Writing a Letter for a buddy

[Crosis]

Greetings!

I am a USMC Veteran, I have PTSD (working on getting mine service connected, but thats another issues). I was asked by a close friend of mine who served in the US Army to write a Buddy Letter for his pending PTSD claim. I'm gong to share what I have written so far, I would appreciate some feedback on any changes I need to make.
 

My name is (withheld), and I've known the Veteran (withheld) listed above since the Summer of 1998. To say I just know him would be an insult to our bond, (withheld) is my brother, not by blood but by choice. We were forged in the same fires of hell. We met the Summer before High School and from that point on we went everywhere together, weekends and summers were spent together at each others parents home (along with our 2 other brothers - also Veterans).

While we were in High School before we joined the Military (Him Army, me USMC) (withheld) was super outgoing. We would go to Tournaments for the various games we played that would range from small groups of 20 to large groups over over 200 in attendance, we would go to Movies, the Mall, the Beach, he never had issues with being in Crowded places. He always had the uncanny ability to just make every situation better and fun. He was always smiling, always enjoying himself, he never had trouble sleeping, he was an all American guy that everyone was proud to call their friend.

After we enlisted and we both deployed out of country I noticed some major changes in his personality. He doesn't do well with crowded places, always has to sit with his back to a wall watching the entrances and exits, his ability to relax and just enjoy life has been stripped away from him. He doesn't sleep like he used to - nightmares, sleep disturbances, snoring, etc. He has control over his anger, but you can see it boiling inside of him. When we go places (withheld) has a happy face on, but you can see him always calculating the situation, sizing up the people around him for potential threats, and always being on guard - especially around new unknown people. Getting him to go out and do things isn't like it used to be, before it was "Hey lets go see a movie" we would get up and immediately leave to go see said movie, now its "hey lets go see a movie", and sometimes its a month before he has the energy to leave and be around people enough to see the movie

His experiences overseas have altered his personality, his demeanor, and his life to a point that he is completely different person that is being forced to learn how to adjust in society without the help and support he truly needs.

I hope this statement helps in you making the right decision to help (withheld) with his claim.

Thank you,

(Withheld)

Any changes needed? is this sufficient?

Edited February 6, 2019 by Crosis

[Crosis]

36 minutes ago, Buck52 said:

Its hard to help two veterans at the same time each case will be different...

I has assume they were service connected ....but I did put up the calzua elements that broncovet mentions   to be service connected.

if they serve in combat  this should be reflected in their statements and VA can look them up  as for as the dates and location of the combat events. once this is established  there should not be a problem with stressors.

I'm actually only really trying to make sure my Buddy Letter for my buddies claim for PTSD is appropriate. You won't have to help me just yet and I can start another thread for that to cut down on the confusion.

He served in a combat zone, I do not know if he has his CIB.
I know one of the things he did was be a Drone Operator and he watched a girls school in Afghanistan get massacred because he was denied permission to fire on the insurgents he reported that were headed to the school.

" I did put up the calzua elements that broncovet mentions   to be service connected "
What are these? did I miss them somewhere?

[Buck52]

Direct Service Connection. This is a very common method of pursuing service connection. Direct service connection requires the three elements described below:

1. an injury, event, or illness in service, 2. a current diagnosis of a disabling condition, and 3. a link between the in-service event and the current diagnosis.

An alternative method for establishing direct service connection that can substitute for the second and third elements does not require a nexus opinion. Under the VA code of regulations 38 C.F.R. 3.303 (b), VA can grant service connection when there is evidence showing chronicity or continuity of symptomatology from, and throughout the time period after, service.

Source CCK Attorneys web sight.

Edited February 6, 2019 by Buck52

[Buck52]

I must say I believe all veterans are being honest when they come here and ask for help   we can give them the information they need to help with their claims   Records of Evidence Helps 99% but if no records?

all is not lost  the Veteran can give his lay statements and buddy letters notarized and submitted  also the locations and dates of his unit in the hell hole and combat actions   if the Veteran can give his Unit  & Battalion he was station with while serving in combat .

The VA will check this out and if his/her story checks out   then there should not be a problem.  but without these locations and dates and any records to place this veteran at that time  it will make his claim harder to win.

Keep in mind a Veteran does not need to be in combat to qualify  for PTSD or MH Condition From his military service  nor do they need to be sent to another country. ...> Trauma events can happen any time were in the military.

jmo

[Crosis]

2 hours ago, Buck52 said:

I must say I believe all veterans are being honest when they come here and ask for help   we can give them the information they need to help with their claims   Records of Evidence Helps 99% but if no records?

all is not lost  the Veteran can give his lay statements and buddy letters notarized and submitted  also the locations and dates of his unit in the hell hole and combat actions   if the Veteran can give his Unit  & Battalion he was station with while serving in combat .

The VA will check this out and if his/her story checks out   then there should not be a problem.  but without these locations and dates and any records to place this veteran at that time  it will make his claim harder to win.

Keep in mind a Veteran does not need to be in combat to qualify  for PTSD or MH Condition From his military service  nor do they need to be sent to another country. ...> Trauma events can happen any time were in the military.

jmo

Thank you for posting those.

I talked to my buddy, he doesn't have a CIB because he wasn't Infantry, but he does have a CAB, not sure if that helps...

[doc25]

10 hours ago, Crosis said:

Greetings!

I am a USMC Veteran, I have PTSD (working on getting mine service connected, but thats another issues). I was asked by a close friend of mine who served in the US Army to write a Buddy Letter for his pending PTSD claim. I'm gong to share what I have written so far, I would appreciate some feedback on any changes I need to make.
 

My name is (withheld), and I've known the Veteran (withheld) listed above since the Summer of 1998. To say I just know him would be an insult to our bond, (withheld) is my brother, not by blood but by choice. We were forged in the same fires of hell. We met the Summer before High School and from that point on we went everywhere together, weekends and summers were spent together at each others parents home (along with our 2 other brothers - also Veterans).

While we were in High School before we joined the Military (Him Army, me USMC) (withheld) was super outgoing. We would go to Tournaments for the various games we played that would range from small groups of 20 to large groups over over 200 in attendance, we would go to Movies, the Mall, the Beach, he never had issues with being in Crowded places. He always had the uncanny ability to just make every situation better and fun. He was always smiling, always enjoying himself, he never had trouble sleeping, he was an all American guy that everyone was proud to call their friend.

After we enlisted and we both deployed out of country I noticed some major changes in his personality. He doesn't do well with crowded places, always has to sit with his back to a wall watching the entrances and exits, his ability to relax and just enjoy life has been stripped away from him. He doesn't sleep like he used to - nightmares, sleep disturbances, snoring, etc. He has control over his anger, but you can see it boiling inside of him. When we go places (withheld) has a happy face on, but you can see him always calculating the situation, sizing up the people around him for potential threats, and always being on guard - especially around new unknown people. Getting him to go out and do things isn't like it used to be, before it was "Hey lets go see a movie" we would get up and immediately leave to go see said movie, now its "hey lets go see a movie", and sometimes its a month before he has the energy to leave and be around people enough to see the movie

His experiences overseas have altered his personality, his demeanor, and his life to a point that he is completely different person that is being forced to learn how to adjust in society without the help and support he truly needs.

I hope this statement helps in you making the right decision to help (withheld) with his claim.

Thank you,

(Withheld)

Any changes needed? is this sufficient?

Sounds good but there is another way that will give your statement added weight. Since it's highly unlikely you are going to lie about what you have seen and experienced with your own eyes from your buddy. Use 28 U.S.C 1746 .

Appendix IV to Part 1201 - Sample Declaration Under 28 U.S.C.1746

Declaration

I, ___________, do hereby declare:

I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the foregoing is true and correct.

Executed on

 

Date

 

Signature

 

[Crosis]

1 minute ago, doc25 said:

Sounds good but there is another way that will give your statement added weight. Since it's highly unlikely you are going to lie about what you have seen and experienced with your own eyes from your buddy. Use 28 U.S.C 1746 .

Appendix IV to Part 1201 - Sample Declaration Under 28 U.S.C.1746

Declaration

I, ___________, do hereby declare:

I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the foregoing is true and correct.

Executed on

 

Date

 

Signature

 

Hey Doc, Thank you!

I am actually filling my letter on the VBA-21-4138 and it has "I CERTIFY THAT the statements on this form are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief." on the bottom above your Signature.