ptsd Gathering Of Evidence Development Letter

[shannan]

Hi everyone,

I am new to this forum. I've been looking through some of your forum for the past couple of months, but this is my first post (so i hope I'm posting in the correct thread).

I submitted my FDC in January of this year. I just recently received news that I am in the Gathering of Evidence phase. Please do not judge me for what i about to say. I know many of you served honorably and i only wish that that could have been my case (it haunts me every moment of everyday). I was raped in my Advanced Training Unit and did attempt to exorcise every effort to obtain a discharge to get away from my attacker. My chain of command kept "losing" my discharge paperwork and I was forced to remain around my attacker. I am not pleased to admit it, but after a failed suicide attempt, I decided in my naive 18 year old mind that my last resort was to go AWOL. I turned myself in and was given an OTH.

So to my point, I recieved a letter stating that they do not ordinarily grant disability benefits unless it is found that i did serve honorably, although i have severe PTSD, Major Depression, and Dythsmia due to MST (all diagnosed by the VA). The letter is also asking me for all evidence i may have and my statement. They also claim they have no knowledge of me having a representative. They are going to put my claim on hold for 60 days to wait for me to send the evidence.

My Amvets representative submitted all of my statements and evidence when he filed my ebenefits claim in January. He also made it clear on official letterhead that he was representing me on this claim. Also, when he submitted the claim, he certified that this is ALL the evidence that I had to submit. Have any of you ever recieved a similar letter? If so, how did you adress it? I dont want to re-send the evidence for fear they will knock me into a regular claim. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[Andyman73]

Shannan,

Thank you, I appreciate your words. I, too, am sorry for your loss, and Navy4life's loss as well. When I tried to explain to wife that I hurt too, she said I(me) can't possibly know how it feels, or how she feels, and then said it was my fault anyway. She said it's cuz I'm a guy, so I couldn't even begin to understand. And a bunch of other stuff not worth repeating.

[shannan]

Andyman, I believe thats why the study was done if I recall. Often times, women tend to place blame and/or claim that a man doesnt understand in this situation. I can tell it affects you greatly. Did you talk to your doctor about it? Often times it helps alot to talk about it. Your feelings are valid. :)

[Andyman73]

Shannon,

I will tell you this, I have not told anyone, outloud, with my voice...I am too afraid and too ashamed to admit to anything of this nature. I have avoided filing for PTSD, non-combat/trauma related...All through boot camp the Drill Instructors told us that it's all mind over matter, they don't mind, I don't matter. I've been stuck under that banner ever since. Everywhere I look, I see Vets and Civilians that I perceive to be worse off than I am, and think, who am I to even open my mouth? I think "what right do I have, to talk about myself?" I did mention to a C&P examiner that I wanted to file for PTSD, and his response basically told me that I would be wasting everybody's time.

[shannan]

Andyman! File your PTSD claim. You do matter. Your experiences matter. You have to fight for what is rightfully yours. Do it for you. Do it for all of us. Of course there are PLENTY of people at the VA who will try to discourage you. There was plenty who tried to discourage me. There was only a handful through the years who tried to encourage me. It took me 11 years to finally file for the first time. Stand up for yourself. Stand up for others of us that dont have a voice to do it for themselves. It is our duty Andyman, to fight for what is right and protect each other. And most importantly, it is important that you see the doctors about this. I know it feels scary, embarrassing and so forth. But trust me, over time it gets easier once you are initially seen for it. It takes courage, but thats exactly what kind of military personnel we are. We have courage.

Andyman! File your PTSD claim. You do matter. Your experiences matter. You have to fight for what is rightfully yours. Do it for you. Do it for all of us. Of course there are PLENTY of people at the VA who will try to discourage you. There was plenty who tried to discourage me. There was only a handful through the years who tried to encourage me. It took me 11 years to finally file for the first time. Stand up for yourself. Stand up for others of us that dont have a voice to do it for themselves. It is our duty Andyman, to fight for what is right and protect each other. And most importantly, it is important that you see the doctors about this. I know it feels scary, embarrassing and so forth. But trust me, over time it gets easier once you are initially seen for it. It takes courage, but thats exactly what kind of military personnel we are. We have courage.

Andyman! File your PTSD claim. You do matter. Your experiences matter. You have to fight for what is rightfully yours. Do it for you. Do it for all of us. Of course there are PLENTY of people at the VA who will try to discourage you. There was plenty who tried to discourage me. There was only a handful through the years who tried to encourage me. It took me 11 years to finally file for the first time. Stand up for yourself. Stand up for others of us that dont have a voice to do it for themselves. It is our duty Andyman, to fight for what is right and protect each other. And most importantly, it is important that you see the doctors about this. I know it feels scary, embarrassing and so forth. But trust me, over time it gets easier once you are initially seen for it. It takes courage, but thats exactly what kind of military personnel we are. We have courage.

[shannan]

Ok i seriously have no idea why that posted three times like that

[Andyman73]

Shannon,

Ok. How do you recommend I do it?