clw4514

u know john, i have come here for guidance and support for about a year. and now, u have certainly made me feel so unwelcomed, i cant even describe it. i am not a confrontational person so with that said....i know what my award letter says. and i understand what u are saying. but i will not sit here and be called a liar such as u are doing. so, without getting ugly or nasty, i say good bye to this website. i will not be back for anything no matter how down and out i get, no matter how much i need help with a damn thing. thx so much for turning on me like u did. what's one more kick in the ass when the military has already beat u down for so long. not only that, but u have no idea where i am in my life with this whole ptsd thing. u never know how close someone is to healing or jumping. 'preciate it...

dont mind at all but obviously will have to be next week. but again, i have to say that i feel as if i am being attacked. i was simply asking for insight and guidance. didnt mean to open a taboo can of worms.

hold on...just crossed my mind. are you attacking me or inquiring? i feel kinda like im being attacked. i have no problem scanning my letter and showing you its on there.

i went to the nutritionist for over a year w/ no change in my weight except going up. it was well documented thru that. oh, and also, after my MST, i was anorexic & over time recovered and started gaining weight rapidly. that was documented in my smr's. as for showing a nexus, other than medical records, i didnt have to show or prove anything. and yes, i filed it. i said in my original post that it was secondary to ptsd. i didnt put it on the paperwork, the vso helping me put it on there and it was awarded. maybe it was luck of the draw, i dont know. all i know is that it is on my award letter and i am 70% compensation for ptsd. however u wanna chalk it up, its on there. as for the va admitting there is a link btwn the 2, it has never been discussed with me. civilian wise, yes it has been proven to be linked.

not sure if it is compensatable but it is secondary to my ptsd. i have ptsd due to mst. and apparently from the air show disaster @ ramstein but i havent added that to my claim and probably wont. and yes, ur right - it is embarrassing. when it comes up that i am a vet, the looks i get first bcuz i am a mom/housewife/etc then bcuz of my weight can be unbearable at times. it hurts my pride, i wont lie. it seems to me if it is at least a secondary condition then the VA would help some how. even if it was to simply change my meds (i know, not so simple at times) i would be happy. i dont eat a bunch of crap, i still follow weight watcher meals and such but i gain instead of lose. i do swim a few times a week but i guess the way my knee is damaged makes it hurt sometimes. feels like its "catching" or the knee cap is popping out. but, im sticking it out. just thought someone else may have a little more insight. and if there is anything else i can answer for u about the obesity, plz pm me. im by no means an expert but can tell u how mine was handled. thx!!

well, i am obese secondary to PTSD. just wondered if anyone else has the glorious pleasure to have that, too. i've tried everything and i mean everything to lose the weight. it all seemed to work for a while and then nothing but gaining once again. no, i didnt stop the routine or programs, my body just seemed to revolt. now, im limited on my exercising due to a blown knee. i mean, i can still walk but hurts like hell! soooooo, what i am going the long way about is....if anyone has been in a similar situation, have u ever successfully got any help (preferrably non surgical) with your weight? all they say is "keep exercising!" i just want to scream out "really? did u miss that whole freaking section on MRI, orthopaedics, custom knee brace? how about the acl damage, medial & lateral meniscus tears? exactly how do u suggest exercising?" but ultimately, i know they r only saying what immediately pops into their mind and i know they r seriously overwhelmed. that would be why i come to my old faithful crew here :) any success stories? insight? suggestions?

My husband just got orders to Yorktown,VA. I'm not really sure which VA I will be going to but was wanting to get a heads up on the opinion of the facilities in the area. Anyone? TIA!

wow - im glad to say mine have all been pretty good. well, except for one group leader. i think that was more of a personality conflict. i so hope u get a good one soon!!

yep - i agree. thats why i didnt offer any names. :)

bahaha - dont u wonder where they get some of these folks who work at the VA? on the good days, i just have to sit back and laugh. the other days, i either scream or cry.

sorry - i did tag n' bag at the end but didnt focus on names. i can remember pretty much every detail but that.

nah - im already 70% for it....just want to get better B)

omg! they just dropped u? i cant handle that! damn near panic now just thinking about it! how could they do that? i hope u were able to get help else where....im making a list of all of my concerns now. thanks so much for bringing that to my attn.

haha! at least im not alone on that train of thought. i cant handle crap now so im really not understanding how the PE would even begin to help. 20+ yrs of avoiding feeling and im supposed to be better/cured in 9 sessions. i wonder if they have a program that will cure "fluffiness" in only 9 sessions B) i told her i would TRY it but i needed to have my meds increased to cope with it. thx for ur input, chickie!

ok, so ive been mostly absent from here and everywhere else for several months. depression & anxiety escalating. individual therapist strongly suggested prolonged exposure. anyone been thru this? seems like crap science to me. then again, what do i know. input, experiences, etc will be very much appreciated. TIA.... Christy

i just did that this fall. i didnt have any issues with it. make sure u overkill on the info provided. meaning that if u can anticipate them asking for something, send it in the first time. mine went thru without any issue. it was about 2 wks longer than the 30 days but hey = after the amount of time most folks wait, im good with it!

i was there. pm me if u like

nope - not on VONAPP. oh well...i'll call and find out where to mail it. thanks berta!!

i was actually kicked out in part due to failing the fat boy (girl) program. although i was only 5 lbs over max at that time, i have in 19 yrs gained almost 80 lbs. when i got to the va last yr, i some how came about seeing a nutritionist. i so wish i could remember how....then when i was filing my claim, i jokingly sd, "hell, if it wasnt for all the stress, etc from ptsd/trauma, i wouldnt be so fluffy!" vso told me to put it down. i never expected to get it awarded. and since it was awarded secondary, i have been able to go to kinesiotherapy. thats pretty much a gym at the VA. it sounds like i have just been one of the lucky ones with the system. or i had all the T's crossed and I's dotted on the documentation. wishing u the best!!

on veterans day for all vets and active duty. heres the website to find one in ur area. www.cleancarfeeling.com

hey, papa - i actually was awarded my claim for obesity secondary to ptsd. and they r working with me on it. i think they r taking it serious now. just an fyi...it may be worth going near a VA hospital.

can this form be filled out via VONAPP? or do i have to print and mail in? and where do i send it? i know, i know....lots o' questions sorry to hijack....

awesome awesome awesome!!! congratulations!

lol - thx larry! i wish they would make this info a little more available. but i guess once u deal with it for a while u start to understand their logic a little more. i'll work on the pic of the goose for ya! those birds r just mean!

i knew about this table. is this the same thing that IU pays on top of ur compensation? or am i reading it wrong? sorry to be such a bother...i just get frustrated trying to decipher all this some days.