I know someone with disabilities, PTSD, back who was on the Korean DMZ

[kanewnut]

This individual served in the early to mid 1980's. I have heard him and his deceased wife talk about waking him and he has her by the throat before he is completely awake. They talked about how you had to wake him with a stick or something so you didn't have to get too close to him. He had told me about being unable to wear his c-pap because of feeling like he is being strangled/chocked. He was a 19D, a calvary scout. The only place he could serve was the Korean DMZ and the border between east and west Germany. He has talked about "destroying equipment" when they fired on stuff in the DMZ. His sergeant told him to look at it that way. He has said his VA doctors have told him he has PTSD. What do you think? 

He has done handy man work for years. Right now he has been down with his back for several weeks. I think that issue may have come from service. I am having trouble getting him to fill out the form and apply. He talks about no records and stuff being classified. He has documentation of being at the Korean DMZ. He was paid hazard/combat pay. I think he still has pay stubs. Anybody have any idea how I might help convince him to apply for the benefits he earned? 

[bobbyq]

Please remember DMZ also qualifies for Agent Orange bennies. Vet I know on DMZ Korea eventually  got PTSD , heart condition, etc. File all they can do is say no. Good luck

[GBArmy]

Kanewnut My hat's off to you for trying to help another veteran. Again. We can't lose sight of two separate things going on. Yes, it does sound like he has a case for a disability and compensation. But equally important he needs medical help and he needs to start it right now. He should call the VA crisis line and start talking to someone immediately. If he can start getting psychological help then he can start on the disability path. He may need a lot of help getting started but it has to be done. He has to understand he has a problem and he has to take the difficult commitments to help himself. After a few sessions he can ask if it hasn't already been diagnosed if he has a MH condition. If yes, then I would have him submit an intent to file. He can do that just by cally Peggy 1-800-827-1000, or if you want a paper trail, VA Form 21-0966. Either way is fine, and both work ok. That gives him 365 days to submit a formal claim. In the mean time, he is going to MH sessions and building medical health records. One of the big hurdles may be proving he was in a combat zone (DMZ). You said some of it was classified. It makes it so much easier to prove his stressors are s-c. If he has records great. Pay receipts showing combat zone is good; notation on DD214 of foreign service and any Korean service medals is also good. Commendation letters also may be helpful. Personally, at the start of this process, I would also send off to get his C-file. Read up on how to do that here on Hadit or elsewhere.  Hopefully, there may also be evidence showing where he was in there. He will need to wright a buddy letter, Statement in support of a claim, and you  and others can also. You could talk of witnessing/participating in a conversation with him and his wife being choked. He has to talk to how his MH conditions has adversely affected his life both socially and work situations/employment. If things go well with his psych treatment sessions, he can use the evidence to submit a claim. You, or someone else, possibly with the help of a GOOD VSO will need to assist. There are a lot of knowledgeable people on here that can help with specifics on MH issues and I hope they chime in as needed. Help him in this process; it is the right thing for a friend to do.

[kanewnut]

15 hours ago, bobbyq said:

remember DMZ also qualifies for Agent Orange bennies

Are you sure they were still using AO in the early 1980's? 

8 hours ago, GBArmy said:

possibly with the help of a GOOD VSO

Is that like saying a unicorn? Because I have never seen one and I don't think I have ever heard of one.

[KevinB1900]

Hey, I’m service connected at 100% (multiple service connections) for my service in the DMZ along the border of North Korea in 1981 and 1982, I was 11-B (infantry, M60 machine-gunner).

I didn’t know I had problems until years later, I was living a hard dangerous life, had violent - suicidal and homicidal tendencies.
 

I didn’t expect to get 100%, but I got it.  
 

When I ended up stateside from my tour in the DMZ, I was flipping out in the barracks, had problems focusing on my duty / responsibilities, eventually was discharged. 
 

When I was being discharged I was handed my Army 201 file by an E-6, he said, “here, you’re gonna need this.”  My Army 201 file has a stamp on it stating my security clearance form (I signed) was removed.
 

We (my unit) was comprised of tier-level specialist, we conducted / participated in ops that I don’t feel comfortable talking about, I was told by a high level VA employee to be careful what I share or talk about with staff or mental health practitioners. So, I don’t share, and that causes me to struggle, because some of the things I struggle with have created moral-injury. 
 

It took me many years to receive my service connection. The VA had no record of me ever serving in that theater, they said, “you weren’t there.”  I had to produce a medal I had received stating I was there and mentioned my combat duty / patrols along the border of North Korea.
 

Even then, the VA Claims refused to acknowledge my involvement, I contacted the library back in Virginia (DC) and asked for unclassified records of my units ops, I received an email from a Ph.D. stating, “we have one brief mention of your unit doing ops,” he recommended I contact the department of the Army at the Pentagon.
 

This told me my units operation records were still, classified, hence why the VA claims had no way of verifying my presence and participation in classified ops. I also think it’s because my company commander/s were Green Berets and others in my unit were Tier-Level specialists / operators. 
 

I took my Army 201 file to one of my hearings and showed it to the person who interviewed me, he said, “where’d you get that? You’re not supposed to have that!” At that time they were able to see records in my Army 201 file, proof!

After many years and an attorney, I was granted service connections, one being for PTSD for my duty in the DMZ.  
 

Note: I witnessed the death my team leader who was a Green Beret, and I almost died (one of my team saved my life).

 

I have never been the same since I returned stateside.
 

One more thing, we were out on an op and I got sick, they put something in our water (canteens), it made our water turn blue and had dark blue globules, to this day I have problems with my heart and digestion and kidneys, I also have head aches, sometimes massive ones. I didn’t have those issues before I went to Korea.

 

The Agent Orange recognition by the VA only goes to 1971. However, the foliage along the DMZ and surrounding the guard posts was either non-existent or appeared to be stunted.  The water we drank I believe was treated by a radioactive substance, it tasted metallic and chemical. I haven’t applied for Agent Orange because of the recognition cutoff year by the VA’s recognition for claims for Agent Orange on the DMZ, but the half life of Agent Orange is 10 years. Our water was taken from the river or wells, hence, the defoliant would still be present to come degree in the ground and run off water. 
 

When people ask where I served, I tell them, I don’t like talk about it. In the past when I spoke of it I was either dismissed or they thought I was lying. “You’re too young to have fought in the Korean War.” 
 

I struggle and have problems and live in my vehicle, I can’t handle living in an apartment or house, and suffer with PTSD pretty bad, there are times I wake up screaming, sweaty, angry, homicidal and suicidal ideation, feeling guilt and rage.  The propaganda speakers that blared constantly keeping us awake, masking enemy movement and impacting us with PSYOP’s caused me sound hearing sensitivity and triggers. 
 

Sounds of screaming or crying can send me through the roof and I have end up in a rage!
 

I was hesitant to write this but hope it helps.

 

Take care. 
 

 

 

 

 

[GBArmy]

Kevin Welcome to Hadit and it is good that you are talking about your disabilities. This is a brotherhood and we are here to help anyway we are able. I strongly suggest you keep trying to reach out and get help. You are carrying around a lot of baggage, and you need to try to "unpack" it. Goe to the VA and try to get some MH doc that is responsive and you can trust. I don't know where you live, but if you are living out of your vehicle, it just isn't safe. Keep trying to seek help. Be sure you have the VA Crisis line on your phone and don't hesitate to call them. They can help you if things are starting to spiral out for you. I, for one, believe every word you said and others here do too. Check back in anytime you like brother.

[pwrslm]

FYI

There is a special board operating on this subject. Attached PDF tells about it. The VA has a duty to seek out these records whenever classified information may be involved with unit activities (as described above).
The process is slower than regular claims, however, it makes it possible for VA RO's to validate the lay statements provided by veterans about the involvement of classified missions.
 

Secret_Mission_Claims.pdf