Good Place to Talk VA Claims.....

[zippoman]

http://pub49.ezboard.com/fvetbenefitsfrm50

[ralph]

Hi Zippo,
This is Ralph Chu Lai 66 1st Engineers truck driver.
I have filed claim for PTSD, about 70 days ago.
Whats the deal how long do they take to respond?
Did they give you a hard time?
Does the **** get any better, I feel like I did when I got out!!
The more I talk to counciler the worst I feel!
Its been 47 years!!
Also I am looking for stories form truck drivers, I drove dump truck for 1st Eng. Also looking for 1st Eng. who were on Oki 65 and then Chu Lai Feb66 to Sep66.
Bill (Ralph) Marro

[zippoman]

Originally posted by ralph
Hi Zippo,
This is Ralph Chu Lai 66 1st Engineers truck driver.
I have filed claim for PTSD, about 70 days ago.
Whats the deal how long do they take to respond?
Did they give you a hard time?
Does the **** get any better, I feel like I did when I got out!!
The more I talk to counciler the worst I feel!
Its been 47 years!!
Also I am looking for stories form truck drivers, I drove dump truck for 1st Eng. Also looking for 1st Eng. who were on Oki 65 and then Chu Lai Feb66 to Sep66.
Bill (Ralph) Marro

Ralph, first things first....I can't speak for the VARO in Arizona, but the way it usually goes here is this:

You normally at least get a reply in regards to your claim from your VARO in a couple of weeks, just acknowledging that they have received it. Now if you were in Virginia, it would also probably say that you will be receiving an appointment either to see a Private shrink or a shrink at your closest VAMC. Here that usually comes within about a month or two after the claim is open...then you go see the shrink. After you see the shrink, he files his report to the VARO....in Virginia right now it is taking anywhere from a year to 24 months to get your first rating.....I won't take you any further than that right now...

Was it hard ?? Only after two viagra's !!! Yes, I was already rated 80% for wounds...........after opening my ptsd claim it took me about 18 months, about 15 letters to Senator George Allen, 20 letters to Senator John Warner, and about 10 letters to Congresswoman JoAnn Davis.....she help the most...she would actually call them everytime I wrote her and then call me, and get me in on a three way conversation with her, the VARO and me....she stayed on their azzes..........finally after about two years I was rated 100% P&T...........

Does the sh!t get anybetter.........the sh!t will never get any better, but with the help of sum gooooooooooooooood VA drugs I can maintain the anger, guilt, rage and a few other things....of course a few tokes don't hurt everynow and then either !!!!:D

The most important thing is don't give up the fight....from the day you open your claim, its $$$$$$$$$ in the bank !!!
Also, don't forget, if you get 100% then you;ll also get 100% SSD...amazingly, I got my SSD before I got my 100%...........

Take Care !!

[ralph]

Thanks,
I will not quit the fight.
I don't do drugs but have considered them.
Semper Fi
Ralph Chu Lai 66

[zippoman]

Originally posted by ralph
Thanks,
I will not quit the fight.
I don't do drugs but have considered them.
Semper Fi
Ralph Chu Lai 66

Ralph, I know i'll catch sum incomin for this, and I want to qualify it by saying "I don't do drugs either"..........however, everynow and then a lil Mary Joe helps me with pain....pain in my body and pain in my head !! I don't consider that doin drugs.. Kind of funny, the VA Medical doctors always are asking me if I do drugs........I tell them no...my VA shrink tells me a lil toke everynow and then is aok......
I look at it like this......." God Made Herb, Man Makes Alcohol and Pharmacutical Medicine........WHO DO YOU TRUST ??".......i ain't condoning it........just stating my opine...........Whatever works best for you bro....Good Luck and Welcome Home Ralph..

[marine5]

Ralph...Hold it together as only a Marine CAN !!!! <br />
The following is FACT... <br />
Discharge date 31Nov72...SC Rating 60%... <br />
33 years 83 Days later I was awarded 100% SC T&amp;P... <br />
On the award letter they...

[Sparrowhawk]

PTSD 101 Vietnam Style

Click the link and drop by for a visit....
<a href="http://vietnamdiary.bizland.com/PTSD.chtml">
http://vietnamdiary.bizland.com/cookpoems.jpg</a>

[CAS3]

OK FELLAS>>>HERE IS THE DOWN LOW!!!

If you file a claim for PTSD you must submit a doctors diagnosis of it...NOT A THERAPIST. You will then be scheduled for a VAE(VA EXAM). If you file for PTSD without any medical documentation you will not be scheduled for an exam and your claim will be denied.
You can only become P&T (PERMANENT AND TOTAL) "not T&P" after 5 years or 5 exams. You will be scheduled for an exam (within 2 years) after being granted service connection.
It is always wise to get your own documentation. Do not rely on the VA to get it for you. That includes DD214, private medical records, personnel records, employment records and employment health records. Also, when you file, send copied of all marriage, divorce decrees, birth certificates, social security cards,death certificates of all immediate family members..this will help the VA send you the right amount when you are granted benefits. Also, you won't have to wait for a check for dependents benefits if you file it early.
The hospital reports from overseas are not in your health record from service. They stayed at that hospital. Contact them to see if they saved them.
Most VA's now broker cases to other VA's in order to get through them faster. You should check with your local VA to see if your claim is being sent to another office.

[Tude]

Will help ? I do know that if it is possible to see these people

in person(Congressmen ,Senator) it shocks them and when you show

up the second time they really snap s h i t.

Bought a house in 1970 (VA) NEEDED ONE PERSONS SIGNATURE

or the settlement that was the following day would not BE .

WE would have no place to live, WTFO .

I LEFT SOUTH JERSEY (CAMDEN COUNTY) 0600 TO GO TO NEWARK ,NJ>>>VA office was given a run around and I started to raise my voice etc,etc ,had my needed signature and was back on the turnpike by 1300 it was my "Attitude" that got the needed signature.

NJ State Disability ,I visited office in Trenton ,NJ and explained the seriousness of my dilemma ,very nice lady helped me and within three months I had my disability retirement from State.

Had lawyers group get my SS disability for me (Binder & Binder)
out of New York City.that was a 10 month wait.

SS also told my 38 year old (at that time) daughter that her MS AND BI-POLAR were not covered by SS ,well no one believed me so I did my thing again and daughter now gets some $$$ from SS
NOT a lot but she can help her self a little now.She lives free with Mom & Dad the $$$ help her to cope.She worked for 22 years.

Hopefully my Rant helps ,I know the VA for Medical is tough but you need to be tough back at them ,don't give up and keep rattling there Cage.

God Bless & Semper Fidelis
Jimmy/Tude

PS:Give em Hell and don't take no for an ANSWER !!!!!