buzzard

Good Morning Sir, And thank you again for your help, and Thank YOU for serving my country! I am planning to call the VA today at the number in your post and will tell them I want to file an informal claim, and let them know for what ailments; will they then log this call and send me the proper claim form (I have already saved the 12 page claim form in my favorites)? Will he/she want specific medical information, such as dates of treatments and where? Yes, you are correct about the mental health issues...like stated earlier, I was inpatient/outpatient years back, medicated, counseled...blah, blah, blah...although I don't have specific dates and thus and waiting on my medical records (I plan also on requested at my local VA clinic for them to send for the records); I have stuffed and tried to compartmentalize for years now...but am coming apart...don't like to talk about it, but need to....I am trying to wait till next Tuesday to seek help (the day of my schedule VA physical)...although maybe I should do it now....it is hard to open up to somebody/anybody about it. The staff does seem caring and wonderful at the local VA clinic, from what I gathered last week when I filled out and turned in the application.... I await your reply re: calling the VA today... Thanks again.

Thank you Larry & John, Okay, that makes sense. I didn't file a claim in the past because I thought all would be well, and it was for a while; that was over ten years ago.....but life is becoming a mental struggle for me...not good...... I plan on filing a claim for the hearing loss, tinnitus, and if they deem I have PTSD, or something else mental, then I'll file a claim for that, too. I called the last clinic (mental outpaitent) I had been to, and they told me my health records were in the archives....so I sent for them via eVetRecs, as well as any and all other medical records and any and all military records. So should I still sign the releases at the VA cllinic? Do you know how soon that takes to get the records (I assume they fax them back to the clinic)? I'm assuming my "physical" at the VA Clinic will be a thorough one? I plan to tell them every problem I've had. Will a psych evaluate me at that time? Will I get a hearing test (my ENT doctor told me there was nothing that can be done for the tinnitus, and it was his opinion I have hearing loss, AND I KNOW THAT I DO, and he said to get my hearing checked at the VA Clinic..I've also had chronic sinus problems for decades, along with several surgeries to remove polyps...headaches everyday and more....)? I suppose they will make my appointment for the AO testing/registery while I am there (I will need to go to the Chillicothe, OH clinic for that one)... Thanks again. I really appreciate it and need all the help I can get!

A little about me: I am a veteran of the Army (1968-1974), having served two tours in Vietnam as a Crew Chief/Door Gunner. I live in Ohio. I had some mental issues when I returned, and continue to do so. I have hearing problems and tinnitus (driving me crazy; it is just getting worse with time): as well as a few other problems. I've been inpatient/outpatient at VA in the past. I work part-time for now, though it is a real challenge. I applied for VA health care just this past Thursday and have my first appointment in less than two weeks, and then I guess they will set up an appointment for me to go to Chillicothe for the Agent Orange physical/registry (I was in many areas in VN where it was used). I sent for all my military records via eVetRecords last week, but I don't anticipate receiving them as fast I got the VA heathcare approved. My question: I have private health insurance (Anthem) and I plan on dropping it, as I can no longer afford it; the premiums, co-pays and deductibles are killing me! I don't know if I should drop it before my first appointment....am I even allowed to drop the private health insurance at any time? Thanks Brothers! Dave