ptsd New Member, Edgewood Veteran, Social Security Expert

[The Old medic]

I am new here. I was in the Army from 1959-1969, Artillery for the first three years, and a Neuro-Psychiatric Specialist after that. I spent almost 5 years at Valley Forge General Hospital, and was scheduled to Go to Walter Reed when my marriage fell apart and i had to get out to take care of my kids.

In 1967, I volunteered as a "Medical Volunteer" at Edgewood Arsenal. I do not have a clue what the hell they gave me there, but it damn sure changed my personality permanently. I lost my marriage, my career in the Army, and had (and still do have) all of the symptoms of PTSD, except for excessive drug/alcohol use. I just learned in September of this year, that I was cleared for them to use "psycho chems" on me.

I used my GI Bill to get my Masters in both Clinical Psychology and Rehabilitation Counseling. Between 1987 and 2005, I worked as a Vocational Expert in Social Security Disability/SSI Hearings before Administrative Law Judges. I hope I can help some of you with your Social Security issues.

I'd like to hear from other Vets that were "volunteers" at Edgewood Arsenal. I'd especially like to know if anyone has successfully gotten a claim for PTSD throught the VA, based on their experiences at Edgewood?

Medic

[Wife]

My husband has been trying to claim for benefits with va but keeps getting turned down. We have a letter from dept of army  saying may have skin cancer, fatigue syndrome, memory problems but va will not recognize  the problem. 

[broncovet]

Old Medic...

    With those qualifications, you could likely do IMO's for Veterans needing a Voc Rehab assessment.  

Sorry I dont know anything about Edgewood Arsenal.  

Wife

    Welcome to hadit.  Please post your question in a "new" post so we dont get confused on who's question we are answering and because you will get more and better answers in a new post.  

     However, since You are new, I will answer your question this one time, in someone else's post.  

      We need more information to help you.  First, start with the basics:

Do you have your medical records, and your service records?  

Did the VA send you a letter denying benefits, and what was the reason(s) they denied you?  This will help narrow it down.  

Generally, you need 3 things for Service connection.  

     1.  Current diagnosis.  No diagnosis, no compensation.  Has your husband been diagnosed for these conditions by a doctor?  For PTSD, it needs to be a VA doctor.  

       2.  In service EVENT or aggravation.  Was your husband "in combat"?  This usually makes the verifications easier.  If you go to war, for combat, its somewhat relaxed standards for PTSD stressor, if he has been diagnosed with PTSD.  (And I dont know that.   You will have to check his medical records to see)

        3.  Nexus, or doctors opinion that your current condition is at least as likely as not related to some event in service.  

        You are gonna need these 3 for each condition, with a few exceptions.  

I need to know when/where your husband was in the service.  For example, if he was "boots on the ground" in Vietnam, there are several "presumptives" you may be eligible for , and one of these is some cancers.  

       I recommend you post these things in a "new" post, and you will get more answers.  People cant even find your question "buried" in someone else's post.  

[Berta]

To "Wife" it would help if you open your own topic- so that others will see it-

Every claim depends on the Caluza triangle-

explained here:

Is  the document from the Dept of Army specific to your husband?

If you can scan and attach his last denial, maybe we can help more- please cover his C file and name, prior to scanning it- and please put it into a new post-

The Edgewood Arsenal post was in 2009.

 

Edited November 9, 2019 by Berta