Cavtrooper088

Thanks GBArmy. I appreciate you helping me.

Last year I took a series of exams administered by VES. Never heard anything back from any of those exams. Just today I received notice that I was to take the same exams again. One as quick as 7 Oct 19 and I took the same exams December 2018. Is this a common occurrence with VES and VA? I have been 100% P&T since 2006 and I am nearly 71 years old.

Berta, JR, John, Bergie, Thanks for the great advice Berta-I am SC'd peripheral neuropathy(10%) for both L&R leg. Cav

In my initial VA C&P it states that "we have granted service connection for bilateral peripheral vascular disease secondary to your DMII (SC 20%). During the VA exam you complained of claudication, which you described as a sharp pain in your calf. The excerise was consistent with mild arterial disease bilaterally". It then states "VA regulations consider noncompensable complications to be a part of the diabetic process and included in the evaluation assigned for diabetes; therefore bilateral peripheral vascular discases do not warrant separate evalulations. In the event these conditions worsen, you should notify our office." My question is this: Is peripheral vascular disease a separate condition from DMII? My legs are really bothering me now. Cav

Welcome back Shunk. I think we all rant and rave from time to time. Good to have you back. Cavtrooper

Peter, I am so sorry. You are absolutely right in helping your brother's family take VA to task for their uncaring attitude, and I wish you the best of luck. Take care of yourself. Cavtrooper088

Hi gang, Last week I got a letter from VA saying that I would be receiving my retro pay (CRSC). Got a similar one from CRSC. A couple of days (23 Dec) later it showed up as a direct deposit of $16K. I really owe a lot Cowgirl, Testvet, Pete53, PR, Bertha, Bonaza, CLW, John999, Boondoc, Sharon, LarryJ and many others for the information and the shoulder to lean on during the bad days. I started this process (my initial claim) Feb 06 when my wife of 41 years told that I was crazy and she was going to take me to VA to talk to someone. After the county veteran's rep help me fill out the form I pretty much did everything on my own. Finding Hadit was heaven sent, and you all have given me so much information. I'm pretty much a lurker and don't post that much unless I'm talking about my dog (the infamous Sgt Bubbles), but I read hadit daily. As a result of the information I've gleamed from this site I've been able to help a good friend and another VN vet 11B (SGMdae) through the VA process as well. He and I are now working on helping another VN viet (11B) who probably lost a newborn as a reult of being exposed to Agent Orange, and who definitely has PTSD as well as a skin disorder. Thanks for all that you do. For all the old guys (some of whom I mention above) know that in the past year you have helped at least two old VN vets wade through the VA red tape. Cavtrooper 088

Pete, I'm so sorry. God Bless you and your family. You've and many other Hadit friends have been so helpful to me. Cavtrooper088

Way to go Tag and Bag. Man--I'm happy for ya. Cavtrooper088

Hi Gang, I haven't posted for a while, but still visit the site everyday. FYI---It took 6-8 weeks for me to get my C file. First time I tried I wrote a letter which prompted VA to send me a form which I had to fill out to request the C file. After I did that it took about a month. I was amazed at all the information that was in the file. They actually had information that I had been unsuccessfully trying to dig up for the past year. Good luck in your pursuit. God bless our troops. Cav

God Bless your son and all our young service members who are guarding our freedom. Be thinking about you Broncovet

LarryJ, You just gave me a good laugh about the daughters of Southern Baptist preacher. My Dad was a deacon in the church, and my Mom taught Sunday school class at Fairview Baptist (a small rural Southern Baptist church) . In my younger days I tended to sit in the back pew with Sheila (preacher's daughter) and the two of us created a different version of "placing hands" on each other. Sadly, that was broken up pretty quickly by the little ole ladies of the church who, in my opinion should have been paying more attention to the preacher and less attention to the preacher's daughter and me. It was a titalating little moment that my folks didn't appreciate. Wonder where ole Sheila is now? She sure had a calling. :o Cav

LOL You're right Doc. I'll get me a set of those teeth, and I'll start working on a twitch :o If I remember right I think I might have had one at one time. :o Cav

Thanks Pete53---I am not as angry now, and I'm starting to look (read study) at this thing as impartially as I can. I appreciate you and BoonDoc giving me your throughts on this. I hate going to these things baring your soul to a stranger---talking to them about your most painful thoughts and guilt that you've tried to bury for decades and all they're hearing is: blah--blah--blah--hey this dude has nice shoes and he looks at me when he talks. Geeeez I'm still A friggin new guy, but I recommend anyone just starting this PTSD journey take Pete's and Doc's advice. Next time I go in there I'll be ready. Gonna buy a wig (growing this thinning hair won't work), sleep in my clothes for a week prior and I'm gonna look at their shoes for the whole d--n interview. :o Scouts out Pete. Thanks Doc Cav

Ha--that what dumb cav guys are for--finding out how not to do something. Good luck with your next visit BoonDoc. Evidently, that is exactlly what ya need to do. By the way I hope your own young Cavtrooper makes it back home in record time from the land of sand. God Bless him. Thanks for making me laugh. Cav

I am adding these comments to an old post so that you can see the original comments on my PTSD C&P, and compare these comments with the comments from my medical file. To start out--I finally got my medical records today. As I read through the notes from the mental health dept I was dismayed. Finally, the light is slowing coming on in the thick skull I have, and I'm starting to realize why so many vets are bitter towards VA. I've spent many months talking with these folks--seeking help with my anger management, nightmares and memories of combat. I find out today that they're really more concerned with the fact that I "dress neatly, maintain good eye contact and and speaks with a clear voice. Completely minimizing the fact I have been in four physical altercations in the past two years (with a$$holes), been fire for fighting in the workplace and I just can't clear my mind of the men that were loss due to my mistakes. I flew cobras in VN until I was wounded and evac in my 10th month. I was shot down twice, spent eight terrifying hours on the ground ( I ain't a grunt--didn't sign up to be a grunt didn't like being on the ground playing hide and go seek with strange little people trying to hurt me) until I was extracted. I was awarded three distinguished flying crosses, bronze star w/v device, Air Medal w/v device and a PH and some other stuff. My unit (TF Gerry Owens) lost 30% of the pilots (all but 4 were KIA's) over a 45 day period while fighting the battle of An Loc in 1972. Our unit, which was decimated, was awarded a Presidental Unit Citation and stood down following this fight and the survivors (me being one) were farmed out to other Cav units in county. Do they focus on this--no instead they compliment me on being neatly dress and maintain good eye contact. He--, my momma and Dad (God rest their souls) taught me to dress neatly and speak clearly, and maintain good eye contact---What's this got to do with the price of tea in china? All these folks want to do is to show that I am making progress. They change my meds every six weeks, try to turn me into a walking zoombie, and ask me if I'm gonna kill myself or anyone else in the next few days while they log in how much better I am getting and pat themselves on the back. In fact my GAF has steadily risen from the 45 on my C&P exam to a consistent 50-55. Obviously due to their brilliant observations that I am "neatly dress, maintain good eye contact and speak with a clear voice. All this miracle curing has taking place while my life is rapidly spending out of control and I am going to hurt myself or somebody. Thank you Jesus--VA has healed me. Now we will all go down to the altar and praise VA. Give me a ffriggin break. (I'm Southern Baptist- so I probably just got in trouble for that last sentence--Gotta go to church for sure Sunday). I'm sorry if I have offended anyone. I didn't mean to offend, but I am hurting right now. I thought these folks were listening to me and trying to help me. They don't care. I'm just another entry on the score card. Cavtrooper

Thanks Louis, That good information, and I learned something new. Bet one of those little dust busters would do the trick. They're small enough so I could still ambush K-9 SGT Bubbles from time to time. Cav

Thanks guys. Nooooow if I can just get the two of you to come with me when I start this SSDI thingie :D Cav

PR and Tagandbag, This is a good thread and really good info for new guys like me. I don't fully understand the SSDI thing, however I was under the impression that If you became eligable for SSDI (before 62) that you would draw the same amount that you would draw at 66. As an example the social security calculator shows that I would draw $1492 if I retire at 62, but that I would draw $1978 if I wait until 66. Am I wrong in my thinking that if I am approved for SSDI this year (I'm 61) that I will draw approximately $2K? Thanks guys--you both put out some really good info :D Cav

Hi Gang, I saw where LarryJ, Bonzai and Jbasser were talking about using compressed air (can) to clean their computers. I know about using it on the keyboard. Do y'all use it on other parts of the computer? My old computer was so messed up that I thought about hydro blasting it to clean out the cobwebs before it finally died a gruesome death.--Now you're starting to get an idea of my level of expertise when it comes to dealing with computers. The new computer, which I bought after getting sound advice from my Hadit friends, is a dream, and I've hoping to keep it running that way. Any recommendations? My biggest problem with the cans of compressed air is that I use them up squirting K-9 SGT Bubbles as she faithfully follows the Commandant (she who must be obey) from room to room. What a suck up. (Bubbles that is) Remember you're talking with a Cav guy so use short words and no complex concepts :D Thanks guys.

Yep---Larry's older 'n dirt. Glad I live a long way away from him 'cause he looks mean too :D thanks for the form number Louis Larry, My Granddad came from the same school that your's did. I thought my name was boy until my went to college. Then it became college boy :P Again--thanks for all your help Cav

LarryJ, Bonzai and John999, Thanks a lot for helping me understand this better. As always the old guys on Hadit do a great job of helping us FNG's :D understand this VA system. I really appreciate you taking the time to reply. Sometimes VA just seems like one big maze with special code words that us new guys just don't understand. Cavtrooper

Thanks Louis. Do you think that the AXIS ll comment is a negative comment, or simply doesn't apply to the PTSD I've exhibited? I was amazed at how much my C file included. I'd been looking all over for my initial VA physical from 91 and I couldn't find it anywhere. Somehow it had found it way into my C file. Cav

Hi gang, Finally got my "C" file today. I'm currently rated as 70% PTSD and (90%) overall. I would appreciate your thoughts on where I go from here relative to filing for IU or trying to get to 100% PTSD. I understand the words written below, but not sure I understand the meaning of the words written by the examiner. Here are the comments made from my C&P exam for PTSD. "on the Beck Depression Inventory, this veteran endorsed a number of symptoms yielding a score of 35, which indicates an extremely severe level of depression. He was also tested with the MMPI and the results were judged to be valid. Profile elevations are consistent with a diagnosis of PTSD. Of note are endorsements of items suggestive or persecutory ideas and social isolation. His score of 158 on the Mississippi is more than one standard deviation above the mean for the PTSD group. Diagnoses: AXIS 1. 309.81 post traumatic stress disorder AXIS II. V7109 (I don't understand what this means--Cav) AXIS III. Hypertension (same here Cav) AXIS IV. Chronic severe emotional problems, phase of life concerns. (phase of life??--does he think I'm gonna to turn into a friggin butterfly??) AXIS V. GAF 45 Summary and conclusions "Results of this examination are consistent with a diagnosis of PTSD chronic, severe. Veteran was decorated for valor seven times and his symptoms are directly attributable to his horrific and life threatening combat experiences in VN. His clinical presentation was consistent with the results of psychological testing. This veteran has structured his life in such a way that he can, at times, appear to have successfully staved off a complete exacerbation of his PTSD symptoms. However, his ability to do so effectively is currently being taxed. His difficult postwar adjustment, workaholic style and self reported symptoms are hallmark features of PTSD. I suspect that his mental health will continue to deteriorate such that he will no longer be able to function adequately either at home or in the work place. I strongly urge this veteran to seek treatment for this condition. This Doc sure read my future correctly. This was written 20 Feb 07, and I was terminated for aggressive, hostile behavior in the work place two months ago. Again, thanks for your help. I would appreciate your thoughts. Please don't think I'm a mean person---I try real hard to control my anger--sometimes I can't. Cavtrooper088

Pretty good question Notorious Kelly. Isn't it great when ya catch one of these wannabe's in a lie. I swear I've met a gagillion "snipers" over the years. Why do all the wannabes' claim to be snipers? By the way--thanks for your service to our country brother. I always thought the Air Force knew how to live right. Plus their dining halls were outta sight. Cav