Stressing Over Entitlements

[Bill Simmons]

Stressing over entitlements

I am getting close to the end of the comp process, I think.

There are two conditions, which will get you to 100%

1. You display signs and symptoms that qualify you for 100% disability.
2. You have been rated at 70% and are unemployable as a result of your service-connected disability.

I have been dealing with this issue for more than three years. The help I have received from the state government people paid to assist me has been spotty at best.

I am at 70% currently. I have not worked at a real job from 2005 till now. Yes I get some part time work on boats but I cannot work a normal full time job.

I filed a claim on May 26, 2011 under the provisions of un-employability and just got a letter from the VA asking for all dates and places I have received treatment, both at the VA hospital and from private psychiatrist.

They have access to all my VA medical records via computer system but require me to tell them all this information.

I am seeing a private psychiatrist today to get an update evaluation.

After sending this info to the regional office in Waco, Texas a few things are possible.

1. They will do nothing and put me through this process again in six months to one year.
2. They will rule on my case.

If they rule in my favor …no problem. If they say no to the claim I have the option to require they send the claim to the Board Of Veterans Appeals in Washington DC and set a date to have the matter settled by a judge. How long this process will take, who knows. If I ever get the case to Washington they will rule in my favor, I am sure of that.

For the last seven months they have said they have all the information they need to proceed. Now they have kick my case back to the “gathering of evidence stage. The red tape is never ending.

It is hard to know how best to deal with these issues.

There is a really big difference between 70% and 100%. 70% pays $1380.00 per month. 100% pays just south of $2900.00 per month. Also 100% covers all dental work, 70% covers zero dental work.

Welcome to the VA!!

 

[Anglesachse]

I just know I am going to stand on someone`s feet here. But it is not intentional. and is by no means a dig at you Bill mate, just a comment on the name of the thread.

From what I read on here, on the forum,
(And this is purely my opinion as to how I find the info, and it may not be the case at all, in which case I appologise)

I find a lot of guys who are going through the VA system are looking for the % disability. It feels, or reads at times that the only thing that interests some people are the payments and the rating! This is one of the reasons why I like the fact that us Brits don`t have such avenues to go down.

I have been diagnosed with PTSD, Borderline and Depression. I have never thought about to what %, and realy couldn`t give a rats arse. I have a name for the Beast that leads my life and I am happy with that.
Why? Because it gives me something to get a grip on, something that I can work on, knowing what is wrong means I can do something about it.

I personaly would just like to know where I stand, get Meds and Therapie that actually help, and still have enough pride to stand on my own feet and be able to work (even just a few hours). So, I can`t get my head round the 100% disability and no work ethic. F*cked up is f*cked up, be it 1% or 100% we all still suffer, and we all need to deal with our beast as we are best capable of.

Doe`s it make your PTSD any better knowing that you have been given 70% or 100% disability? If we are honest, we all know the answer. NO it doesn`t. Doe`t it make your PTSD any better getting a cash payment on a regular basis, or a lump sum? Still the answer is NO. why? because most us wouldn`t even spend the money on Help or Therapie, it would go on a "ManCave", or a new car, maybe at best on the mortgage.

We doen`t need f*cking money. We need help.

If we look at disabled people from birth, they get the chances and opportunities to work in a secure enviroment with Carers and people who can help them when things go bad, What would be so hard for the same thing for us. A secure job, with therapists and trained staff to assist us when we need it. I can`t think what the places are called so I am just going to call them "Disabled workhouses" you know the places, Simple jobs any f*ck wit could do, but the whole work force are vets who have been where you are, and know what you are going through, set out to the ability of the vet so that you can work from 1hr to 8 hrs depending on your state.

This would give us back our dignity, get us back on the work ladder and giving us our pride back, and issues could be dealt with at source by the team on hand. be they trained medics, Therapist or Vets with the knowledge and capabilities to help.

Having a system like that, getting us back on Par with the rest of the world has got to be worth more, than a state pension and a piece of pare saying %f*cked up.

Sorry if its a bit near to the bone guys. Just my Tuppence

 

[Anglesachse]

I just know I am going to stand on someone`s feet here. But it is not intentional. and is by no means a dig at you Bill mate, just a comment on the name of the thread.

From what I read on here, on the forum,
(And this is purely my opinion as to how I find the info, and it may not be the case at all, in which case I appologise)

I find a lot of guys who are going through the VA system are looking for the % disability. It feels, or reads at times that the only thing that interests some people are the payments and the rating! This is one of the reasons why I like the fact that us Brits don`t have such avenues to go down.

I have been diagnosed with PTSD, Borderline and Depression. I have never thought about to what %, and realy couldn`t give a rats arse. I have a name for the Beast that leads my life and I am happy with that.
Why? Because it gives me something to get a grip on, something that I can work on, knowing what is wrong means I can do something about it.

I personaly would just like to know where I stand, get Meds and Therapie that actually help, and still have enough pride to stand on my own feet and be able to work (even just a few hours). So, I can`t get my head round the 100% disability and no work ethic. F*cked up is f*cked up, be it 1% or 100% we all still suffer, and we all need to deal with our beast as we are best capable of.

Doe`s it make your PTSD any better knowing that you have been given 70% or 100% disability? If we are honest, we all know the answer. NO it doesn`t. Doe`t it make your PTSD any better getting a cash payment on a regular basis, or a lump sum? Still the answer is NO. why? because most us wouldn`t even spend the money on Help or Therapie, it would go on a "ManCave", or a new car, maybe at best on the mortgage.

We doen`t need f*cking money. We need help.

If we look at disabled people from birth, they get the chances and opportunities to work in a secure enviroment with Carers and people who can help them when things go bad, What would be so hard for the same thing for us. A secure job, with therapists and trained staff to assist us when we need it. I can`t think what the places are called so I am just going to call them "Disabled workhouses" you know the places, Simple jobs any f*ck wit could do, but the whole work force are vets who have been where you are, and know what you are going through, set out to the ability of the vet so that you can work from 1hr to 8 hrs depending on your state.

This would give us back our dignity, get us back on the work ladder and giving us our pride back, and issues could be dealt with at source by the team on hand. be they trained medics, Therapist or Vets with the knowledge and capabilities to help.

Having a system like that, getting us back on Par with the rest of the world has got to be worth more, than a state pension and a piece of pare saying %f*cked up.

Sorry if its a bit near to the bone guys. Just my Tuppence

 

[Bill Simmons]

Many vets I know feel like that and will not take a dime. I kinda feel like this. I ask to go to Viet Nam. I ask to be in the Army. I did not take a lawyer down there to cut a deal for me with them.

They said OK you go to Viet Nam and if you don't get killed we will do this for you when you get back. Fair enough, just normal stuff.

The % thing is as much about them holding up their end of the deal as much as anything. The 100% thing means they are required to fix all the shit that is broken with me to the extent they can. If you don't get rated at 100% they will not even pull a tooth for you that has you in serious pain. Does that effect my PTSD? Well yes it dose. If my kids don't have enough to eat because I can not work, does that effect my PTSD, yes it does.

OK for the money issue. If I can not work because of an injury I received while working for the government and the government pre arranged a deal with me that they would help if that ever happened I got no issue with that.

Yes, I would rather that they just fix me...not so I can set in some warehouse an make baskets out of straw but so I can fly my f*cking airplane again...so I can work as a engineer again....so I can go back to the life I had before the beast took over. We don't have much of a safety net in the United States and I really thank the government for all the help they have provided for me so far. This is a cost of war that they have to pay just like repairing a tank or a gen set. What makes us vet any less valuable. We fought and died for this country and we should get something for that service. Just because I get rated at 100% does not mean I will set on my ass and do nothing. I will an am helping other vets to recover as best they can. I help kids on my block by being a friend to them and try to teach them a few things I have learned. Without a job in the United States you can become one of the 250,000 homeless people who live on the street in LA, many who are vets. Stressing over the entitlements is not about the % but about the miles of paper work and hoops one has to jump through to get any thing from this system, and that is both money and medical help. There are vets at this very moment who are not able to feed there family or them self.
That is a disgrace in one or the riches countries of the world.

Just my take on things. Just my Tuppence also. Problem is many vets don't have one Tuppence.

 

[Bill Simmons]

Also when I lived in France I always felt safe...if I got to f*cked up to work there was a system in place that would give me a little help. I assumed the same thing for England, perhaps it is not true, I have not lived in that part of the world in a long time.

Here in America if you get screwed up for what ever reason your ass is out in the street. Never use to be like that but it is today. How the hell can one of the riches countries in the world let their people live and die in the street by the thousands???

 

[Bill Simmons]

Here is what it looks like times 250,000 in LA alone.

 

[JarHed]

Hey Bill

I'm where you're at also. I'd rather be better and be able to work, but I can't. There is a quantum leap in benefits that you are able to receive at 100% that you don't get a part of below that. They truly can't fix me and I'll never be 'employable' at this point of my life.

It's like a huge insurance company, they're mindset is NOT to pay claims. The VA is exactly the same.

I try not to think about all that bs and try to just live every day. Otherwise your PTSD would eventually get the better of you and you would turn into exactly what they've been saying about us all along. That we're just a bunch of 'crazy vietnam vets.' It's very disparaging.

JarHed

 

[medic5]

Hi guys,
I was wondering for those of you who've applied for disability, did you have a hard time admiting that you are having problems working in the civilian world? This seems to be harder for me than the stressor statement was. My current job is a major stressor in my life. Told the boss about the PTSD( not trying to get out of work or anything, I just wanted her to understand why sometimes I act the way I do), now whenever she can she tries to push my trigger buttons. Somedays it is all I can do to keep from choking her. Then her pet worker starts in on me. Oops I rambling. Sorry. I'll just say one more thing about the jackassses I work with. I had just come back from a tough T session and was trying to calm down.
Right behind my cubicle is a meeting room. In the room were a bunch of guys, One guy was talking about his new ringtone and decided to show it off. The ringtone was AK47s being fired. I dove under the desk, looked for a weapon, then moved towards what I thought was actual gunfire ( went into medic mode). Next there was the sound of M16s being fired. When they saw how upsetI was they thought it was hiliarious.
Okay back to my main point. After working for so long it is hard to admit that I'm not as strong as I thought I was and can't do this alone. Thanks guys for letting me vent.

In June I will be meeting with Tim and Bailey's groups and training my pooch to be my service dog. I am hoping this will help me to adjust and be more relaxed in the workplace. Even if I got the 100% disability I would still want to work part time, full time is too much for me.

 

[JarHed]

Hey Med5

Oh, the jerks of the world, if you could only kick a few butts.................it would sure be satisfying. I think the service dog will probably help a great deal. Good luck with that.

Personally I just can't do what I used to do. I was a finish carpenter/construction worker most of my life. Been a job super and ran job site and const. crews. Just can't do it anymore. everyday was a meat grinder. I do have a degree in Computer Science but no one will hire me due to my age. And that started like more than a dozen years ago. I'm as smart any any programmer and tech head out there but it really doesn't matter. I try to do things for the gaming group I'm a part of mostly to keep my programming skills intact and although it's a bit masochistic I like doing it. I don't get anything for it.Usually not even a thank you.

If you have a job and can still work, stick at it. Not working really stinks. Sorry, it just makes me angry. I've got a lifetime of experience in construction and quite a bit with tech stuff and it doesn't matter. I'm considered a liability, between my age, PTSD and my wounds from Nam. You'd think all that would count for something, it doesn't. Guess I'm ranting, I'll stop now.

I'm sorry for you that you have to deal with such jerks, someone that's served their country deserves better than that. Unfortunately, those that don't think it's all for nothing and a big joke. Too bad, they miss the point. You'll always be a better person then they will ever be.

Semper Fi

JarHed

 

[medic5]

Thanks Jar, needed that rough day at work.

 

[JarHed]

needed that rough day at work.

Hey Med5

Always here to help. When you get home, pet your dog and go play with him or her, they always help you forget a bad day. They're glad just to have you home. :)

Jar

 

[Bill Simmons]

"did you have a hard time admiting that you are having problems working in the civilian world?

No, The company put me on forced medical leave in 2005. I did not admit shit. Everyone around me knew something was wrong. They paid for everything for 30 days and then let me go. I was pissed then but now I thank them. Forced me to go find out what was up. Fifth largest bank in the world...made all the right moves...guess that is why they went belly up two years later.