Veterans "gaming" the system for PTSD claims?

[Jimmer]

Hi Everyone, I wanted to share with you a article that I read on military.com in which a Bruce (whatever his last name is) testified to a group on how the veterans are "gaming" the system, and getting PTSD claims approved.  First of all, I would like to meet this guy face-to-face and tell him what an idiot he is. (I would like to do more, but restraint  would be necessary).  First of all a V.A. doctor has to determine that you have PTSD, not someone from the outside.  Does this clown think the V.A. doctors are willing to "look the other way" on claims?  Quite the opposite.  Then you have to have a "stressor", that ties the PTSD with an military event related to the PTSD.  It took me four years to get PTSD disability, and the V.A. went thru everything with a fine tooth comb.  Lucky, I c-file confirmed my "stressor", and I had been going to the V.A. mental health facilities, meeting with various doctors, sessions, etc.  I still see them three times a month, and take five different  medications.  This guy, Bruce, based his information on veterans talking to one other about applying, saying it was easy, blah, blah, blah.  I don't know of any vet that has received disability compensation for PTSD, that had an easy road, and I have talked to a lot of them.   It is comments like this, that really anger, me, and gives the false impression, that vets are just "scamming" the system, and a way to give fuel to cut disability benefits.   I would love to here you comments, especially those of you getting PTSD disability benefits.  I am sure you did not have any easy road, the V.A. makes sure of that!

[Victor Ray]

That’s more good information Buck, and I had been told something similar, but not as informative as your comment. They have told me that they have sent all they have, so I thought the 4 hour drive would not be worth it. I don’t believe they know what they are talking about, and if a very long walk is involved, my wife would have to push me, and it’s a real inconvenience. If I knew for a fact they had something I don’t, I would go. 

My records are locked away with the “Custodian of records” awaiting litigation is the way I take it, and I will have to sue the government to get them. That is the way I take it because DoD called me over four years ago asking why I wanted them. 

I have to wait the 21 days to see if they can be obtained by other means, short of a malpractice law suit. They contemplated litigation 47 years ago, so something is important they don’t want out in the public. I will keep you posted though. Maybe they want to negotiate or something, I don’t know, but it is the most unique case I know of, and it’s me that’s in it. Maybe they want it in the news? Who knows the VAs reasons for its actions. We will see!

victor

[Buck52]

Roger That Victor

Just so you know I don't have any claims pending at present, I finally got them all approved.

I'm on my 17th consecutive year for the 20 year protection rule on disabled benefits on the 100%

I still stress out about that..it sure don't seem fair All veterans have to worrying about them taking away our benefit's for 20 years...they seem to act like there God Almighty  they giveth and taketh away.

We worry and stress out to get these benefits for years and when we do get them approved all is ok  > but there's still that 20 year rule we all have to worry and stress out over....and it should not be that way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Victor Ray]

I totally agree Buck.

It shouldn’t be that way. It makes me wonder about a guy like me. At 67, and in my condition I am hoping for 2 or 3, because 20 years is miracle nonsense for me. Two years is probably stretching it. I was well over the 30% required for medical retirement in 1971, and that’s another thing that the effective date probably affects. I never had one year that my health was normal, mentally or physically, but I did have some years that were better than others. Not a single day I did not think of that lie about my records being lost, or them saying “there is a medical profile sheet”, like it was just a piece of irreverent paper.

It was the Government’s Documentation and Investigative report, signed by not 1, or 2, or even 3, but signed by FOUR Medical  Officers, with one being the COMMANDER of the largest US Military Hospital in the world, and a legal statement that in their opinion I was non deployable to most of the world, that these conditions were permanent and superseded all other profiles, and that I had permanent defects in my “Physical Capacity and Stamina”. It is the most important document a veteran can have, other than a medical disability discharge in order to receive disability benefits, and to simply call it a sheet is insulting. 

The Army and the VA played down my conditions all they could. The mosquito bites were only barely noted and that was after 10 days or so in the hospital, and not by a doctor either. It was a nurse or specialist that noticed them. I pointed it out, but the doctors ignored me. 

I hope you do well the next three years and That I am here to say “Congratulations Buck”. You can now plan a life and relax. I think you will be ok. Me, I will probably die being weighting and ignored, but hoping. Take care

victor ray

[Matthew]

Can you “game the system”? Yes. Do former service members do it? Yes. They happen to meet the weak doctor at their C&P exam and he bites on the googled PTSD script the service member has memorized. There will always be the 10% who act dishonorably and they will pay for it somehow in their lives. I did 20 years and spoke to many flawed characters about “how to up their percent with the VA”. The ones I still know are not having a great time in the real world. Work with a guy right now who claims he deployed several times and has major PTSD. When pressed for detail over many coversations, the remaining truths are that he did 4 years at ft McPherson GA and got out before 2000. It’s stolen valor to me but must make him feel better about himself somehow. Their is no VA rating for pathological lying. His life sucks and his future is dim. He needs to be the hero in his own mind.

[Buck52]

Mathew

Not sure how Veterans like this guy is able to do it  even if they get  a weak C&P Dr??

The VA goes by credible/probative evidence

Probative evidence with Documented proof of this evidence

PTSD Claims being forensic in nature,  they crack down on the evidence used in these type claims, even if the stressors are conceded because of combat duty,  the Veteran must prove his actions of duty with IN SERVICE RECORDS AS HIS MOS,  & CIB company /unit assign to and location and dates.   Usually printed out on the DD 214 FORM.

if non-combat then he still must prove why he was traumatize while in the military.

And any other Documentation from his unit or units such as commanding officer orders or in-country travel orders, unit reports morning reports  these all are very important documents to prove his duty station and what he did in the military  some times a MOS will be change to TEMP and no document's were ever wrote up during a time of emergency/needs,  but the veteran can prove this if he is honest has shown merit and gives name and location.dates of unit & commanding officers and NCO Personal and his story matches up.  I Believe they will consider this as his credible lay statment.