ptsd Do I Have A Case?

[gbat]

I am just wondering if I have a case. I was a gunners mate in the navy aboard the USS DEYO. In 1981 and 1983 we got assigned for special Operation mission off the coast of El salvadore, Honduras and niceragua. I believe it was called jittery prop. The ship was sent there because of the special equipment onboard to easdrop on communications. We also had a blackhawk helicopter on board with Army rangers who flew inland looking for gun runners. Everything was hush hush until years later. One of the door gunners got sick one day and I took his place. To make a long story short, I was given five minutes training and off we went. We took off in the early morning hours before daylight and were using night vision devices. About ten minutes into this flight I heard the pilot say there was some tracer fire coming up my side and ask me where it was coming from. I didn't know because i was still trying to figure out these googles. He banked very hard and I Thought I was going to fall out of this helo. I was just terrified that I was going to fall out. About five years ago I almost fell off a roof and had some flash backs of that day. Since then I have biweekly dreams and on sleeping pills and xanax waking up terrified from that dream. I seen a theripist and she believes it is PTSD. Is this worth a claims case. I am a little embarresed because of what other pepeol went thu. I am also still employed. So is it worth it? What if the deck logs I requested don't have me on this chopper? Thanks for any help

[broncovet]

If you have all of the 3 above, and are willing/able to "stay the course" for appeal, you have a 80% plus chance of being awarded benefits, assuming you have an "honorable" discharge, and that you can locate your records.

If you are missing one or more of the above, your chances drop to less than 1%. Exception: If you are lacking a Nexus, and you are willing to Get an IMO/IME, then your chances go back to 80% plus on appeal.

J1VO.

[adkins7b]

How long do these appeals take? I know the answer varies? Could someone give me estimates?

[gbat]

I am just wondering if I have a case. I was a gunners mate in the navy aboard the USS DEYO. In 1981 and 1983 we got assigned for special Operation mission off the coast of El salvadore, Honduras and niceragua. I believe it was called jittery prop. The ship was sent there because of the special equipment onboard to easdrop on communications. We also had a blackhawk helicopter on board with Army rangers who flew inland looking for gun runners. Everything was hush hush until years later. One of the door gunners got sick one day and I took his place. To make a long story short, I was given five minutes training and off we went. We took off in the early morning hours before daylight and were using night vision devices. About ten minutes into this flight I heard the pilot say there was some tracer fire coming up my side and ask me where it was coming from. I didn't know because i was still trying to figure out these googles. He banked very hard and I Thought I was going to fall out of this helo. I was just terrified that I was going to fall out. About five years ago I almost fell off a roof and had some flash backs of that day. Since then I have biweekly dreams and on sleeping pills and xanax waking up terrified from that dream. I seen a theripist and she believes it is PTSD. Is this worth a claims case. I am a little embarresed because of what other pepeol went thu. I am also still employed. So is it worth it? What if the deck logs I requested don't have me on this chopper? Thanks for any help

Thanks for your time everyone. You guy's really know your stuff.

[Philip Rogers]

How long do these appeals take? I know the answer varies? Could someone give me estimates?

Appeals can take 18 months to 10 yrs. Mine started in 4/89 and I won 100% retro in 9/99. It was well worth the battle. I only wish I knew I had something wrong w/me many yrs earlier. I kept winning something along the way, which kinda helped me fight the fight.

pr

[broncovet]

By making sure you have your ducks in a row, it is less likely for you to have to appeal. Make certain you have all the three things I listed, and it will be much harder for the VA to deny you. You may even get awarded benefits on the first round. Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.

If you DO have to appeal, consult hadit. You would need to file a NOD within a year. Further, I think its a good idea to do a great job on your NOD..clearly give the exact reasons you think you deserve benefits. And that reason is never, "gee, I need the money".

Its always something like, "According to CFR 3.156 C, I deserve an earlier effective date as I submitted New and material evidence on July, 14, 2009".

[hueyman]

All you have to do is get copies of the pilots log from the Army to show that the mission received hostile fire and prove you were on the mission. Since you didn't seethe tracers there is a good chance there wasn't any. Some pilots and crew members are notorious for trying to scare hell out of rookies. The Navy should have reference to it in your service records.My records from VN were very detailed(time,date ,kind of mission,hostile fire etc. etc). No such luck with medical records.