ptsd Employment Question

[briandalegm]

I filed a new claim as of 27 April 2015. I am seeking advice on how to handle the employment piece. Since I left the Marine Corps. a few decades ago, I've never gotten used to the rampant selfishness which happens everyday in the workplace. What a powerful experience, as was done in my beloved Corps, to understand, live and breath for the gal or guy next to you. People from all different walks of life, at least on duty, set aside their petty differences to accomplish something much bigger than we'd ever imagine!

However - upon seprarating, I was in for a huge shock - workplace back-stabbing, politics and worst of all - HYPOCRITES who write company mission statements and not only refuse to obey what they wrote, but selectively enforce their policies on others with no justice for those who screw up the most, make everyone's life miserable.

At each stop on my career journey (only had 7 jobs on 20 years since separating) - I blindly believed that "this time would be different." Well - it never was. I am not whining but take full responsibility for my naive approach. More than a year ago - I was terminated from a 'Christian' organization for basically living out my faith by going out on the street and preaching the Gospel. Imagine that; an organization who claims to be "Changing Lives in the Name of Christ" throwing me (and others) out for doing what Jesus did...WOW!

Nevertheless - I haven't been employed since that time and truthfully beloved, I don't see a scenario where I can walk into a workplace again knowing that when foolishness arises, I will address it and be out on my butt again. It would be a waste of my time and the organization's resources - no?

My question is this - I understand that one has to have had many more jobs than I have to qualify for (I think it is called) TDIU. Will the VA, when I have my PTSD appointment, ask about my employment history? Is a TDIU claim even possible in my situation? What is even more real is I am unsure if I face such wanton hypocrisy again, I will be able to keep calm.

Although, on some level, we have all committed hypocritical acts (I am no exception), how can, being foung guilty of INTENTIONAL disobedience - corporate people not feel remorse and turn from that? How can people live with so little integrity? One thing I learned and have held onto for all of these years (from the Corps) is taking responsibility and admitting wrong-doing.

I digress. Any help on the TDIU claim question would be appreciated and since you are veterans (or even their spouses) I would appreciate any feedback on my worldview - whether nice or not! I am trying so hard to blend in but it isn't and hasn't worked out for me.

[Berta]

"My question is this - I understand that one has to have had many more jobs than I have to qualify for (I think it is called) TDIU. Will the VA, when I have my PTSD appointment, ask about my employment history? Is a TDIU claim even possible in my situation?"

First of all you need a PTSD diagnosis from a VA MH provider.
Then you need to have a verifiable stressor (since you are not an OIF OEF veteran)
It doesnt matter how many jobs you have had in the past.

If the examiner diagnoses you with PTSD, they will make an employment statement in the C & P exam.

The fastest TDIU claim I ever saw was for a vet, like you , I helped long ago , with no SC at all.

But he had years of extensive private PTSD medical records. And SSDI solely for PTSD. NADA SC to TDIU.

And that was many years before the new PTSD regulations came out ( available here under a hadit search) which will be applied to your claim.

If that same vet applied for the first time today, the VA would still have to diagnose him with PTSD themselves,due to the new PTSD regs here in our PTSD forum. And probably have to prove his stressor..I forget what combat awards he might have had on his DD 214.



I only have one comment on your worldview

'Christian' organizations and churches have their own specific standards , directives, and by laws..

Someone I know was proselytizing everywhere locally, identifying my church as holding his membership.He did not do this under the direction of the Pastor
and he was illiterate, so how does one speak the word of God if they cannot read it..
Our church did all they could to help him learn how to read but to no avail.He didnt want to learn how to read.He memorized a few bible passages to try to get people to repent.would carry a Bible with him everywhere and often pass out Bible Tracs. It just doesn't work that way.

I am on my second reading of the complete NASB Bible,in a Bible study program. I also have a mentor and study considerable commentaries to understand what I am reading.
I sure dont try to get anyone to repent. I find it very difficult to even get people I know to go to church...any church at all....let alone actually read the Bible.

And I pray for the VA as well as all disabled vets, ADs, retirees ,and others.....because God got me through many tragedies in my life, not to mention dealing with the VA.since 1988..

[broncovet]

The key to whether or not you will get TDIU turns on evidence. Specifically, if your doctor says you are unable to maintain substantial gainful employment due to SC conditions, you should be able to get TDIU, at least on appeal. If your doctor does not so state, however, the VA always assumes you are lazy and incompetent and thats why you are unemployed.

As far as your comments on world view, I would suggest that neither the VA, your employers, nor "Christians" are a unified body.

These groups act pretty much independently, even Christians, as we have differening views on almost everything.

I have found in almost every case asking, "What will the VA do in THIS circumstance?" is a question which will give multiple answers. VA employee "A" may say "yea", while VA employee may say "nay". In a similar way, "Christian A" always has faults, and never completely lives his life in a biblical way. Instead, Christians differ on the faults we do have. Indeed, we are all hypocrits, professing faith sometimes and living a standard instead which is much lower than our God, the only differences are the methods with which we sin. We all simply have different "achilles heels" where we often try to justify our behaviour sometimes by pointing out faults in others. A very weak defense, indeed, is, "Well, so and so did something worse"

[Buck52]

I agree with everyone above.

You need VA to give you a PTSD diagnosis , you need a stressor as to what caused it,,like anything while in the military that was of trauma to you like witness someone being killed. or seeing a dead body or anything that was horrible to you that has caused you to have bad nightmares cold sweats deprived of sleep because of this.

you need a Specialist Board Certified PTSD Dr to see you and in his medical report state that it is at least likely as not this veterans PTSD is due from his military service.

The only thing is if this happen to you AFTER your military service it will be hard to prove to the VA to make a SC connection.

TDIU if you can't work or do the job you was train for and can't be around people, you need medical reports from that.

I suggest you get a IMO/IME and ask for VA Voc Rehab...if they can't help you then they will usually say this veteran is not feasible to retrain due to his disability.

Evidence of stressors while in the military is very important obviously.

you need STR's to state this indeed happen on certain date and where. while in the military.

My humble opinion Religion & Politics should not be discussed here on hadit

With that Said, I do hope we all are believers in our own way.

jmo

Good Luck

........................Buck.

[Berta]

I agree Buck.

But I hope no one says we cant post Praise the Lord when we win, as many here do,from time to time.

Still, this is an educational web site...... and we all need to keep that in mind.

[Gastone]

Do you have a SC condition or conditions that preclude you from doing even Sedentary Employment that could earn you in excess of $238.00 per week ($12,400 earned income per year? If your answers are NO and Yes, then IU is a bridge to far. Spend time getting up to snuff on VA IU requirements and regulations, It all comes down to your current SC disability picture and your receipt of Substantially Gainful Income. You do or you don't.

Semper Fi

Gastone