Trauma – PTSD

Question:

I was wounded in Vietnam in 1971 and received 30% until 1994 after they diagnosed me as having ‘full-blown’ PTSD. To make a long story short, I ended up with 6-service connected disabilities that amount to 140%.  It has been 5 years to the month that I received 100% compensation and pension for the PTSD.  My DAV rep called me today and said that the VA gave me 100% Total and Permanent. (T&P)  It is nice to hear some good news once in a while. :-^ Take Care, Don Class of 70-71 Lam Son 719 operation into Laos E-Troop, 1/1 Cav, Americal Div. SGT E-5 May you find Great Joy in All of Your Endurance!

Response:

Thanks Scott, I am not sure if you are the one that mentioned about the VA at San Diego being a bad hospital.  I know Luanne had some very bad things happen to her there. I am fortunate to have a VA that treated me right, even though I had to fight for every claim I filed.  The 28 day inpatient Combat Veterans Program there really helped.  They discontinued it though and now just have outpatient programs. I had to learn the system to get around the red tape, but it can be done. Even though I was misdiagnosed like most people for over 20 years, at least I know what I have has a name and I did learn some coping skills. I have very, very, bad days and do not go to social functions, etc.  I could not make it to my parents 50th wedding anniversary.  Even though my friends, family, do not know exactly what I feel, I had to communicate with them and tell them what I can and cannot do. So they do not put a guilt trip on me, because they know that does not work anymore.  I know my limitations, and I had to learn how to say NO!! Take care, Don – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hey, that IS some good news Don…thanks for telling us.  Hope things go > better for you.          Best,    Scott > Don  wrote: > > I was wounded in Vietnam in 1971 and received 30% until 1994 after they > > diagnosed me as having ‘full-blown’ PTSD. > > To make a long story short, I ended up with 6-service connected disabilities > > that amount to 140%.  It has been 5 years to the month that I received 100% > > compensation and pension for the PTSD.  My DAV rep called me today and said > > that the VA gave me 100% Total and Permanent. (T&P)  It is nice to hear some > > good news once in a while. :-^ > > Take Care, > > Don > > Class of 70-71 > > Lam Son 719 operation into Laos > > E-Troop, 1/1 Cav, Americal Div. > > SGT E-5 > > May you find Great Joy in All of Your Endurance! > — > *********************************************************************** > To reply:  Remove .nospam  from the above.       Scott C.   @–>–>—

Response:

tell me more i am a 50% disabled vet (nervous condition ) 30 years i think it is really ptsd .. i am clinically depressed and fucked up what can i do to get a higher rating pray as if everything depended on god act as if everything depended on you

Response:

Hi CHULAI 4TH! First … Welcome home! > tell me more > i am a 50% disabled vet (nervous condition ) 30 years i think it is really ptsd > .. i am clinically depressed and fucked up > what can i do to get a higher rating

In my experience, the ‘thing to do’ is to be in treatment at a VA facility and contact a service rep nearby for assistance.  I liked the local DAV folks and they take some pride in having funded some of the first (if not the first) studies on PTSD; these helped remove the stigma about shell shock being the result of cowardice. I hated the ‘nervous condition’ label myself … for almost the same amount of time. Haven’t thought about Chu Lai for a long time. Smile and there will be something to smile about! Nancy

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Speaking about Nam, anyone have any idea how to help a very nice seriously PTSD Nam soldier who is burnt out,  unemployable. No doubt as a result of his expereinces. We’re talking Canada folks. He was in the Nam Army at 18 and became a boat person. Owns nothing in his life, like a candle in the wind. It upsets me to see him struggling. Stephanie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -kipco wrote: > Hi CHULAI 4TH! > First … Welcome home! > > tell me more > > i am a 50% disabled vet (nervous condition ) 30 years i think it is really ptsd > > .. i am clinically depressed and fucked up > > what can i do to get a higher rating > In my experience, the ‘thing to do’ is to be in treatment at a VA facility and > contact a service rep nearby for assistance.  I liked the local DAV folks and > they take some pride in having funded some of the first (if not the first) > studies on PTSD; these helped remove the stigma about shell shock being the > result of cowardice. > I hated the ‘nervous condition’ label myself … for almost the same amount of > time. > Haven’t thought about Chu Lai for a long time. > Smile and there will be something to smile about! > Nancy

Response:

Been there bro. First shrink in 1970 had it wrong. Lots of expert opinions & diagnosis’ during the 70’s and 80’s. Most of the personality disorders were tossed at me. Even borderline and schizoid. And always depression and anxiety. Nervous condition? Like a very good therapist/veteran once told me on our first meeting: "You, my friend, have PTSD". DAV did a damn good job getting me 100%. They continue to represent my best interests in an on-going claim for an additional SC. Welcome home! Peace! You can call me Al

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Welcome home Glad Chulai , Al & Nancy are receiving help from the VA.   I found working with them sooo hard, I felt the process made me less functioning.  I’m not so bad (mostly) that I have to reopen a claim…. the people I had helping me were not very well versed in the process and I am sure that was a factor in my claim failure. I also had no supporting witnesses to the traumatic events causing my disorder.  And back in 1988 a Navy vet from Yankee station isn’t very worthy. Glad there are some vets here…. I don’t have contact with other vets anymore and I think I might need that alittle.

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i`m getting help from the VA. it has help some, or has let me know there are other out there like me too. david

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Hi Anonymous! > I found working with them sooo hard, I felt the process made me less > functioning.  I’m not so bad (mostly) that I have to reopen a claim…. the > people I had helping me were not very well versed in the process and I am sure > that was a factor in my claim failure.

Actually, it is important to remember that the VA has some problems, itself.  On one side it is a medical treatment facility; these folks have helped me a lot. On the other side is the pension and compensation stuff: these folks seem to be experts at puzzle palace thinking. The pension and compensation folks are where the help of the Service Organizations make a big difference.  In the DAV, at least, the Service Reps know what a FIGMO chart is and never ask the stupid questions I’ve gotten from the P&C civilians, including the contract doctors. The service reps know how to get the paperwork straightened out, and the quasi-legal system operating correctly for a vet.  In my experience, the P&C side of the VA is more like a court system where the service rep is my legal counsel.  I wouldn’t try to improve my own status without their help. In actuality, without my lifting a finger to help, the DAV Service Rep got the P&C folks to understand the error of their ways with respect to my diagnosis in February.  After my first in-person visit with my own, appointed DAV rep, I feel hopeful that we can finish straightening out this mess sometime this summer. Given my PTSD, I could not have coped with the rules of the P&C system by myself. > Glad there are some vets here…. I don’t have contact with other vets anymore > and I think I might need that alittle.

Get the to a vet center or VA hospital ASAP.  You know that you can be paid mileage for the trips.  It’s important to know in your gut that you are not alone. Smile and there will be something to smile about! Nancy

Response:

To anonymous/nobody: Welcome home to you too.                                 I had no contact with other vets for 20+ years. The old avoidance thing…….. wouldn’t you say? First vet I meet just happens to be a therapist. Peace! You can call me Al

Response:

For those seeking help with VA Claims. I have a Web Site I made with lots of information in it. Links to the VA and such. Even to Social Security. ASulli1982 http://members.aol.com/asulli1982/home. htm/home.htm There is no space after the first Home.htm Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

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