Will The Va Help With Depression?

[Kody.usaf]

I am in the USAF. I have experienced depression since basic training in 2002. Never before. Everytime I experienced the depression was related to military. I got so bad in 2003-2004 that I over dosed on pills and cut myself, causing my heart to stop and was able to be revived. I'm just a reservist so the af had no idea. I had told them however that I had depression. I struggled thought my af career because of this. But slowly got better without pills. Eventually I was able to volunteer for a deployment. I had a talk with my commander about my depression and felt good about it all. I went to my deployment training for a month and did great. Then went on to my deployed location. Once there I started to struggle again. My wife had our son while there, and her dad was threatening to kill himself due to a failing marriage where his wife was cheating. My wife was very upset and stressed causing me more than I could handle alone. So I went to the pastor and til him I'm struggling and told him my past, noting I have no intention of hurting myself, but am feeling depressed. He said go to the doctor and tell him all Thai, which he also had done. He will give you some anti depressants and they help a lot. So I did. Once I told my past with the mil, the doc freaked. He profiled me and a week later I was in a phsyc ward on my way home. Never once did I do anything to hurt myself nor did I threaten to. I made it clear I wouldnt. And even said I want to stay deployed. Once home I was cleared by the docs at home station. After that my unit gave me an art 15 for saying I was good to go before hand. Took 500$, took a stripe, put me on no pay no points, and now will discharge me. All I want to do is serve my country and have come so far and worked so hard. I even lost 95 lbs to pass my pt test. Yes I was that big during my more depressed days. Can or will the VA help me with this. I feel betrayed by the air force. And all my unit can talk about is the money spent to fly me home. A week after I got home my wife's dad killed himself. I don't regret being here for my family during that. But I am very saddened that I was punished so harshly for having depression. All they say is talk to someone and we will help. Help kick you in the &$$ right out the door after taking all honor and pride is more like it. So again, is it worth going to the VA for help? What shoul I do?

[Tbird]

I am in the USAF. I have experienced depression since basic training in 2002. Never before. Everytime I experienced the depression was related to military. I got so bad in 2003-2004 that I over dosed on pills and cut myself, causing my heart to stop and was able to be revived. I'm just a reservist so the af had no idea. I had told them however that I had depression. I struggled thought my af career because of this. But slowly got better without pills. Eventually I was able to volunteer for a deployment. I had a talk with my commander about my depression and felt good about it all. I went to my deployment training for a month and did great. Then went on to my deployed location. Once there I started to struggle again. My wife had our son while there, and her dad was threatening to kill himself due to a failing marriage where his wife was cheating. My wife was very upset and stressed causing me more than I could handle alone. So I went to the pastor and til him I'm struggling and told him my past, noting I have no intention of hurting myself, but am feeling depressed. He said go to the doctor and tell him all Thai, which he also had done. He will give you some anti depressants and they help a lot. So I did. Once I told my past with the mil, the doc freaked. He profiled me and a week later I was in a phsyc ward on my way home. Never once did I do anything to hurt myself nor did I threaten to. I made it clear I wouldnt. And even said I want to stay deployed. Once home I was cleared by the docs at home station. After that my unit gave me an art 15 for saying I was good to go before hand. Took 500$, took a stripe, put me on no pay no points, and now will discharge me. All I want to do is serve my country and have come so far and worked so hard. I even lost 95 lbs to pass my pt test. Yes I was that big during my more depressed days. Can or will the VA help me with this. I feel betrayed by the air force. And all my unit can talk about is the money spent to fly me home. A week after I got home my wife's dad killed himself. I don't regret being here for my family during that. But I am very saddened that I was punished so harshly for having depression. All they say is talk to someone and we will help. Help kick you in the &$$ right out the door after taking all honor and pride is more like it. So again, is it worth going to the VA for help? What shoul I do?

Kody - Why not just go to the VA Hospital close to you and ask them for help. Yours is a complicated situation and whether a claim is a viable option for you I am not sure, but I'm sure others will. The most important thing is to get medical help if you need it.

[Wings]

I am in the USAF. I have experienced depression since basic training in 2002. Never before. Everytime I experienced the depression was related to military. I got so bad in 2003-2004 that I over dosed on pills and cut myself, causing my heart to stop and was able to be revived. I'm just a reservist so the af had no idea. I had told them however that I had depression. I struggled thought my af career because of this. But slowly got better without pills. Eventually I was able to volunteer for a deployment. I had a talk with my commander about my depression and felt good about it all. I went to my deployment training for a month and did great. Then went on to my deployed location. Once there I started to struggle again. My wife had our son while there, and her dad was threatening to kill himself due to a failing marriage where his wife was cheating. My wife was very upset and stressed causing me more than I could handle alone. So I went to the pastor and til him I'm struggling and told him my past, noting I have no intention of hurting myself, but am feeling depressed. He said go to the doctor and tell him all Thai, which he also had done. He will give you some anti depressants and they help a lot. So I did. Once I told my past with the mil, the doc freaked. He profiled me and a week later I was in a phsyc ward on my way home. Never once did I do anything to hurt myself nor did I threaten to. I made it clear I wouldnt. And even said I want to stay deployed. Once home I was cleared by the docs at home station. After that my unit gave me an art 15 for saying I was good to go before hand. Took 500$, took a stripe, put me on no pay no points, and now will discharge me. All I want to do is serve my country and have come so far and worked so hard. I even lost 95 lbs to pass my pt test. Yes I was that big during my more depressed days. Can or will the VA help me with this. I feel betrayed by the air force. And all my unit can talk about is the money spent to fly me home. A week after I got home my wife's dad killed himself. I don't regret being here for my family during that. But I am very saddened that I was punished so harshly for having depression. All they say is talk to someone and we will help. Help kick you in the &$$ right out the door after taking all honor and pride is more like it. So again, is it worth going to the VA for help? What shoul I do?

x

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What is the Character of your discharge: Honorable or other than Honorable? What was the reason for your discharge (written on your DD-214)? The AF should have (but doesn't always) provided a discharge examination or discharge physical exam? Was Depression or other mental disorder listed? ~Wings

[broncovet]

You have been given good advice. I will add, YES, you should apply for disability benefits, assuming you have a "current" depression diagnosis. The sooner you apply, the earlier your effective date, assuming you will be awarded benefits.

To be eligible for VA disability benefits you need all these, in addition to a satisfactory discharge, as Wings stated:

1. A current diagnosis (of depression)

2. Evidence of an inservice event or stressor. Remember you have a "presumption of soundness" that your doc did a good job upon entrance to the military. Except as noted on your physical, you are presumed to be healthy, so if you began symptoms in the military, then it is presumed the military caused it, providing you have documentation of the same.

3. A nexus between the two that would be provided by a VA doc.

[Philip Rogers]

Kody.usaf states "I am in the USAF." I suggest he contact a nearby Vet Center, for counseling and help. I would also check w/the local VAMC and see what care he can get there. As for the Article 15, I hope you fought it. If not, I'd see if there's anyway to appeal it now. Sounds to me like it wasn't willful but they may have convinced you to accept it. jmo

pr

[Gulfvet45]

Also all vets get free (no co-pay) help for their mental disorder like this. SO GET THAT ASAP!!

and get a good VSO

You have been given good advice. I will add, YES, you should apply for disability benefits, assuming you have a "current" depression diagnosis. The sooner you apply, the earlier your effective date, assuming you will be awarded benefits.

To be eligible for VA disability benefits you need all these, in addition to a satisfactory discharge, as Wings stated:

1. A current diagnosis (of depression)

2. Evidence of an inservice event or stressor. Remember you have a "presumption of soundness" that your doc did a good job upon entrance to the military. Except as noted on your physical, you are presumed to be healthy, so if you began symptoms in the military, then it is presumed the military caused it, providing you have documentation of the same.

3. A nexus between the two that would be provided by a VA doc.

[carlie]

Kody.usaf states "I am in the USAF." I suggest he contact a nearby Vet Center, for counseling and help. I would also check w/the local VAMC and see what care he can get there. As for the Article 15, I hope you fought it. If not, I'd see if there's anyway to appeal it now. Sounds to me like it wasn't willful but they may have convinced you to accept it. jmo

pr

pr,

I'm wondering how being a "I'm just a reservist so the af had no idea", will play into this.