Welcome Rex!
Yes I remember you, we are friends aren't we?

i have a question and would like honest opionions.
i have a friend who is non military, but bi polar. he uses it as an ezcuse for losing his temper, says the meds aren't working. always complains of being exhausted. i told him i thought he was over medicated, and replied they said it would take awhile for him to get used to them.
he's only a friend from the pow wows, and we aren't that close, s his temper tandrums don't affect me. but doesn't all this sound like a op out. way to blame things on something other than himself? i'm not bi polar, just depression, ptsd, so i don't know what i'm talking about.

I would never try to guess on a situation regarding bipolar. It is hard enough when I have the file in front of me. Your instinct has told you a lot though.
I invite you to visit the PTSD forum. You may find it an interesting place to visit! You may wish to make it your cyber home!

hi. i'm diagnosed as bi-polar 2/ptsd, and i wanted to share my experience about that...

in my early adult years, i was full of self-doubt & -recrimination: "why can't i keep a job?" "am i as lazy as i appear?" "what's up with these improper impulses, am i that twisted?" "why am i afraid of EVERYTHING?"

i had no support system, including the lack of anyone to steer me to the VA (denied non-service connected, but 0-copay sure helps), so i struggled to stay off the streets & on this side of the law and just undulated from total mania to major depression for decades.

of course, because of my situation, the depression was much more prominent, hence my "2."

but, and this was really important, after having been diagnosed (at 38) i was able to ponder my history, and i came to view myself as a "normal" product of my experience. i took the time to learn about the impulses & realized it had nothing to do with my morals or ethics. accepting myself changed me from a "2" to a really cool "regular."

i live on social security & massachusetts veterans benefits, i gave up on the meds several years back (i like myself), i handle my resources well and i nurture myself every chance i get. this could be something as simple as a good homecooked meal or keeping my room neat for another week.

happy ending...i still have my swings, but the lows are much less frequent & the best part is that while i do consider them to be periods of low eomtional energy, i haven't had one i could define as "depression" in years.

so, this thread is dying out? doggone it, i just got here! i was looking forward to being able to "purge" with others who understand.

The thread is not dying. This is a slow to catch on issue. Just keep posting.
Dave

'k, dave, and thanks. i 'll be looking in.

at least now i know my email notification's set right

Could someone please tell me how long it takes the VA to determine your rating of compensation. I have been out since 2005 and I have not recieved anything from them yet. They keep sending letters that they are still reviewing my case. How long do I have to wait?
I know it differs but my goodness its been a while now. I was medically discharged on Feb.2005

Dave:

I am Service Connected straight out 100% for PTSD,10% each in both legs and 10% in right hard for neuropathy, 20% for diabetes and 20% for right ankle injury.

Where do I go to get complete information on what benefits I am entitled? Every time I ask this question I am referred to the brief pamphlet or booklet that only give very basic information.

Just some of the things I want to have in written form: What "exactly" am I entitled to with Vocational Rehab, How I do I get medical services after the VA closes or on weekends and the questions go on and on.

VA Reps. always ask what exactly do you what to know. My answer is, "I want to know everything." Believe it or not they state that that don't believe it is available in written form?

Not in writing! They have to be kidding me. If the entitlement is available, in the VA budget it has to be written down.

As a veteran with disabilities rated at 100% (170%) total and permanent, I should have access to this information without using the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) or writing my congressmen.

Can you lead me in the right direction?

Greetings Dave and everyone,

I have just found out today that my records has been sent to the rating board at the VA. Does this mean I will eventualy recieve the compensation for depression and anxiety that I have been trying for, for more than 5 years. Or should I not get my hopes up to high as yet. When I called the VA they told me this and also asked me numerous times if I have been sent for an examination/evaluation of my condition. But, why should I be sent for one if I have continuely been evaluated for my condition throughtout these 5 years. What more do they want to find out. Lastly, Dave, how long does it usually take for this process to finish and for I to start recieving compensation. Thanks. Later

J

If and I mean IF, your records are actually at the rating board it should be soon, 30 days- 45 days. Sometimes if you call the toll free number to the VA, you can get information that is off of the computer and it all depends on who did what input if it is accurate.
I recommend you contact your veterans organization service officer.

quote:

Originally posted by WarvetVietnam:
Dave:

I am Service Connected straight out 100% for PTSD,10% each in both legs and 10% in right hard for neuropathy, 20% for diabetes and 20% for right ankle injury.

Where do I go to get complete information on what benefits I am entitled? Every time I ask this question I am referred to the brief pamphlet or booklet that only give very basic information.

Just some of the things I want to have in written form: What "exactly" am I entitled to with Vocational Rehab, How I do I get medical services after the VA closes or on weekends and the questions go on and on.

VA Reps. always ask what exactly do you what to know. My answer is, "I want to know everything." Believe it or not they state that that don't believe it is available in written form?

Not in writing! They have to be kidding me. If the entitlement is available, in the VA budget it has to be written down.

As a veteran with disabilities rated at 100% (170%) total and permanent, I should have access to this information without using the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) or writing my congressmen.

Can you lead me in the right direction?

When I received my final award, I received a correspondence listing everything I was entitled to. Could you have perhaps mislaid yours?

This list I received was extremely brief in language. What I seek is detailed information of the information sent.

quote:

Originally posted by WarvetVietnam:
This list I received was extremely brief in language. What I seek is detailed information of the information sent.

Contact your veterans organization service officer. We get the detailed list on the last pages of the rating decision.

Life in the military produces some of the largest and fastest life changes. From civilian to Soldier in a few months then deployments, more schools more deployments. Work a job where the goal at the end of the day is to be alive and be responable for others. Now go home and interact with your family whom you dont rember being like "That" and people tell you "You have changed!" You dont see it in yourself but its there.
Military life is like being shizophrenic. Today you are a type A personalty and moving at mach one. Then you go home and are suppost to assume a whole new role as father, mother ect. Its no wonder we are all a little nuts.

Ecroli,

Boy, you nailed that right on the head. I spent 15 yrs at Ft Bragg, NC and the domestic abuse percentages was outrageous. The problem, of course, was the soldiers spending all day on an adrenaline high with Hooah, Kill, Kill, Drive On, I'm King, etc etc and then like you said going home to wear a different hat as spouse and parent. When the guy walks in the door and the wife says, Please empty the trash, he explodes.

Unfortunately the training is necessary to get the job done. I don't know the answer to that but I agree, it's probably why we are all crazy. LOL

Cindy -- certified loon with papers!

I need some advice..I was recently diagnosed with bipolarII. I am on active duty and will have 18 years in October 2006. The psych said that they may have to put this on a med board. I am worried that if they medically retire me that me disability percentage won't be as much as my retirement would. Does anyone know approximately what the percentages usually are for bipolar? I feel that I may have to risk faking that I am better so I won't get screwed. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I hope you can hang on for regular retirement. You need to discuss this with your doctor. You may wish to seek private doctor help as well. There is a lot to lose on the retirement differences.

I would like to know why there hasn,t been any talk of the swine flu vaccine that was given in75%76,that is causing ,vets to have seriuos mental and physical disabilaties,they do not want to take respsposibility for this,just treat with pills,its like people are afraid to discuss the prions disease ,linked to this and denie claims

Kevin:
Good question. I suggest you discuss this issue with your doctor. Hopefully you are enrolled in a VA Medical Center or VA Outpatient Clinic.
Swine Flu refers to a subset of Orthomyxoviridae that create influenza in pigs and are endemic in pigs. This is not a phylogenetics based taxonomic category.

The species of Orthomyxoviridae that can cause flu in pigs are Influenza A virus and Influenza C virus but not all genotypes of these two species infect pigs.

The known subtypes of Influenza A virus that create influenza in pigs and are endemic in pigs are H1N1, H1N2 and H3N2.

A H1N1 shift crossed over to humans in the early part of the 20th century, causing the Spanish Flu pandemic, which killed up to 50 million people. The death toll was particularly high among young, healthy adults.

The U.S. swine flu scare of 1976
On February 5, 1976, an army recruit at Fort Dix said he felt tired and weak. He died the next day and four of his fellow soldiers were later hospitalized. Two weeks after his death, health officials announced that swine flu was the cause of death. Alarmed public-health officials decided that action must be taken to head off a major pandemic, and they urged that every person in the U.S. be vaccinated for the disease. President Gerald Ford was confronted with a potential swine flu pandemic. The vaccination program was plagued by delays and public relations problems, but about 24% of the population was vaccinated by the time the program was cancelled.

The vaccine was blamed for 25 deaths (more people died from the vaccine than died from the swine flu itself) and a small, but statistically significant, rise in the incidence of a rare illness called Guillain-Barré syndrome, or GBS.

Dave Barker