ptsd I'm Not Worthy

[coastie72]

I turned 64 a few weeks ago, after over 40 years I finally gave in and asked for help with my hearing loss and tinnitus. I was awarded 10% SC for tinnitus and 0% for hearing.

I always had both conditions since leaving the USCG in 1972. Neither was as bad as it is now, especially the tinnitus which is really bad.

I always felt I was undeserving when I look around at what other vets have gone through.

A few weeks ago I contacted the vet crisis line and just unloading all that was pent up inside of me. I had mentioned how depressing and aggravating the tinnitus was to my DAV VSO. I also mentioned thoughts of suicide and recurring nightmares. At that time he suggested we do a claim secondary to tinnitus for depression. My personal Dr. gave me a nexus. My VSO didn't realize like most people how messed up I really am so that was the way we were going.

I spent over two hours chatting and on the phone with the Crisis Line people on Oct. 11th. The lady was very nice and after answering a zillion questions and insuring me I could get help she said that my dreams that also just pop up during the daytime hours are stressors and that I most likely have PTSD along with other issues. My talk with her that day made me feel better and she very well might have saved my life.

She gave me a list of phone numbers to call including the local Vet Center. Today I needed to talk to someone again, so I called the vet center. I spoke with another nice lady that listened to my story and she too said, likely PTSD..........I did not every know until a few months ago that you could have PTSD without combat.

So as we spoke and she calmed me down, I asked her if they had after hours counseling or groups ET. She said yes we do, but ONLY for combat veterans..... That took me back to square one for this day.

I see the VA MH next week, and then I go from there..........I'm beginning to believe what I always thought.... I am not worthy!!!!! I wish I had never started this process! God Help me!

[Buck52]

I have severe profound hearing loss I can't hear anything unless its a loud boom I can't her people talking if I hear I can't understand a word they say its very frustrating & depressing...I am getting to where I can't hear anything but that stinking tinnitus...so I been thinking about taking sign language class, I can't always read lips if that person is to far away but I read lips and have the last 30 years or longer..I've tried everything under the sun for help and mask my tinnitus its only gotten worse and the VA don't seem to care from what I've ask them about mine...so I just get depressed and wonder how long I got left in this old world and think I'd probably be better off if it weren't from my darling grandkids and my kids I think I would not want to live with this crap in my head.

my spouse usually goes with me to the Dr and one time she didn't I been having prostate problems my prostate keeps swellen up anyway I miss understood the Dr and when I got my meds I didn't take them right he had wrote the prescription out to take 3 a day I had three bottles of the meds I thought they were all the same so for months I was just taking one med of the three..its just another problem people with hard hearing have to cope with...other than my spouse read the instructions on the bottle...eh!

sorry just had to vent some!

Edited October 30, 2014 by britton

[coastie72]

I have severe profound hearing loss I can't hear anything unless its a loud boom I can't her people talking if I hear I can't understand a word they say its very frustrating & depressing...I am getting to where I can't hear anything but that stinking tinnitus...so I been thinking about taking sign language class, I can't always read lips if that person is to far away but I read lips and have the last 30 years or longer..I've tried everything under the sun for help and mask my tinnitus its only gotten worse and the VA don't seem to care from what I've ask them about mine...so I just get depressed and wonder how long I got left in this old world and think I'd probably be better off if it weren't from my darling grandkids and my kids I think I would not want to live with this crap in my head.

my spouse usually goes with me to the Dr and one time she didn't I been having prostate problems my prostate keeps swellen up anyway I miss understood the Dr and when I got my meds I didn't take them right he had wrote the prescription out to take 3 a day I had three bottles of the meds I thought they were all the same so for months I was just taking one med of the three..its just another problem people with hard hearing have to cope with...other than my spouse read the instructions on the bottle...eh!

sorry just had to vent some!

Sorry that you suffer so badly with your hearing problems and tinnitus. Mine is not as bad as yours for certain. Yes I have already been SC10% for the Tinnitus and SC 0% for hearing. I have the VA Identification card. I have all sorts of other medical issues that are not service connected, Gout, HBP, Cholesterol, Diabetes, Neuropathy, Sinus Issues, Sleep Apnea, when I awake during the night, I battle with the tinnitus to allow to get back to sleep. I've been dealing with all that for along time too. This damn screaming in my head never stops. It really has effected my life in a negative way. I'm tired and depressed, but I have to keep working. I can't afford not too. I'm worried about all the time I have already taken for visits to the DAV and for my C&P for tinnitus. If I lose my job, that will be the last nail!!!!

Thanks to all for the Info

.

[Buck52]

Coastie 72,

if your having problems working file for TDIU it maybe a long battle but these folks here at hadit can help you win your claim, with all your medical problems you need to try to get them service connected....and when your medical problems prevents you from working...file a claim...even if you have a claim in process file one for TDIU...I think you will get it.

with tdiu compensation and SSDi that's a pretty heffy income buddy

Edited October 30, 2014 by britton

[Tbird]

Burt,

not sure if this helps you? or you may already know just letting ya know incase you didn't buddy......but have you gone to the VAMC (veterans Addmin Medical Center...near you?

if not go there & sign up you will get a pic ID just take your DD-214...Usually you have to wait to see a Dr but it would be worth it and you may be service connected, Burt you don't have to be a combat vet to be service connected, who ever you talk with on the phone didn't know what they were talking about &if your service connected then you can be compensated for your loss of hearing....if you file a claim the people here at hadit can help you with it...if you don't file a claim you can still receive medical help and see an audiologist ect,,ect,, and maybe the mental clinic if your depressed.

but you may already know all this? just passing the info to ya buddy.

My understanding of the Veterans Center Eligibility is that you have to have served during the following periods, not necessarily in combat and MST veterans. Has that changed to just combat veterans?

I show eligibility to be

ELIGIBILITY

WORLD WAR II - Three eligible categories - European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign-Medal

(7 Dec. 1941 to 8 Nov. 1945), Asiatic - Pacific Campaign Medal (7 Dec. 1941 to 2 Mar. 1946),

or American Campaign Medal (7 Dec. 1941 to 2 Mar. 1946)

AMERICAN MERCHANT MARINES – In oceangoing service during the period of armed conflict,

7 Dec. 1941 to 15 Aug. 1945

KOREAN WAR - 27 June 1950 to - 27 July 1954 (eligible for the Korean Service Medal)

VIETNAM WAR - 28 Feb. 1961 to 7 May 1975

LEBANON - 25 Aug. 1982 to 26 Feb. 1984

GRENADA - 23 Oct. 1983 to 21 Nov. 1983

PANAMA - 20 Dec. 1989 to 31 Jan. 1990

PERSIAN GULF - 2 Aug. 1990 to [be established]

SOMALIA - 17 Sept. 1992 to [be established]

BOSNIA - 21 Nov. 1995 to 01 Nov. 2007

KOSOVO - 24 Mar. 1999 to [be established]

OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM: 7 Oct. 2001 to [be established]

OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM: 19 Mar. 2003 to 17 Feb. 2010

OPERATION NEW DAWN: 17 Feb. 2010 to [be established]

OPERATION JOINT ENDEAVOR, OPERATION JOINT GUARD, & OPERATION JOINT FORGE -

24 Mar 1999 to [be established]

Veterans who participated in one or more of the three successive operations in the former Yugoslavia

(Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia, aboard U.S. Naval vessels operating in the Adriatic Sea,

or air spaces above those areas). Veterans who served or have served in Kosovo either in its waters or airspace

after March 24, 1999, and before a terminal date yet to be established.

GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM - 11 Sep 2001 to [be established]

Veterans who serve or have served in military expeditions to combat terrorism on or after September 11, 2001

and before a terminal date yet to be established.

Includes OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, and OPERATION NEW DAWN.

SEXUAL TRAUMA AND HARASSMENT COUNSELING - Veterans of both sexes, all eras Vet Center services include individual readjustment counseling, referral for benefits assistance, group readjustment counseling, liaison with community agencies, marital and family counseling, substance abuse information and referral, job counseling and placement, sexual trauma counseling, and community education.

BEREAVEMENT COUNSELING - Bereavement counseling is offered to parents, siblings, spouses and children of Armed Forces personnel who die in the service to our country. Also eligible are family members of Reservists and National Guardsmen who die while on federally activated duty.

[Tbird]

I see now that it does say combat veterans or mst survivors, that really sucks.

[Vync]

I'm just wondering, if this device emits an offsetting noise would it not disturb my wife?

As it is now we almost never watch TV together because I have to have it so loud to hear it. The same with the radio in the car, I drive her nuts. I'm willing to try anything. I go tomorrow for my first visit with a MH Dr., I guess my phone call caused me to get that before a regular Dr.

Praying.

Hey Coastie,

The offsetting sounds are natural and soothing. They include lake shore, rain, country eve, surf, thunderstorms, brook, and white noise. You can also overlay additional sounds like seagull, owl, songbird, loons, frogs, hawk, bouy, and dove. My wife used to be frightened by thunderstorms, but they no longer bother her.