hello im adisabled i was injuerd on the uss enterprise cvn 65 on jan 14 1969 see i spent 28weeks in pearl and 25 weeks in sadiago va at the base and then 16 week at sreveportva in louseana sory imss spell sometimes sory but nowim in florida bay pines va and they requested to bring allmy files with so they can copy them but guest what two people lost allmy files and nowim havingtrouble getting things ineed i tried my congrassmen and thedav but to avale there still looking formy files i had 38 stumack surgerys andim perilised from thewaste down and stuck in amanual wheel chair and no hadycap van that waspromised tome 16years ago novan yet ive even had awheel chair catch fire thhat i had from the sandiago hostpital it was electric and they said ineverhad aelectric chair hows those apales seeyour not alone im fighting every day and still nothing at all your truely lcmd donld F letellier pilot and disablen alltheseyears godbless you
The Denver Colorado, VA Affairs Center hid my medical records for 25 yrs and never let me see what was in them. Half of my proof for disability was hidden in my active duty medical records. That way they knew for a fact, I would never be able to prove my case to the disability board until I had a copy of my medical records so, they hid them from me all these years. No explanation why they did it either. They just simple told me it was none of my business what they wanted with my medical records. I have been put through hell since I got out of service. Sometimes, I got medications, sometimes I got food for my family, and other times I had to starve with my children around me. Again, the good old VA did not care whether I lived or died. Just so, I keep out of their hair.
If you ask me, I would say the VA does these things because, they do not want to pay and have no intentions of paying for anything.
All I can say to all Vets being "picked" on, don't give up. This is where patients come in. The VA will make it hell sometimes and it will seem as if they don't care. If you have not done so yet, get yourselves a VSO rep and let them work for you. It might take time before you get anything but if you don't do anything, then the VA has won!
There has been one constant in the United States since it's founding. The glue that binds so to speak. That constant has been the US Serviceman. The people of this country and the beaurocracy that has grown over the years may not always appreciate the sacrifices and hardships that we and our predecessors have endured. We are the finest that this country has to offer, and such has always been the case. I will never hide my service. I will never be ashamed of what I have done. I am proud of my service, and I am proud of your service as well.
I am damm proud of the 20+ years I put in and I always wear a ball cap with either Army Retired, Viet Nam Vet or some unit I was with on it. No one has ever said anything bad to me, not like they did when I returned from Viet Nam. In fact I've had folks come up to me and thank me for my service. Sgt D
I loved the Army until they gave me a Medical discharge. I fought to stay in but they had no use for a none deployable Warrant officer. Now that I'm getting to use Voc rehab and GI bill, its a whole different felling but I sure wish I was still in. I keep thinking god had a reason for getting me out and I'll soon find what that is.
Originally posted by mcvikair: I loved the Army until they gave me a Medical discharge. I fought to stay in but they had no use for a none deployable Warrant officer. Now that I'm getting to use Voc rehab and GI bill, its a whole different felling but I sure wish I was still in. I keep thinking god had a reason for getting me out and I'll soon find what that is.
Although you were medically discharged, count your blessings. Education will better anyone. Many others are not as fortunate at the get go since they'll have to go through the VA bureacracy and will seem, an endless plight...good luck to you!
This message has been edited. Last edited by: ohana10,
don't ever thing that your service to your country is not honored ...if it was not for america's vets .... there would not be a usa...be -proud of your service.. i am i wear my c i b everyday on my chest and im damm proud.... a vietnam vet.............
Good: The US Army took me way from a life of poverty and not money or job. They sent me to many bases around this big world. I seen more and done more that the rest of my family. I experienced things only dreamed of by my poor relatives. I volumteered for the US Army during the time of Vietnam and stayed on for 10yrs and 2 months. That much I am proud of. Three Honorable Discharges.
Bad: Had several severe injuries during military service and almost killed by fellow US Soliders over nothing in my opinion. I got no parades when I got out and not even as much as a hand-shake from the public. Some even spit on me. I had a wife and two small sons to raise. Could not get a job no matter how many applications I put in. I was told I looked too sick to work. Children and wife was starving back then. Living on Welfare and food stamps. VA Hospital not giving help for medical conditions I suffered from daily. VA Affairs Office not taking my application for compensation. Social Security refusing to take application for service connected disability, DAV Reps not taking my case in 1982 or 1988. Lost my wife and become single father.
These bad time far out weight the good times that the military gave me back then.
Present time, sitting at home and housebound. Generalized Anxiety Disability, Grand Mal Seizure Disorder, and Inner ear damage.
Where are the good times now, I have not seen any good times in 26 years??????
Originally posted by SignalSergeant: Where are the good times now, I have not seen any good times in 26 years??????
There must be a reason why the VA is not honoring their commitment to you? There are other VSO reps you can go to besides the DAV. You can also try your State Veteran Service. Whatever you do, don't fall into haplessness. You served your country and the VA is here to help you. Check out the offices I mentioned. Whatever you decide to do, don't give up. good luck.
I haven't given up yet. Today, I got another letter asking for more info on my case. I have given them the same info 3 times already. Each time I call them up on the phone and ask if they got it and the clerk would say, yes we did. Today, they ask for the same info again. I am willing to be they (VA) stay up at night thinking of newer legal ways of justifing their no's. The VA was treating me for Epilepsy and Anxiety, even giving me medications for the first three years, I was out. At that time I put in for service, connection disability. All of a sudden the medications are taken away from me. The neurologist said, that nothing was wrong with me at that point. So, I took my medicaid card down to the civilian hospital neurology department and went through their tests. The civilian doctors told me I had Epilepsy and Anxiety. At the time I did not have a copy of my active duty military medical records in my possecession. The VA was hiding mine in their office. The people at St. Louis MO said they checked them out after I applied for service connection disability. The VA's game plan was to let me rave so others will think me mad and not listen to me. Well, they got their wish for, I have never recieved as much as ten cents from the VA. If someone hides half your evidence, no way to prove your case then. When, a person has 3 serious head injuries they cannot just sweep it under the rug sort of speaking. When, a person is diagnosed with Generalized Axniety Disorder in the US Army and treated for it, no way to sweep it under the rug and say it never happened. These facts were written down by US Army Doctors and Military Personnel. The only way get out of paying me was simple. Keep these records away from the DAV or VFW Offices. Just maybe he will die and no one will know. According to civilian Neurologists, with my medical conditions, I should be dead by now. The lord has let me live despite the wishes of the VA. I have had and still do have the VFW, DAV, and Senator Salazar of Colorado working on my case. So far, the VA Affairs Office in Denver CO has all the power over my case. Even my representitives want push to hard against the VA. OK.
All, I can do is weight and hope I do not died before I get my compensation award.
Originally posted by sgtd6970: In fact I've had folks come up to me and thank me for my service. Sgt D
That's been happening alot and personally, I kinda find it embarrassing sometimes. To me it was just a profession like anyone else. It might have been in the service sector but still...it was just a job.
On missing medical records, this is exactly the reason that I have advised relatives & friends to make copies (at your expense) of your medical records prior to discharge. The process with VA will normally be more pleasant if you attach records of hospital or clinic visits for service connected VA benefits applying for.
No veteran should give up if you truly feel you have a claim anything worthwhile is worth fighting for, Contact news medias, federal levela as well as State and if need be go to the top. My marine son was hospitalized for 9 months with TBI and PTSD. Local county representative did not submit his paper work until 8 months after he recieved it, which cost my son 24,000 in compensation. He may not be able to fight, but they do not realize this momma raised 2 Marine sons and i got some fight too. I finally got Cleveland VA to acknowledge somebody screwed up it is in Black and white The county admitted it was dropped off 8 months earlier. Some lame reason of it was signed in pencil ( I don't think it was though) Cleveland said it could have been in crayon for all they cared. Only problem the VA LAW is to pay from date they recieve it so since they got it 2 weeks after my sons 1 year discharge date they want to cheat him I DONT think so. Well they want me to wait before I send anymore faxes they want to see if they can find a way to get him his money.
The Denver Colorado, VA Affairs Center hid my medical records for 25 yrs and never let me see what was in them. Half of my proof for disability was hidden in my active duty medical records. That way they knew for a fact, I would never be able to prove my case to the disability board until I had a copy of my medical records so, they hid them from me all these years. No explanation why they did it either. They just simple told me it was none of my business what they wanted with my medical records. I have been put through hell since I got out of service. Sometimes, I got medications, sometimes I got food for my family, and other times I had to starve with my children around me. Again, the good old VA did not care whether I lived or died. Just so, I keep out of their hair.
Facts of the case good and bad.
