll admit I wasn't the easiest client they had walk thru the doors, I was him in 1974 when I asked for help with my PTSD, but that day I was a vet with a large chip dangling from my shoulder with wild thoughts of how to get even with these Sob's. Heck I've gone from "I'd like to drive a 6000 gallon fuel tanker in there and lighting it up" to worrying about them getting PTSD from guys like me. If this keeps up the only thing left in my arsenal will be my sarcasm. I guess that means I got to look for some new weapons to fight the VA with. Maybe my dream will help with that. In my dream I've become a pacifist and a legend. I dream that I walk thru the door of my ROVA and stand before the check-in desk with my latest SISC that I can see the shadows moving all around me. I turn and look up through the atrium glass walls and see every employee at the RO crowding against the glass walls to get a peek at the LEGEND that has submitted more paperwork to keep them employed in these hard times than anyone else in the history of the VA. Damn what a wussy I've become. It's so nice to be able to vent here – thank you T-Bird and all you countless nameless other for what has been created here. Sorry for small tangent here back to what I started to say. What was I saying? Oh yea, I'll show you my 'Buddy Statement Packet'. It contains; a letter that I wrote to the VA outlining my stressors, a letter to my buddies to explain what I wanted, a sample letter to show them how to format their letter and a stamped self-addressed envelope. You know it cost a $1.00 + the 42 cent stamp on the return envelope to mail this thing. Because of space considerations I'll leave out the va stressor letter. Hi John, I've reached a point in my battle with the VA that it's time for me to ask you to write a "buddy letter". I feel funny asking for this as I'm usually very private and now I find that the best, and maybe, only way to explain what I need is to show you what I've told the VA. Keep in mind that at the time I wrote this letter I didn't have the time frames right (and still don't) so if something differs from your memory of it it's okay. I am not trying to put words in your mouth nor do I want you to lie for me. What I need from you is your memory of the following incidents: 1) The company member that cut his wrists and covered up in his bunk. 2) The company member that came through the tents with the pin pulled on a grenade. 3) The company member that came through the tents with the lock and loaded M-14. 4) The Christmas Eve Mass M-60 killings of the 2 soldiers in the 34th area. 5) The removal of all ammo from us for friendly fire reasons. 6) Statement from anyone who ever stood guard at the electric plant for the base power supply as to the noise level. I know from talking to everyone that not everyone remembers all of these incidents, but I have found at least one person that remembers each one of them. It's VERY IMPORTANT that your letter have the following statement at the end of your statement, "I hereby certify that the information I have given is true to the best of my knowledge and belief." Would it be pushing it to ask you to get your statement notarized and that you have 2 copies made one for you and one for me? Your letter should have; your full name, service number, where you were stationed and when (from – to). They can be hand written type would probably be better if possible; hey it's no big deal either way. I'd like to thank all of you in advance for your help on this and you can be assured that I'm going to do my best to be there for all of us from now on. We need to become aware of what we have to do to protect ourselves and our love ones. Respectfully Yours Joseph Mays Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office & Insurance Center P.O. Box 8586 Philadelphia, Pa 19101-8079 To Whom It May Concern: I (your name and service number) served in the 541st Transportation Company between xx/xx/1966 and xx/xx/1967 stationed at An Khe, South Viet Nam. During my tour there I witness/experienced the following event(s); your memories of: 7) The company member that cut his wrists and covered up in his bunk. 8) The company member that came through the tents with the pin pulled on a grenade. 9) The company member that came through the tents with the lock and loaded M-14. 10) The Christmas Eve Mass M-60 killings of the 2 soldiers in the 34th area. 11) The removal of all ammo from us for friendly fire reasons. 12) Statement from anyone who ever stood guard at the electric plant for the base power supply as to the noise level. I hereby certify that the information I have given is true to the best of my knowledge and belief. Your Name Signature Address Phone number P.S. Please send me the original in the enclosed stamped self-addressed envelope. The only that could make it better is if you have your letter notarized but that isn't an absolute requirement. I've asked you to mail me your letter so I can hand deliver it to the VARO in Philly so no one can claim it got lost. Thank you again for your help and support with this. Joe

Are there examples or templates or something like that one can look at? I'm at the point where I have to ask former company buddies for them and while I don't want to put words in anyone's mouth I'd like to be able to show them what is require to be an effective buddy letter.

Ron, this is one area I have to learn more about. I do know that if it's a FOIA request it get a lot more attention than just a "howdy, I'd like to see my records" type request. I know this from reading something the VA had in one of the chapters in its manual. Basically, they warned their employee to do something this way UNLESS it was a FOIA request. It told me something was special about a FOIA request. Vietnam Tanker, I think I've found a glitch in their amour but I'm damn sure the VA monitors this site so I'll not tell anyone till I have my whole company back together. Carlie let me say thank you and that I full understand where you are coming from. J, that means a lot coming from you. I'm reminded of the adages "The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry" and "be careful of what you wish for as they May come true." MikeR my claim isn't old I AM, lol, but I hope to be remember somewhere with in the VABORG as one of the top 10 PITAs they every got a NOD from. Deltij, I am not qualified to comment on your husband claim, others here would be far better than me for that. But you have hit the nail on the head the VA has a LONG history of corruption and lies and you can't get out of their shadow till your claim reaches the Appellate Court in my personal opinion

Thanks for the encouragment Wings Winter is such a beautiful time of the yearJ, The days are short, the nights are long and it's too cold to play outside. That leaves a lot of time to read and surf. Being retired helps a lot also. Even if this VA crap doesn't lead to divorce I've got more than enough time to learn. Which is what I need. Hey even my PTSD is going to be helpful, what with not sleeping I've plenty of time to play with the 'puter as TV is out in the early early morning hours after my rounds. My first SO was a really good SO so good he got himself 100% VA disabled. He was so good he awarded himself a silver star and purple heart too. He was so good they (my state gov) made him the head VSO in my county. He was so good the state even decided to ignore the fact that he'd been locked up for 3 ½ months for drug dealing to give him that VSO job, but that's understandable after all he was the best liar this state has ever found (kind of hard to believe that in NJ). And all went well to he was locked up again for lying about his service record and medals LOL. Actually he prove to me that anything is possible if you apply yourself. Perhaps I can claim a CUE in my case by claiming the VA allowed a criminal access to my files LOL. Ah, reality has begun to set back in sigh, yes I have a lot of work in front of me. And I'm excited at the thought of pick the brains of the veterans here. I'm sure that in time I'll win something, but the reality will always haunt me knowing that if the VA had really care back in '74 when I asked them for help with my PTSD that the lives of my family would have been better. They didn't or they would have called written anything or something to find out where/what happened to me. Today I still deal with it (my PTSD) just in my own way and I thank god that I've still got the rage inside that'll make me do something to piss them off. But I ramble because it is our dreams that give us life.

Looking for 120 more! 5 months ago I couldn’t remember a single name of the men I served with in Nam. Wow talk about “silver linings”, I guess I’ll have to thank the VA now along with the internet. A search of my unit produced 1 guy looking for anyone from the unit. We connected and he had another and remembered what area another lived in. Between the 3 we found 10. We are now up to 25 walking and talking. Sadly we’ve discovered many have already, roughly 30% of our finds so far, have passed. There were 154 men in my company; I want to locate them all. When I looked up my company on the net it was because I wonder if others I served with had the kind of problems I’ve had. Before long I had this idea we needed to come together again as a company to defend and protect each other once again. Many are already in the VA system (yes I’m going to point out Hadit to them all) some have gotten benefits while others have not. This is part of that R&S (Revenge and Satisfaction) that I’d mentioned in another post. I WILL inform my Brothers-In-Arms how the VA works. I also think this is a good way (finding an entire company that was together at a point in time) to get a feel for just what AO has done to us. Maybe a better understanding of PTSD, also. I have a feeling this is going to be big somehow. I’m open to ideas here!

LMAO Thanks Stretch, what a wonderful way to start the day, a belly laugh in the morning just makes the whole day a winner.

Good Morning MikeR, I’d like to think that about lawyers but like everything else in life it all depends on how lucky you are at the moment. Where do you find a “good lawyer”, I’ve never heard one say, “I suck as a lawyer.” I think it falls to the individual to get informed and proactive, or as they say, “And individual has to take personal responsibility.” Forty years ago I would have been in total agreement with you on the 50 PTSD vets in one room. But today its “no problem” as the really bad ones are gone and the ones that are left just don’t feel like kicking anymore. Where the heck were you on the POA thing when I needed you LOL.

Good Morning Pete53, I’m not sure what commitments would be necessary to effectively engage the VA. Would it have to be a “Union”? Perhaps I’ve found a “silver-lining” to my PTSD. I’m such a loner that I’ve always thought of ways to do/get things done by myself. My idea is/was to start an informational stand outside of the VARO where I would hand out a single sheet of information to “inquiring vets” all at my expense (you know this has to be cheaply done). This cautiously worded letter size sheet of paper printed both sides will contain URL’s for the websites that vets need to be aware of and why they need to be aware of them. I would of course have slightly larger signs on the back of my pick-up to draw the attention of the vets as they enter the VARO parking lot. It’s a public street so it should be legal. I’m not asking for money or threatening anyone. I need to figure out the best way to attract the vets to where I am to hand them a copy of it. I haven’t heard any complains from the guys using the cemeteries – yet that is. The medical side of the unholy triangle is a mixed bag but I’ll agree with some, it has gotten better since my first visit in ’74 but still needs work. The C&P side leaves one wondering how they sleep at night. I still laugh when they ask you if you have any weapons when you go to visit them. I still remember the look on the woman’s face as I responded, “I’m beginning to understand why you ask that question.”

Our purpose is to help Veterans with their claims. We are trying to deal with the laws currently on the books, that is to play the cards the way that they are dealt. 1.) I don't think anybody here is interested in anything like organization of a Union. I am sure every disabled Vet has had this idea at one time or the other. There isn't one of us who hasn't gone through the extreme anger that is caused by this system. If you need help grab on to the blanket. 2.) Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, wrote a great book on the five stages of dying. Think they were denial, anger, rebellion, depression, acceptance. Something like that. If you are interested in grief you could find this book at almost any book store. Grief ,as stages, are defined. Hello Stretch, I understand Hadit’s purpose and admire the work done by all. Surely I’m not the only one that sees we are playing against a stacked deck! You may be correct that no one is interested in organizing against this, but I’d point out that the first response to my post by Shunk would seem to argue your point with you. Surely there’s room to discuss the idea at least? It’s been my experience in life that we all need help, as for the blanket the only one I want to grab onto is my saddle blanket to ride this beast into the ground. I did look at ON Death and Dying but she appeared to be writing on the stages of grieving from the dying person’s view where I was speaking from/of the survivors grief/grieving. I do want to thank you for your view point and concern. JOE

Hello Wings, I’m not at all sure how to answer your questions. I know the VA has 4 claims with my name on them. The first 3 were filed through the New Jersey Department of Veterans and Military Affairs. The claims; PTSD, Cancer and Hearing Lost were filed by a VSO after I asked them to obtain my VA medical records showing I’d gone for PTSD treatments in 1974. I wasn’t looking to file a claim at the time. All I wanted was proof that I had gone for treatment back then. But the SO advised me to file. I need the records to contest the Teamsters Pension Fund taking away 8 years of pension contributions that I had earned before my PTSD problems overwhelmed me and I withdrew for 30 years or so. Like most vets I trusted the SO when he told me not to worry about a thing. That was March 22, 2007 by Sept I had been notified by the VA that the 3 claims were denied. I took that letter to the SO and he again told me not to worry that a NOD would be filed. Almost 8 months later I went to their office to inquire about my claims only to find out that no NOD had been filed and that I had been approved for PTSD treatment almost 10 months before. I began to think something wasn’t right. I wound up at the RO where I signed up with another VSO. I soon found out that they had “many equally qualified” SO’s. It began to dawn on me that I’d be retelling my story every time I went there. So I tried to get some information from the front desk VA employees, who upon asking me if I had a VSO, that they didn’t/couldn’t/wouldn’t talk to me as I had given the VSO POA which PMOR (Pissed Me Off Royally) to say the least. Looking at this last sentence is beginning to worry me lol. The 4th claim PTSD Secondary to Personal Assault was filed so there was/wouldn’t be any POA on the claim and the VA would have to talk to me. There’s a lot more story in my VA TT (Trials & Tribulations) but that another post as they say. BTW thanks for asking. JOE