Gonna start a fight

[Jeep]

I never went to the VA until April 2014, 21 years after my first discharge. I have been physically challenged since the first Gulf War and now, I am gonna bring the fight to them. I can't keep a job. Not because of mental issues but physical ones. I am going to fight Gulf War Syndrome. Some sy its crap and not real, well have me over for a few days. I served this country 3 separate times. I am going to go get whats mine. And the police may get involved. So in short if you don't hear from me agin, I am either in the looney bin or in jail.

[Inor]

I never went to the VA until April 2014, 21 years after my first discharge. I have been physically challenged since the first Gulf War and now, I am gonna bring the fight to them. I can't keep a job. Not because of mental issues but physical ones. I am going to fight Gulf War Syndrome. Some sy its crap and not real, well have me over for a few days. I served this country 3 separate times. I am going to go get whats mine. And the police may get involved. So in short if you don't hear from me agin, I am either in the looney bin or in jail.

Don't do stupid shit. Get an attorney or an advocate. Do get what is due you, but do it the right way. Hang tough pal.

[Sparkyprep]

Gulf War Syndrome is absolutely real. Jeep, you served your country, now, your country needs to hold up its end of the deal. I have always said that veterans deserve any and all medical care that they need to heal ANY wounds of battle. I wish you luck, Jeep. Your country owes you.

[hawgrider]

Jeep be careful. Think breath... think repeat....

[rice paddy daddy]

For years Vietnam Veterans of America has fought on Capitol Hill to get legislation brought forward for just this issue.
We finally got the Toxic Research Act out of committee in both the House and Senate. This bill calls for independent, outside, NON-GOVERNMENT research into ANY possible toxic exposure of our service men and women. And it's effects on the veterans, and their children and grandchildren.
Whether it is Agent Orange, Gulf War Syndrome, Burn Pits, the known toxic water issues at Camp Lejeune, or any other exposure.

It is too late for us Vietnam guys, but most of us have disabled children or grandchildren (I do), and we owe it to our younger Brothers like Jeep.

My Brother Jeep - get in touch with your local Disabled Veterans of America post. They will help you. The average veteran, acting alone, will get stone walled by the VA, and never get anything. The DAV will be your advocate. Most American Legion and VFW posts have accredited service officers, but the DAV has the most "juice."

For our civilian friends who have never had to deal with the VA - we who have had to deal with them, we know by heart the VA Motto: "Deny, deny, deny, until you die". :mad:

[Dwight55]

Just for discussion sake:

RULE 1: almost no one in my heritage family has had heart problems

RULE 2: no recorded cases at all of liver problems

RULE 3: no recorded cases of gall bladder problems

But then, . . . after spending my time in RVN, . . . my aortic valve decides that one of the plates forming the valve, . . . needs to "calcify" (whatever the heck that is), . . . necessitating open heart surgery, . . . now I have a "Porcine Appliance", . . . better known as a pig valve.

And then, . . . Dr. Parker takes out my gall bladder, . . . opines that in all the years of surgery, . . . taking these things out from time to time, . . . never had he ever, ever, ever seen one like mine, . . . no gall stones (as in plural stones), . . . just ONE BIG gall stone, . . . 20mm in diameter, . . . like a big marble.

And then, . . . my son is born, . . . two holes in his heart, . . . one between the upper chambers, . . . one between the lower chambers.

And then, . . . my son becomes a liver patient, . . . his liver does not process out any COPPER that he would injest.

Coincidence???? I doubt it, . . . but in talking with the VA folks, . . . they don't want to hear it, . . . not their problem, . . . not covered, . . . yada, yada, yada.

In general it makes me want to fight, . . . but I figure one of these days, . . . I'll stand before the Lord, . . . and so will they. HE can take care of it.

May God bless,
Dwight

[Gambit]

good luck man

[Old_SF_Guy]

I never went to the VA until April 2014, 21 years after my first discharge. I have been physically challenged since the first Gulf War and now, I am gonna bring the fight to them. I can't keep a job. Not because of mental issues but physical ones. I am going to fight Gulf War Syndrome. Some sy its crap and not real, well have me over for a few days. I served this country 3 separate times. I am going to go get whats mine. And the police may get involved. So in short if you don't hear from me agin, I am either in the Looney bin or in jail.

Jeep, I understand your anger and frustration...maybe not the degree, but certainly from where its coming and why.

Take some of the advice offered. The best thing you can do FOR the VA is get your self put into jail. They will then have a record to use against you and worse case you end up on the prison medical program and not theirs.

THE BEST thing you can do for JEEP, is get some allies to help you fight the VA the more effective way. Document everything, send it to your congressman and everyone leading actions against the VA for maltreatment.

I was in the gulf as well, I was told in a letter that my unit was exposed to cyclo sarin nerve gas due the destruction of an ammo depot that contained some while we were down wind. (24th ID at the time). The military even had GWS testing later. So its real....although I didn't do the test because I figured that's their way of saying..."see we tested and nothings wrong with him...2 years later"

Don't, don't, please don't....go out and make yourself a write off in the good fight, by becoming a felon or diminishing your fight by giving them an easy way out.

Smarter not harder...buddy. I know you got it in you.

[Sarge7402]

Jeep. Try and stay away from an advocate and get a lawyer to help you. The VA could say that by using an advocate you are not able to manage your affairs whereas a lawyer will be looked at differently even if he's doing the same things.

Good luck pal. Gulf War Syndrome is definitely real.

[Jeep]

Thanks for all the sound advice everyone. It is well taken and appreciated

[rice paddy daddy]

Jeep. Try and stay away from an advocate and get a lawyer to help you. The VA could say that by using an advocate you are not able to manage your affairs whereas a lawyer will be looked at differently even if he's doing the same things.

Good luck pal. Gulf War Syndrome is definitely real.

VA accredited VSO's are not "advocates". Veterans Service Officers have been trained to know VA procedures and methods. They know how to file claims that will get results.
Often that result is a denial by the VA. And here is where the VSO can get results - if you don't know what you are doing and try to appeal your claim yourself without using proper protocol, you get put at the back of the line to start over.
And at this moment, regardless of what Obama says, that line is almost 18 months long. SO - your claim that took over a year to be denied, will take another year before you can even BEGIN your appeal.
THIS is why veterans die before even getting care.

In Florida, each county has a VSO that is employed by the state. My county VSO got me hearing aids, even though I never had an exit physical when I got out, and therefore could not prove my hearing loss was service connected. I am in the VA health care system in Priority Group Six, which is boots-on-the-ground Vietnam vets.

On the other hand, you could pay big dollars to a private attorney, and get zero results.

[Jeep]

I found one through some friends here. Apparently the American Legion VSO's have some juice here in Montana and thanks