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Subscribe to RSSSometimes the terror strikes Daniel Hibbard, a 29-year-old Army veteran of the Afghanistan war, when he's driving and a song comes on the radio that he used to listen to while on patrol.
"I'll be thinking and thinking and visualizing being back in combat and I’ll break down and cry," he said.
Sometimes Hibbard is spooked at a bar or restaurant, where there are too many people and his back must be up against a wall. "I can feel something’s not right," he said. "I’m always looking around."
Hibbard served as a sergeant in Afghanistan between 2005 and 2006. While there, he shot and killed people, saw dead bodies and survived IED explosions and rocket-propelled grenade and mortar fire.
These traumatic experiences have transformed the father of two. "When I joined, I was 20 years old and there weren’t a damn thing wrong with me," Hibbard said. He joined in August 2003 and served for six years.
Hibbard, who lives in Louisville, Ky., has been twice diagnosed at Veterans Affairs facilities with post-traumatic stress disorder since 2010. But something unexpected happened last month: Hibbard received a letter reversing his PTSD diagnosis. His new diagnosis, which was assigned without an in-person examination or assessment, is personality disorder.
"It makes me feel like I’m being called a fraud, a fake," Hibbard said of the diagnosis. "You might as well and go ahead and burn my record and say I was never in the military."
Hibbard is contesting the decision, which will provide him with mental health care but strip him of PTSD-related financial benefits, with assistance from AMVETS, a nonprofit veterans' organization that helps service members trying to secure claims, benefits and medical diagnoses.
Gene Brainer, the Louisville-based AMVETS national service officer who is handling Hibbard's appeal, declined to discuss the specifics of the case, citing medical privacy regulations. He did say, however, that in the last several months VA doctors who review claims appear to be scrutinizing established medical findings more closely than in years past.
In particular, Brainer has noticed that the regional VA office has requested reviews for cases in which a veteran has already been evaluated by a board-certified doctor and given a diagnosis, which is used to determine monthly disability benefits. During a review, another board-certified doctor can issue a new diagnosis without seeing the veteran, thereby overturning the original doctor's finding.
"They are putting their opinions, exam results and diagnosis above the findings of their counterparts and rationalizing that they were more thorough and probing in their review and examination than the attending psychological counselors," he said of the reviewing doctors. Brainer, who has 20 years experience in the field, said he's seen this happen with as many as six veterans in the Louisville area recently. Many of the reversals, he said, were for veterans awarded disability benefits at 100 percent of the entitlement rate.
The Department of Veterans Affairs does not track diagnosis reversals, but maintains that reviews are rare and conducted when it is not clear from the clinician's examination or opinion that the diagnosis is correct.
"VA carefully considers the potential repercussions of any change in a previously assigned diagnosis," Josh Taylor, a spokesman for the Department of Veterans Affairs, told msnbc.com in a statement. "When any change in an evaluation is to be made, particularly where a mental disorder is involved, VA strives to reconcile the evidence and continue the previous diagnosis. Only where the prior diagnosis is shown to be clearly erroneous, will VA make a correction."
Taylor could not comment on Hibbard's case because of medical privacy regulations, but said that one's disability benefits can fluctuate as a mental illness worsens or improves over time.
Taylor also noted that in 2010 the VA simplified its PTSD diagnosis process and relaxed its standards for proving service-related PTSD. Since then, more veterans have been awarded PTSD-related mental health care and disability benefits. Of the 476,515 veterans who were receiving mental health services for PTSD in 2011, about 100,000 served in Iraq or Afghanistan, a 35 percent increase since 2008.
Jay Agg, a spokesman for AMVETS, told msnbc.com that the organization is concerned Hibbard's reversal may not be isolated. Another AMVETS service officer in Cleveland, Ohio, reported several unusual reversals as well. Agg said, however, that the small number of reports don't indicate a widespread practice in the context of the organization's overall caseload; AMVETS handled 93,000 claims on behalf of veterans in 2011.
David Autry, a spokesman for Disabled American Veterans, which has 250 service officers nationwide filing claims on behalf of former service members, said the organization has noted recent anecdotal instances in which cases were re-evaluated and some veterans received a new diagnosis or different disability rating. "It certainly does concern us," he said. "If it looks like it's becoming more widespread, we’ll certainly have to take a hard look at it." Veterans of Foreign Wars, which has 1,200-plus service officers around the country, has yet to see such cases.
AMVETS' concern comes in the wake of the Army's announcement last week that it will conduct a comprehensive, independent review of how it evaluates soldiers with possible PTSD. The latest reviews were triggered by revelations that the forensic psychiatry unit at Madigan Army Medical Center at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state may have reversed more than 290 PTSD diagnoses based on the expense of providing care and benefits to members of the military.
In addition to the review, the Army announced in April new guidelines for diagnosing and treating PTSD, advising clinicians that fraudulent or exaggerated claims are "rare" and "unlikely." The guidelines also cautioned against attributing current symptoms associated with PTSD to certain diagnoses like personality disorder and adjustment disorder.
When Hibbard was first diagnosed with PTSD in early 2010 at a Veterans Affairs clinic in El Paso, Texas, he was awarded a 30 percent disability entitlement. After relocating to Louisville, he received a second PTSD diagnosis in December 2011, which led to an increased rate of 50 percent, or $969 a month.
Surprised by the VA's decision to overturn the previous two diagnoses, Hibbard called the VA and says he was told that his case was sent for review for a medical opinion. The letter, Hibbard said, described his PTSD as in remission, but he does not feel that is the case.
"I don’t know what a good day is like," Hibbard said. "I guess a good day would be where I’m not hyper-vigilant, where I’m not trying to protect myself where there’s not a reason to. I’ve never really had a so-called good day."
Hibbard's treatment has included counseling, anger-management courses and anti-depressant medication. Hibbard currently works as a dispatch manager for a national moving and storage company. When he has difficulty dealing with the PTSD symptoms, he takes a long drive with his 13-month-old chocolate lab, Sam.
Since receiving the letter from the VA, Hibbard said his "stress has been through the roof." The case will have a hearing, which he expects to be held in about a year.
What most upsets Hibbard is the idea of recounting his story yet again. "I’ve already had to talk about that stuff in detail twice," he said. "It’s the stress of having to go back and relive all that stuff over again."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Are you a veteran whose PTSD diagnosis has been recently changed or reversed? Tell us your story at firstperson@msnbc.com.
Rebecca Ruiz is a reporter at msnbc.com and a 2011-2012 Rosalynn Carter Mental Health Journalism Fellow. Follow her on Twitter here.
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My son is a veteran and suffers from PTSD. I have heard of and read about cases where the military is doing this so they do not have to pay benefits. I think it is sickening. When you are gutting the military budget and not socialism programs, then this is the garbage you get.
I to am vet that has to deal with the VA. The VA at the ground level wants to help vets, upper management not at all.
Yup, continue to cut veteran costs while continue to pour billions into a blackhole corrupted Afghanistan which hates us. Well I guess we have to get our money from somewhere. Why not just screw the very vets that went there risking their lives.
The U S Dept. of Veterans Affairs has it's own budget, and is not connected to the Dept. of Defense budget.
It seems the Defense budget is sacrosanct when it comes to budget cuts, unlike Veterans Affairs or any of those other 'socialism' programs.
easydoesit - while yes, they are seperate budgets, when you take into consideration that the member is retired if their disability is 30% or greater, it is also is paid by DoD in the form of retirement pay and Tricare. Since this is a combat related disability, the member receives both DoD and VA payments.
This is act one of the new Republican Government. Their way of thanking the veterans.
The American People need to come together and stand up for the veterans before the Government feeds us to the dogs
I am a vet with PTSD for 25 years. I am just now attempting to gain benefits. I have been diagnosed by VA with PTSD yet there are more evaluations that must be done before benefits can be received. Many vets like myself do not know the rules to the game. We have always done what we are told and don't know what questions to ask and to whom these questions need to be directed. VA Support groups such as the DAV are needed but marginally helpful.
SRScott - Funny, the VA IS a socialist program. Everyone from the Dr.s on down work for the government. We can get into political BS all we want but there's a bigger problem. The VA is beginning to downgrade disability rates for PTSD and TBI based on military diagnosis, even though the VA previously did their own diagnosis. It seems to be part of the joint VA/DOD IDES system (Integrated Disability Evaluation System). The problem I see is two fold:
1) I've worked with vets that went through the IDES at JB Lewis-McChord and had their previous diagnosis downgraded by the "Forensic Psychiatric" team. This is the team currently under 3 investigations and have had their "downgraded diagnosis" reversed in over 100 cases by Walter-Reed AMC. The Army is now conducting a full review of all PTSD diagnosis Army wide since 2001.
2) Under the IDES system the disability evaluation can be done by a VA doctor, a Military doctor or a civilian contract doctor. Here's the deal; VA Medicine and Military Medicine have too completely different sets of priorities and motivation. It's also easy to "influence" a military civilian contractor.
We got problems and it doesn't matter which side of the political spectrum you're on.
US Navy Gulf War era Veteran here, who has lived through the VA's bull@!$%#, hoops and lies for the last 18 years..
. Fact: The Military and Veterans admin do not care about you as a person. You are a number.
@ Deweydan. GET a service organization NOW!! DAV, VFW, ANYONE but the VA to help develop your claim! The VA has a duty to develop the claim, but they rarely if ever find the proper disability the vets are due. I am a DAV life member, NOT speaking on their behalf, but they do help. Contact the local office. If that doesn't work. Google search for Attorneys who can practice VA law, few and far between but they exist. YOU, like myself and millions of vets, serve their nation, only to be pissed upon when you get out. The Military only wants able bodied people to serve, I get it, I understand that and I agree. But they must take care of your injuries if sustained in time of service. PTSD is not widely understood. The problem is that Vietnam vets also face the same problem, but went undiagnosed for decades.
Good Luck deweydan, don't let the VA rain on your day. They will eventually give you what you deserve. Its a sad game the VA plays.. They hope to bury people with paperwork so that the vet eventually miss a date for response and then the whole ball of wax starts over. The VA play a shell game. Thats why its best to get a service group to help!
If you really want a bad day, try being a female Vet......
I hear you but if you don't think this sort of thing will effect MST claims...
This is for all of those that protect my freedoms.
I find it offensive that we, in this country, will retire our congressmen and women with full benefits after one term. And at the same time seem to hold no responsibility to those that protect us and do what they are told to, out of patriotism. We owe them a debt!
What a sick country we have become.
This kind of "reversal" has been going on since the inception of the Iraq war (maybe longer). If we don't stop making this a "right" or "left" issue (like they want us to do), we'll all get screwed. Both of my sons served in both of these wars (Iraq and Afghan); one made it back just fine (so far) and the other one not so lucky. In my opinion, they both have PTSD, but only one has had it diagnosed (the one who was physically injured). My other son says he's just fine --- yea, right (he sleeps with the lights on every night), but his dad and I worry that one day he'll snap. Both boys' personalities have changed drastically. I understand that war changes people, but it's sad to see how different they both are. I've had my struggles and run-ins with the VA under this Administration and the previous one, and neither one seems like they have any real interest in these guys once they've finished using them.
To all the able-bodied young people out there: THINK HARD about what you may be sacrificing (and the struggles you'll have to go through to get help) before you sign your life away. Don't believe the hype.
uaw-779887
It has nothing to do with being Republican, or Democratic. It is failing to understand how this system works. As the wife of a Vet - Vietnam Era - this problem has LONG existed. My father - born in 1925 - suffered PTSD when the ship he was on was hit by a Kamikaze pilot. Only few of the thousand on board survived. My dad had just gone below to bed when it hit. When he arrived back on deck - a LARGE portion of his buddies where dead. Their body parts all over the deck. There was no such thing as PTSD back then. He was 75 when he died. He had fought 10 years to get his 100% disability that he earned. The diagnosis was in for about 3 years. The letter of approval arrived the day after he died. AS for my husband - it took him 30 years to get his. He was shot in Vietnam. He spent 7 months in Guam, with over 8 operations to try to repair the damage to his leg when hit by an AK-47, at close range, while on point. He was on the temporary disabled list for 5 years. Then they discharged him. THEN the battle began. Numerous trips all over, to various evaluations. BUT wait...then the hunt for LOST records. Then the process started over, and over, AND over. NO one who willfully served this country and suffered should have to be put through the hoops they have to jump. Do you know that VETS must travel outside the area for medical care? Do you know that their dependents can seek treatment locally? WHY?? Do you know that any person on welfare can walk into any clinic , ER, etc., and get better treatment that our disabled VETS, and VETS alike? So, please don't insult them by pulling out the Republican ace card. It has nothing to do with it. It is the Government in general, regardless of its Party. As they same "All gave some...SOME gave ALL". God Bless our VETS! Those that appreciate what you gave...Thank you!
Thanks for the sentiment John...but it's always been this way. I left my first tour in the military in 1973, it was much worse then. Ever read of "the bonus army"? Veterans have always had to fight for their benefits. It's amazing how fast the flags get put away when the bill comes due!
deweydan,
I also am a Vet with PTSD. For several years I went to counseling sessions- a little bit in the civilian community but the majority at a VA clinic or hospital. All of the psychologists and counselors I saw over the years gave me a diagnosis of PTSD. At the time I needed the help and counseling desperately as I was in a severe depression. Between the PTSD and my physical disability my life was a shamble and I withdrew from any unnecessary contact with other people and kept any contact with the VA or any other government entity at arms length if I couldn't avoid it altogether. To say I had problems with the VA would be the understatement of the year. My blood pressure would go thru the roof and they always found me angry and with a hair trigger temper. In a way, it worked to my advantage in the long run. I felt they were giving me the runaround and I wanted it to stop, so one day I sat down with all of my records and filed disability claims for everything I found that I thought was compensable (the worse they could do is say no, correct?) But as I did that I got a copy of the VA regs and actually took the time to read them and figure out the way the VA works and what it's standards were for awarding disability compensation for my various problems, and also learned about the process of disability compensation. I wanted to do it once and be forever done with it. Then I handed over my case to the Disabled American Veterans so their National Service Officer could handle it before the compensation awards board as my representative. It took more than a year til everything finished and I was awarded my compensation. The side benefit was that I learned a lot about the VA and the way it works. Anger can be a wonderful motivator if handled correctly! Anyway, I joined the Disabled American Veterans as a life member and met dozens of people who had been thru the same wringer, all willing to talk to Vets one on one if they had particular knowledge concerning a certain problem.
You refer to the DAV as a support group for the VA. It is no such thing. The DAV is an independent organization whose only connection with the VA is in helping Veterans in getting what is due to them from medical treatments or disability compensation. The DAV also has a wonderful transportation project that sends vans out to give Veterans rides to their appointments. You may have been asking the DAV for help way beyond the scope of their abilities if you found them "only marginally helpful". You wouldn't be the 1st. Because of the names, some people regard the DAV as part of the VA- it is not.
You can do much for yourself since you have access to a computer, which is more than I had. You can look up the regs and processes online to learn about them and how everything works. The rules are all there if you only look. LEARN the rules- take the time and put in the effort. The Veteran is his own 1st line of defense. If all you do is wait for someone to handle everything for you then things will proceed at THEIR pace. I went from being that angry man who didn't know the rules or processes to being the commander of my local DAV chapter, and I'm there simply so no one has to go thru the misery I did if I can help it. That starts with the Veteran helping themselves at least to the point that they understand their own cases. You have a computer and 25 yrs of experience with the VA. Take the time to organize what you know before complaining about the DAV being only marginally helpful. It looks to me that you are the one being only marginally helpful to yourself.
Hmmm... PTSD (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder), is an insidious mental health condition that will not go away over time. There really is no medicine that will make it go away.
It is very important to realize that one does not have to experience combat to have the effects of trauma or stress, which can become Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, in veterans and, civilians.
PTSD can stay around for a very long time, becoming chronic with other symptoms such as depression, anxiety disorder, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, intrusive recollections, flashbacks, numbing social isolation, etc.
Yes, men and women volunteered to serve in the U.S. military. However these men and women did not sign up for: the above described issues, and, trouble sleeping, such as: night sweats, tossing and turning, running legs, nightmares or bad dreams, arms flailing, or yelling during sleep. Also, the person could be more than a little jumpy, (hyper startle response), or irritable.
Those of you who view this as a money grabbing scam are not fully up to speed on the definition and symptoms of PTSD. You need to walk a mile in the shoes of someone who has severe PTSD, and then you might have a better understanding of the matter.
Although I did not serve in combat, I am rated at 70% for service-connected PTSD. You know what? I would gladly trade the VA compensation I receive for no more nightmares, no more night sweats, no more yelling and flailing in my sleep, and especially getting rid of my hyper startle response – all of those are issues I have had to deal with since 1967. As I near age 70, I can tell you that I am growing very tired of all of it...
This veteran needs to get a civilian psychiatrist, an MD, to give him a written diagnosis of PTSD, and detail all the attendant difficulties being experienced by the veteran - including the inability to hold a job if that is the case, and submit that as "new and material evidence." By Federal law, the VA must consider that. At that point, with the new diagnosis from a civilian doctor, the VA will have to roll over and play dead, and, grant the claim.
Been there, done that.
Reading through this story and the comments brings back many memories, not horrible, but not exactly good, either.
Many of the descriptions of the VA that I'm seeing accurately reflect what I went through years ago. My assessment was that the actual medical staff who treated me and the compensation and pension staff are at odds with each other. My doctors did everything they could for me, and even at this late date go above and beyond on my behalf. For anything medical, I prefer to go to my local VA clinic. They don't mess around, they just deal with what's wrong, and I've been with them long enough they know me by name on the occasions any one of them see me around town instead of in the office.
When I was hurt, my understanding was that if you were really messed up, like bedridden or in a wheelchair as a result of your injuries, no problemo! If there was something else wrong that was not obvious, such as my orthopedic injuries, you could count on not getting any kind of rating. My doctors kept insisting I absolutely should not be working, or if I was, I needed a desk job of some sort. Where I live, 'desk job' essentially meant 'telemarketer' at the time...and I don't think any of those jobs are around here anymore! Anything else was jobs typically held by semi-retired women who had been hired by people used to and expecting to hire older women. As a limping young man dependent on narcotic pain killers to function in any useful way, finding gainful employment that I could maintain was a wee bit difficult!
I was granted a job that I absolutely should not have taken by someone who had a brother who'd been a Marine and had been killed in a car wreck a few years before, and was generous enough to look the other way all those nights when I wasn't even coming close to performing acceptably because I just hurt too much to do my job. It was fully a dozen years before I was able to leave the painkillers behind and not regret doing so several hours later. The doctors insist that my recovery was greatly prolonged because I kept exacerbating my injuries at work, but no one in C&P was willing to send me a monthly check, so keep working I did!
At the time, when a claim was denied by the VA, the appeals process was taking an average, I understand, of about 16 years to resolve. Then 9/11/01 hit. It didn't take long for me to realize that I was better off just saying 'to hell with it' because there were going to be a whole lot more guys ending up in worse shape than I was through honest to God combat who would be needing the available funds much more than I who was injured in a spooky 'incident' absolutely no one wanted to talk about let alone acknowledge after the Inspector General and investigators showed up.
Some comments here are misinformed or misleading. To begin with, military/VA disability can be awarded to veterans who never served in a combat zone or incurred any injuries. If you're a previously-healthy active duty member who develops a serious medical condition, illness, or mental disorder and are deemed unfit for duty, you can be rated between 0-100% disabled and medically separated (<30%) or medically retired (>30%).
Typically, for the first five years, this rating is considered temporary and you will be medically evaluated again before a permanent rating is given. After that, based on exams, the VA can increase, decrease, or keep the same percentage disability rating, followed up over the years to see if your condition has changed. If you believe that your condition has worsened, you can petition the VA to consider a higher rating. However, this also risks them lowering your rating if the records can't substantiate your percentage.
Some disabilities are mostly INVISIBLE, such as significant mental health diseases, autoimmune diseases, heart/lung disease, neurological, diabetes, sight/hearing, etc., so no one should feel they can LOOK at a vet and determine whether he/she is disabled. However, the ability to hold a paying job is one factor.
Because mental health disorders can be stigmatizing, sufferers may tell others that their disability is really PTSD or migraines or whatever, anything but psychiatric.
VA benefits ARE subject to fraudulent claims because, of course, there is money and medical benefits involved. Not all claimants are truthful, so the system has to be rigorous to weed out the fakers. Also, all vets are not HEROES (just as all police officers are not heroes): let's save that term for those going ABOVE their duty while at risk to themselves.
If you think that getting VA disability benefits is difficult, try applying for Social Security Disability, where the requirements are much stricter. You must be rated 100% disabled and unable to work at any job for at least one year or more. Most claims are denied and people have to appeal their cases, which can take years to go through the system - a particularly difficult process for those who are chronically ill, in pain, or severely disabled and without income.
In most cases, you can receive VA disability and SSDI concurrently, so apply for whatever you might be eligible for - even state educational funds, work training, career counseling, etc. VA disability payments are usually considered the best because they are non-taxable.
Sorry to say RENE but Paul Ryan has a bullseye on Vet benefits and if the Republicans get in he has already said he will go there.
At the end of the day it's important to let your Representitive know we wont stand for it
A half-million cases of PTSD - somebody, a lottabody, is gaming the system; to the detriment of those in need.
My son is also a vet with PTSD. War is hell, and our soldiers pay the price. They deserve to be taken care of. There may be some fraud in the claims, but there needs to be a way to weed them out without taking away from those who deserve it.
@easydoesit
Actually the VA gets it's funding directly from the DOD budget. This site won't let me post the link but google it, you can find in on an official .gov website under the title Department of Defense budget. Basically itemized out were the money goes.
Maybe you should actually have "correct" information. And that can go for anyone on here who just spews out opinions instead of fact!
Yeah he's fighting it! He doesn't want to lose his $939.00 bucks a mo. Which he probably deserves and every vet that fought the stinking war should get!
saying someone has a personality disorder when they really got what's wrong with them from their experience in war really sucks
it negates the guy's experience and sacrifice. It' saying that his problems he has now are from who he is, and he always had them...not that war caused them. It is very insulting and hurtful when a person knows it isn't true.
he put himself in harms way for his country and was damaged by it, that is why he is being compensated...war wounded him just like a physical wound. Why would uninjured veterans want or deserve disability as you say?
many would fight it even if they didn't need the money.
...
No one made them fight in that war...they volunteered, what did they think they were going to do?
I love seeing all these Escalades and BMWs rolling around town with "Vet" plates on them, with a smiling youngster behind the wheel.
I've met three vets whom are getting "PSTD" bennies...they laugh about it.
I call BULLSHI** on American Socialist's post. I cook for the local homelss veteran's shelter and I don't see any Escalades or BMWs "rolling" around town! My sons are veterans and so is my ex-husband. We've been involved with disabled veterans for more than 20 years, and NONE of them drive Esclalades or BMWs. Heck, most of them can't even afford a car, let alone a luxury one!
I don't know who you're talking about (I think you're a liar), but if you've seen that (and I doubt you have), then they must have been officers and not the everyday combat soldier we're referring to on this board.
Not sure where you live, American Socialist, but the only vets I see driving nice cars with the VET plates are generations older than our current soldiers.
As a daughter, sister, ex-wife and friend of many veterans of different wars/conflicts, I call your claims bull@!$%# too.
American Socialist,
Not only do I agree with the Bullsh/t! call of charle and kat, but I'll throw a "you're a goddamned liar" in on top of it. Your own mama would b/tch slap you for telling lies like that.
correct SRS and choirboy. veterans are getting the cuts, while illegals get the royal treatment. and yes it is sickening. my sister is a doctor and she has to fight and fight to get veterans medical reimbursments, whereas with the illegals (that she MUST treat) its no problem.
Sad state of affairs today, illegals to include criminals > wounded vets when it come to benefits and aid.
GermanGem, maybe you have an idea there. Let's declare all Vets, especially Combat Vets, illegal aliens! then they'd all get treated.
On a more serious note, I think it's pathetic that these Vets are being treated this way. Too bad we can't designate our tax dollars to the VA, and to be taken from the bennies the politicians have! Any politician who votes for war should have to send his first born to the front lines.
@rainlady2 - wouldn't work, the fat cats who make the laws would just come up with a new law allowing themselves to dip into and divert VA funds. Lyndon B. Johnson did this with Social Security because back then and he said something like, "There is so much money in Social Security that it will never run out!" and infact there was and it was actually turning a profit, until he and Congress voted into law dipping into Social Security funds and using that money for other projects other than paying the people who's income went into building up that stockpile of money.
George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and the rest of our great forefathers would have all these treasonous decision makers in Washington and Virginia hung until dead. Death is what they deserve; nothing less.
If you are a U.S. veteran who served in a combat theater, you deserve all the respect, gratitude AND COMPENSATION that you earned.
We have now a country of leaderless politicians... thieves, liars and whores.
What I find so sad with the Military is this guy probably does have PTSD yet they want to cut his benefits and STILL give my nephew "disability" just because he became a drug addict while in the Army and now he gets free education from the GI Bill and he also gets a disability check from the military. What a shame!!!
See post 8.2.
Apparently you don't like your nephew very much.
A lot of people became drug addicts in the Army and a lot of it was prescription drugs. Multiple deployments + multiple pharmaceuticals (so you can run missions) = one hell of a mess at home. If he's receiving disability from the Army that means he was injured in the line of duty. He wasn't discharged for drug abuse, that's not in the category to receive Medical Retirement. I agree with Head (post 5.1) ...don't like your nephew much?
usa is great
If you are truly trying to upset all the Vets, who truly are owed their disability checks, and are still fighting the system, by stating that your nephew draws his disability for mere drug addiction, it may be working. I can not tell you how many hours I sat with my husband in the VA Clinics, while young punks boasted about their 100% disability checks. They were so stupid that most of them didn't even know how close they came to losing their lives on US soil! Just imagine how many drug addicts are currently living off the Medicare system for the same thing. The Government rewards their poor choices in life. And they do so at the expense of taxpayers. SO, if the VA can renege on valid diagnosis and reduce, or terminate benefits, WHAT is wrong with our Government that this is not the case with frauds on Medicare and Welfare? There is no remedy, or fairness.
usa is great,
Somehow I very much doubt that you understand what disabilities your nephew has. Just because you're his aunt doesn't mean he's filled you in on everything. Most family members know only a part of the situation- enough to keep them from asking questions and being a bother.
PTSD is very real and anyone can suffer from it at anytime. Combat Vets however will experience things no other human being can ever imagine. They deserve all the help we can give them! God Bless the men and women who have fought any time. The wars they fight here (for care) I imagine are worse than any war ever fought on foreign soil. Praying for peace for our Veterans. You are loved.
lpn1213 thank you for your warm hearted and supportive observation that ptsd is real and that anyone can suffer from it any time such as following a car accident, dog bite, or other trauma. This is usually mild and self-limiting to weeks or months.
However I think that it is important to clarify that chonic, severe PTSD which is a lifelong disabling combination is rare and most comonly seen only in combat vets and the most severely abused children. otherwise it trivializes the condition and diagnosis and makes it harder for the most disabled patients to gain access to treatment which is what triggered this government action. see my article below. thank you and may God bless for you love and concern.
Used to call it "shell shock".
Affected a whole lot of WWI vets, so much so that they became disillusioned and thus are known as "the lost generation".
It is very real and should be treated as such.
Yup...........risk your life to save the guy who cuts your benny's that you earned. His life is forever changed.
You know what it takes? (unfortunately) It takes someone like this guyu to finally "totally" lose it, go ape sh!t and hurt or kill somebody for the forensic psychiatry unit to realize that they should look closer into someone who needs it rather than send a letter. WTF man!
This is what is happening, we are putting trillions into wars all over the globe and the military can no longer afford to pay people who gave their lives for this country. It's obsured man.
Hope this and many other vets get through this without taking out the guys who make the poor decisions from behind closed doors.
I solute you Sergeant Hibbard. Hang tough! ONE FOR ALL AND ALL FOR ONE!!!
PTSD that is both chronic and severe is a truly disabling affliction. It is lifelong (in that there are palliative treatments) but no known cure for this pain and suffering. The symptoms may appear to be in remission at times like almost any other disease with a poor prognosis they will almost inevitably return and sometimes in an even more severe form than in the past. The patient is at the mercy of the condition because even if you avoid known triggers, you frequently discover new ones, and after the fact it can take weeks or months to figure out what triggered an attack, so like a severe allergy the list of sensitivities grows and the individual becomes increasingly fearful and confined. I believe this illness is more properly classified as medical with psychiatric features. Possibly the worst part is the rage attacks which much like epileptic seizures come on with absolutely no warning and minimal awareness or control over what you are doing. I do believe that outside of combat conditions and extreme child abuse of the form that is so extreme as to frequently endanger the child's life (and like combat exposure leaves a paper trail) fortunately chronic PTSD is an extremely rare condition.
The symptoms are so unique, extreme, and hard to mimic that lay people witnessing them are shocked and have little doubt that the phenomena is real and the true victims have no desire to discuss them (except with other victims) but no one with this degree of handicap and suffering should be denied benefits. If society does not like the cost and spectacle of severe chronic PTSD; all they need to do is have a zero tolerence for felony childhood abuse and not send troops into harms way for prolonged periods. If these events occur the debt which we owe the victims is incalcuable.
chronic ptsd is not that rare
and the child abuse does not need to be extreme. It needs to be abusive to the point the child feels his life threatened HOWEVER you fail to take into account that because children are completely dependent on their parents for life itself, particularly small children, abuse from parents in their position of power FEELS and LANDS as life threatening even if it were not actually physically life threatening.
What causes trauma and PTSD is the EXPERIENCE of feeling your life threatened in absence of adequate support or other mitigating circumstances.
I know firsthand of this
The only choices fighting this damn monster are turn to drugs or alcohol. Go to the VA where they pump you full of drugs and you wander the VA Hospital halls like a Zombie. Or, you face the Demons face 0n, and spit in their eye. Whatever a Veterans choice is theirs only to make, just don't choose going to the other side without talking to somebody first.
Here's a thought.... How about we get Obamas ILLEGAL immigrant relatives OUT of the country, off the dole and the money we save there go to this guys monthly benefit.
Then we continue on that line and get all the other ILLEGAL immigrants out of the country and use what we're providing them to pay for the benefits of the others suffering PTSD.
We'll be doing multiple good with one simple action. Get the illegals out, opening jobs for citizens, and using those funds to pay what WE OWE THESE INJURED WARRIORS!!!
Obama barely knows these people. His father abandonned him and his mother when he was two.
he met his dad and blood relatives ONCE as a teenager.
He was raised by a stepdad, and later his mom's parents. That is his family.
You can make a big deal about them being here and special treatment, ,but that's not been at Obama's bidding or wishes. His "aunt" for example was here in Boston and he didn't even know.
So yes, it's annoying they are here if illegal but they aren't his family. Obama wrote two books about his life a long time before he ran for President (at last one was over a decade before). I read them and they are out there as a matter of public record on how he was raised (though they are often misquoted and lies are told about whats in there they can EASILY be checked though people tend to just believe the lies and not go to a bookstore and check) and how distant/unrelated his life was to his birth father's relations in Africa.
He was not raised knowing them or thinking of them as family and he doesn't have much if any emotional connection to them so the motivation to give them special treatment doesn't exist.
Obama has gotten more illegals out of the country (enforced existing laws) them Bush did before him. That too is readily available in mainstream news sources
Laurali... I don't care if he knows them or not... it is KNOWN they are illegal, GET THEM OUT!
Oh, and I will agree with the last two sentences...... to a point. However, they are now including people turned away at the border (legal border crossings) and those stopped at illegal border crossings a "deported". It's disingenuous at best, and insulting at the worst. Do they really believe the American people are that stupid? (Yeah, I know, I shouldn't have asked that. The majority of the population continually prove just how stupid they are... they put the same lying dirtbag politicians back in office and expect different results.)
Look at all the votes lost if sent back!
Obama is one of the best friends a vet ever had and has mdone more for us than anyother President to date. If you think Romney is your bud your in for a big surprise
You a Vet?
I'm a vet too and Secretary Shinseki has done more for veterans than any SecVA I've seen, and I've been a vet for 40 years...by the way, he works for Obama smartass...and as to whether Republicans or Democrats do more for vets...don't go there homy; You won't like the answer though you can google it..."think of VA benefits as entitlements"...Tea Party does.
Ol Doc if you are refering to me , I just asked a question of uaw.
xdm's on his holy mission every day. Pay no attention to him. blah blah
Ugh-this country was built on immigration-hence the term "melting pot". I am sure that Native Americans would love to have their lands and resources returned to them.
jmad1234
And then the so-called "native americans' can return the lands and resources to the red haired people that were here before them....
ROC1960 I am a Marine 1967 to 1970 ,Vietnam Feb 1968 to april 1969 and proud of it
A Jarhead? Just jawing, Myself USAF. Just asking for I figured if anyone that would know about Vet. Benifets would be a Vet.
The president only signs into law/action what is placed before him by the VA. Obama didn't write the Post 9/11 or any recent medical entitlement adjustments. Just because something changes or happens during a presidents time in office does not mean he had anything to do with it other than sign his name (likely) w/o reading it. And that goes for Bush, Clinton, Old Bush ;-), Reagan, etc etc.
I say again people NEED to get facts (preferably from more than one source) before talking like they "know" the facts.
PTSD is real... Many who returned from Afghanistan or Iraq have committed suicide over it... my son (USMC Iraq 2005) has it... it is not something to be dismissed...
Our vets from the Viet Nam war had it, but the military and VA just ignored it... besides being the brunt of our country's war protesters, PTSD was previlent and our heros were deeply troubled by the horrors... and after 50 years, still are...
You want to have wars, then help our kids in their time of need. They/we were not brought up to witness the horrors of war... War is necessary to make tons of money for the rich 1%ers and the Fed Reserve as well as the undertakers.
How about the leaders of these countries get together and beat each other up?
Then the young people can live and enjoy life.
To our leaders young people are just cannon fodder.
Disgusting.
The VA and Government are playing with words. PTSD is rarely a permanent thing. However, that does not mean it does not affect the human psyche permanently. This according to the Journal of American Medicine.
I think the VA is trying to cut costs by claiming the PTSD no longer affect these individuals while blindly ignoring ( for the purpose of cost and expediency) those that have received permanent damage.
The PTSD diagnosis was automatically given for all of the men and women returning form Iraq and Afghanistan. Claims were never question, just service dates were verified. Now that Iraq is over and Afghanistan is kept out of the news we are turning our back on these guys. Just like we did the vets before them.
we are not turning our backs on these guys
hence this story and our outcry
and the current investigation into the innadequate mental health care vets were and many still are getting.
it's not perfect and we need to keep standing up and bringing it p
but it's not the same as before.
I was a VA nurse for over 20 yrs and I spent 1 yr in VN.I have seen so many vets that play the system that it's sickening.I have heard people say "tell them doctors what I tell you and you will never have to work again."Yes there is PTSD and there are bs'ers by the ton.Figure only a 50 % DISABILITY FOR OVER 400,000 VERTERANS AND YOU ARE TALKING OF OVER 39, 000,000 dollars a month not counting the meds and hospitalization.That's 39 million a month for those of you that can't read numbers.I was in the 199th invantry.my brother was in the big red 1.Neither of us get an disability and he sleeps about 3 hrs a day and loud noises still bother him.
There are people who play the system for everything, welfare, medicare, medical, food stamps, handicap parking placards and etc, and etc, ad infintum. But helping the people who really need it negates those who abuse the system. Mike RICE DMZ 68-69 read www.riflewarrior.com/vietnam.html Welcome Home and Thank You for Your Service.
It's unfortunate that a few do scam the system. Then, doctors and nurses start "looking for it". Hey, the same thing applies to law enforcement. The police only understand one thing, they only understand what they are looking for. I can't speak for the few alledged scammers out there, but the ethics of people like you is something to take note of. You may have been in the wrong line of work....should have been a cop instead. Ignorance is not something to be proud of.
My Sister A 23 Year Employee With United Airlines Was Diagnosed With PTSD Not Long After 911 As She Was A Flight Attendant Working Inflight That Tradgic Day Her Flight Diverted Back To Germany When They Were Notified Of The Hijackings In The U.S. Her Health & Life Went Into Decline, Deceased September 8 2010.
So sad.
Sorry to hear that.
Sergeant Hibbard, I salute you, THANK YOU for your service and for protecting my rights as an American citizen.
Such a sad day when the men and women who fought for our freedoms get treated so shabbily. My grandfather was a POW during WWII and had PTSD although at that time the diagnosis was unknown. Many times he would have "bad days" as my grandmother would say. On those days we stayed out of the way, not because he would have hurt us but because he couldn't deal with much else besides the symptoms.
May this country start, once again, honoring our military personnel like we once used to. Again, a great big salute and THANK YOU to ALL WHO SERVED!
My husband is a Vietnam Vet (1st Calvary 69-71) and not only did he return with P.T.S.S. he also had Malaria 3 times and Black Swamp Fever and (I suspect) Agent Orange poisoning. The military budget should go to help our Vets instead of the war machine (which benefits only rich people) I would prefer my tax dollars help WE THE PEOPLE than the rich (who really do not need anyone's help).
And they say they are overturning/reversing previous claims because of "the expense of providing care and benefits to members of the military". So our vets lost a piece of their brains/memory and that is just as f--ked up as if they lost another body part...we must treat the WHOLE soldier, that's who we sent to war...
my prayers go out to all our men and women serving and those we've lost.
Air Force Vet and mother of a combat soldier...Hooah!!!
It's a sad state of affairs when we regard our veterans as disposable assets.
PTSD, ADD, ADHD, when does the whining stop!! I've never seen so many labels for crap in all my life. The vets deserve the best care they can get but excuse me if I don't believe that all of them are honest. Follow the money.
The money argument is weak at best. Even rated at 50%, a veteran is pushing close to the poverty line if that is their only source of income, and they live by themselves and have no other dependents to care for or pay support for. As far as some veterans being dishonest, the same thing can be said about any group, even those trying to find tax loopholes.
I am one of those people who feel that any veteran should not be on total unemployability solely because of PTSD. If that is your argument, I am with you.
However, if your entire argument is on the honesty of veterans, you are out of line...way out of line.
MO'S.... A Veteran (post #12.1) said it best in reply to your missive. YES, there is abuse and fraud in ALL systems. However, I would prefer to give the benefit of the doubt to the veterans who have and are serving our country. If we can find the money to support baby factories here at home, we can find the money and resources to support the warriors we have sent into combat.
XD, to give weight to your argument,and others, I will use an example. Say a veteran is going through TAP, and will be processed out in 3 -9 months. Someone suggest that he/she should apply for the obvious things, or at least get them checked out. GERD, for example. Most veterans can suffer from this and it can easily be checked with a Barium type test. Chances are, almost everyone in the military has had to shovel food down quickly and get back to work, less than two hours sleep, and this is repetitive for months often while in an active theatre of war. This can wreck havoc on a person's digestive system. Some veterans wouldn't even think about getting it checked out. You would be surprised how many veterans suffer from some degree of GERD (reflux disease) which they did not have prior to service.
Basically, it stands to reason that the military service may have caused or aggravated this condition, so the benefit of the doubt is often given to the veteran. This argument covers the alledged "scam" arguments that are unsettling to me, as well as the benefit of the doubt argument that you make. However, how many veterans do you think actually get GERD checked out? Therefore, it would be easy to call this, also, some type of scam...but it does not change the fact that the medical condition is there.
Are you a veteran Mo?
I usually try to be respectful on these message boards but in your case - WHO THE HELL DO THINK YOU ARE!!!! Have you ever been to war? Have you ever experienced the horror that the men and woman who have been to war have gone through? I doubt it.
Follow the money! You IDIOT! Do have have any idea how little Vets are paid even at 100% disability - NO YOU DON'T!!! I do - my husband is 100%!
He's Vietnam Vet with PTSD. At the age of 18, he picked up body parts and skeletons. And when he returned home - because of the mentality of the sixties - he got rocks thrown at him!
Do you know what it's like to find your spouse looking out the window and all you see is the night sky but he sees his dead ship mates beckoning to him; to wake up and find him punching a hole in the bedroom wall because he's trying to escape the fire!!!
How dare you disrespect Veterans by using the word "whining"!
Veterans sacrifice their lives, youth, body and mind so people like you are free to spew your venom - Think on that!
mtvf - It isn't anything to have people call us whiners. That's what we had to do way back in the 70's to be noticed by the VA. The VA buffaloed the WW-II Vets into thinking they were sissies if they went for help for their problems. The WW-II Vets even said Vietnam Vets were whiners and turned their backs on us and some service organizations wouldn't even let "whiney" Vietnam Vets become members. So be it, we shook up the system and for a while most of the PTSD claims were from WW-II Vets. I have had cancer twice ('91 & '05) and Parkinson's since '06 all from that wonderful herbicide Agent Orange - Don't worry it's ONLY weed killer. I think the VA needs to take care of me and if people don't like it, tough. You tell your husband I salute him and Welcome Home. Please read www.riflewarrior.com/vietnam.html I wrote that a long time ago. Peace.
Thank you for your service. We salute you as well. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.
And thank you for the Welcome home. He appreciates it.
mtvf-
The way we treated our returning veterans in the 1960's was deplorable.
While I have always been a peacenik, I never disrespected our veterans.
Thank god we have learned to appreciate the sacrifices our vets have made for us.
VN Vet 66-67. I am Now going on 65, VA and the rest of the country turned their back on us, called us Rambo's. Once they turn my claims down or wanted unreasonable proof that I was affected, I gave up and lived the best life I could, I make a good living on my own. One hang up is I keep to myself and Family.
I knew this was going to happen to the Gulf War Vets when they sent them over there. We the People are really (YOU PEOPLE) IN THE GOVERNMENT EYES. Hang in there Vets you guys are the best, and can be strong enough to see them for what they are, USER'S
I have one quick question. Unless things have changed drastically, it seems to me that listening to music while on patrol can set you up for a nasty ambush?
Unless your a ARVN
NEVER fire at the first group of Vietnamese running at you, those are the ARVN retreating. Wait and fire at the second group they are the VC, NVA.
Funny...........
I have a feeling he meant a mounted patrol. I had a similar shock when I first was deployed with my mechanized infantry unit on a training exercise to Fort Bliss. The CO said we were going to get there, draw vehicles and then go on a 60 mile road march. Having just come out of basic, I thought he meant we were going to walk 60 miles through the desert . . . almost had a heart attack right on the spot. :)
Have a nice day . . .
I have PTSD and Post Concussion Syndrome from an attack, not related to the Military. The blowups, being constantly on the defensive, needing to sit with you back to the wall, not being able to walk into a room full of people, even if you know them, tremors, nightmares, and even disorientation among other problems are common among people with this diagnose. Families have a difficult time handling changes in people with PTSD, they know that their family member is not the same person and something is wrong. I remember hearing my sister say she wanted her sister back. I had a lady whose husband is an officer in the Army tell me the other day, that most of the guys coming back were faking PTSD, and the ones who weren't were weak minded. I set her straight really quick and I wasn't very nice about it. Everyone on this earth is different, that is how God made us. Just because one person can watch people being butchered, blown up, and cut in half and not have lasting effects, does not mean another person can't have problems with it. Just stop judging these guys and get them treatment. If you wait too long they will be like me and it will be too late for many of them. Studies show that the faster treatment is given, especially in Military situations, the better the outcome.
My husband is a golf vet from the mid 90's. The VA has recently revolked his PSTD and his Veteran status in 2010. They said they would assign someone who would help us. However, whenever we inquire about the status (at least twice a year), they either have lost his application, or denied his Veteran status. A VA member at the local hospital even refused to give his VA card back even though he had been receiving and been ordered to receive PSTD help sessions appointments every 6 months for years and the scars to prove it. Then she had the nerve to tell him he didn't have the right to have his VA card. No one in the VA will help us, I've lost hope. I can't get ahold of anyone in the Air Force (his branch). His PSTD has been getting bad lately - I fear the worst.
Have you tried writing your federal senator from your home state requesting a investigation? It's only a suggestion, but no matter the political party, politicians do pay attention to military personnal and veterans....they know vets vote. Military investigations are initated this way, perhaps veteran investigations can be the same.
A VA medical card is like any proof of medical coverage , and someone at a medical facility should not have the authority to confiscate it. They may have the authority to deny service but not take the identification.
Good luck.
He has PTSD from an 100 hour war that happened 21 years ago????
Get a vet organization like American Legion, DAV, AMVETS, or another group to represent your husband. American Legion assisted me when I got out of the service and I was awarded service-connected disability rated at 50%.
Thank obama for that
American Socialist......a 100 hour war huh? We had scuds fired at us for over 6 months not knowing what was on them or where they'd hit and the one that went throught the roof at ToyTown blew up among a couple of hundred soldiers. It was amazing that there weren't a LOT more killed than the 28 that were killed immediately. Pieces all over the place. How about us having to breathe all that oil smoke for 24/7 and it was so heavy that you could look and find out if the sun was shining by looking for a dull dot in the smoke. Of course that wouldn't have any effect on a person would it? How about the military bus that was shot up by a passing car in between KKMC and Dharhan? How about that Iraqi Army standing on the border just a few miles away from our lines with their 28 mile range South African made artillery and being told they could shoot chemical rounds? The 100 hour fight was a relief from all the stress and tension.
American Socialist knows nothing about war or PTSD, apparently!
OMG! Where do you live?? Contact your Congressman, State Senator, your Govenor. Keep writing. Hell write Senator John McCain of Arizona. Don't stop fighting for your husband!!! Go to your local recruiting station, get a copy of his DD214 whatever it takes. Don't give up Get him the help he needs and deserves! praying for peace for you and yours. I live in Missouri, if I can help you, please let me know
And romney and the rest of the repugs want to start another war with Iran. Beware, more of this to come! And where is your outrage over the wars!
Damn it don't you get doesn't anyone get it. Cost and containment. The people I worked with had made decisions as to how to handle certain individuals. The so called medical team are all generals,majors,captains,and lieutenents. they wouldn't care if you had crabs as long as they keep enjoy their pay checks and this at the V.A. never changes. Good luck to all veterans if you think this agency is for you and your needs.
I have a service caused permanant disability. Although I am unable to work I have been struggling with the VA to properly rate my disability, currently my (20yr) retirement income is reduced by the amount I recieve for disability: roughly $1,000.00 a month ret. pay and $400.00 for 40% disability- BUT reduce the ret pay by that 400 for a total of 1,000.00, so its the equivelant of not having any disability pay.
My husband died on active duty. Our 2 children receive a small monthly death benefit which can continue while they are in college. I was advised that the children would be entitled to an education benefit when it came time for college. However, what you are not told is that you can only elect the death benefit OR the education benefit (which is less than the death benefit). Again, the equivelant of having no education benefit for children whose parent died for thier country.
While we served honorably and am proud of my and my husband's contributions I would not have taken the risk if I had known it would result in losing my health, being left widowed, living in poverty trying to raise children, and struggling year after year to get help from the VA.
Sad but brutal fact: Your sacrifices for your country are not deemed worthy enough to receive even one quarter of the benefits paid to civil servants, like police and fire personell. The risks of military service are far to high for the laughable care and compensation one receives.
Paramed - you may want to check if you are eligible for CRDP or CSRC which allows you to collect both your VA and DoD (military retirement) with no offset. Just wondering, but why are you not receiving surviving spouse DIC monthly in the amount of $1195 for yourself plus the $296 per child? Also, if you are considered 40% disabled, your payment from the VA for disability should be $601 for a vet with one child and add $30 for the additional child. You may want to talk to a veterans service officer with DAV, VFW, or American Legion. It sounds as though you may need help getting these corrected to the correct amounts. Also think about applying for social security survivors benefits for the children and yourself as their surviving parent. You may be surprised at what you are entitled to. I do hope you have keep deers updated for Tricare for the children as this makes a huge difference.
Just one disabled vet and advocate to another vet.
You are correct about her collecting both, but it's retroactive with a phase in and should be completed 2014...the rest of the info you gave her is correct, she needs to talk to somebody with some integrity at an office and ensure her DEERS is correct, for sure she should not be living that close to the poverty line.
Best of luck, Air Force Vet
Thanks for replies, perhaps my mistake in dealing directly with the VA. Will look into suggestions.
this is exactly why i will never serve.all veterens and those currently serving should be taken well care of by our government and this is their reward for their sacrifices.and the communists running this country,past and present,live like kings and queens.even the queen barney frank!
Thank you for your concern for veterans. As to the rest of you rant...Mindless Dribble!
terry, they are not communists, they are plutocrats.
Always have been.