akwidow Posted January 17, 2010 Author Share Posted January 17, 2010 Larry - one of my girlfriend's son in laws is a Desert Storm PTSD vet - I am going to help him. That will keep my busy. I will help my father too - he is a WWII vet. He just gave me medical POA, which I am going to use to advocate for him. He went into Germany at the end of the war, when all the pain of the camp revelations were happening. I am finding out things he is telling now that I have never heard before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HadIt.com Elder cowgirl Posted January 17, 2010 HadIt.com Elder Share Posted January 17, 2010 YYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEE HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAWWWWWWW and Amen! Cowgirl'up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hurryupnwait Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 Ladies and Gentlemen: I came home from a winter walk today to find a large envelope in the mail...and found my long awaited reward. Service connection for cause of death was granted!!!!!!!!! PTSD did in fact contribute to my late husband's death, and the BVA recognized my evidence as enough to overcome the Reasonable Doubt and I got my DIC!!!!!!! I am still shaking...and I realize how lucky I am because I did this without any formal IMO. The letters from my husbands friends, treating physicians in our little town and my statements and lay observations were enough for them to make their decision. After I stopped jumping up and down you here were the first people I wanted to tell so here I am. It goes to show that keeping records, or gathering them afterwards as it was in my case, and never giving up were what it took to get my DIC granted. I want to thank all of you who reached out to me - Berta - Wings - Pete53 - Carly - and anybody else who kept me bouyed emotionally - with all my heart and soul. I had filed most of my papers before I found Hadit in February 2009, so I couldn't use what I learned here as more than an anchor to keep me from drowning in self doubt; but what I did learn was that I was on the right track and to keep going at them. I was able to use the wisdom I learned here to write my last brief after the final SSOC came out in October 2009 and I sent in my papers and asked to be sent to the BVA as Wings suggested within the 30 days they gave me to respond. Did I say I was jumping up and down loud enough!!!! I feel 20 years old again! I look forward to getting my financial reward as well as the education benefits, Champus medical and whatever else I have coming. He would be so proud of me....I find it ironic that today is the six year anniversary of his death. I am going to light a candle for him. Your friend AkWidow It's time for dancing in the streets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HadIt.com Elder Wings Posted January 17, 2010 HadIt.com Elder Share Posted January 17, 2010 Wings, your last pushes of wisdom and encouragement were a huge help in my claim...so I have you to thank as well as the BVA and our higher power, and myself for putting it together and not giving up against all odds. BTW, it is okay to thank myself, for if I had never tried for this widow's pension, I would not have received one! To thine own self be true! I knew it would be a landmark...which is why in the bottom of my heart I was ready for total rejection and VA denial. Apparently I had enough evidence that they could not turn me down - once somebody finally read it. The tone of the document goes on like a roller coaster - pro items, then con items and all, but in the end my brief's and proof won out. I read hints to me that I should follow up on the items I told them to cue themselves on, as well as an old claim from 1969 that I never heard of. I will chase those issues of course. I will post the document as soon as I can. Thanks again for all your help! x x x AK, You did all the work!! You kept fighting, and kept your documentation together. You owned your claim, and it owned you lol! Again, Congratulations!! It's good to see the BVA apply the bennefit of the doubt doctrine, you knew the regulations were on your side. I'm proud of you. Happy New Year ;-) ~Wings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HadIt.com Elder jbasser Posted January 17, 2010 HadIt.com Elder Share Posted January 17, 2010 great Job AK widow. Now may you have some peace of mind. The next battle will not be as stressful. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HadIt.com Elder JR Reihs Posted January 17, 2010 HadIt.com Elder Share Posted January 17, 2010 That is GREAT news , I am happy to see that you have gotten your just deserved benefits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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