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

[doc25]

Read this article by Chris Attig, a veteran's lawyer. You'll understand why I made the suggestion after you read it.

https://www.veteranslawblog.org/lay-evidence-in-a-va-claim/

[Berta]

The CAR is as good as the CIB!!!!!

CAR Combat Action Badge 

CIB Combat Infantry Badge-

Years ago we had a vet here whose PTSD claim was denied, and he said he had the CAR-it was the only CAR denied PTSD claimI can ever recall.

He and his wife came here for help but they never told us the VA's exact reason for the denial. I hope they appealed.

You said:

"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."

Yeah the ROEs were changed.....that would give any service person PTSD.

That crap happened in Vietnam too,-still Lessons Learned for our Mil---but were they 'learned'.

That incident should probably be in a Morning unit report to Command but -with the CAR on his DD 214- the VA should concede his stressor.

I say 'should' because we never know what the VA will do.

Crosis-

In your case- when the VA gave you 70% were you employed then? Or did they enclose a TDIU form to consider TDIU?

 

"I got out in 2006, I received 70% and it was all physical, I was denied for PTSD as being not service connected."

Did yuou appeal?

Or have you re-opened the claim with New and Material evidence?

 

 

 

 

 

[Crosis]

2 hours ago, Berta said:

I say 'should' because we never know what the VA will do.

Crosis-

In your case- when the VA gave you 70% were you employed then? Or did they enclose a TDIU form to consider TDIU?

 

"I got out in 2006, I received 70% and it was all physical, I was denied for PTSD as being not service connected."

Did yuou appeal?

Or have you re-opened the claim with New and Material evidence?

 

 

 

 

 

Then I look forward to being able to help my buddy with his claim with my buddy letter.

Regarding my claim, I was employed Full-Time and I never challenged the PTSD claim.
They sent me a file saying they never received my PTSD paperwork, and when I went through an eval of sorts out of VA in Balboa I had a gentleman tall me "You weren't a grunt, you can't have PTSD" (this was in July of 2006).

I have actual diagnosis from a VA Therapist and a VA Psychiatrist saying I have combat related PTSD and buddy letters in support.

[Berta]

"I have actual diagnosis from a VA Therapist and a VA Psychiatrist saying I have combat related PTSD and buddy letters in support."

If you can scan and attach the PTSD  denial here we can possibly  help more-cover your C file #, name, address prior to scanning it.

Denials always contain a VA rationale, and that is what we need to see, and the evidence they used.

[Crosis]

1 hour ago, Berta said:

"I have actual diagnosis from a VA Therapist and a VA Psychiatrist saying I have combat related PTSD and buddy letters in support."

If you can scan and attach the PTSD  denial here we can possibly  help more-cover your C file #, name, address prior to scanning it.

Denials always contain a VA rationale, and that is what we need to see, and the evidence they used.

 They denied it claiming they never received any paperwork from me in support of my claim. I sent it 3 different times, the 3rd time I physically walked it into the Oakland CA Regional Office.

They also never sent me in for any kind of C&P. I went in for a meeting with a gentleman at Balboa in July 2006 and he literally told me "You weren't a Grunt, so you can't have PTSD, and I think this meeting is over" and I was excused from his office.

Edited February 9, 2019 by Crosis

[Buck52]

1 hour ago, Crosis said:

 They denied it claiming they never received any paperwork from me in support of my claim. I sent it 3 different times, the 3rd time I physically walked it into the Oakland CA Regional Office.

They also never sent me in for any kind of C&P. I went in for a meeting with a gentleman at Balboa in July 2006 and he literally told me "You weren't a Grunt, so you can't have PTSD, and I think this meeting is over" and I was excused from his office.

They did you wrong   you could possibly have CUE on that...you need to get your C-file and find theses records you sent in.

I hope you got a sign certified receipt back from the P.O.

It's your prof you sent in your evidence  without it  its their word against yours.   if you sent these in they should be in your C-file...the C-file is very very Important ..you can see whats all in it.

Edited February 9, 2019 by Buck52