Hello everyone. I am a Vietnam combat vet. My job was to defend AF bases. I have served in SAC, TAC, ADC commands including Francis E. Warren AFB. I served in Vietnam during extensive hostility. I have had PTSD for a long time. I had the usual long time claims process with the VA that established various rates of disability until they gave in to appeals and awarded 100% and some time later made that permanent and total. I am no longer subject to rating reviews or changes in my rating. I have exposure to Agent Orange that has been added as a Service Connected disability. I am diabetic maybe related to AO.

Living with PTSD has been the usual night mare of trying to cope with triggers, flashbacks, anxiety attacks, reactions to unknown or sudden noises, going into defense mode and often into offense mode.

Anger control at times was very difficult. I went thru a period of knocking holes in walls and putting my bare hands thru doors. I don't recommend that last one. It tears up the hands. I have times when there is emotional numbing. I experience at times a sense of detachment from life itself.

I am not new to posting on various boards. Online efforts are a mixed bag with most of them subject to sudden changes. It is difficult to deal with the changes but there it is.

In a small way, I have tried to help others with PTSD. I pass on what my experiences have been or help with questions based on my personal experiences and survival. If time and survival are considered as an education, then I have a degree.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Bravo39a,

SSDI does go retroactive. Mine was retro-active to Jan 20, 2006. But there is a 5 (full) month waiting period from the time it was granted before they start paying out benefits, meaning that I was paid back benefit from July2006-March2007 (when I was granted the claim). (July being my 6ht full month of disability by SSA rules).

There is also a limit as to how far back they can go. And I believe, that it is 12 months. So if they file back to 2004, you won't get all that back benefit, but that is when, for their records they consider that you were too disabled to work.

It also goes toward the 2 years you have to be in the systems to be eligible for Medicare.

So dont' expect the pay to be that far back... if they grant you as of Aug 2004 -- it would then be Jan 2005, that you would first have received a benefit cehck, and since it is now Aug 2007, you would only receive back benefit from Aug 2006 - 2007, with Sept 2007 being your first regular check.


This was edited to have the correct time limits inserted per my SSA booklet.
Clear as mud??

After reading this whole thread, I sure want to delete my post. Guess I posted in the wrong place. Don't see a newbie thread.

bravo:

You're doing just fine right here.

If you want to delete a posting, you'll see a yellow folder on the bottom right hand side with a pencil eraser. Click on that and you'll have the option to either edit or delete your posting.

All are welcome here; there are no 'newbies' to PTSD.

Welcome home.

Bravo39a,
WELCOME HOME!
And welcome to our Forum.
Flash

I am the wife of a Vietnam Vet who has PTSD. I have decided that the only difference between PTSD and having lost limbs is that the PTSD is not readily visible to people that don't live with the veteran. The triggers are nearly impossible to avoid since just watching the news or reading the paper does it for my hubby.
My first experience with his PTSD was at about 3am one night when we had first started seeing eachother(about 15 years ago). I woke up with a heavy weight on my chest and arms pinned to my sides. My hubby was stradling me and speaking in Vietnamese and sounded very angry. It took about 10-15 min for me to talk him down and he didn't remember anything about it the next day. He and our counselor still wonder why I didn't run then. My only answer is "It was true love at first sight, I wasn't going anywhere."

Welcome aboard, Bonita and tell your husband WELCOME HOME.

One thing a Vietnam Vet...or ANY vet needs is someone to SUPPORT and CARE for him or her. That makes YOU a very special person, to ALL of us. You have stood by you Veteran when he needed you, don't stop.

I'm on my 3rd wife, the first 2 left because they couldn't deal with my problems. This one isn't doing a whole lot better.

We here hope your husband has found a VSO and contacted the VA for help. If not, PLEASE do so immediately.

Drop in whenever you'd like and bring your husband, there are many good people here who are more than happy to listen and try to find the answers. We are all in the same boat (except those Army people...I don't think they found the boat, yet).

WELCOME ABOARD

And WELCOME ABOARD Bravo39a,

You will fit in nicely here, don't worry about what you write, as long as it's not degrading to others (check the rules), if you want to rant or cry or whatever...do it! If you've scanned through previous posts, you'll see we are all over the place, we are friends (forumily), we listen, cry with you and give each other s--t. BUT, we are one and we care about each other. Make yourself at home.

quote:

It is really hard to do, but not caring really helps...

Hey Dawg,
Even my therapist won't argue that,.. within reason, of course.
What I did was focus on my priorities,..I take care of my Mother and spend as much time as I can with my grandchildren, and that's it.
Outside of what it takes to do that, and my survival,.....I could care less about anything else that comes my way. And it does really help.

Being in the VA claims process is a stressor that can't be avoided, but after I submitted for appeals, I did my best to keep the VA off my mind while I was waiting. And that helped. I really didn't think I'd live long enough to see the end of the claims process, and it still might not be over for me,...time will tell, but I'll cross that bridge when/if I come to it.

I don't watch TV or the TV news and I don't read the newspaper anymore, but I still write my Reps on issues. Tough habit to break, but not reading the news or watching TV really took a lot of stress off me...................

WELCOME TO ALL NEW MEMBERS.

Flash

Flash69

Thanks for your comments, and I appreciate your validation of what I am in first stages of learning.

A recent issue I was dealing with is, as of today gone, it felt really good to let go. After nine years a battle over ethics occurred that I could not shake. Those that validated the ethics hung together, and I stood my ground, and as result became a target of criticism from many. Others would prefer to turn a blind eye.

By simply speaking with one that understood, I lifted the burden, and those that harbor anger because I represent mirror that reflects their lack of ethics, all the while they try to tell others the importance of ethics…

It is new for me, but I can feel the difference focusing on my grandchildren.

Salute

Hi everyone! I share everyday things that happen to me. As for the Army people missing the boat, I was raised in Bremerton,Wa. ! The Navy yard was where I was aboard many ships growing up. My Dad was a civillian pipefitter! I apply for help and then play the waiting game ,I worked to keep my VA claim alive! Mike and I go out in public (crowds) and I start shaking and water pouring off me. Mike just says " my wife is having a panic attack" and the store people help us find a restroom so I can chill down and think about deep breathing! I have started to do crafts( knitting and beads), and petting my golden retriever( Benny). I also like taking pictures with a one use camera. I watch TV put not the news ! Sally

I never watch the news, but have the tv on almost all day. It's like white noise -- and sometimes I can pay attention to a movie for a little while.

Hubby and I spent about 6 hours with our next door neighbors last night - something I could not even have thought about 5 years ago -- but they are very open, loving and non-judgemental people, and know of my military disability.
They don't pry, they don't ask questions, they just let us share in their hospitality.

Today of course I'm freaking out that I did that! But it was okay.

I try to take the good with the bad, and not get wrapped around the axel.

Her husband was a firefighter on 9/11 in NY. They moved here 4 years ago.

Thanks for the welcome. I tried to post yesterday and it would not go. Milcom was not working right I guess.

Been looking at my profile. Wanted to add some stuff. Nosy bunch. They won't let me do anything without giving them a lot of personal info. Don't like to put stuff on the Web unless I know where it goes. Anybody have any ideas? Been looking at some of your profiles. I see some limited info and probably for the same reasons as mine. Even to change the password, they want name, address, etc. It is required fill in the blanks to make the changes. It might help to let you know that I have provided that kind of info before and got burned. If you got a problem with me, I can find a few friends who will tell you what you need to know?

Got nothing to hide except my PERSEC to keep some crooks out of my life. Had one hell of a time with my credit bureau files when somebody pretended to be me. They ran up a debt on credit and I have had trouble with some bad reports on file and some collection agents who can't take no or won't take no, it was not me. Had a lot more info on me than they should have had. I used to throw mail away and bought things on line. I now limit what I do on the Internet and shred everything with my name and address on it. There are a few states where ID theft is real high. I live in one of them.

Still you have a right to know I am no phony or a troll. Dave Barker knows me and I know him thru his PTSD work. If there is an issue, I will tell Dave who I am and let him vouch for me as needed.

Dave, I will send you an email to your gov address if you need it or a milcom addy. You asked me to come here a couple of times which I did not get around to. I was involved in other on line efforts at the time. Too much to do and not enough of me left to do it. Since then, a lot of people came on board leaving me with not so much to do. Getting old Dave. Not so easy to manage my day. Have to take naps and breaks or nothing gets done. Not as busy as you are. Don't know how you manage things. Thought you were going to retire or was that a retread acquired by mistake. LOL Anyway, veterans are gifted by your claims help.

quote:

Still you have a right to know I am no phony or a troll

Bravo,
Man I screwed up on that neighbor thread,..... I quoted you by mistake and responded inappropriately, and incorrectly,.. and I am sorry.

I never had a doubt about your credibility.
Again, welcome to the forum.
Flash

No problem Bro. I understood the confusion. I could have been more clear. I too am sorry. These little things are bound to happen. Don't sweat it. I read good posts from you. Good work.

Bravo39a:

Fill in what you feel comfortable with, you don't have to tell us everything. Some of us have no concerns about what we tell, others are like you. We're not nosey (too much, LOL). As you get to know us, if you feel more comfortable add in OR take out. The PTSD threads are more secure than others here, but no matter what thread your on you can access the bios. As long as your on here Dave, OldAFcop and the other Moderators keep very close tabs on preditors, trolls, etc. The forumily doesn't pry into anybody, we listen to what you want to tell us and we try to help.

WELCOME ABOARD.

I am one of those strange dudes that doesn't feel a bit insecure about giving my full name etc, as you say I feel we are among friends. In the years I have been on here, never has any dark evil thing happened to me because of it, and I am just not the type person who feels comfortable with secrets, lying or half truths.

quote:

Originally posted by Bob058:
Bravo39a:

Fill in what you feel comfortable with, you don't have to tell us everything. Some of us have no concerns about what we tell, others are like you. We're not nosey (too much, LOL). As you get to know us, if you feel more comfortable add in OR take out. The PTSD threads are more secure than others here, but no matter what thread your on you can access the bios. As long as your on here Dave, OldAFcop and the other Moderators keep very close tabs on preditors, trolls, etc. The forumily doesn't pry into anybody, we listen to what you want to tell us and we try to help.

WELCOME ABOARD.

When I was young and stupid (pre Vietnam) I always hid in the corner (very shy). Then (post Nam) I realized I was not noticed by anybody (after being a Military Training Instructor and getting up in front of large crowds), I lost my virginity and shyness. Then, I WANTED the world to know who I was, when I wrote my name it became BOLDER and I wrote it FULLY (Robert G. Bauman), not little chicken scratching. I WANT people to know who I am and not to forget me. It did wonders for me at work, people came to me to answer the questions and solve problems. I was "famous" (sort of).

As I read my post, I realize it sounds like I am calling those who wish to keep their information private secretive, lying, and giving half-truths, which was NOT what I was trying to get across at all. I only meant that it makes ME feel that way.

quote:

Originally posted by Schwanke:
I am one of those strange dudes that doesn't feel a bit insecure about giving my full name etc, as you say I feel we are among friends. In the years I have been on here, never has any dark evil thing happened to me because of it, and I am just not the type person who feels comfortable with secrets, lying or half truths.

quote:

Originally posted by Bob058:
Bravo39a:

Fill in what you feel comfortable with, you don't have to tell us everything. Some of us have no concerns about what we tell, others are like you. We're not nosey (too much, LOL). As you get to know us, if you feel more comfortable add in OR take out. The PTSD threads are more secure than others here, but no matter what thread your on you can access the bios. As long as your on here Dave, OldAFcop and the other Moderators keep very close tabs on preditors, trolls, etc. The forumily doesn't pry into anybody, we listen to what you want to tell us and we try to help.

WELCOME ABOARD.

I knew what you were saying, Don.