billy2

Bertha, When I went to the VA I asked for this person and I gave her my paperwork from the hospital. She was legit but she wasn't working for the DAV but worked as a VSR. Bill

I received a call and I thought it was from the DAV rep that is processing my claims. They asked me if I would like to file a claim for some of the conditions that I wrote on my Statment in Support of Claim Form for IU. I said I wasn't sure and they said that I should do it. This person was a young girl and I thought she worked for the DAV. I said I have some medical records the the VA never received from the hospital when I had a procedure. She said mail them to her and I said I would drive them up to the office. I went up there and checked into the deck where you can see the different groups that represent vet. I asked for the person I talked to on the phone from the DAV and was told she is a VSR. My question is --Is is unusual for the VSR people to contact the vet? Is this how it works sometimes? Bill

Bertha. I think the stressors have been established already with the medical people at the VA during my interviews and also during my C&P for PTSD. I didn't bring the work related issues of being threatened with harm by an employee because it had nothing to do with my leaving the Post Office. I was hoping to work longer and max out my pension but it was impossible. I should have filed for injury comp. when this employee treatened me and the agency looked the other way. I still have copies of the two letters that I wrote to the powers to be and they ignored me. I retired because physically and mentally I couldn't do the job any longer and not because the agency ignored my concerns 4 years earlier. I didn't want to complicate the PTSD claim by bringing in more information than was needed. The VA is confused enough already. If you ever called them you would know what I mean. If I lose my claim for PTSD I will go to a private shrink, not the one I went to earlier because I didn't like him. He gave his dog a half a tablet of Zoloft when he took him to work with him. You can imagine the meds he gave to people. Bertha I was denied a claim for CAD and Hypertension as related to DMII which I was rated for from Nam and AO. I couldn't get the heart Dr. to put anything in writing. It was like I was asking him to give me illegal drugs. Bill

John, I agree with you and thats what I will do. I don't want to complicate the issue by talking about an unrelated issue at work. Bill

dh. The shrink at the C&P for PTSD asked me what I have done since January? I was in the hospital and had a stint incerted in Jan. I said I went to Cardio rehab for a few weeks and dropped out because they moved and it wasn't an easy trip. I replied that I basically did nothing. He looked at me like I was nuts and he asked the question again. I said that I just hang around my house with my new dog and in the good weather I water and weed my flowers in my fenced in yard. I said that I feel the best when I am alone. You don't have to talk,answer questions, or be bothered when you are aloneand the dog doesn't talk yet. I'm hanging in there and I have no immediate plans for the future. I have a lot of time on my hands and I wish I was healthy enough to put on a backpack and take off and hike the Applachian Trail for a few weeks. Bill

Sharon, Thank you for your reply. I left my job because mentally and physically I could no longer do it. I quit. Bill

dark, I am 50% for AO related issues. My PTSD claim is being processed and the combat stressors are in place. I also have three other claims in the network. I mentioned the workplace issue but it has nothing to do with my military service. I didn't want to complicate the issue by bringing up something that happened 5 years ago at work. Bill

Purple, I left my job because I was having panic attacks, couldn't complete basic tasks, could no longer interact, and I wanted to hurt my bosses, Those were some of the mental issues that I have and I have other health conditions. It was time to go. Bill

I had a C&P for PTSD a few weeks ago. I was under the care of a private shrink in 2004 for about a year and I never told the VA about it. It was a job related issue and I took a few months off and I needed a medical diagnosis to cover my absence under FMLA. I was a supervisor and fired someone and he lost his appeal and it was final. This employee had a history or violence and crazy behavior. He told people he was going to get me. I asked the agency what they would do to protect me and I was told nothing could be done. I went to the shrink and he put me on Zoloft. As far as I can remember we never really got into the combat issues. I know it was mentioned but our main focus was on this individual that had threatened me. The shrink said I was suffering from PTSD. I never mentioned this because I didn't want the VA to say my PTSD was the result of my job. The doctor recommended that I leave my job if at all possible. I did leave my job a few years later because I could no longer function in a hostile work place. Bill

Cannoncocker, Thank you for your encouragement. I just find it a little strange that all these conditions were added to a claim that I feel have nothing to do with my service. I know it may not make sense to some people that I feel that way. I guess if you look at the total picture all these issues will help because I feel that I an unable to work anymore and applied for IU. Bill

Cannoncocker, Thanks for your reply. When I had a C&P two weeks the lady was writing down all the thinks that were wrong with me and at 60 years old its a long list, old age. She said you have flat feet and vericose veins. I said okay. I really don't understand the whole claim process. I know about the Agent Orange and PTSD issues but what do these other health issues have to do with being in the service? Bill

I received a call from the VSR or someone similar asking me if I would like to file a claim for COPD,GERD and Hyperthroidism. I have two claims pending and she was reviewing my medical files and saw these three items. I asked how does this relate to my service 40 years ago. I never thought that these things were caused by my service in the army. I don't want to waste the VBA's time and my time with frivolous claims. If there is a nexus, that is fine but if there isn't a nexus than forget it. Bill

John, I spent over 30 years in the PO and it was a decent job back in the early 70's. Now it reminds me of the VA, all f----- up. Bill

I know the service academies don't accept anyone over 6'8'' but I'm don't know what the army or the others do. Bill

How tall are you now :) :o

The big day that I was waiting for is finally over. The exam lasted around 45 min and it was not what I expected. He didn't ask any of the things that I have read on the internet. This was an old time doctor and he was a prick. I requested a copy of my exam to be sent to me and he played dumb. He claimed that didn't know how that worked. I wanted to beat the sh-- out of him but I said thank you and I left. I don't think I did very well but time will tell,you never know. Bill

Did something change or did I screw up my computer? Yesterday when I opened a post it would start with the person that started the thread and have all the replies after that in the order posted. Today it starts with the most recent reply and goes back to the original post. I have a C&P tomorrow for PTSD and this change is confusing me. Thanks Bill

No check here. I started to recieve disability in Feb 09. It was retro back to Nov 08. I was told I wasn't eligable for the stimulus because even thou I received disability for Nov and Dec of 08 I wasn't receiving checks for that year. Didn't make a lot of sense but I took their word for it. Bill

I never signed up for the AO Registry but get 50% for DM2 and PN. What are the advantages of signing up?

I can't get SSD because I only have 39 quarters and I haven't paid into it since I was in the army. I retired under civil service 6 months ago because of health issues. I recently contacted a lawyer that I say on the internet that claimed that he was an expert in civil service disability and he said I wasn't eligable because I couild retire under normal circumstances.

I always feel worse after my sessions also. I not sure if reliving trauma and all the stupid things that I have done is a healing process. When I didn't give a s--t about what I did I felt a lot better but I was younger and living on the edge. Bill

I'm not quite old enough to be on medicare. I am retired and have medical insurance thru my employer and my wife works and I am also on her health insurance. Her insurance pays my co-pay at my private doctors.I now get all my meds from the VA except my diabetes stuff which is free on her policy, janumet and 100 test strips a month. I am an ex federal employee and pay around a $140 a month for single coverage. I will never drop my private insurance because I don't feel comfortable with the VA health care system. After reading these posts I was wondering if the VA bills my private insurances when I go to the VA. I only see some medical doctor or nurse once a year and vist the mental health people every four weeks. Bill

Cowgirl, I had a claim for CAD and hypertension as secondary to DM2 and it was rejected. My heart Dr. didn't want to write a nexus letter for me. He had no problem charging $48,000 for the stint that was put in. If or when I get the claim for PTSD approved I may file for those two things as secondary to PTSD. As far as the COPD, which is mild, I don't see a nexus for that. Today the C&P person told me I had flat feet and and a mild case of varicose vains. She also said that I see by your records that you drank quite a bit. The lady at the mental health department that I deal with for meds was really into the drinking part of my history. Its a long process dealing with the VA and very frustrating and I sometimes feel that I was better off before I was told that I suffered from PTSD. I knew I had issues but I didn't realize that it was this bad. Bill

I had a C&P today for IU and it lasted about one hour and 45 minutes. We reviewed all the physical things that I have wrong with me. She went over the diabetes and peripheral neouopathy which I am service connected for. We then went over my CAD,Hypertension, and COPD which are not service connected right now. We reviewed what I could do physically. I said I could't stand for long periods of timebecause of the PN. I also said I can't lift anything over 25 lbs and I also stated that can't use a snowblower and similar tasks like that. She said who said you can't lift over 25 and use a snowblower and I said my heart doctor, who she also goes to. So we finally got past the physical part of working it got a little tricky. Okay you can't do physical labor but what would stop you from doing office work? Can you physically do office work? I said that I guess that I could physically do office work. BUT mentally I can't do office work because of my issues that I have that are related to PTSD. The lady then said that she is only concerned with the physical aspects of working. She said that I will be able to bring that up next week when I have a C&P for PTSD. I hope that they wait for a decision on IU until I have my C&P for PTSD.

The postal service hires disabled vets as custodians all the time. If you want a job that the most difficult part of the day is to show up the PO is for you.