[Anyone Been Diagnoses With Ms?]

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I found and joined :

MultipleSclerosis-MS

I am not sure if you meant this group?

this is the group

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/MSVETS/

[Anyone Been Diagnoses With Ms?]

Anyone been diagnoses with MS? I have been going for some C&P exams, and while I was recently diagnosed with Dystrphy, I stil suspect I have MS, and am anxiously awaiting the outcome..

I would like to chat with those that have MS, or suspect they do..

thanx..

I've been diagnosed with MS since 2001, we have a yahoo group for gulf war vets and other vets diagnosed with MS it is a yahoo group MSVETS. Lots of good advice on this group and how to get SC for MS.

Liz

[I Broke Down Today]

Mikey, congrats!!!

As far as working on the service connection for your heart condition, make sure everyone in your family knows that if you pass away prior to the 10 year mark from your P&T award that your family insist that the PTSD be listed as a cause of death on your death certificate. I have drilled it into my daughter and husband that my SC disabilities be listed on my death certificate. This will protect our 18 year old son who has been declared a "Helpless Child" to receive DIC benefits, also my husband will be able to receive DIC.

Good luck and very glad that you are now rated 100%.

Liz B)

[100% For Gulf War Vet With Ms]

I am doing the happy dance for my friend, who just got her 100% P&T notification.

I had been bugging her to file for unemployability, and she finally did last fall. She just got her notification, she was rated 100%. Previously she was rated 60% for the MS, so she is really affected by the MS.

Thanks for all the past advice I have learned from HADIT, it really helps me help other vets.

cheers, Liz

[Sah Grant And New C&p]

To be elegible for the SAH grant you must either have "loss of use" or be blind, at least that is what I read into the SAH grant. You have to have a SMC rating for "loss of use" or the visual impairment. From your post it does not appear that you have the rating.

Liz

[Ptsd Claims And C&p Exams]

I am attempting to assist my husband in his claim for SC PTSD but am lost in a process and world I do not understand. His claim was initially filed in June 2004. It was quite by accident as I went to the County VA Rep. attempting to get him treatment through the VA. After several years of treatment through private psychiatrists and psychologists, two psychiatrists finally diagnosed his problem as PTSD which resulted from his buddy being killed in a tank which was known to malfunction. It would do things after the main power was cut off but they were ordered to use it anyway. His buddy was caught in the turret. Although my husband and another friend tried to save him, he passed away. When the interview with the Rep was completed, the Rep. told me he had filed a claim for compensation and to go over to the VA Med Center to apply for treatment which is where he has been treated since that time for which we are most grateful. We gave the Rep. names of the witnesses and the victim as well as informing him my husband was told there would be a CID investigation and he and the other buddy who found their friend were ordered to guard the tank that he was killed in that night. I even did research and found the SS# for his deceased friend in the SSDI and conveyed that to the VA. I was most dismayed when he received a denial earlier this year stating they found no record of the death, or any CID report nor record of the existence of his other buddy witness or the Sgt. who came running to help extricate the victim. I was to understand THEY would help locate the information. Although I was unsure how to proceed, I began doing research on the internet and found the widow who kindly provided a copy of Certificate of Overseas Death, and the CID report. I also found his other friend who was a witness and the Sgt. who, to my UTTER DISBELIEF considering he wasn't supposed to exist, was a Retired Sgt. Major of the Army who also wrote a buddy statement. I also submitted the scant military records my husband still had showing he was receiving high scores and praise prior to his friend's death in June but after his performance deteriorated to the point that by November of that year he was receiving penalties ( I don't know the technical term) for being AWOL and not in formation, etc. and lost his rank. He has stated he went to medical for help and they gave him small pills (which he thinks were Melloril) and was told he would be alright. He begged to get out of tanks and back to his MOS of Forward Observer but was denied. The VA claimed there is no record of either his requests for transfer or the medical visit. Unfortunately, that is the only documentation I have not managed to access to refute what they say. The status now is that the new VA Rep "resubmitted" it under a "failure to assist" and my husband has an appointment for a C&P exam here in Western North Carolina, but they are not sending him to the VA psychiatrists who treat him but to a private psychiatrist contracted by them. This concerns me. Given the performance of the VA thus far, I'm not sure I can trust a doctor on their payroll and even if ethical, how can they assess my husband's condition in one appointment? I have had so much on me in the last 2 years, I feel as though I'm drowning. It's difficult enough to deal with his illness and all of our financial and personal things as well as keeping a home operational. For those of you who understand PTSD, I don't have to tell you he refuses to leave the house most of the time except for mandatory errands and bill paying. Any information you could give me on the claims process in re: PTSD, C&P exams, or support groups for PTSD Vet's wives, I would appreciate. I've asked at the VA Med Center but they know of nothing for the wives. The last couple of months he has been what I refer to as "closed for business" or "checked out" punctuated by fits of rage. The last couple of weeks it has worn so thin I feel as though I would like to crawl in a hole and not come out. Unfortunately, I don't have that luxury.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ginger, You are doing a terrific job in basically doing the VA's job!! Unfortunately your case is pretty much what usually happens, you can not assume that the VA will really provide assistance. I believe the "Duty to Assist" for most VA RO's means sending a "Duty to Assist" letter to the veteran !!

Make copies of everything that you send to the VA, you will win in the end!!

Your husband is very lucky to have you as his advocate.

regards, Liz