[Post-traumatic Stress Disorder]

Mobie,

Your post was an excellent read. Thank you.

Storm

[Back Pay For Errors In Decision That Was Made By The Va]

Cornelia,

It would be vary hard for me to overturn the VA's decision to not honer my claim for my back injury at my time of seperatation. They stated I was treated only once and they were right. What they don't have and neither do I since this was late 1991, Is the doctors verbal statement to me telling me I will heal and "just learn to live with some pain". Bad advise, I followed up until I could no longer. I will be shocked if I can get them to admit it is SC, and if they then rate it high or low. The system seems vary unfair. Good Luck on your back Retro.

Storm

[Hello Everyone.]

Commander Bob,

Thank you vary much for the welcome.

Storm

[Waiting And Nervous]

Hang in there Dan,

My crap is in Buffalo too. Been there since Jan 08, been out of work since Jan 07. I keep being told Buffalo has a BIG Problem. I am going to try to get there as soon as I can to get My C-file. I have records all over the place and it sounds like those clowns might not have any of what they will need to make an informed rating in my case. I been living on my 10% for the last 2 years so I feel your pain brother. Maybe 09 will have good news for both you and me.

PS: I am not sure where you are in the state but my state vet rep here in Utica has been great (as much as she can do anyway). Maybe you might have one close to where your at, who can help in your case.

Storm

[Important Topics - Please Review This Thread.]

Rentalguy,

One Word... INCREDIBLE !! Thank you so much for the time you obviously put into your posts. I applied for SC for a my lower back right after I got out, but was turned down due to lack of a chronic history of back pain. Now I look back at my service and I am wishing I would have went to the hospital every time my back hurt (but I did ask for it). So ten years later I am looking at DDD L4-5 & S1, out of work for since Jan 07, and currently waiting for a disability determination from both the VA and SSD. I am just now finding this site and learning the ropes. I have been being treated at the VA for this wonderful malody I have since I re-injured/aggravated or just plain really screwed up my back while at work (which is another story in itself). All I can say is this has to be a fate worse then death. I can't work, I am only SC 10% for a gun shot wound and I am living on $117 a month - 100 for cable, phone and internet. I am not sure what the best course of action would be to try to speed up the process and light a fire under my file. At this point I am undergoing the shot series, scheduled for #2 in march. I was also just recently diganosed with PTSD. But I am under no circumstances going to file for that SC right now, otherwise the claim I got in now will go back to square 1. Seems like I am on never ending road leading nowhere and covered with land mines.

Storm

[Hello Everyone.]

john999,

I got shot in the upper right area of my chest, bullet remains in near my armpit. I still have use of my right arm so... 10% I know the whole system seems to be soooooo screwed up. The PTSD was just recently dianosed. I am not and have not submitted a claim for it yet. I don't want to put the whole fricking process back to square 1 or 2. I am going to get my paperwork together and submit the claim for the PTSD epiphany the doc just had as soon as I get a decision back On what they are already currently sitting on or shredding or making paper airplanes out of. It is starting to seem to me that the whole Buffalo Regenal VA is permently out to lunch.

Thanks for the reply John

Storm

[Hello Everyone.]

macool,

Hello back brother! Thanks for your reply.

Time seems to be all the currency I have left so I will be spending it learning. Got to read up on C files as I am not sure exactly if I know what they are.. yet.

You can bet your last dollar, they are going to get sick of me after I get done preparing my plan of attack.

Thanks again for you post Mac.

Storm

[Hello Everyone.]

terrysturgis,

Thanks for your post. Yes I plan on spending as much time as I can learning from the people and the posts on this site.

Storm

[Hello Everyone.]

purple,

Thank you for your Greets and kind words. Guess I am not the only AF Vet to join this Navy LOL. I think I do have the documentation I will need. But most of my medical records are still in the hands of VA and AF (mental health records & Sub abuse). I have requested records a long time ago from St Lious. What I got seemed to be mostly garbage and nothing I could use. So I am not sure about the best way to get what I need to add to what I have already.

Storm

[Hello Everyone.]

trailblazer,

Thanks for the Greets and kind words. Yes the trouble sleeping and the pharmacy I have in my bathroom are such fun. LOL

Storm

[Hello Everyone.]

Pete53,

Thanks for the Greets and your response. I have applied for both VA SC Dec 07 (for lower back - Increase; The Alcoholism & Depession) and SSD Nov 07 for back and depression. SSD is in the appeal process (1st turn down waiting for ADJ and I did hire an attorney). I just am second guessing myself on if I did a good job with submitting the paperwork (I did that on my own). After being put in this terminal waiting pattern, I am really getting worried. I don't want to end up having to wait any longer then I possible have too! That is why I am really wondering what the new diagnosesis of PTSD is going to do to my claim. I am being treated for it at the Hospital here but my claim does not make any reference to it. I had know idea what PTSD was until a few months ago. As far as the Benefits go. God and I know I have earned um, but will the VA and the SSD Judge do the right thing. As is stands now I am spending most of my VA check each month, just so I can have TV, Phone, & Internet. I am tired of living like this and I wish some of the desk jockey's working in claims would try it for a few months, let alone a few years. I Did not ask for the hand I got and I will survive, but I would like to do more then just survive. I would like to know any information on what part of the process my claim both Pension and SC are.

Storm

[Hello Everyone.]

jbasser,

Thank you for asking. Yes my VSO did and I filed for non-service Pen in Aug of this year.... Still Waiting...

Storm

[Hello Everyone.]

Hello everyone,

I just found this site last night while I was unable to sleep (Bet no one here ever has that problem). I wanted to be able to post and make sense so I waited to join till today. I am glad I am here and I hope to get to know more about the site and the brave men and women who are gathered here.

I am a GW1 vet who was serving his country from 1988 -1998 as a Law Enforcement SP in the Air Force. When I left the service I was holding myself together with booze. Only took me ten years to end up here newly diagnosed with PTSD by a head shrinker at the VA in Syracuse and awaiting an answer on a claim for increase in SC due to Degenerative Disc Disease, Depression, Hypertension, and alocolism in remission.

I did file and was awarded my 10% for a gun shot wound when I got out, but I was denied my claim for SC for a lower back injury, due to lack of chronic history of back problems.

This is what really burns me up. I worked with Spec Ops at the end of my time in service, I worked as mission essential personnel the 98% of the entire time I was in. I only flew a desk for about six months and almost went nutz. I have never thought of myself as someone who was indestructable, but I was not the sick call king either. Suck it up and press on was a creedo which I was taught while I was in. So when I injured my back and a Doc told me I was young and would heal in time. Then he gave me the AF Curall (Motrin) and sent me on my way while telling me to learn to live with the pain. So I did and I am wondering how the VA expects someone who works as mission essential while they are serving to ever have a chronic history of anything? They discharged people for that type of crap.

So now I am unable to work and have been since January of 2007. That was when I finally ignored the pain so much I ended up in not being able to walk,stand or get out of bed for a week and have lost feeling in part of my right foot. I have been living on my 10% and my twenty dollar allowance from social services and food stamps. I have been so confused and had the underlying PTSD issues to deal with while trying to navigate this sea of crap.

I am trying really really hard not to be angry with my Uncle. But after just the brief bit of reading I have done so far on the site I am not sure if I stand any chance at all in getting any more SC for anything or SSI/SSDI. I don't have any idea about any of my claims so far and I guess you could say the State Vet Counselor has done a fair job of helping. But I have gone from a somewhat functioning member of the American workforce to a homeless vet in the system and on welfare.

The shame I feel everytime I have to use my welfare benefit card is adding to an already seemingly hopeless and endless process of waiting to be judged. But, I know I am judged by the people who see me use my welfare card. I never would have dreamed I would end up living like I am now. I think I would be happy if someone could just tell me how long I have to wait to get an answer. Even death row inmates have a timetable to deal with. Why can't Uncle Sam show the same mercy for it's fighting sons and daughters that is does for other people in foreign countries?

Currently I have sent an email to Iris requesting Info on my claims and I am working on more emails to dispatch to the Pres elect and others. Any help from anyone or suggestions would be appreciated.

I just feel like all my best attacks are not getting me any closer to winning this battle and I am so tired of fighting for something I should not have to fight for to begin with.