Sometimes I Just Feel Screwed...a Newbie

[ExHGSSgt]

First of all, I would like to talk about my merits. I am former Air Force, four years Active Duty and three years Reserves. My service times were both cut short by 1) an early out for school, and 2) for medical reasons. Both were honorable miscellaneous AFR whatever number discharges.

I served on Honor Guard in Florida...was stationed there for two years. I also served in Germany for a year and a half during the Gulf War. I worked in Civil Engineering on Active, and Medical in the Reserves. I have received outstanding unit with two oak leaf clusters, basic training, good conduct, national defense service ribbon, and overseas long tour ribbon. Wanted like Hell to go to Antarctica and float weather balloons as a meteorologist, but AF needs came first.

I worked hard on many construction projects, sweated my butt off in the Florida sun in my BDUs, helped take charge of closing down an airbase in Germany, was certified in Fire Alarms and Security Alarms (JSIIDS). Had some good buddies. I may have found one on classmates.com but I haven't bothered to pay the fee to see who the two guestbook signers were in there. (One name of a guy I served with was in the site, but I'm not sure he signed my guestbook, cuz you gotta pay to get in).

I stayed out of trouble, never had any major medical problems in the Air Force except bronchitis and the occasional respiratory infections (that was always my weak point).

Now, after having got out, I have been in and out of school. I finished my two year degree with a lot of zest after I first got out of the service. Graduated magna cum laude...served on a two-year college honor society.

I was hospitalized for my first time around 1995, just after graduating from college. Since that hospitalization, I have been in and out of hospitals about twelve times as an inpatient, and probably 100 times at outpatient. I lived in a transitional home for awhile that was mainly for veterans, which I found out through the VA hospital.

I started a claim with the VA, which got denied twice. Since a rude person from DAV never returned my call, I had to fill out the three incident reports myself. This was the beginning, I feel, of the screwing over. I tried, in vain, to appeal, and was rejected twice through Chicago I believe. Never saw combat but applied for benefits anyways. Served as security police augmentee during the Gulf War in Germany under ThreatCon Charlie conditions. Carried a machine gun. Had a couple of close calls which were unnerving.

I am currently living overseas in Asia. I have been over here for about three years now. Part of the reason I came over here was that I was sick of the transitional home, which, in my opinion, was mismanaged by a power, money and status hungry CEO. I worked for $100 a month full time for him. I was also receiving Social Security Disability benefits, which started about five years ago. Lived on those and my parents' help for covering the cost of the home, left, told my mother never to give me financial assistance again and that I would figure things out for myself from now on. (She's nearly 70 now). I'm still living on Social Security and have tried to get back to work without much success. The money doesn't take me far. It's enough, but not enough for much else after paying for medicine and anything else I might need.

I'm trying to get some help for reopening my claim. I called a local hospital here and talked with the doctor. He told me in truth that he tried to write two letters for people like me and they were refused. Denied. At least he was honest. Now I'm wondering, as I've let a lawyer back in my home state know about this, is how I can go about getting a diagnosis of PTSD (I know you can get coverage for other disorders, but I've heard it's next to impossible) over here at a hospital that would be significant...or would I have to travel to the Philippines where I know there's a VA hospital with doctors that can probably do this. Has anyone had experience with this? It's been a long, hard time since my first hospitalization after college. A suitable disability income would sure help me out.

My nickname is ExHGSSgt because I am an ex-Honor Guard Staff Sergeant (this was my separation rank).

[Robert Ryan]

Get yourself a service representative if you haven't already, a DAV Rep, American Legion Rep, or VFW rep, your state VA office can also provide you with Representative service. They can help get the ball rolling for you.

[Packo]

You have come to the wrong place to try and drum up support for a phoney claim for PTSD. 99% of all the guys on this site are Combat Vets who had more than "unnerving" experiences. Being on alert doesn't make you a Combat Vet and does not qualify for PTSD. You've been sucking off the system or your family long enough. There is a way out though. Take a pistol, put it to your head, and blow your friggin' brains out. It irks me that your getting SS Disability when real combat vets have to fight their asses off after working for 30-40 years paying into the system, then being rejected. You didn't get a reply from the DAV because they saw you were filing a BS claim to start with. Your one of the guys that clogs the system up for all the returning real Heroes from Iraq and Afghanistan. You'll get no sympathy here.

Pack

[Bill Farnie]

Originally Posted by Packo

You have come to the wrong place to try and drum up support for a phoney claim for PTSD. 99% of all the guys on this site are Combat Vets who had more than "unnerving" experiences. Being on alert doesn't make you a Combat Vet and does not qualify for PTSD. You've been sucking off the system or your family long enough. There is a way out though. Take a pistol, put it to your head, and blow your friggin' brains out. It irks me that your getting SS Disability when real combat vets have to fight their asses off after working for 30-40 years paying into the system, then being rejected. You didn't get a reply from the DAV because they saw you were filing a BS claim to start with. Your one of the guys that clogs the system up for all the returning real Heroes from Iraq and Afghanistan. You'll get no sympathy here.

Pack

I thought the same thing Pack. PTSD "for a few unnerving experiences"

[b3196]

First of all...Thank you for your service to this great Nation (of which you decided to leave).....With all that being said. I do believe Pack covered all the bases in this game.
Good luck in your quest to milk us taxpayers, .
From a Vietnam Vet who served proudly and collected only a VA home loan (Of which I did pay off in full)

[QM3steve]

Gentlemen,
I told my wife, before anyone posted, he was in for a rude awakening.

ExHGSSgt,
Not being one to have had any combat time, I'm not one to talk about it. I was shocked to see a new member come in and use the words "I, MY, and ME", the number of times you did. "I" 43 times, "MY" 15 times and "ME" 5 times. Had you paged through this website, prior to your post, you would have found that there are stories of unnerving experiences that would dwarf your own. Step back and read for a while. AND, if you wish to fight your battle, fight it back in the US like all the rest of these veterans have. You'll get a lot more respect.

"Ya gotta wanna, or ya never will!"

[Stick]

First off, welcome home and thank you for your willingness to cover our ass while in the USAF and doing whatever it took to get the job done. Uncle Sam didn't send you into any real combat and you can be real thankful for that blessing. PTSD isn't a catch all for anyone that has served this country to pad their deck for the rest of their lives just because they figure they can scrounge up a few more buck$ off Uncle Sam. Many of us here have been and know first hand what it feels like to get shot at. We've relived those experiences many times over and over again within our entire being. We understand exactly what the letters
P-post; after in time
T-traumatic; physical or emotional shock causing psychic (Psycovets?) effects
S-stress; mental tension
D-disorder; out of order in the head.
In a nutshell it means "been there, done that," and having a hard time getting away from it. Gimme sum pills will yah Doc? Don't wanna hurt nobody no mo' and I'm a nobody doncha know?
Leave the guns in the hands of the hunter and enjoy the benifits that the hunter willingly gives you. That hunter is, on occasion hunted but thanks to him, you're free. Thank that hunter and give yourself a pat on the back and move on.

[Keith_Hixson]

Packo and Brother Bob's kind hearted responses.

Just reading between the lines. I'd say you don't have a legitimate claim.

Keith

[Gimpy]

ExHGSSgt.........BOO---F*CKIN---HOO!


Gimp

[locksly]

Welocme to the site. Thank you for your service to this great Nation .