sf_ranger

First of all Welcome Home brother. Claims are not easy since the VA has to submit a lengthly explanation of a Vet's issues. Also, when the psyche PhD or MD doctor tells you of their evaluation and you know are not accurate then you must firmly correct her. I'll bet this woman has never seen a weapon pointing at her or even seen fatigues so it tells me she is in the wrong job...She needs to find another job preferrably outside the VA. An exam during a C+P is a person who looks for how you were before military, during military and after military. These people also confirm or argue your evaluations received by a VA or private PhD or MD. You must be strong and hold a stong feeling about how you were misused and it is obvious you do not trust anyone.....We do not trust anyone either. Trust and Anger are common threads amongst those of us who have PTSD. ALso it is common to get angry at the slightest thing and I get ticked off when I hear someone is trying to get over on a Vet.....You were good before the military and had a happy life then tell the xxxxx. Please do not let her ruin your examination by her submitting false remarks about you because if a person is subjected to War of any form then I firmly believe that person has a high degree of PTSD.....If you feel your PTSD is 50 with scants of 70 then I guarantee you that deep inside, you exhibit a firm 70% - 100%.... We are a group of Vietnam Vets in South Florida that try and help other War exposed Vets through the Red Tape especially when PTSD is their major issue. God Bless our Veterans and Troops. ...

Thank you very much. I do not believe I would be jeopardizing what I already have been awarded. For some reason I cannot get rid of the extreme anger I have and try every day and go to weekly meetings but it just comes to the surface....Darn it. I still get ticked at the way the Veterans are treated and denied for wounds they have shown to be SC. However, I am firmly committed to help my Veteran Brothers who have gone through the same mess I have receive what is rightly theirs to receive. I have a VN "bud" who was denied and treated very badly and he has one leg...Just 2 weeks ago after months of trying to get him to go to the VA Hospital for help he received 100 P+T.. It became a great day knowing he finally got relief..

I am 100% P+T. I was granted that 2 yrs ago. I was informed by my VSO and others that if I attempt to add additional evidence to support another claim I could be jepardizing my entire 100 P+T because my 100% would be reopened. Is it possible because I was rated 70% PTSD. 20% wounds that gave me 80%. I applied and was awarded 20% IU that gave me the 100%? SOme told me it really doesn't make sense to open a new case just to tell all that I am over 100 without IU and we are mensa mensa without it but it really irks the heck outta me to let it ride... I have been treated like dirt and felt trashy for telling the VA my injuries for many years until I finally had to stop working due to conflicts and said "After 40 years VA, you owe me and my family". I am still angry with 100%... What about the quality of life my wife and I missed? NO children to love because I was diagnosed 40 years ago with Toxins in my blood by my personal MD and the VA says "Troop. You are good to go". Yeah and my wife had 4 miscarrages and one was at 8 months. Thanks for hearing me and God Blesss our Veterans and Troops

TDRL may tell the story. Your military retirement is considered temporary due to injuries you sustained. (that is just what I believe and unsure of your full case) 90% is temporary. 100% can be temporary also. If you achieve 100% Permanent+Total then further exams are not necessary and a letter stating that fact will come to your residence.. If you are 90% and receive 100% pay scale then you still are considered 90% and further evaluations (usually yearly) will be necessary. A second C+P kinda makes me feel that someone produced a letter of dispute (possibly a Veterans Service Officer) and that will generate another C+P...... If your disability is physical and it has gotten worse then chances you could get a increase as long as you are not "capable" or "able" to work.. The 2nd C+P will probably be key in your case so don't leave anything to chance....Tell them (the reviewer) everything and let them know how your hurt and if you cannot perform regular daily funtions of a regular person then you MUST inform them and maybe give them examples.... Good luck and God Bless our Troops and Veterans

The VA originally provided me with deep tissue therapy to my R knee due to service disability. It worked for a time but after 3 times a week sessions for a total of 24 session they stopped...Figures. I use to have the same done with me when I had a pulled muscle from College football. It was called Diaotherm then and was a bigger machine. Now the machine looks like round metal pads that direct sound waves to the affected part. The hotter it gets on the skin the more the sound wave strength. I am on 50 mgs Tramadol, 4 times a day and two other meds for pain and inflamation. Got use to the Tramadol now and my next step may be Morphine but I told them I would like to try everything first before the morphine......My VN buddy here take morphine and he gets very sick and his mind is not orderly using that but his pain goes away. I still say name your pill....THe VA will try all sorts of meds but it is just to keep the Vet quiet. I got one of those fancy beds and it was great for almost a year now...It is warranted for 20 years. I have a foam bed because the air beds were just too rocky for us.... The foam beds cost plenty and so do the air beds. Got a King size for $4,600. Gosh we thought it came with a car........Good luck in your search for a painless sleep....

I was offered a light morphine and pain block for my injuries which are very similar to yours but I told them let's try something else first. I live in Southeast Florida and it has helped but thinking humidity has something to do with arthritic conditions is not accurate. The Arthritus foundation recently sent us a book and it they say that low humidity has nothing to do with whether my knees, back, spine or hips hurt.... I will go for an xray, again, on Monday to find out more. I figure after almost 40 years of living with pain the pain does increase and too bad the VA believes pills will take care of everything. Good luck and try the South before the Phillipines.. I am also told it is my state of mind that also has an increasing affect on my pain and I cannot find fun in any kind of pain.... I try but still consider them, the pain, rascals....

It has been close to 40 years since I fought in xcombat missions in Vietnam. PTSD is part of my life and I am always told we can live with it but it is not curable at this time. I have been tossed turn and manipulated by a lot of Psyches, MD's and PhD.'s in the VA and so far I still have PTSD. I go to every clinic i am told I should try. After a few meetings with non-Vet evaluators I find them to be unable to truly speak to them because they simply cannot manage my PTSD..They seem to be so far off baase it is a try but to date it doesn't work for me. When I tell my VA Psyche MD and he says to stop attending the appointments so I cancel them with his approval. I always try every suggestion and sometimes the suggested appointments do not work for me. The only thing to date I find comaraderie is through group meetings with other PTSD combat vets.. MST meetings may just help you in a way. You would be better off attending than not attending at least one.

I guess anything is possible and still we must remain vigalent. PTSD is something that does not just go away. I am in a group of PTSD vets who attend a meeting once a week and now we have been attending this group meeting for more than 2 years using Psyche doctors in between. I am quite sure that none of us need attention. We PTSD Vets just need constant help to a problem that was given to us by serving so proudly. When it comes to defending my belief in America being forever free, I would come to it's defense again and again.

100% for PTSD is not difficult to receive for those that have the disabilities of a 100% PTSD Veteran.... Well, we would all like to believe that but since it is not accurate I do occasionally touch base with a POW vet from the Iraqi War that has 100% PTSD. It took him close to 2 years to receive 100% P+T and that is after he was hospitalized for more than 30 days on two occasions. I have been 20% for almost 38 years then reapplied using several After Action Reports I am on showing combat and how we fought along with honorable letters from co-workers and hospital doctor visits from the last 22 years. Now I am 100% P+T. P+T along with 100% is full disability. Vets can be 100% P+T for 15 years and still get shafted. It is the 20 year mark that makes a vet really 100% P+T. Steve Company K, 75th Rangers, Vietnam Dec 24,1968-Feb 1970

As a 3 time wounded Viet Vet I find that it is one thing to claim a pre-existing condition and another huge problem to get it accepted and receive compensation......However, there are so many brave veterans that have this sincere problem so I say give them their due until the VA discovers it to be non compensiable....We Americans owe so much to our Vets..If it weren't for the Vets we couldn't write here or go to the our local store to purchase Political Magazines or worship in the Church of our choice.. God Bless our Troops and all of our Veterans

I do not know if it is OK to take with Nexium. You may want to check with the VA or go to a local pharmacy druggist who can check it on the computer. I take Fluoxetine (PTSD and other stuff), Amitriptilyne (for pain), Tramadol (for pain), Gabapentin, Hydrochlorothiazide, Prasosin, Ezwtimbe, Omerprazole (stomach acid), Flunisolide (nasal solution), Refresh (for the eyes) and recently taken off Desipramine. I also take Loratadine because I am told I have alergies.... I don't know what alergies but my nose was broken in VN during an enemy contact and the MD says after 40 years, "Oh! You had a broken nose"... hahahaha Guess the only thing I am missing is a ballpein hammer to clonk myself on the head when I still cannot sleep at nights. Steve

My problem is the same as all those I read in this forum and it is probably the sciatic nerve.... After several visits to the VA I gave up on their excuses and get treated by private MD's.... Burning sensations then leg becoming limp is common with me. The pain is bad and another story.. The VA perscribed Tramidol 2x50 mg tabs 4x a day for other pain and it helps. My real relief is from anti-inflation meds and getting off my feet soon as I discover the burn... Try to sit or travel with lower back support such as a pillow .... http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/sci...d-sciatic-nerve http://www.essortment.com/all/whatsciaticner_rghf.htm http://www.webmd.com/back-pain/tc/sciatica-topic-overview

I always hope and pray that old or new evidence in any Veteran case is not ignored but it is... I am a prime example of evidence being ignored on my case and a Veteran in my group also had the same experience... Upon discovery the VA revised each of our claims to our favor or should I say "To support our experiences in the military".... If the VA wanted to really support Veterans then a 25% increase would be just a touch of what we missed during our service for our country. God Bless our Troops and Veterans

We have read that a 100% P+T veteran is not assured the 100 until 20 years pass..I was 30% for 3 years then they said Malaria was gone and reduced my benefit to 20% for almost 40 years. For the last 2 years I am 100% P+T and over 55 years old (of course). It was a huge struggle and we veterans stuggle each and every day for what we deserve...I believe we need to constantly contact our policians to remind them. I do once a month. We were disabled since we left the service so we have been unable to achive the rank of someone who has not been disagnosed with a disability. I know 18 Vets here in the South and 14 are 100% P+T and each of us had at least one C+P before being awarded or should I say our well deserved claim... Vietnam wounds usually do not get better and as age is getting upon all of us Vietnam Vets we slowly become more injured... The 100%ers are on IU.... So 100% is not guaranteed until 20 years pass. I like enjoy the comments of poolguy11550 because the postings from him hit the mark every time. God Bless our Troops and Veterans.

I am under the assumption that if you receive 70% SC and 30% IU then you are 100% P+T......First one must be rated as IU to receive TDIU then of course the 100% is applied as 100 % P+T...... In addition, if one is rated as 100% P+T and in the breakdown for example says, "70% for PTSD and 30% IU", the vet can object and file again within a certain time limit. However, the vet can get reduced if the vet refuses the 100% P+T using the VA's original rating. It is funny you bring this up because I wanted to do teach and I am 100% P+T. I risk too much to argue to get full 100% SC which my current injuries can or should enable me to go for it....IU simply means I can no longer work and recently I thought I could but now go back to teaching College but now realize I cannot because I now hurt more than ever and because of my original IU Claim... If I try for 100% SC it really does not make sense for me because of the myrid of benefits my family and I now receive. The bennies could be reduced. It is a gamble that if disapproved I can get a reduced rating....I cannot afford to get reduced and hopefully you see the same if are the same and that is 100% P+T. My friend is 100% P+T SC and works for the Govt...Yeah he makes good pay but he is not even in fair physical shape...I will not want the exchange or a reduced P+T percentage because I believe I should have been given entirely 100% SC....We Vets should have been awarded the percentage without the fight and we fought so very hard for what we deserve.... I actually believe we deserve more than the average "Joe" because we have lost job opportunities due to our disabilities and have not received a fair VA raise in over 15 years. Why not???? I always contact my congressperson and all of us should do the same.... Individual Unemployability (IU) or also known as Total Disability due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU).....

OOPS...Last message went out too fast....COntact your local VA Medical Center to see what they did with your application. We received a denial letter 3 days after the deadline of August.......

The local VAMH prosthetic clinic where we live in S Florida sends in the approvals for the vets who apply... There were 4 of us here that were again disapproved and 2 have SC that tells us we need support...We have medal inside our supports and well the prosthetics are not comfortable.....

I am taking the same med but I am taking 3 x 2mg at bedtime...Taking this med during the day will put me to sleep.... My bedtime varies 'cause I do not sleep at nights due to PTSD but the Psyche MD and I are working on that now...Seems like an impossible move to me....Can't sleep at night and that's all there is to it....OH well....Good thing I am 100% with IU and a few months under 60 'cause I cannot hold down a job anymore without screwing up... I sleep during the day....

...Usually Niacin does make one feel like they are on fire....I try to refrain from taking specific vitamins and minerals but along with my many meds including Zocor, I take a vegetarian daily vitamin along with an Ordorless Organic Neuro-Logic capsule. Wife says too late to keep the smarts but it does help to keep your head on and heart and blood in better shape including making the thinking process improve....I find that the Omega 3 fish oil gelatin works good for an overall healthy body. However, I understand that natural fish containing the Omega 3 oil is better but what about the Mercury content? Did ya hear about the movie star who has recently been diagnosed with a huge amount of Mercury in his system and Mercury does make one feel sluggish and tired along with being dangerous to the human system.... My parents and siblings were vegetarians until I reached 14 years old... I always ate tuna but no meat and that includes chicken. My family has no problem with too much Mercury and we are in OK health. Just gotta stay away from my friends fast cars and stay off my pogo stick.....

I called him to ask about the funding and his attempt to appeal his denial but he doesn't answer his phone and he seldom leaves his house...I need to go visit him today...I do know he consolidated his loans to one "bigun" of $60k with a 3.25% interest rate otherwise his rates would be some where in the 8's like my neighbor...So I do not know how to work it for him but will soon find out...Thanks a zillion Brothers in Arms... God Bless our Troops and Veterans

I agree with you in most of your post...I thought some can change the system but it may take several lifetimes....Changeing an already in place faulted way of hiring will probably not change regardless of who is in the big seat..... USA Jobs had a 5 basic FEMA jobs open and I applied. However, I was not selected. My qualifications are many and I know the evaluation board saw my qualificaitons they meant nothing. I guess my 8 FEMA courses did not count....Also, I do understand that the govt. did remove several positions and those holding them down were floating...They do get 1st priority but how does a Fed. agency put someone in the job as important as FEMA when the people have no experience and require the basic of training....Oh well....The govt. kinda thinks on a buddy system for their rating boards.... If I could now work I would still use the USA Jobs and submit lots of apps.. for the jobs I believe I can qualify....The 10% did not help me....But I think it should have but i am not angry anymore cause things will not change in the big house....There will always be a lot of "red tape" aand it helps if you know how to navigate through the mess.....

He was denied SSD. He was working for the govt and he also did not put into SS for the last 10 years of his employment. I do find it kinda difficult for anyone who has the degrees but cannot work and cannot use his education and still pay for an education he cannot use. He has been around the block searching for some relief for what he earned but cannot use due to his IU....Catch 22... Thanks for any information.

My friend has 80% schedular and 20% IU for a little over a year...He is 100% P+T and 60 years old but he has problems that he believes will get him additional percentages....He also has a tuiton of $60K to pay and he cannot work due to his IU....If he opens an additional claim does he or can he be in trouble if he doesn't get the additional 20% as schedular?....Also is there any way he can get the $60K removed of reduced due to his 100% P+T???.... Any help would be greatly appreciated because he is a kind, introverted and a good person.. God Bless our Troops..

You mention MBA and my friend has one but cannot work due to him being 100% P+T. 80% schedular and 20% IU.... He also has a college tuition of $60k....Can he get his tuition of $60k removed because he is not able to work and cannot...? ? ? ? He is a kind and good person and any help would be greatly appreciated.

I just noticed your post...There is a person in our PTSD group who has hired an attorney on a "pay only if I win" fee basis and she works on just VA claims....The vet is currently receiving 60% for "Stress" because he did not have a combat MOS....He was in the Army in Nam and his MOS was engine repairman...TO us in the group it seems silly to rely on just an MOS because he also has shrapnel in his knee....His lawyer seems to believe he could get 100%....So do I and our group does too....Anyway the attorney is providing him with psyche care so she does believe he will win....We have names and numbers of legitimate Psyche doctors who will provide the VA with a detailed Psyche letter when the Vet provides the Doctor with evidence of serving and evidence of a disorder....The cost? A few hundred $ I guess but not sure.... In addition: Just my opinion here and I would believe that a lack of good sight could affect your everyday movements including emotions, increased stress and of course as you say "social skills''.... What about past and current relationships? I believe most everything one use to know and performed to some skillset of competence is circumvented when the skillset becomes tainted...It does lead one to a state of depression too.. I am sorry but I am just trying to give you some fuel for a fight and we need to fight together.. God Bless our Troops....