diabetes I Am Really At A Loss Here....

[SteveE9C6]

I got my letter from the VA on Friday. This was my appeal.

I applied for disability related to PTSD in 2006. When I tried to do the initial stressor statements, I just couldn't do them. They denied it because I never submitted anything. Ok... so I appealed, submitted copies of my treatment record from my private shrink for the last several years.

I did the stressor letter, researching dates, names, etc. It wasn't hard to find the names and dates on the wall. It was however, very hard to sit down and write it all down.

Regardless.... they awarded me 30% and also agreed that the stressors I submitted had occurred. Hey! that is a huge improvement. The first time I went to the VA PTSD clinic in College Station Texas (referred by my Psychiatrist) the social worker/intake lady informed me that "You can't come here... You don't have PTSD". I was stunned to say the least. I showed her my VA prescriptions and she said "Well, you are probably just depressed or something". I left so angry and confused that I couldn't even think straight.

Before this, I had never applied for PTSD disability. I'm relatively financially secure and have military retirement. Besides, I was already getting 60% for svc connected stuff. I talked with my psych doc and we agreed to just blow it off. I was fine. I didn't need the VA to affirm my symptoms. But then... I got the news that my Diabetes was almost certainly related to Agent Orange exposure in the Central Highlands. I talked to the texas state VA rep and he advised me to file for that. I sat down and filled out the papers and then decided to include the PTSD.

Ok... I was given diability for diabetes related to AO. It was increased because I have neuropathy in my feet.

I got a letter... now I have 80% But the PTSD refused because as noted above, I never did the paperwork.

I did the paperwork and Friday got the letter that says PTSD is approved at 30%

BUT... here is what I am confused about. "YOUR COMPENSATION WILL NOT CHANGE"

uhh... ok. so I get and additional 30% combat related svc connected disability and it doesn't bump my comp at all?

Very confusing.

[LarryJ]

RT,

It's a heck of a note when they judge where you were sleeping MOST of the time, determines whether or not you were really there.

Whereas, if you had had these same nitwits along with you for your ride around SEA, then THEY would be swearing that they were, in fact, in the "action".

[Jazona]

rthomass,

I know where you're coming from. I did most of my tour stationed (TDY) at Ubon and flying night interdiction over the trail as well. By the way, a huge Thank You! for for your participation in rescue operations. If I had not spent the first part of my tour doing "milk runs" out of Cam Rahn I would have never been awarded the VSM. Now just how the hell does one get the DFC and seven air medals with never having set foot in Nam?

You and your fellow NKP patriots served with distinction and deserve the same respect given to "in-country" vets.

BTW, they sprayed the perimeter at Ubon often.

jaz

[SteveE9C6]

Thanks for the replies. I did the calculator and it is 83%. So I guess that is how it stays.

Regarding all of the other extraneous postings in this thread. I don't quite understand where those comments are aimed. I personally was a medic in the central highlands/pleiku/kontum area. My post had nothing to do with any of that stuff, so I'm confused at the responses. After being an enlisted medic, I eventually was selected to the Army Physician Assistant program. I served as an Army PA for 14 years before retiring as a CW3. I was basically forced to retire. All army PA's were converted to regular officers. I had the choice of becoming a captain or retiring. I also was slated for a Korean tour. I chose to retire.

[rthomass]

John9999, it was your reference to Agent orange and being in country i.e. Vietnam that hit a nerve. No offense....I just have thin skin.