Army Records

[exlrrp]

Originally posted by Doc.2/47
After seeing what happened to some of my buddies I've spent all this time avoiding the VA like a plague but things are getting to a point that I just can't avoid it anymore.Couple of questions if you'd be so kind:If a PTSD claim is approved, does BATF come around and try to take your guns?I have my CMB but no PH,how much trouble would I be getting into?

Be prepared for a long haul so have patience--its 20 months to get this far for me. But the people on this website can be a tremedous resource if yr smart enough to use it.
Not that this will happen to you but I posted a platoon picture that had a friend of someone's here and we got in touch--this helped my case tremendously.
If you think you have a case, pursue it, thats what I learned. Procrastination only works against you here, there will be less and less under this administration. Do it soonest!!! even if you fail, its FREE!!

Does yr unit have a website? there may be support services there. My lrrp company has a counslor (ex lrrp) who specialisees in these kind of people, there's a network.
If younthink you have a case, pursue it--if not, then don't---simple as that


Also Fred:
I doubt if there's a master data base that has all firefights and shellings, I really do. I have sat in the hooch in the rain while the plt ldr filled out the reports and they were sparse, just head counts and body counts and ration and ammo requirements.. I'd REALLY REALLY like to see the afteractionreports we wrote in the lrrps, I REALLY REALLY would. I was one of the heroes in ALL of them, take THAT to el banco!!

James

[billr]

James - I wanted to add a little to what's already been posted.
First, you made the right move by going to the County Veterans Service Office. The CVSO is better equipped to help you on a local, one on one basis. Of course, I'm a little biased being a CVSO myself.
Second, if you have the CIB you don't have to worry about the stressor statement. The stressor statement is only needed to establish that you were in a stressful situation that brought about the PTSD. The VA might not be the brightest government agency around, but they have figured out that combat is a stressful situation and of course the award of the CIB established that you were in combat.
Third, with the CIB and a confirmed diagnosis of PTSD, service connection is pretty much a slam dunk. Now its just a matter of getting you in for the C&P exam to establish the level of disability.
Oakland VA is taking a while to process any and all claims. Getting Congressman Miller's office involved really won't help speed up the process. In fact, it can sometime slow it down. Whenever the congressional unit at Oakland gets an inquiry from a member of congress, the first thing that happens is that they go pull your file from whomever might be working on it. The reply to the congressman is then usually, "Yes we have it and we are working on it." I would recommend staying in contact with the CVSO to track the status of the claim. The congressional unit is also the CVSO liaison unit so we talk with them quite frequently.
At this point the best advice I can give is be patient and don't let the bastards get you down.

Bill R.

Glad SOMEBODY figured out that wars are stressful.I spent 4 wks. in the Ft.Cambell Hosp. with a bleeding ulcer.On discharge they told me to avoid stressful situations-then promptly shipped me off to Viet Nam.

[1CAVCCO15MED]

Doc, James and all,
As you can see from the posts it is hard to separate treatment issues from compensation issues. I had evaluation, then treatment and then applied for compensation.Social Security in my area I guess thought PTSD was similar to Alzheimer's and the most important test they based turning my cas down on was the IQ test. PTSD doen't effect your IQ. Doc, I guess Murfreesboro is the closest VA Hospital to you and they probably have a PTSD program. The one at Mountain Home sucks. I go to a group at the local VEt Center. I feel like this is the least hassel way to get treatment. You just have to show up, maybe show them a DD 214. They are the ones who referred me to the best PTSD program in the country, Salem VA hospital , Salem, Virginia. I would suggest going to the Vet Center closest to you first. I guess they can vary in quality too but mine is excellent.
My rating for PTSD was mostly derived from my treatment notes. Jomes, I guess I am luck in that my company was a brigade support unit. Most of the actions we treated were of Company size or larger. The combat situations that happened to my company also happened to brigade headquarters so you can be sure it was written down. I guess I had a C and P exam, I don't remember but the evidence derived from my neuropsych exam, my Vet Center notes and Salem notes was what made the case. That and my Purple Heart. My stressor letter was a paragraph. I think the best way to get disability is to get treatment. What the therapists say carries great weight.
I think the most important thing to remember is that PTSD without treatment always gets worse. They can't cure it but they can make it a lot better. You just have to get to good treatment.

[phuloi]

I found that what worked best for me was to call the 800#...often.Weekly,or at least bi-weekly.Through this proccess I learned that every claim is assigned to a "team"..(a-b-c or 1-2-3 type of thing).Be sure to have your claim # in hand and call to find out what "team" you have been assigned to and ask for the team leader.If you can mind your manners and remember that this guy is a beauruecrat,he`ll give you tha name and exten.# of whoever is working your case,and after that it`s like "Hey,Jim-Bob,what`s up with my case?" Schmoose with the guy.After I got ahold of 'Dale',things went very smoothly for the remainder of the wait.He told me that my file was a bit light here,and too heavy there.Your claim goes directly from this guy to the rating board,so you want to be sure all the Ts are crossed,etc.Remember-get to know the case worker by first name basis and call OFTEN.

[exlrrp]

Originally posted by billr

At this point the best advice I can give is be patient and don't let the bastards get you down.

Bill R.

Bill--thanks for allthe good advice--you too Fred and Griz and Packo and all the rest. My new advocate is Ken Burke--maybe you know him? He was highly reccommended. seems a shame to blow off the Congressman when he seems eager to help, tho, I don't often get this much good attention from bureaucrats
I think I may have written too much--I don't think its a question of establishing degree of, its a matter of figuring unemployablilty--well, anyone'll tell you I been shiftless ever since, the boy aint right in the haid--right conservatives? I have NOT been able to stay employed (other than self employed) in over 20 years, was fired several times before that--now I only give myself a raise or a day off HAH! "The best revenge is to live well"
(F Scott Fitzgferald)

Doc 2/47--if yr not smart enough to use all this good advice, yr not smart enough to pick up a $100bill if you see it on the ground

James
Happy just to be alive

[billr]

James

Yes indeed, I do know Ken Burke. He was the Napa County Veterans Service Officer before taking the Alameda County job. He's a good man and he'll make sure that the VA does your claim right. As a matter of fact I'll be seeing Ken the 1st week in October at our Association conference in Yosemite.

Bill

exlrrp-
Not a rocket scientist,but that smart I am.Hope your battle goes well.

[1CAVCCO15MED]

The best way to approach the VA for disability is to approach it for treatment. Those dudes like their own people to tell them what to do. If you can get that VA pamphlet on PTSD you will see thse key words like I showed you, i.e., intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, etc. That is what that clerk in the bowels of some VA regional office is looking for. He ain't too bright but he is too busy and he appreciates it being made simple for him. I took a ten page stressor letter to my advisor when I was applying. He told me I wrote a book and what was needed was a paragraph. That was the best advice I got.
The VA people who treat PTSD also know how to word their reports for maximum effect on those ratings processors. One of the nicest things they told us at the Salem VA PTSD program is they would never hurt our case for getting disability. They know how that system works and are very careful how they word their reports. When I went back for an eval a month ago they told me they would never do anything to cause me to lose my benefits. That is the paradox of this treatment-compensation situation. The only way the can continue to treat someone who is getting benefits for PTSD is to report they are making no significant progress. If they didn't do it that way it would not be in the self interest of the vet to seek treatment once he got disability.
I am 100% total and permanent for unemployability. My PTSD is 70%. My advisor told me it was not a good idea to try and get the PTSD part increased or to try and get disability for other problems such as hearing loss. One you won't get any more money and two it reopens the whole case, not just what you applied for. You essentially start over and they can deny everything.

[Keith_Hixson]

James,

I was reading your first post on this thread. You shouldn't have to apply for any awards. The clerk (s) who analyzed your military service should have recommended your CIB just by analyzing your records. Lots of guys have had problems with their military records because some clerk did care to take the time to fill out the records properly. I received my ARCOM two days before my discharge from active duty. Being Headquarters and knowing most of the clerks personally I had my records changed to reflect the award. But, so many guys assume (and the assumption should be true) that the military is keeping accurate records, as we all know that isn't neccessarily true. You not getting the CIB was not an Army mistake, it was the work of a sloppy clerk who was just shoving the paper work along and wasn't taking the time to do it right. There were good clerks and lousy clerks in the Army. Unfortunately some lousy record keeping has hurt many a Vet.
Good Luck and the Best to you friend.

Keith

P.S. I still love ya James