ptsd Ptsd Fraud

[Ol'Man]

:D :D :o :D :D

Just read on VA Watchdog where many "veterans" are lying about stressors in order to claim benefits. I was a Dog Handler in Nam "70" - "71", 101st 47th IPSD. Tried for several years to get SR benefits for injuries and PTSD received while overseas but always got the same old story....WE NEED PROOF OF STRESSORS. Now after almost 40 years and many sleepless nights and nightmares, failed relationships, going from job to job, etc., I'm finally coming to terms with my past "life". I'm close to receiving benefits for Dabetes II and anxiety disorder, the latter not PTSD because I don't believe the "examiner" did his homework. My question is, am I going to have trouble with PTSD claim because only one out of three of my stressors was documented. The other 2 are true but were buried due to the nature. Can we say "cover-up" ? Been waiting for 2 months now for decision. I know I will have to file a NOD but am not letting the VA screw me again.

[LarryJ]

The DOD has, in just the past couple years, removed the "classified" restrictions on many, many "incidents" that took place, after all, 40 + years ago.

And, many of us who took part in various ops are now finding that these "grey" or "black" actions (in my case, Air America) have now been cleared of the original "classifying" action. And, in many instances, the DOD and the VA co-operate in the "partial" release of the necessary documentation necessary for a particular veteran's claim to be allocated (yes, they actually do do that).

Having said that, if you think that there is a reason that you should be granted access to your "ops" files, say for such a thing as a PTSD claim, then for sure make a run at the NPRC files in St. Louis, you may find your "entire secrets laid bare" so to speak. :)

[Chu Lai69]

I understand what your saying and I understand Berta is an Elder hear and respect all the advise she gives from experiences that she has gone through. What I do NOT respect is quotes that may insinuate that some of us Vets are PTSD wanneabees?? Thats what I think is way out of line. I do not care how much time you have spent in this forum helping others, but when you start hurting others is what I dont undederstand? I joined this great forum for insight, help, counseling, and just being able to talk to fellow Vets that may have the share the same hauntings that we former combat/non combat vets face. PTSD is real and it hurts everyday/night. When quotes of some vets just want to be PTSD wannabees, its that quote is demeaning to every Vet here. Its NOT a personal attack on Berta, its a personal attact that I think she is way out of line for accusing Vets here that they are PTSD wannabees and NOT real Vets that ARE sufferiing from PTSD everyday of their that they get up out of bed hoping that this will be a better day. Now if you want to ban me from here for sticking up for us VETS that are NOT WANANBEES and realy trying to cope and find clouture and peace from our experiences, the please feel free to do that. Doing that though in my opinion put this forum in not better standing then the VA system itself. I thought this forum was a place for help, information, counseling and peace with all our brothers/sisters. Berta I am NOT demean you personally, but strongly objecting to your selection words that has that same since of deameaning to everyone of us that are working hard to bring a cloutre to a terriable chapter in our lives.

Be very careful Hadit does not allow any Member to demean are engage in personal attacks. We believe in acting civilly to each other and also to the VA for that matter.So if you are angry with a Member here keep in mind that it is ok to refute info but keep your cool and do it politely.

Now for anyone who is thin kink that this is anything but a general warning to all Members you are wrong.Its my attempt to try and diffuse the possibility of someone getting really mad and leaving or saying something that they will be sorry for later.

Berta is an Elder on Hadit and has helped countless numbers of Members with many difficult problems.She is held in high regard by me and many others.

[john999]

Chu Lai

I think you misunderstand what Berta was saying. There are PTSD wannabees out there, but the vast majority, as we all know, are not faking it to get a buck. Also, if you have any in-service records of any other mental health problem it is a lot easier to go with that than to start a PTSD claim from scratch. In our day it was rare for a soldier to go to a military shrink. It was considered the sign of a "screw up" if you asked to see a shrink no matter how bad your problem was at that time. However if you do have something in your records about a depression or anxiety problem that is better than trying to find records to prove some stressor happened unless you have the combat awards.

[Sapper]

I agree. Berta has been on very many helpful posts to me. I have a SC for PTSD myself, and I do not find her quote offensive. I believe maybe it was read wrong. Reading something is never as good as hearing it, as sometimes you cannot hear the "tone" in which it is being said. I highly doubt she was trying to be offensive in any way. Next time read something a couple times before jumping to conclusions. Have a nice day!

Welcome aboard Chu Lai69,... When I was in RVN 67-68, Chu Lai was our base camp. I was an 11Bravo and did not spend much time there, however the place got mortared many times. Good luck on your PTSD claim.

I feel your rude comments to Berta were out of order... You are a FNG here, and have no idea how many vets and their widows and orphans, this great lady has helped.

Did you even read the story that started this thread? 'Ol Man" did not cite the Watchdog article he was referencing. It could be this one.

http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfmay10/nf050110-3.htm

[Pete53]

Most of the wannabees Berta refers to are the ones who pretend that they are combat Vets. As I see everyone has settled down lets move on.

[Berta]

We discussed this reg here at hadit when it came out-

I am still under the impression that this applies more to Iraq /Afganistan veterans who are diagnosed incountry then to any other veterans:

"The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is amending its adjudication regulations regarding service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The amendment will eliminate the requirement of evidence that corroborates the occurrence of in-service stressor in which PTSD is diagnosed in the service. This is necessary to facilitate the proof of service connection in such claims. By this amendment, the VA intends to reduce claim-processing time for such claims. This interim final rule is effective Oct. 29, 2008. Going forward -- in the absence of clear and convincing evidence to the contrary, and provided that the claimed stressor is consistent with the circumstances, conditions, or hardships of the veteran's service -- the veteran's lay testimony alone may establish the occurrence of the claimed in-service stressor. The VA believes that this change will contribute to faster processing of PTSD claims by eliminating the need for VA to develop evidence of occurrence of the in-service stressor in claims in which the veteran's PTSD was diagnosed during service."

source:

http://www.military.com/military-report/mi...rements-relaxed

Every vet rep and veteran's advocate has met and dealt with wannabees.They are a fact of life.

They waste a lot of our time and ask us to do things that-in a few cases I had- were downright illegal.

I thought this topic started with the VA Watchdog article about wannabees.

No one suggested any one here at hadit is a wannabee.