Cruinthe

Now THERES the larry I know! Perfect! 10/10 *golf clap*

Geez larry, you can do better than THAT! The only way to recover from that weak post is to accuse me of lying about the whole situation. Start by saying I am not a veteran, or that I was in the Coast Guard reserve or something. But, I will throw you a bone, because I am a caring kinda person. Say larry, have you ever advocated a veteran sue the VFW for botching a claim? Surely YES, and you will post a link to that very topic. Yup. I can feel it being typed RIGHT now. No doubt. Any second now. Maybe Ill get some popcorn.

Hmm, I dunno james. When you say there is no conspiracy you would get more cred on this forum if you THEN add "you will NEVER see the VA say a male veteran has a menstrual disorder. it simply cant happen, so dont say it every did or ever will. only a drama queen would do that". Half stepping is no way to do it. Work with me here guys!

See now this is MUCH better. I would have preferred it if you called me a dirty jaywalker or a filthy litterer, because solicitation littering and jaywalking are all in about the same category, 4th degree misdemeanor or something. But the feigned indignity? Dude...SPOT on! Kudos! I cant bring myself to list the veterans that I have helped. Some in astonishingly small amounts of time, so I want you all to redouble your efforts to portray me as an incompetent boob that has screwed up more claims than...well...the VA. Keep trying guys! Also, whatever you do, DONT make ANY mention to the fact that I did get a 95% score on my NVLSP test, or that the NVLSP are the actual people that the VA uses to train its NSO's. Consistency is the key here, and you guys are doing a bang-up job so far. One side note, no..wait. Ok Ill drop a hint. A guy used a hidden camera to record, and was harassed by a federal agency, he then sued that agency for harassment and won the case! Another hint, the case had to word "lobby" in it. But, dont focus too much on facts or reality. Well, no need to tell you people that. Ok, whos next?

Thats good texas, but you need to paint me a bit more as a bad guy. Maybe an offhand comment that I am a pedophile or something, be creative. But good work on propping up the VA "warning", but you could have gone a bit more. You should have said "you dont have the right to talk to other veterans, even if they want help and your advice is valid and DOES help them" Then perhaps wrap it all up by saying that its people like me that cause such high rates of error in the VA rating system. PS bravo please get your homosexual rage under control k thnx bye

You three are doing a good job so far, but I think you should go the extra mile. I suggest you begin by asserting it was me that that walked into the VARO with a pistol and shoved 3 VA employees up against the wall. Say I got mad because I didn't get my free cup of coffee, or something suitably silly. You can do better, I have faith in you! And wheres my popcorn?

Wheres my popcorn? And bravo6, have you stopped beating you wife yet?

Nothing better to do, eh bravo6? Good to know we can count on veterans to knife each other in the back at any given opportunity. Did you bring enough popcorn for everyone?

"BTW, just a little question: Are you being treated at the VA for your psychiatric problems? They have pretty good programs already in place. Group Therapy and the like, where you can bring your problems out into the open and discuss them with others." Do I sound like someone that works well in groups!? But seriously, I attended an in-patient PTSD program back in 2002. Within 15 minutes I was able to identify a good number of VA informants posing as "patients" and since I tend to be vocal about such things, I was kicked out in short order. Oh, and if anyone thinks the VA does not use informants, please refer to 38 C.F.R. § 1.496. Remember kiddies, things are much, MUCH worse than you think they are. " If you read the first post in this topic you will notice that he said that 3 federal security guards showed up. Not VA police, but FEDERAL security." So, six of one of half a dozen of the other? Did you happen to see the part about the TWO Level 8 VA supervisors? And said supervisors barking orders TO the guards "put him against the wall, search him for weapons, take his bag and search it too". And lets also remember I already passed through the U.S. Marshals screening on the way in. This was intimidation, pure and simple. An attempt to elicit a violent response from me. And it failed...miserably. And now the VA will pay the price for their lack of vision. "The above having been said, in my own humble opinion, your problem stems from a continued confrontational attitude with the VA" I warn every veteran, officially, that holding our own to an impossibly high standard while paying little to no attention to the massive incredible and spectacular travesties that the VA perpetrates on us...will the ruin of us all. Once you start dancing to the VAs tune, you have no hope. Under the Constitution, I have the right to FREE SPEECH, and the right to FREE ASSOCIATION. These are not negotiable, least of all with the VA. Thanks for all the support all, I will be on Startdust Radio tomorrow at noon EST. Updates to follow!

Well, last time I gave advice to a fellow veteran I was arrested, but here we go anyway. First, do you know the actual and exact diagnostic codes for the disorders you have, and second have you found the actual rating scale for these disorders in 38 CFR? I would begin there, to be honest. *ducks and runs before the VA sends the police* Good luck!

***UPDATE*** Story hits Veterans Today http://www.veteranstoday.com/2010/08/19/gulf-war-hero-arrested-by-va-cops-for-helping-felllow-veteran-now-is-harassed/ To clarify for those that may not be aware, I was able to embarrass the Roanoke VARO back in April of this year. The story is here: http://www.foxnews.c...trual-disorder/ and my name is Glenn McBride, the same person in the story. Now, the root of the problem here is the VA does not wish for me to speak to anyone while I am in the waiting area, or lobby, of the VARO. This is the area where veterans sit before their VFW or DAV service officer becomes available. I tend to pass out my business cards and assist any and all veterans I meet in the waiting area of the VARO. As we all know, the VA C&P process can be difficult, and I attempt to help those that are having problems. I do not ask to become the POA. I would like to state, in very clear terms, that I have suspected the VA has been sending informants into the lobby to actively converse with me, ask for advice from me, then the details of that conversation are passed on to VA employees. Due to this, I purchased a hidden camera. This hidden camera is the size of a pen, and records color video @ 640x480 with full audio. I have more than a few conversations recorded that will be used in my upcoming lawsuit. If anyone has FTP space available, I can upload these videos. So, I would like to pose some simple questions for the group. Should veterans be allowed to speak to each other about their claims while on VA property? Do we have freedom of speech and the right to free association, as protected by the Constitution? Second, on the matter of "solicitation" I would like to make it perfectly and very clear that I do not charge any fee for any service provided. It says right on the back of my cards, all services are free. The VA has been pressuring me to become "accredited" by the VA Office of General Counsel. I have applied for this accreditation, but it could take months for the application to process. When I became certified by the National Veterans Legal Service Program, the VA accepted that as my credentials, and I have a veteran that has already agreed to testify to that fact. Then, some time later, the VA refused my NVLSP certification. At the time or arrest, I was escorted out of the building and I await formal charges, if any. My lawyer is preparing counter-charges against the VA. I will keep you all informed.

Obama kept his promise, so I will vote for him next time. Now all disabled veterans need to stand ready to help the Iraq war vets have access to their earned benefits. I fully expect the military to do a mass reduction-in-force that will leave quite a few veterans in need. Now, lets get the troops out of Afghanistan and home to their families!

Well, since my story hit Fox News this spring, the VA is looking at a clear case of retaliation. I agree there is a high degree of probability the "charges" (solicitation is like what, a 4th degree misdemeanor right down there with jay walking) will be dropped. That said, I VERY much want this case to go before a jury. Anyone want to imagine the VA trying to explain to 12 people WHY they are trying to trample a disabled veteran that is doing his best to help his fellow veterans, AND doing it for free? The VA can function in its own little bubble, but the VA is terrified of being out in the spotlight. Public opinion of the VA is already very low, probably the same as the IRS, so at this point the only thing the VA did was over-extend themselves. It was a big, BIG mistake, and they will pay for it. My lawyer said he will review the counter-charges with me tomorrow, and if we are in agreement, he will file them. I will keep you all informed.

The "charge" was solicitation. Yet it says on the back of my cards " never a fee for any services" and the person in question began to ask ME for advice.

I friend and I went into the Roanoke VARO yesterday to request a DRO hearing on his claim. In the lobby was one, and only one, person. As soon as my friend and I sat in the lobby, this person sat next to us and began talking about the problems he was having with the VA. He asked for my advice on what to do. I told him the first thing he should do is request a copy of his C&P file. He asked how he could do that, I told him to fill out the standard 4138 and submit it to the clerk. He did so, and within minutes three armed federal protective service guards showed up with two level 8 VA managers. The captain of the detail kept his hand on his service pistol the whole time. The "charge" was solicitation. As soon as my lawyers file the charges against the guilty parties, I will release the hidden camera footage to the media. Should be interesting.

"What I found to help these vets claims is evidence the rep had completely overlooked in every case. That bothered me a lot. " We come to the root of the matter. When freedom is outlawed, only outlaws will have freedom? How much freedom does the VA have? Near complete and total, in my opinion. How much freedom does the average veteran have when dealing with the VA? Virtually none, it would seem.

Have you filed a claim for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? If not, please familiarize yourself with the symptoms of PTSD and how they affect us in our daily lives. Yes No Have you experienced or witnessed a life-threatening event that caused intense fear, helplessness or horror? Do you re-experience the event in at least one of the following ways? Yes No Repeated, distressing memories and/or dreams? Yes No Acting or feeling as if the event was happening again? (flashbacks or re-living it). Yes No Intense physical and/or emotional distress when you are exposed to things that remind you of the event? Yes No Do you avoid reminders of the event and feel numb, compared to the way you felt before? Yes No Do you avoid thoughts, feelings and conversations about the event? Yes No Do you avoid activities, places or people who remind you of it? Yes No Have you blanked on parts of the detail? Yes No Are you losing interest in significant activities in your life? Yes No Are you feeling detached from other people? Yes No Do you feel as if your range of emotions is restricted? Yes No Do you feel is if your future is diminished in terms of marriage, children or a normal life span? Are you troubled by two or more of the following: Yes No Problems sleeping? Yes No Irritability or outbursts of anger? Yes No Problems concentrating? Yes No Feeling 'on-guard'? Yes No An exaggerated startle response?

Yes deltaj, that is CERTAINLY a CUE in my eyes at least. But who am I to say, Im just some idiot that just won a $32,000 CUE claim a few months ago. My name is mud here, so you should ignore me. Trust the VA...and the DAV too! /sarcasm OFF But seriously PM me and lets research your issue some more. Hey retiredat44 can you PM me Id like to talk to you. And tbird, I will be preparing some questions for you to post at a later date. I think its time we see how far the rabbit hole goes.

"Can veterans service officers and advocates work together on a single claim?" Awesome question Its unreal how NSOs fight over veterans like a pack of vultures on a carcass. If the well being of the veteran was truly at the heart of the matter, then anyone that could assist in that regard would be given a chance to toss in his two cents. Anyone remember the stories of the dark ages where only the priests could actually read, so the content of the Bible was only understood by a small number of self-appointed elite? But, now that many can read, the secrets of the Bible are laid out for anyone that wants to find them. In the end it is a battle between those that want to enhance and spread knowledge and hope, and those that want to corner the market for their own petty gain.

Love the feedback, as always. Ill try to work my way back through the issues. First to Larry, I always listen to my enemies, for they are the most honest when it comes to looking at my flaws. One of the first veterans I helped was a battered single mother of three. Her husband roughed her up and tossed her out. She had been 70% for 5+ years, and been denied for Individual Unemployability, no appeal filed, then she filed for it again on her own but things looked bleak. I reviewed her claim, took her to Senator Webb for assistance, filled out a financial hardship expedite request, and within 6 weeks she not only had 100%, she got T&P. I made sure the T&P issue was tacked on to her request as she had no medical insurance for her youngest child. So let me ask this. Where were the glorious and ever so perfect service organizations for the last 5 years? How much did the VA help her? One of the biggest problems I have with a segment of the veterans community is, they dance to the VAs tune, they dont know any other moves, and they dont WANT to know any other moves. So while people are disparaging me, examining my every single move under a microscope, telling me I "stepped over the line", and countless other jabs, I cant help but wonder something. Have you stopped by your senators office lately? Talked to any news reporters? Stopped by a homeless shelter to check on some veterans? Or is it easier to sit here and bust my balls? Are you people aware that the suicide rate among veterans is at an all time high? Homeless veterans? VA managers walking away with $24 million in swag? A general approval rate of 4% from any given VARO? I wont bother asking these people to point their finely tuned cannons of perfection at the VA or any of the hangers-on that have lead us into this unmitigated disaster. Selective indignation is a disease with no known cure. In my opinion, only a stark raving lunatic would defend the VA or the status quo at this point. " I am certified by the NVLSP as a veterans advocate" -- I have not read all this yet-but if you mean you have the Certificate in Basic Veterans Law from NVLSP" -- Yup, thats the one. I have looked into the testing procedure of the VA OGC and found it is only 25 questions, multiple guess. I could probably pass it with no problem. But, the more the VA pushes this issue, the less inclined I am to actually take the test. I do not negotiate with tyrants. In the end, what saddens me the most is that my honest efforts to help my fellow veterans, putting multiple thousands of dollars into this out of my own pocket, and its me that is the scumbag shyster and the VA is the "good cop". No one asks how they can help, just how they can hurt. With "friends" like this, no wonder the VA has been able to mop the floor with us for 40 odd years. At some level I expected this because its the same old song I heard the the intrenet "leaders" when I decided to run my claim from 70% up to 100% alone, then file for T&P alone, then put together my ILP plan alone, file for SMC-S alone, file my own CUE for an EED (and won $32,000), make it on to Fox News (anyone else here can say that?), and now trying to share all that I have learned with my fellow veterans. I have seen the enemy, and he is us. The VA laughs all the way to the bank.

Well, considering the fact that;; 1) There was a VA employee sitting barely 5 feet away from us the whole time 2) Had it been ME behaving in a same manner as the DAV rep (getting in someones face, being verbally abusive, jabbing fingers and shouting orders), the security guards would have tazered me, then he U.S Marshals would have shot me dead 3) The DAV rep admitted she knew Norman had cancelled the DAV as his POA, but she came out anyway, even through we asked for a VA rep, not a DAV rep, so that means this entire event was a provocation orchestrated by the VA and the DAV with the intent to entice me into a physical confrontation, otherwise known as entrapment. I have discussed this subject with a very senior veterans rights figure. He has been able to confirm from an actual VA employee that the VA does in fact utilize informants to spy on "problem veterans". These informants are recruited from the ranks of the service organizations. I am not sure if this fact is going to be exposed at this time, but I am moving in that direction. So I again assert that the VA is working in tandem with the service orgs, and both groups are merely two sides of the same corrupt coin.

Oh Good Lord a benefits counselor that dont know how to do a simple BVA search? Anyhow, Fox News is picking up my story, should hit the circuit before the end of the month. Next stop, ACLU! Hang on kiddies, its gonna be a bumpy ride!

Ok I will try to answer the questions here, and some of them are absolutely superb. Thanks ALL for the input! At this point I do not ask veterans to sign off a 21-22a POA. I merely advise veterans as to their options, and escort them in to the VARO to assist in filling out forms, if needed. Even if I did, I would be LEGALLY allowed to do so under the new "one time rule". The pay grade of the VA dude in question is level 7 supervisor, bu his own admittance. "2 veterans having a conversation is not breaking any law or VA rule. The VA dude was eavesdropping in the first place." - EXCELLENT point! And I heard with my own ears the VA guy loudly ORDERING the person in question to NOT talk to me. I was not even 10 feet away, just around the corner. "What are the legal ins and outs to being a VSO? How does one get to be so?" My research shows that the short path is to seek "accreditation" by the VA. This is done my asking the VA lawyers to test you. If you pass, you are accredited. The easy path is to take training from one of the service orgs. All your paperwork is passed through the hands of someone thats been accredited by the VA. The only flaw in this system is, the service orgs serve as GATE KEEPERS! "I am certified by the NVLSP as a veterans advocate. This is good, I suppose, but, are you, in fact an accredited veterans service officer, authorized by the VA Office of General Counsel to represent veterans for a recognized and authorized Veterans Service Organization, and are you properly prepared to do so? And, are you, in fact, covered by an insurance policy that covers "mal-practice", just in case you should inadvertently incorrectly advise a veteran and he/she suffers monetary loses due to your representation?" I will be filing for accreditation before the end of this month, but that is not the point here. Is anyone here willing to concede that the VA has the power to silence all discussion? I will speak to whom I wish, if not, I will see the VA in court. And good bloody luck finding one person that is not happy with the service I provide. I am barely 2 months into this, officially, and I have 4 veterans that are chomping at the bit, eager and ready to sign sworn statements that I am good at what I do. "There may very well be some rules that apply to licensed veterans advocates that prevent you from speaking to veterans who are represented by someone else... rules that don't apply to non-professionals." -- I would very much like to see the DAV in a courtroom trying to explain the logic behind not allowing someone, anyone, to speak. "I would find a media person who wants to break a National Story." -- The balls is already rolling, and thats just the start of it. One of my lawyers reviewed the clip and all said through the whole thing was "Thats a felony, theres another, this guy an idiot and hes going to jail, theres another felony" I warned you all not time ago that the VA was about to suffer a massive public relations disaster. That time is now.

I appreciate the feedback I am getting here. This restores my waning faith in veterans and humanity in general. Now, you guys tell me what you think of this little tidbit. I am helping a veteran transfer his file. So we go into the Roanoke VARO and ask to speak to a VA rep (we did not ask for DAV or VFW, or AL, but VA employee). So out comes this short little girl wearing a dark green shirt. She asks to my buddy, "are you Norman?" and he replies yes. She says to follow her, I get up and go with him. As soon as we are in the hallway, this person turns and says to me "why are you?" and I reply "I am with Norm" and she replies "yeah well, why?" and I explain I am helping Norman with his VA claim and that I am certified by the NVLSP as a veterans advocate. Then Norman figures out that this chick is DAV, and he says "I canceled my POA with DAV" and this girl says...get this..."YEAH, I KNOW YOU DID". And me and Norm are like, WTF?! Over? So she says to Norm "well I cant talk to you" and she heads back into the lobby area. When we get to the lobby, she stops, get RIGHT in my face, jabs a finger in my chest and ORDERS ME "you dont talk to anyone in this area, you dont talk to HIM, you dont talk to HIM, and you dont talk to HIM" as she points to 3 veterans sitting in the lobby, then she adds "they belong to ME!" and she turns about and walks into the RO office area. Needless to say, Norman was stunned, I just sat there and smiled because I am totally used to this sort of behavior by the VA.

Your eloquence surpasses your beauty, larry :)