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I don't care if it was santa claus bearing this message. I have served under democrats and republicans and fought for improved benefits under both.
I care about what our president said today. The most important part to me is when he said service members should not be expected to keep notes on the battle field to prove their stressors.
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well said, one should'nt need notes if they had stressors and was still bothered by them. If he had ever served he would be well aware of that.
Posts: 546 | From: Washington State | Registered: Jul 2005
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I hope the VA actually changes, I have been filing claims since 94 and have always been turned don't because I didn't provide enough evidence. I was sent a form to fill out last January wanting to know the names of the dead and wounded I saw. I mean give me a break , memory loss is one of the biggest promblems I have. I can never remember the details when they ask me but they always seem to come back when I least exspect them to. I just wrote a few lines about a US M1 tank that was in my task force that had been hit in front of the Bradley in was in and how I heard the crew screaming because the tank was on fire. I wrote that I pulled the crew out of the tank, that was it, I didn't bother getting there names, we were in a major fight at the time, I mean really , I guess I should of pulled out my note pad and wrote down everyones name, who knew. I also wrote that I saw lots of dead and wounded Iraqi's but I didn't get there names either, but I was sure alot of them were named Al something. I had called the VA many times in the last six months to check on the status of my claim, I never got a straight answer so I had my congressmans office call and she found out with one call that my claim was not being worked on because I didn't sign the form in the right place. I was really blown away that they couldn't of sent it back to me or at least called me about it, it just sat there for six months until my congressmans office called them, that was three weeks ago, I haven't heard anything from them since. So yeah I do find it good news that they are changing the rules but I have provided eye witness's to the events from the war by getting a statement from my former team mate who actully went to the VA and spoke with my doctors while I was there in the Hospital, that was three years ago. This is just for PTSD I have basically given up on the chemical weapons exposure , even though I was treated as a chemical casualty and have eye witness statement testifing to it but that was all covered very nicely back in 91'. Forget the fact that I tested positive for Mustard and sarin gas and radioactive uranium as recently as 94'. Hmm
Posts: 8 | From: Collinsville, Va. | Registered: Dec 2008
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Don't forget any of it foxcolt!!! This is supposed to do away with all that prove it crap. Gather some support letters from loved ones - do the best that you can to capture what happened to you in print. It also wouldn't hurt to go to a VetCenter or the VA for a session of intake, even a few sessions of therapy and describe the incidents. What you wrote about not remembering and then having flashbacks it classic PTSD. It is helpful to describe what the effects your trauma has had on you - can't sleep? hypervigilant? How has what happened changed your life. The exposure stuff you can't let lie. YOU HAVE TO STAY WITH THAT!! Have you gone through the Gulf War Registry lately - were they can capture, or recapture what happened to you and send you for possible testing and follow up. They will also do a mental health assessment during the exam that will capture your need to follow up with mental health concerning your PTSD. NOW IS THE TIME, get organized and get back in the fight.
Posts: 484 | From: FLA | Registered: Feb 2007
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Thanks Endure, I feel better now, I just need to vent once and a while. I have a VA shrink appointment tomarrow. I was suppose to go to the in patient PTSD clinic at the VA hospital in Salem,Va. on 1 June but I didn't have the money to pay someone to take me there. The reason I didn't have the money was because my %10 disability check for hearing loss from the war didn't come. I found out they took it to pay for my meds after calling the VA. I then found out from a nice lady there that they had been taking it for years and were not suppose to be taking it . I have now done the paper work to stop it in the future. I was told they would pay me back but only for the last year, that hasn't happened. I was going to PTSD consuling groups here in town , Martinsville, Va. and my VA PTSD cousuller recomended me and did the paper work for me to go to the In -Patient PTSD clinic. The Clinic told me after I called and told them I couldn't get a ride that they had gone over my records and decided I needed to go to more out patient groups before I could come to the clinic. They said this was because of my mental illness history. I no longer have an out patient PTSD group to go to because the VA cancelled it here in town and move my consulor to the VA hospital in Salem. I live a long ways from the VA hospital, I don't have a job or a car btw. My mom takes me when she can but sometimes she dosen't have the money to get me there even if I get travel pay after I get there , sometimes I just can't get there. I got a call from a friend the other day about a vet group that meets at a church in a nearby community that I probally could make it to sometimes. I called and ask to speak with the counsulor there and found out I couldn't just walk in but had to be seen by him first and vetted, I guess. I found out he's going on vacation and then when he comes back he's going out of town again for some VA meeting, he won't be available until the middle of August. Hmm I once again feel like I have been abandoned by the VA. I'm alot like the guy in the story you posted. I to have had my run-ins with the VA police and may have somemore in the future because I'm sick and tired of the same old BS they give me when I do make it there. The doctor ask me a few questions, listens to my breathing , checks my reflexs and then sends me on my merry way. WTF
Posts: 176 | From: Virginia | Registered: Jul 2005
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OK, if it gets unbearable call the crisis line. They don't like it but that is what is there for, and tell them on the crisis line your problems with making appointments. Calling crisis will garner a lot of return calls, damn it do this if you have to! If not in crisis wait on the church group meetings that sounds like it might be worth investigating. I think it is a blessing in disguse they didn't manage to get you into the inpatient thing. They are still trying to figure out the best way of getting through to us, or getting help to us. Don't accept pills and a once a month or less appointments. If you need therapy see if the DAV or some other Veteran group, like your local VFW can match you with a ride. You might be amazed at how much books can help you, check some out from the libarary or do PTSD research online. The therapy can come from anywhere, there may be local mental health resources available. Get yourself in some sort of program - and aquire documentation for your claim so that you can recieve more than 10% and you can start taking care of yourself. Beware the medications and get well quick in 12 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy sessions . . . look around and try and find the help YOU need. Don't rely on the VA as the ONLY answer. I know they should be in a perfect world - but they aren't. You are the only one living your life.
*about my friend, he lived in such a rural isolated area, and counted on ONLY the VA - he did not have access to alternative care, yoga, tai-chi, accupuncture, natural healers,or any other method of attempting wellness, he put himself in a situation where all he had was the VA and that was a 4 hour drive away, usually in crappy weather! He made it a pissing contest, and he lost his life. This is about YOU, and about me, and about our lives - even if this Alterantvie stuff like chinese medicine is just a distraction trying them can be a way of taking care of ourselves. Some people turn to their faith. Some people turn to alternative methods. It can get wild, sleeping under magnetic pyramids with crystals hanging over your head. SO BE IT - what ever helps you!!!!!
Seek help and get documentation. File claims with so much evidence the claim does the work for you. Dazzle them with bull sh*t - but don't lose your cool, and don't let it get you down. TAKE CARE OF YOU, TAKE CARE OF YOU, TAKE CARE OF YOU!!!!
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I should also add that I haven't had a beer in over a week now, which I intend to stick with ,this time. I have an appointment tomarrow morning at 9:00am were I hope to get something for my nerves. thanks for your advice. I'll be alright. I just get all worked up when I think about it too much. I have been staying in bed alot lately because of headaches and joint pain and just being plain tired . I need to get out of the house and do something to relax.
Posts: 176 | From: Virginia | Registered: Jul 2005
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Low level Lorazepam might help with your anxiety AND your pain, and is usually in fast and out fast. Be careful if you are the addictive type. You could also try natural over the counter valeran, either in capsle or tea. Meditation can really help, especially if you use a relaxation cd and headphones. I hope you feel better. Congrats on stearing clear of beer.
Posts: 484 | From: FLA | Registered: Feb 2007
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Thanks for posting this, Endure! I rarely watch the news anymore and this is great to know. I just filed my PTSD claim and am hoping I will fall under the new guidelines.
Posts: 10 | From: Oregon | Registered: Feb 2006
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