en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/635801 Comments by CorpsmanUp24 http://www.theveteransvoice.com/Congress-Critters-Posturing-for-PTSD.html#IDComment115160917 This was on a DRO ordered examination. The problem we have is that the veteran's diagnosis occurred prior to DSM III and DSM IIIR. The veteran had numerous hospitalizations for PTSD symptoms (yet no PTSD DX because the books didn't provide for one then).____The psychologist told me that he would not make a dx only confirm DX in the C File and if there wasn't a PTSD dx then it wouldn't happen.____I have many claims in the process with "Immature Personality Disorder" "Emotionally Instability" as the dx. This was when DSM II was a looseleaf notebook with 78 pages.____So I hope we can win the rating. But if not the veteran got a whole $38.17 travel pay for the appointment. LOL Sat, 11 Dec 2010 23:43:45 +0000 http://www.theveteransvoice.com/Congress-Critters-Posturing-for-PTSD.html#IDComment115160917 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfnov10/nf112210-1.htm#IDComment111804642 I’ve been checking out other sites to see where I can get information about the VA that you have provided. I was ready to jump off the Bridge. Have you seen some of the other sites? Won’t talk about “Veterans” without their personal opinions thrown in. Some of them seem downright paranoid. When I read what they have I wonder if I really served in the same military and live in the same country they do. I hope you don’t mind that I continue to send you articles and other stuff (you probably get it from the other sources) including Code of Federal Regulations publications. If your successor has the same principles I would appreciate an address I could send the stuff. I am very glad that you are keeping the site going. I always refer veterans to your site when I am giving references for good sites. Former HM3 Fleet Marine Force Hotel Company 2nd Battalion 4th Marine Regiment Thu, 25 Nov 2010 01:26:12 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfnov10/nf112210-1.htm#IDComment111804642 http://vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfsep10/nf092410-3.htm#IDComment100899742 Dog and Pony Show for the politicians who want to show that they are fiscally responsible. It's a shame that Webb didn't say right out front that he knew if the IOM found nexus to Agent Orange then the Secretary must Service Connect. They're playing games with the Desert Storm/Shield Syndrome also. They aren't going back to SC those who have previously denied SC. Sat, 25 Sep 2010 17:24:08 +0000 http://vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfsep10/nf092410-3.htm#IDComment100899742 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfsep10/nf091710-4.htm#IDComment99570367 I was a hospital corpsman and the corpsman who treated me in the field is now deceased. (He died in 1992). So guys it's taken 20 years for Desert Storm/Desert Shield and close to 40 for Agent Orange. Don't worry guys you'll get your service connection. After you're planted 6' deep. Sat, 18 Sep 2010 07:06:52 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfsep10/nf091710-4.htm#IDComment99570367 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfsep10/nf091710-4.htm#IDComment99570247 But, the constant headaches (and migraines) that have occurred since then and the other chronic aches, pains, undiagnosed joint aches and pains aren't caused by the chemicals to which the Marines and Corpsmen were exposed. When will they ever learn? I've been told that I don't have any medical treatment for my headaches even though I have been diagnosed with classic migraines. I take over the counter medications, go to my dark room, throw up and lay down. Too damn tired to go to the doctor for treatment. Don't even keep a log any more. I was wounded in the face, and head and have a "translucent" area at the site of the wound scar. But, that wasn't good enough for the VA. Sat, 18 Sep 2010 07:06:36 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfsep10/nf091710-4.htm#IDComment99570247 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfsep10/nf091710-4.htm#IDComment99570085 Not only were we exposed to contamination at Camp LeJeune (Main Side, Montford Point, Camp Geiger, Courthouse Bay, etc.) after we went through training there we went to Okinawa for advanced staging at Camp Schwab and then down south where we were exposed to Agent Orange. Sat, 18 Sep 2010 07:05:38 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfsep10/nf091710-4.htm#IDComment99570085 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfsep10/nf090810-3.htm#IDComment97554072 What about the new eBenefits program that you have to go to the Regional Office to identify yourself for access. Haven't been able to get registered yet. Supposedly you will be able to access your claim records and see what is being done on it. Oh the good thing is if you're already identified through the HealtheVet system you won't have to have further identification through the Regional Office. Ain't technology great? Wed, 8 Sep 2010 03:13:39 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfsep10/nf090810-3.htm#IDComment97554072 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfsep10/nf090110-1.htm#IDComment96634050 The buildings under disrepair and/or considered abandoned has happened over a lot of Presidents. It started with the downsizing of wards, of restricting the number of inpatients at a lot of VA Medical Centers. Those buildings became disused because of VA policies to limit in-house treatment. This caused a lot of things to happen. It allowed for the VA to establish the current Community Based Outreach Centers (CBOC) and VA Outpatient Clinics (VAOPC). This is not a bad thing, but, it also caused veterans to lose bedspace that could have been used for recuperation of wounded warriors. The agendas of various "Leaders" of the VA and the sales jobs they have done to the Veteran Service Organizations in the name of better care and treatment of veterans could be considered audacious. The oversight (supposedly done by the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees) has been a little behind times. The blame for the disrepair, abandonment, and misuse of the faclities can't be laid on the VA. It must be laid upon the people who are supposed to do their job. That is our Congressmen/women and Senators. Thu, 2 Sep 2010 18:50:45 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfsep10/nf090110-1.htm#IDComment96634050 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfjul10/nf071210-1.htm#IDComment86199510 This has been part of the discussion for quite a while and VA Watchdog has been in the forefront of the discussion. The decision to allow for a statement from the veteran to suffice as a stressor is somewhat great (as long as the veteran was in a combat zone or in a field where there is trauma i.e. hospital, Mash Unit, Seabee Unit, etc.). But the failure of the VA to recognize a diagnosis by a fully licensed and certified professional (pyschologist or psychiatrist) is unconscionable. Mon, 12 Jul 2010 01:54:23 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfjul10/nf071210-1.htm#IDComment86199510 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfjun10/nf060110-1.htm#IDComment78251790 The furrows between the brow marks you as your father's son. I have not been on line for the past three days because I volunteer for the Memorial Golf Tournament held in Ohio. This tournament does recognize golfing greats, but, every year there is a Veterans' Day where veterans' may attend free. Many of the volunteers are veterans. This may not be much in condolences; but, your father will be remembered and all veterans are remembered in places that they don't realize that they will be remembered. Semper Fi Gunny and when Marines get to Heaven's Gate the Gunny will be posting the guard. Wed, 2 Jun 2010 19:45:45 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfjun10/nf060110-1.htm#IDComment78251790 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfmay10/nf052410-1.htm#IDComment76851071 I finally got the VA to schedule one of my Viet Nam veterans for an MRI for TBI. He has it in the record of the head injury, but, they have been dancing around TBI. I personally have had headaches, migraines, and other symptoms. I had filed for service connection a long time ago and the VA admitted I had the illnesses, but, didn't do anything about them and did not SC them. I was wounded with shrapnel and one of the X-rays stated: "There is an area of translucency where the veterans wound scar is on the skull." The shrapnel had apparently chipped the skull, but didn't penetrate it. Glad I have a hard head. But, the VA has never tried to go back over the claim. TBI is this wars PTSD. (And they are connected. Just blowing off steam. As I said I finally have a Viet Nam veteran scheduled for a C&P for TBI after 42 years. Mon, 24 May 2010 01:44:45 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfmay10/nf052410-1.htm#IDComment76851071 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfmay10/nf051210-1.htm#IDComment75352092 Just finished reviewing and highlighting the written testimony. The problem is that the VA has quality standards, but, the emphasis is on production-production-production. I worked for an agency that went from an advocacy agency to a "we protect the law." It sounds good, but, there was a line that we changed when we became impartial factfinders. Prior to that period we were to be the veterans' representatives even litigating cases for them in court. When we were changed to impartial fact-finders too many employees began requiring the veterans to provide the investigation, fact finding, and do the job themselves. Our original descriptions even told us that we were to be the veteran's advocate once we had the prima facie case. That changed. I retired and am doing work for veterans as an advocate. If you have suggestions on how the VA can be changed without throwing out the bathwater I'd like to know. There were a lot of good ideas in the testimony, but, I fear that a lot of it is just the same old same old. Fri, 14 May 2010 01:01:26 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfmay10/nf051210-1.htm#IDComment75352092 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfmay10/nf051010-3.htm#IDComment74716462 Korean, Viet Nam, 1st Gulf War, Bosniz and Herzgovina veterans' are being overlooked by the VA. OIF/OEF veterans go to the head of the class because their war is in the news. New claims by Viet Nam veterans, most of whom are now in their sixties, Korean veterans, most of whom are in their late 70's or 80's, 1st Gulf War veterans who are now in their 40's are being put to the back of the line. THeyare dying each day. It's good pub, but, it is not helping veterans. Then we have the new veterans who are being blown off with bureaucratic letters which turn them off so much that many end up killing themselves. Tue, 11 May 2010 02:16:53 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfmay10/nf051010-3.htm#IDComment74716462 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfmay10/nf050110-3.htm#IDComment72504885 What is going on. I have some definite ideas on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I didn't have PTSD until 1987 when I was faced with a situation that took me back 19 years and I was in a corner huddled and a complete wreck. I wasn't in a fight a week for 10 years after Nam. I didn't drink a fifth a day and didn't see a drop of sleep at night for 10 years. Worked the night shift at GM and as a bartender, etc. Got it together in the late 70's. Enough to start helping and working with veterans. Have done that since. There are still times when the adrenaline kicks in (I'm still an adrenaline junky). I get the flutters at the base of the neck, flushed face, rushing heart. I see the Cua Viet in all it's glory/gory in 1968, bodybags, field autopsy's. Roger Pittman tells it best in After Tet the Bloodiest year of the War. I have a lot of veterans' who probably exaggerate what they saw when they file for PTSD. But, whose fault is that? You can blame them, but, I have veterans' who have committed suicide after being told in VA "cookie cutter" letters that they're not SC because there is no stressors. These are veterans who have PTSD and TBI. It has driven them over the edge. I have no answers. But, PTSD is there. I have veterans who have blanked out their dreams and who are denied SC because they didn't meet ALL THE CRITERION for DSM IV. It's a bitch. I was refused SC for shell fragment wounds in 1979 because there was no indication in the service medical record even though I was awarded Purple Hearts. This has no answer. Some will scam, but, they will pay for it in the end. Tue, 4 May 2010 20:23:52 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfmay10/nf050110-3.htm#IDComment72504885 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfapr10/nf043010-3.htm#IDComment71672132 What's the bottom line for the VA? Will they do the procedure and then cut your rating to 0% because you're cured. In the meantime if you get an undiagnosed problem that is a side effect of the procedure will you have to file an 1151 claim that will be denied? We've had a lot of experimental programs before that have promised cures for PTSD. Go back over the past 30 years since PTSD was up in the DSM III and 23 years for DSM III R and you will see a lot of experimental treatments. Some work for some veterans and not for others. It's your call to try it or not. I, like most who post on this site don't trust the VA's ulterior motives. So as Larry says, if you don't know about the solution don't dismiss out of hand. If you know of the side effects then it is your choice. That's what we need is the VA telling us up front about the side effects so veterans with PTSD can make an informed consent. Sat, 1 May 2010 15:26:05 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfapr10/nf043010-3.htm#IDComment71672132 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfapr10/nf042810-1.htm#IDComment71207083 It's about time something good came out of the VA. They need to do something like this when they draw out or delay claims. Set time lines and then if they aren't met make sure the veteran gets what iscoming to them. Thu, 29 Apr 2010 00:42:36 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfapr10/nf042810-1.htm#IDComment71207083 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfapr10/nf042710-1.htm#IDComment71192258 A bunch of incompetents ticked off because another bunch of incompetents won't listen to them. This is fun. There is no accountability by either body. Congress and/or the VA. We'll do it our way and forget it. Congress passed the Persian Gulf Syndrome back in 1994 with instructions to Service Connect certain illnesses as presumptive to being in the Gulf War. The VA wrote regulations (CFR) based on the law (USC) and when they wrote the regulations the VA made it so that three examples ended up being the only illnesses that were covered. This was just found out and the VA is fixing it by issuing new regulations (CFR) and a Training Letter. The problem is that the new regs won't make the Nehmyer precedent applicable. That is if a condition that was previously denied becomes presumptive the VA will make the effective date of Service Connection the original date of filing for the disability. So what veterans will have to do is to take the claims all the way through the appeals process to the Court of Appeals Veterans' Claims (CAVC) so that the Nehmyer precedence will then be applied to the Persian Gulf Syndrome. That will take another four to five years. so we're looking at this being settled around 2014 twenty years after Congress meant to service connect 9 illnesses/diseases. Where was the Congressional Oversight on that? Incompetents serving incompetents. Welcome to my world.______ Wed, 28 Apr 2010 23:12:46 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfapr10/nf042710-1.htm#IDComment71192258 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfapr10/nf042110-3.htm#IDComment69122036 Most of the people working with the veterans in the VA really do want to do the best that they can. But, it's a system thing that makes the appointments hard to get, makes delays hard to handle. When a person decides to pull the trigger it's an irrational thought. You don't know what is going throught heir head when they do it. It hurts everyone around. But we'll never know why the trigger was pulled or they kicked the chair or took the pills. Let's say a prayer and hope that he rests in peace. Wed, 21 Apr 2010 04:02:03 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfapr10/nf042110-3.htm#IDComment69122036 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfapr10/nf041710-4.htm#IDComment69119677 I'm rambling but this bothers me a whole lot. I look around and see that we have more treatment, easier access to the CBOC's and VAMCs than our earlier comrades in arms did (Korea, World War II, World War I). But, we have longer wait times, have to jump through more bureaucratic crap. It's frustrating. So if you're out there and you're thinking of biting the bullet. Don't do it. It hurts those thousands of us who are fighting for you. We each die a little bit when we hear of your tragedies. Stay alive and help us tell the stories of how you are being treated and how it isn't working. Call the Hot Line. But stay alive for the sake of those who may have died in Iraq or Afghanistan. Stay alive for your comrades who haven't come home. Make your life work honoring those guys who didn't make it back. That's why I never pulled the trigger. Those guys are depending on you to keep their honor alive. Wed, 21 Apr 2010 03:54:44 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfapr10/nf041710-4.htm#IDComment69119677 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfapr10/nf041710-4.htm#IDComment69119512 . But we have had a number of suicides happen right after the veterans received letters from the VA or the veterans were told that they couldn't get treatment or a fee basis card for treatment. Each death brings back the times I had the pistol in my hand and thought about what was going on and how just a little 6 pound pressure (I had done some adjusting of the trigger pull) would end it all. Then I thought about how hard I had fought to keep myself and my Marines alive and I was damned if I would take the easy way out. Now I'm getting close to walking out the door and each time I work with a kid that is going through the bad times, the night problems, sleeping during the day, drinking a fifth or a case of beer a day I worry. That's because I've had some who haven't been able to resist the hypnotic look of that piece and saying "How easy it would be" and then pulling the trigger or kicking the chair out from under them. Wed, 21 Apr 2010 03:54:19 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfapr10/nf041710-4.htm#IDComment69119512