Unit (ship) Combat Awards

[Chuck75]

Do the circumstances/awards below entitle me to be considered as a "Combat Veteran" under the VA regs? I have previously met the "VA "Feet on Ground" rule in the initial compensation claim, and received a 10% compensation award.

In the fall/winter of 1967, I served as part of the crew on an LST assigned as a support ship. We were a part of the "River Rats" or Mobile Riverene Force, TF117.

(Operated in the rivers and Delta of Vietnam) In 1968 I was transferred to another ship, an LSMR. This vessel provided "close in" fire support along the entire coast of Vietnam.

As a result, for the time that I was on the crew, the ships were awarded:

LST

CR 11-DEC-1967

NU 20-AUG-1967 16-JAN-1968

RG 24-AUG-1967 01-SEP-1967

13-NOV-1967 29-NOV-1967

26-DEC-1967 02-JAN-1968

VS 1 June 1967 - 29 January 1968

LSMR

NU 01-SEP-1968

VS 04-FEB-1968 21-MAR-1968 30-APR-1968

11-JUN-1968 18-JUL-1968

CR Combat Action Ribbon

NU Navy Unit Commendation

VS Vietnam Service Medal

RG Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation - Gallantry

Edited March 31, 2007 by Chuck75

[Chuck75]

Yes, but it may also pertain to other things that are within the guidelines, but that the VA would normally say that there is not enough proof.

Anyway, I found another award that does mention Combat and Hostile fire.

Chuck75,

For VA purposes to concede a stressor for PTSD from a combat veteran, the Combat Action Ribbon meets this criteria. Is this what you are asking??

Vike 17

Edited April 6, 2007 by Chuck75

[emmak]

:D After reading the posts I am wondering if my husband should check further into his awards.I know he has the bronze star with V and another medal which i think is the gallentry? cross. He was just recently awarded 50% PTSD His service time in Vietnam was 67-68. He has told me he should have been awarded other bronze stars and a medal for helicopter flight time but never received it to his knowledge. is any other medals helpful in filing for compensation? :(

[Philip Rogers]

:D After reading the posts I am wondering if my husband should check further into his awards.I know he has the bronze star with V and another medal which i think is the gallentry? cross. He was just recently awarded 50% PTSD His service time in Vietnam was 67-68. He has told me he should have been awarded other bronze stars and a medal for helicopter flight time but never received it to his knowledge. is any other medals helpful in filing for compensation? :(

The medals are only good for proving a stressor likely happened for a PTSD claim or perhaps if he's claiming some other injury that happened while engaged in combat. He can still request an update on his awards, though. Additional medals don't bring more compensation, not even a free cup of coffee.

pr

[Chuck75]

Just completed the 149 (total of 10 pages including the 149)

Consisting of:

Transfer and Assignment pages from Service Records

DD 214

Copy of letter from NPRC stating that VA has my Records.

List of Awards including dates and type from awards.navy.mil

The reason for all this effort is a back injury that has existed since and during service. Records of shipboard treatment for it are slim to nonexistant.

Evidently, individual records were not kept of "aches and pains", and treatment with Asprin, Darvon, etc. I don't know if the "Sick Call" logs are available (Doubt it).

After service records (X-rays, etc.) are useless, since the ruptured disks only show up on CAT scans or an MRI.

The medals are only good for proving a stressor likely happened for a PTSD claim or perhaps if he's claiming some other injury that happened while engaged in combat. He can still request an update on his awards, though. Additional medals don't bring more compensation, not even a free cup of coffee.

pr