Why I’m filing my VA claim

First of all I would like to thank all you vet that have served I am a vet of the eighties and was stationed at Camp Lejeune I received a package in the mail about taking some blood test and a urine test I’m wondering what this is for and if anybody out there I could give me a comment on if it was something in the water and it causes cancer and if I should do anything else to pursue the matter

Im going to try to make this short as Im very upset with VA. health care. I been kicked off then was welcome back to VA. health care. After I was told my co-pays will cost me hell of lot of money, Va. goes by your gross income, which is deceiving. cause I have so many bills like food, rent, car payments , health care, taxes coming out of my gross income and im lucky if I can live month to month. I have to wait to pay off my Va. health care bill before I can make another doctor visit and get more of my RX’s. Yea I know I can make payment plans with Va. My point is Va. should go by net income not gross income. that to me is your true income. I served from 1971-1974 I was not drafted I just joined and here is the thanks you get yea you can get health care if you don’t make too much money or you pay very high co-pays. And if the USA stop sending billions of dollars to other countries to feed their people and to help re build their countries up, they should keep the money here to help the people here in the USA who goes hungry, homeless. I hope somebody who reads this will let the people in Washington DC who runs this country let them read this then maybe just maybe, we can get some help, but I dont think it will happen.

Once a veteran files for disability compensation and it is granted, if you received any severance pay during the military draw down of forces, you will not receive any compensation pay until all the severance pay is paid in full. I felt this was a slap in the face. We served all those years and have nothing to show for it. Some of us veterans will not see any of their disability compensation in their life time because of the recoupment of the severance pay. We are feeling like our time served was just wiped away and we receive nothing. These injuries happen during our time on duty and continued on into our life out of the service. This process really need to be looked at. It is hurting a lot of our veterans and the government refuses to see that. My time served was with pride, now I have lost that because I felt my fourteen years was all for nothing. Our government should not force these veterans to pay back pay that was received their time served.

My husband was a proud Vietnam Vet who actually died of a 4th heart attack in June, 2014. His death certificate stated the exact thing that he was requesting –an upgrade from 40% to 100%. At first, they promised payment up to time of his death, then excuses, excuses. And now I’m sure they hope I disappear.

AN ORGANIZED MARCH OF VETERANS TO WASHINGTON IS NEEDED ALONG WITH AN ORGANIZATION THAT CHECKS THE NOW IN PLACE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION. WE ALL NEED TO STAND TOGETHER TO GET THIS DONE. THEY CONTINUE TO TURN US AWAY ONE BY ONE. THEY PROMISED THEY WOULD TAKE CARE OF US . WE SHOULD ALL BE MAKING SURE THAT THEY HOLD TO THAT . WE CANT DO IT BY OURSELVES WE HAVE TO STAND TOGETHER. THE NOW VETERANS ADMINISTRATION IS CORRUPT AND FULL OF NEGLECT AND THESE PEOPLE ARE STILL WORKING FOR THE VA. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THERE ACTIONS. THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST FAILURE OF GOVERMENT THERE IS. AND UNTIL WE ALL STAND UP AND ASSEMBLE AGAINST IT THEY WONT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
LINDA NORTHRUP STUGILL

Greetings to all and thank you for your service,

My question is concerning my wife who while she was in boot camp was raped by a superior officer way back in 1982.
When the offense occurred she was of course threatened in a multitude of ways that if she reported the rape or told anyone, bad things would happen, she never said anything.
Fast forward to today and she is permanently disabled with severe mental issues and has had to go on social security disability because she cannot work anymore. Her doctors feel that a lot of her problems are from what happened to her when she served in the Army.
We have been told to file a claim with the VA for benefits, but are concerned that since there is no documentation from when she was raped, it would just end up being tossed out and would bring up many horrible memories for her. Of course she has all the recent medical records pertaining to this issue from mental health professionals and her family doctor, also from the 3 different times that she has been hospitalized.
Anyone have any suggestions or advice on if we should proceed with a disability claim with the VA? Any advice will be greatly appreciated! Thank you and God bless.

I stand corrected my father in law was served from 1957 to 1959.

My experience with contacting an NSO was not helpful nor encouraging. I contacted three American Legion Posts via the phone numbers and info given to me by the VA. Not one of them knew what I was talking about…when I finally got someone, they were rude and told me they don’t work for the VA…two of the three had phone messages stating that they don’t answer the phone so don’t leave a msg. The third responded but only offered to drive me to a VA hospital. I was trying to file an appeal for a funeral benefit for my husband, the combat, Korean Veteran. I ended up sending in my own letter with whatever info they needed in November 2015. I have not had a response other than the form letter from them stating they would investigate. I can’t tell you how much time has been wasted on this process, my husband died in May 2014.

I always joked around about all the PT was going to be the death of me and after over 9 years in the Marine Corps my knee finally gave out on me while running an obstacle course. Being late in the afternoon by the time I got to sickbay, the doctor had already left for the day. The Corpsman on duty did what he could which was just to make sure nothing was broken, gave me a cane and a few of the infamous APCs, wrote up what I had been in for and told me to report back in the morning. When I finally got seen by the doctor the next day, the first thing he asked me was what the problem was with my ankle. Duh! I explained again that I had screwed up my right knee. He pawed around and checked the range of motion and what not then gave me a light duty slip and told me to come back in a few days. In those few days, my right knee had started feeling better however the strain of favoring my right knee caused my left knee, which was also going out on me, to give out. So, when I went back in to sickbay, the doctor, a different one of course, asked me how my right knee was doing. He gave me a really funny look when I told him that knee was better but the other one hurt now. I can only imagine what he thought when he read the Corpsman’s report about my ankle, the first doctor’s report about my left knee and now my other knee. This was at good old Camp Lejeune. Again he gave me some more APCs and another light duty chit and sent me on my way.
When that light duty chit ran out, I was still hurting, the pain was see-sawing from one knee to the other, so I went back to sickbay. This time they sent me to the base hospital where I saw a third doctor. He didn’t know what was wrong either so, more APCs and another light duty chit. Since my knees finally started to feel better I gave up on our base doctors and decided to just stick it out.
Not long after, I got orders to Japan but had to extend my enlistment for an extra 6 months to fill them. When I got to Iwakuni, they gave me a check in slip and a check out slip and I was on my way to Okinawa. While there, my knees started acting up again so I went back to sickbay. When the doctor there saw my records he sent me to Camp Kuey, Army Hospital.and a specialist. He checked me out, diagnosed me with chronomalacia and asked if I might want to apply for a medical discharge. By this time I had 10 years in and thought I would just try to get out of the Marines and try another branch of Service where they didn’t go overboard on the PT. so I said no to the Medical. I’m still kicking myself for that one!
I did get out but never made it back into another branch, family problems at home kept me out, and so I took a civilian job. Even though that job kept me on my feet all day, my knees didn’t give me much trouble until about 8 years ago. I had started a new job and though I could do the work, my boss kept complaining I was moving too slow. I gave up on that job and found another but by the end of the day my knees would be swollen and I could barely walk. I finally gave up on that job too and went unemployed for awhile until I finally decided to go to the VA to see what could be done.
I knew I had to have my medical records so I sent off for them before I went in to the VA. Clinic here in Daytona Beach. I signed up, and after just a couple of months I was assigned a primary care doctor, had a complete physical, xrays, a CAT scan of my knees, and was seen by an Orthopedic specialist. I was given pain meds, and a knee brace to keep my knee from going sideways on me and an offer for knee surgery if it gets worse. At first I was given 20% disability but on the advice of my Ortho Doctor and with the help of my DAV rep I appealed and was upgraded to 40%. I am also able to get my eye glass prescription through VA for free each year, and am now wearing hearing aids also free from the VA. I am also receiving regular checkups all at my local clinic. My primary care Doctor has also scheduled me for an appointment with a Urologist at the Orlando VA Hospital next month to check for a possible problem with my kidney.
I know I got a bit long winded on this but the main thing I want to say is that I am very happy with my local VA and that I have had excellent service through them. This will be my first trip to the Orlando Hospital but I’m sure they will be just as good as my local clinic here in Daytona.

I think it is great the work you are doing. It appears there has been a Black Hole that you have closed.
…NSO for many years was known as Non Sanctioned Operation. For those of us who were sent on an NSO have no record of that action( s). Many of us were not sent as a unit where we could later contact a buddy, but an Ad Hoc Team..We were told we were like an ” All Star Team “, top notch from several places, best in our MOS. We faced factors that we were not prepared for such as our dead fellow Americans ((( this is still very hard for me to tell and it was over fifty years ago. It is still highly classified apparently ))); such as incoming fire and WE WERE NOT ARMED.
After completing the mission and risking our lives, on the return trip being told ” This never happened. ” ..A few days after that I spent over two weeks in 130th Field Hospital for really unknown reasons but they called it ” Appears to be Mono ” No wonder I have many problems everyday since. All that is recorded.
American Legion is doing my claim, I really hope I live long enough to see it upgraded to 100%. Parts of the US Army were very good to me, parts made me mistrust the truth and very ill. My life has been at times in shambles or worse. I feel like I am in a hole. so far any help has been a shovel to only dig deeper, but made to feel it is better. Thank you all for your service and sharing. Bill Brown

LOL. Let’s see how you feel a few years from now.

Where there ever any successful claims of veterans who served in Ft. Lewis Washington and the TCE exposure?

I am an old Ranger. I was in Pleiku,1969-70. If you go to the doctor you are known as a wimp! I broke my ankle, and had to go. Most of my team were alcoholics. The VA took the bones out of my ear and replaced the bones with a piston. I have seizures from Agent Orange. The VA has taken care of me after The DAV and my U.S. senator went to bat for me. It takes time to understand how the health system works. I used to think that the VA wants us old grunts to die first and then send money to the wives, but they do care, it least I think they care…..empathy instead of apathy.

I also was too proud to seek help from the VA for many years. I am a Vietnam Combat Vet and although I’ve had many injuries during my service (most in Nam) including concussion from a mortar explosion. I waited until I was already disabled from work to seek any help from VA as they were all related from service. My leg and back injury was from Basic Training and re-injured in Nam. I’ve had migraines since and have lived off pills and in the earlier days alcohol to try and overcome the pain. Yet I continued to work and support my family.

My uncle (also Vietnam Vet and who worked for VA) told me to apply for compensation as he knew my history. I applied. Having no insurance I went to VA Hospital and was immediately accepted for treatment. They took good care of me at VA for the most part. A few situations with a couple foreign doctors, but that’s another story.

What I did ind out was that the VA Administration will and did lie when they rejected all but my hearing disability. I am so glad I went to ask for all my records (three reams thick) before they sent the reasons for denial as I have proof of their lies. Now it’s in the hands of an attorney for Vets and yet it’s been over 5 years. And it’s possibly true, they are waiting, hoping we will die before they have to pay off. Frustrated to say the least. Our two Senators have helped and when they responded back to the Senators, they never even mentioned my military service injuries at all but was saying my injuries were other related problems. And by the way, in trying to seek all my records, the VA said they didn’t have my records and don’t know where they are when I requested them. It took the 6 months to respond back to me with an answer.

They attorney did say after contacting the Senators that they moved beyond the Regional now and it should proceed much faster. I old the Senators, well at least the VA is still getting their bonuses!!!

here is your link
https://sites.google.com/site/benifitsforveteranannounced/2

This stream is exactly the reason I want to form a non-profit. I and others wish to help Veterans with the needs they have which are not addressed by public assistance. We also want to assist those waiting for Social Security Disability as well.

I lived at a homeless shelter for over 700 days during a 4 year period. I saw the needs of people, and see them now as an advocate for the homeless in Portland, ME.

Recently a veteran I have encouraged for the past 5 years was granted his 100 % disability from the VA. It was a matter of PTSD during naval Service that was not related to combat. In my early career as an officer I heard stories about “fan room discipline”. Some behemoth did this to him when he was a junior enlisted. He actually was taken out of the service while he was in patient for mental health issues. When he first shared his story I encouraged him to apply again, and the process finally worked.

He has made a small donation to the non-profit for its incorporation costs. Our name will be “Semper Resurgam-Always Rising”. While we will file in Virginia, we aim to make a difference nation wide. Eventually we hope to train and employ other veterans with partial disability to be those working as counselors, reaching out and helping others in need. Another mission is to coordinate the assistance given by other organizations by creating a single application which multiple organizations can use to assist those in need. This can reduce administrative costs for multiple organizations.

I also have trouble with the va on my disability rating and comp. My knees are shot and I have pea-sized lesions in both lungs which the va says are asbestos related from working in enginerooms on board. They say my knee and shoulder are worth 20% and the lesions treating with 3 different inhalers are worth another 10%. They say I am able to be hired with my disability, I asked them to name any. I’M IN THE PROCESS OF APPEAL. tHEY TOLD MY LAWYER THAT i SIGNED A POWER-OF-ATTORNEY over to them; which is a bald faced lie. In fact just the opposite, I went to records and directed them to make all my records available to him. My lawyer said they failed to co-operate and quit. I tried hiring another but after I sent all my info, they declined and told me to file an asbestos claim on my own.If you think everyone is honest as you are try dealing with these people or any government officials. IN my opinion they are all liars.

I am having trouble getting my medical records. I contacted the Department of Veterans Affairs record management center. They sent me a disc which was copied from microfiche and is black and unreadable. I contacted them again and was told the copy they sent was the best copy available plus it was not the entire record. When I was in the USMC I had a female surgery that is considered a disability. No one ever told me to copy my medical record or that I could file a claim and now that I want to, I can’t get my record with the documentation. Do anyone know how I can get a good copy of my record or get the microfiche?

Robert Bullock is my name I am a vet I gave over 25 years of my life to the U.S. Army and when my body start to brake down in 2006 I put in some clam that when my troubles started it Was Always we need this we need that What about that And then They Give Me 20% After 4 years And then 4 years later they took it Back and said that they Made an error and took it Back and put My 20% Down Too zero In 2014 and I am still trying to get it Back with no luck it’s like start in all over again more this and more that The same old s_ _ _ all over.

I HAVE TRIED TO USE THE CHOICE CARD WITH THE VA APPOINTED ADMINISTRATOR: TRIWEST ADVANTAGE (?) AND IT PROVED TO BE USELESS. IT TOOK ALMOST THIRTY DAYS FOR THEM TO ATTEMPT TO FIND A DERMATOLOGIST DOCTOR FOR MY NEEDS. HOWEVER, THEY COULD NOT DO IT SO THEY ASKED ME TO FIND ONE. I LOOKED UP THE TRIWEST WEB SITE AND HE ALSO LISTED IN THEIR PROGRAM.. THEY CLAIMED HE WOULD ACCEPT THE CHOICE CARD, BUT,,,,,,,HE DIDN’T. THIS NEW ADMINISTRATOR IS TOTALLY WORTHLESS! GO BACK TO THE VA WITH THEIR ORIGINAL CHOICE PROGRAM,,,, WHERE THE VA WOULD ISSUE YOU AN AUTHORIZATION LETTER TO BE USED WHEN I PERSONALLY FOUND A DOCTOR OF MY CHOICE.

Hello James. I just finished reading your blog & I wanna thank you for it.

Just like you, when I “ETS’d”, I didn’t care about filing anything. Even though I did have several health issues while on active duty. I was an infantryman all the way. Made it all the way to the rank of E-6 staff sergeant. I was the acting platoon sergeant when I got out.

All I wanted was to work. And I did. I started working @ the VA Hospital in Puerto Rico. There, I ran into several people who served with me. And the first thing they would ask was; “did you filed a claim???”. And I my answer was NO. That I didn’t care about filing no claim. Specially after seeing them and the condition they were in.

After a couple of years after I ETS’d, that’s when my health issues began even though I tried keeping that military mentality about running, exercising & staying in shape.

I never got any treatment @ the VA Hospital even though I was an employee. I didn’t want my coworkers & supervisors finding out about my health. I had a private primary Doctor that I would visit using my employee health benefits.

My health is so bad even though I take care of myself that I finally decided to submit a claim. I visited the Puerto Rico Regional Office. I had filled out all the paper work and turned it in. I even included copies of some medical records & X-rays. I even signed authorizations so they could request copies of all my medical records. I keep getting these letters that they are working on my claim & to visit the VSO.

I did visited the VSO and they told me that they were waiting on my military medical records.

But it’s been 6 months.

Seriously, why do they take so much time??? I finally gave up & decided to just keep waiting. Considering that when they finally review & process your claim & assign a percentage, they have to pay you all that back pay. It’s effective from the day you submitted your claim. Even if it’s 6 months; a year or more. So the longer it takes, the bigger the back pay.

It is a good idea to visit the VSO every once in a while

I used a local state of Alabama VSO rep to help me with my VA claim in 2012. I was in the U.S. Army for 10 years. I was enlisted for 3 years and an officer for 7 years. I have been very fortunate with the VA claim process and with all my VA healthcare! My local VA primary care clinic staff & primary care physician has been so good to me. The VA Hospital in Birmingham, AL has been so nice, caring and professional as well. I see an oncologist on a regular basis at the VA hospital in Birmingham, AL. The VA approved my claim in 15 months. My state VSO rep was very knowledgable and professional and she helped me so much. I would have been lost without her. I wrote a letter to the Govenor of Alabama & the retired admiral who is the head of all the VA VSO offices in the state of Alabama. I wrote the letter on behalf oft he state VSO who helped me & let them know how much I appreciated everything she did for my family & I. I would advise anyone reading this to contact your Congressman and Senator if you are having any issues that you feel can’t be resolved with a state VSO, the DAV or American Legion. I have had a very rare type of cancer & many other health issues that the VA determined was directly linked to my service in a combat zone in 1990-1991 in Desert Storm. I had to quit work in 2012 because of my major health issues. I know some people who have had good luck working with the DAV to help them get the VA benefits they filed a claim for. I will be hoping and praying all the vets that are having issues with the claims will get those issues resolved in the near future. I personally have been very fortunate & pleased with my VA claim decision! It was because I had a realky good state VSO to help me, because I have many documented health issues that were directly related to & are well know issues with Desert Storm vets. I have had excellent health care treatment with the VA. One of my major concerns relates to the suicide rates with veterans. I am concerned that some of the suicides could be from all the stress of the claim process & issues, healthcare issues or the fact the vets won’t seek professional help, feel all alone & like they have no place to Tyumen, because they won’t call the VA crisis hotline, etc. My advice on all claims is to be very thorough! We live in a free country because of the sacrifices of our veterans! It’s been that way since the revolutionary war & it will be that way in the future! Combat veterans and all veterans deserve the help they need & have earned & all veterans deserve the proper respect for their sacrifices!

I served in the Coast Guard active and reserve for over 24 years and am one of those you feel I owe the service back since in was truly a great experience and a rewarding career overall. I too am one of those that never missed a day, and toughed it out when similar injures sent colleagues to the medical clinics. After hearing stories of other Coasties filing for injuries sustained by buckling a seatbelt in a GV and collecting from the VA, I was disgusted. After retiring, I enrolled in the VA and felt for the most part they were very helpful and felt the agency was burdened by vets that refuse to take care of themselves (Generally speaking).

Keeping a full copy of my medical records and sustaining a serious injury while on active duty and became a chronic issue, I filed and was denied. I never appealed, but as the problem got worse, I found a MD that actually took the time and agreed with documented letters from the USCG, that my chronic issues certainly could have been the result of the injury in question by the VA. I filed again, along with an additional new claim of contracting Lyme Disease (I still did not miss a day at work even with Bells Palsy) and again verified on my medical records to see if I get a different response back. I did this when I heard that a fellow coastie who contracted Lyme Disease filed and is receiving benefits and he makes 98K a year at his current job. My dad who passed away last year at 97, a WWII vet, also Coast Guard (MM) was losing his hearing and was told to file and was awarded benefits almost instantaneously, with no records to boot, but only collected one check, maybe there is a different process for elderly vets, I never found out how he did it. Anyway, it will be interesting to see what results will transpire if I don’t die from cancer waiting for a response in the meantime.

I have to agree with the individual who stated he was denied benefits because he made too much money. What does your financial situation have to do with a military documented and established disability? There should not be any connection, and should be asked on any application.

When I enlisted I was told that if I put in 20 years or more of service, that I would receive “FREE” medical benefits for the rest of my life. If so, why do I now have to pay for Medicare just to get my “FREE” military medical benefits in Tricare For Life?

I’m thinking that Congress is approving cuts into our medical benefits because most of them have never served and have no idea of the sacrifices we made.

Thank you for asking for our comments, maybe we Vets have to start fighting back to earn what we were promised and deserve.

My fellow brother in arms. I hear you and wish all of you the best in your quest for your earned disability. I too am fighting an uphill battle with the VA on my claims. Hang in there and cover my left flank. Ill do my part. God Bless!

i agree with LCPL Valdez’s above posting; the VA and the military medical system should be attached to the hip. Additionally, they should be an intricate part of discharge procedures to assure an enhanced transition to your return home. It all should be a mandatory discharge/transition process that is open for attendance by the soldier’s family or designated support(s).

As the spouse, support and daily contact of a Vietnam Vet, the military systems needs to consider being more receptive/open to working with the Soldier’s natural support systems.

Your VSO is not your friend or pal, if something goes wrong they willl leave you in the dark as they become another layer of beuracasy …if your records are lost they. Will be of littlle help .My VSO said “you shouldnt be worrying about that scar” as i sat there with a blood stained gauze in full view “worry about proving you ever served” and never helped find them..my advice Hire a 3rd party to go get your records. There is nothing easy about this the very second we get hurt we are never treated the same again. Bless you if you find a vso you like Hope it goes smooth .But do your homework keep copies of everything Remember this! ” they see you the vso and the va as nothing more then a % and what money’s. You seek…Dont ever ever forget This is about your follow-up. Care!”

Going towards six years of appeals. VFW rep helping me.

I read this artucle and it reminds me of the process i went through. See i used the DAV had an asdign NSO and was majorly screwed. Until i took initiative to work my own claim. I sat in appeals for four years, atleast that is what I wad told. Found the number to the BVA and asked for a docket number. Was told they have never recievef my case.

I read up on rules and regulations that Congress set that VA raters and claims officer are suppose to follwow.. Its posted online 38 CFR PART 3 AND PART4 ARE The most important.

Educating yourself helps. Do not just rely on another perdon word. Knowing the law helps. Im now 100%permanent and total. Knowing the right questions to ask helps your case tremendously.
Some will tell you once you reach 100 thats it. Nit true!

I now volunteer helping other veterans. Its crazy how the system can be when you have no knowledgege of whats going on.

Your your best advocate. Read do your rearch. It works.

I was scrolling quickly through FB when the photo accompanying this article made me pause because I immediately thought, that guy has the Lyme Look in his eyes. And then I read your symptoms and thought, those all could be Lyme disease. Or the military equivalent of Lyme disease, which is Gulf War Syndrome, both being bacterial infection caused by bug bites. These infections can lay dormant for years before the multitude of symptoms, including mental illness symptoms, become pronounced enough for the victim to seek medical attention. The CDC test for Lyme is very unreliable but I beg you to get tested anyway. And educate yourself about these bug-borne illnesses. They are an undiagnosed epidemic.

What happens if you have nothing documented?

I never went to sick call, I just sucked it up (didn’t wanna be labeled as sick-bay commando). Sat thru SEP, enjoyed all the motivational speakers. Like so many I pissed away my GI Bill on some correspondence program. Then ended up doing menial work, and recently unemployed. I have aches and pains that I can trace to my time in the military, but it’s not documented medically, and since I’ve lost touch of buddies from the military, hard to get buddy testimonials.

What happens when you can’t prove your claims?

To add to Steve Redmond’s comment above, for those just joining the military, why not have the VA sit-down and explain to boots in bootcamp, as to make sure all injuries are documented at medical during their enlistment. And have the VA ensure all military medical personnel make sure those under their care report injuries.

The VA and the military medical system should be joined at the hips, not separate.

The state of Texas has veterans service officers who can assist with VA claims. I’ve been working with one to try to get my 85 year old father-in-law’s disability increased. We had his civilian doctors complete DBQs, and we also had a comp & pen exam done by VA. After a year, we got a ruling that his disability will remain the same. Per our VSO, the DBQ we submitted regarding his diabetes should have warranted a higher disability rating. Additionally, the PA who completed the comp & pen exam made a gross error – answering the question regarding congestive heart failure as no, when in the VA records he has been seen for CHF for more than 10 years. Chronic CHF would warrant a higher disability. I do not understand how a medical professional could overlook the fact that this veteran has had CHF on his active problem list for greater than 10 years. I went through 600+ pages of his medical records, highlighting every instance where he was treated for CHF. Then we had to file a request for reconsideration – which again can take as much as year to review. In the meantime, this veteran is 85 years old with declining health. I am a former VHA employee, so I have been able to help my in-laws figure out this process. I fear that the veterans who have no one to advocate for them get lost in the bureaucracy. Even with the help of a service officer, someone has to gather all the information from private doctors, etc. – and there is obviously no guarantee that your VA records will even be assessed correctly. It is a broken system that needs an overhaul.

the frustration of the process goes beyond what most people will ever understand. I have 10% disability at this time, it took me almost 7 years for that, i have it for tinnitus, I served with the 1st/75th ranger bat. H.A.F. savannah, ga. The hardest part of getting your claim done is the record keeping from the times i was in, 1985 – 1992. we were treated by our medics or at our aid stations, it was considered pu>:<ing out to be on sick call. As part of my training, i have received many injuries that basically hurt me to hold my children now. to anyone just going in, or getting out, file now, i am still fighting with the va for full benefits even though i am diagnosed with severe PTSD and TBI(s) going through this process and not being recognized is what hurts the most, it brings on huge depression knowing they should be doing the right thing but are making my family wait over 7 years to get records.

We my husband and I are working with a VSo but feel he is not doing enough for us. We just started an appeaal. We are at loss of words as to how they could even deny his claim in the first place. He has been able to work for 6 months now and I am on disabilty for a nerve disease so we are in fear of losing everything. Can you direct us in any way of some help with our appeal that we just submitted. Thanks Rhonda email is raeick@yahoo.com