killemall Posted December 7, 2013 Share Posted December 7, 2013 Be strong. You've come this far Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71M10 Posted December 11, 2013 Share Posted December 11, 2013 Im confused, if you just got the letter on the 5th, but have received nothing from the VA, how can you be turned down for assistance based on VA money that hasn't been paid yet? Why would you count on WWP? look at their financials, see the exponential growth of the compensation of their directors, look at the multi-million dollar contract to a for profit fund raising organization (which doesn't immediatley list its ownership on its web site). Since I can't verify the expenses and profit margin for this fundraising company (some get a percentage of funds raised) I have made a concious decision to avoid donating to them. It appears you did not appeal in 2003, or seek to have the overpayment forgiven due to your financial straits. We have established you havn't worked since discharge in February 2013, Do you have a medical opinion that states you cannot work? Without a medical opinion that establishes you cannot work they will deny or defer for an exam to establish that fact. Have you applied for a rehab /training program. They will do an evaluation before they assign you to a program that will make a factual determination on whether VA's rehabilitation specialists think that you can work. A denial from them is good evidence, if they put you in a program than you would draw a training stipend (which would help). Unless you are tied to SoCal by family, you might want to consider moving to an area with a lower cost of living / better Veterans benefits. Montana and Oregon(Alaska Delaware and New Hampshire also but higher COL) have no state sales tax..that would make you bennies go farther. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loose Cannon Posted December 11, 2013 Share Posted December 11, 2013 Congratulations on a major victory. Like you, I suffer from PTSD and it can really take away your spirit and motivation. There are good days and bad days but like penmar pointed out, you do have a family/kids that care about you so try to keep that in mind. There's also a family here at HadIt that you can always turn to for advice or simply to vent...God knows I've done it many a time! I'd suggest you seek out regular counseling through your closest VA Medical Center. You are a vet, you have been rated by the VA to have been service connected, and it all can be done at NO COST to you. Please do it for your kids if nothing else. I felt completely overwhelmed by this disorder and enrolled in the VA health care system at the VA hospital. Bring your ID card and your paperwork from your claim and they will get you enrolled. I actually visited the ER at my VA hospital because I was feeling so down. The psychiatrist on duty will see you there and set you up with a local VA community based outpatient counselor who can address your needs. Trust me, it was the best thing I ever did! They not only will help with the PTSD but they can refer you to other agencies that can help your financial situation. What have you got to loose? Try to enjoy your victory...set a few realistic goals you want to accomplish each day but don't try to do everything at once. Feel free to contact me or others here at HadIt. We're here for you brother! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
infantry10 Posted December 11, 2013 Share Posted December 11, 2013 I agree with Loose Cannon. Although I may not know everyone here at hadit personally, I still consider everyone my friends and the support you get here can make things so much easier. You earned the right to go to VA Medical Center and you should take advantage of it and get the treatment you need. I've met a lot of good veterans at my vamc that have become good friends of mine. You'd be surprised of the veterans that you'll meet that have a similarly to yourself. It help talking to people who can relate to you. Congrats again to you on your win! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LivinginHell Posted December 16, 2013 Author Share Posted December 16, 2013 i went into the va last week to get help. i went to the la jolla ptsd clinic as i was not in the righ frame of mind. i was told that i needed to wait for a doc to see me. i waited 2 hours sitting there, in the corner with my shades on and my hoodie on. after 2 hours (and a half of a pack of cigs later), i went back to the counter to see what was going on. i was told that they had forgot about me and the doc left for lunch. i told them then maybe i should go play in traffic.... they just looked at me weird and said, well sir do what you have to do. just make sure to do it somewhere else. i threw my pen at the wall and left. Also, in 2003 i was getting a check for 30% but they accidently put it it for 80%. i went 2 1/2 years like that befor ethey caught the mistake. i was informed that the overpayment was my fault and i needed to pay it back but still i received checks for the 30% pay rate until 2008 Dec when i went back into the army (because they had been trying to get me back in for 2 years). anyways, i always submitted my forms when i worked, my tax returns, etc but they kept saying that i never sent it in. when i was notified of the hearing i had requested a year prior (it was in 2009) when i was in Guantanmo Bay, Cuba. I called them to tell them i couldnt make it due to military service but asked for a phone hearing. I was told no. They took $89 a month for 4 years of military service. When I left, i tried to have a congressman look into it but was told that they never received my paperwork to fight it so the matter was closed. (2004-2008 was the worst years for the VA as they were busted for shredding paperwork or throwing it away). So, i doubt i will receive any backpay as its now Dec 14th and its been 10 days since I got my decision. I have felt so useless to my kids because i have to nickel and dime everything (thank you 99 cent store) and when it comes to xmas, my charlie brown tree is pretty much all i have. I had to sell plasma/blood to get gas money an dlunch money for my kids. My "social worker" and the WWP all know that i have tried to get a job but was arrested at a job interview and have been told that I scare people because of my scars that are visable (i have one on my forehead from a botched cist removal and my leg scars from the knee surigries i have had. I am just at my wits end because the stars are not lining up for me, my ex-wife has been taking the kids more and more away from me because she know how broke i am and even asking for help sucks because i am just a number to most people. I tried to get a holiday job but was told that i was too much ovequalified for the job and then was told that i would scare customers away. i just cant seem to get a break anymore.... i was honorable discharged from the army but invol sep. no medical or anything like that. they rated at 70% for ptsd was because my commander had noted the only reason why he didnt want me to re-enlist was because he was afraid that i would start killing him or my sargents (though i was a great soldier and he would love to have me with him if my mind was right). I just cant get a break anymore and now, my blackouts have restricted me from going to most places. i have wondered many times how i would go out (ie "accidently hitting a semi at 80) and when i told the VA that, they said that unless i say im going to do it then everyone has the same thoughts. I dont go out almost at all anymore....I am just scared that if i dont get any money coming in to cover my bills (i was a 1st time go for SSD in under 3 months as the doc was scared of me as well) but they take 50% for Child Support and the WWP person who is "helping me" with my claim has been busy with others so he cant get to my TDUI claim to help me. I have done this process myself for both VA and SSD. Im just tired of living like this..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71M10 Posted December 16, 2013 Share Posted December 16, 2013 If you are paying support and the ex wife is not providing lunch money you need to pitch a bitch to the court. Additionally, you should look into reduced fee or provided lunch for your children due to your financial constraints. Glad to hear you got your car out of pawn (you havent lost the assest). You might want to consider addapting to public transport, instead of the recurring expense of a vehicle. Once you get re-stablished caught up you could look at going back to private transportation. I understand now that moving out of the high cost area is not an option. I know I wouldn't move away from my kids. As for the LaJolla clinic, you might want to speak with the patient advocate's office. You would wan't to have this conversation on a day when you are not overly stressed out. in a polite way express that you were unhappy with the sub-par care. Point out that it shouldn't be possible for someone to be "forgot about" in the waiting room. Be aware if you are too aggressive the VA may flag your record as a dangerous patient. Was the amount they were paying you in 2003 the amount listed on your award letter or were you receiving a payment that was higher than your award letter? If you were receiving an amount that was listed on your award letter, you are not at fault. If you were receiving more than you were told you would get and it happened for 2 1/2 years and you never notified them and spent the money? If that is what happened, then you bear some responsibility for the misery that it is causing. If you are persuing TDIU, you want to really start trying to work with creditors and get your excessive bills managed. Keep notes(demonstrating your dealing with/fixing problems), and be ready to defend yourself against the VA trying to declare you incompetant and putting a Fidicuary in place to "Manage" your money and pay your bills. I hope things get better for you and wish you peace and serenity for the Christmas season. Best regards, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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