mik

welcome and never give up. I don't know everything, but buddy letters and doctors opinion get the best results.

Waiting is the hardest part. I always wondered if I put in enough. I kept sending more and more from medical appointments I was still having. That kept pushing back everything. I waited 10 months before getting my C&P exams and then I got a rating at 12 months exactly after putting in my claim. Most of my medical records were never used to give me a rating. I was given service connection for 4 of my issues. One was given because of service records and 3 were given because of 2 buddy letters and one phychologists letter that happenned to have a doctorite degree. I filed and researched everything myself because I did not like the person that I was dealing with. good luck with your claim and stay positive.

I was service connected for depression with loss of memory, brain fog and fatigue due to chronic pain from cervical spine and headaches. I wasn't diagnosed with depression until 16 years after my accident. I didn't file for service connection for any of my issues until 20 years after accident. You will need a nexus letter from your psychologist and physychiatrist that prescribes your medicine. It would be better if your psychologist had a PHD.

I was service connected for depression due to neck pain and headaches. I also had a phychologist with a doctorate degree give me an IMO, and my phychiatrist also stated this. My primary doctor wouldn't even help me even though he first diagnosed me and prescribed my meds. I was diagnosed with depression 15 years after getting out of the service and 17 years after my accident. The VA stated that without my IMO from my phychologist. I wouldn't of been granted the depression due to pain and headaches.

Thanks again for kind words. I talked to my psychiatrist the other day and explained my feelings on everything. I still havent snapped out of this rut. I got back pay and already a month of pay. I thought I would be happy. Yes I'm helping my family with the extra money. I just don't feel it helping me like I thought it would. Quite a few people knew that I was going through this ordeal and now that I've won. All I hear is how much money it is. You probably can't or shouldn't do that because you will jeperdize the good thing that you got going. Like I stole something or am scamming the government. I try to explain that if I can do something I will. Most things I will never be able to do and that isn't because I'm now being compensated. I got this because of my injuries and the stuff that I can't do. What I'm getting now is like workmans comp for a civilian job. I didn't wish to get into a car accident or get arthritis in my ankle. they like say you were'nt shot or in a war. I got in my accident a 1/2 mile from base while going to work. Another navy guy hit me. I'm just tired of explaining and trying to defend myself. It's as if I won and lost at the same time.

Thanks for the words of encouragement. My wife is very happy. It;s just that most people thought I was crazy to even think I was going to get anything the first time. My wife included. She tried to ease my pain if it didn't work out. That made me fight even harder and make sure I had every duck in a row. My life was wrapped up in this for a year. it's hard to let something go when everything you needed and worked for has been accomplished. I just applied for medical. that was an ordeal dealing with the paperwork and undrstanding the directions. I don't think that I will ever get use to that. I need to try to pay more attention to my family. I'm still around because of them. That needs to be my life goal now. Thank you

My envelope came yesterday. The same day my girl got into the high school that she wanted. My wife was excited and said good things are going to happen. I opened up the envelope and the 1st thing that I saw was granted service condition. I filed my claim August 13, 2009. Almost one year exactly. Service Connected disability Overall- 40% -Tension headaches 0% -Cervical Strain, (claimed as myofasical neck pain, loss of lordotic curve, scoliosis, neck malalighnment, disc bulge, facet joint syndrome, and whiplash) 20% -Right Ankle Degenerative Joint Disease, (status post multiple ankle sprains). 10% -Depressive Disorder, (includes claimed loss of short term memory, fatigue, and "brain fog". 10% -I will apply for my left ankle if anything goes wrong with that. I've had more sprains with that ankle than my right and my left is fine except for pain. I did all the research and medical file finding on my own. Thanks to this website, I was fully knowledgeable on how to proceed. If it wasn't for my two buddy letters stating that my accident happened and I was working with a stiff neck. I would of never been approved for my neck and tension headaches. That was in the reason for the decision. I had nothing in my service medical files accept an entry for neck pain. They even went against some of the statements the C&P examiner said about my neck issues not being caused by the accident since it wasn't noted in service. I've been living with this pain and headaches since I got out 20 years ago and have been going to doctors since then. I could hardly pay for my prescriptions anymore. A friend was applying so I decided to. I hardly ever posted, just lurked. Awesome information. It's wierd, but I'm not as happy as I should be. I still can't let it sink in. It took so long to get a diagnosis. I have a feeling someone is going to take it away. Thanks again for all your help.