Welcome! I wish you the best of luck. I was diagnosed with ms last year and the VA is putting timeline when I need to be diagnosed to be service connected. I am still fighting.

Thank you for the best wishes--the same for you from me. Are they trying to decide whether your service time aggravated your MS? If it did, as was the case for me (they said it was there already, but the service brought it out early), they will help you. I hope to get some satisfaction from the Vietnam Vet Rep in the town I live in. He is trying to get them to up my disability right now--it has been 8 years.

It took 15 months to get approved for disability in the first place--which is pretty good time-wise.

I was a Paratrooper from 1989-1994..Got out on a medical in late 1994 for Marfan's Degenerative Bones Disease inmy lower extremities...I got 40% right away..Went on with my life for a bit, then got "committed again" for SELF INURY...I applied for more disabilty and have been fighint to get my records from korea for almost a year..with no luck yet...
I dont know where to turn anymore either...
pat

I am hoping that we can all kind of bounce ideas around and find solutions for what we have needs for. Sometimes just having someone else to talk to who shares a common bond helps.

Hi Cheryl my name is Andy I am 56 retired Air Force 70% disabled. First of all never take no from the VA keep trying. Have you asked for help from the DAV or the AMERICAN LEGION. Also if you go online and look there are lawyers that specialize in helping people having problems getting their disability upgraded. Also keep a journal and documentation of your case. Hope this helps. Andy email tucker481@prtcnet.com

Thanks for the nfo Andy. I will check into the DAV and American Legion---I understand they are now taking Vets who served during wartime-no matter whether you served on foriegn soil or not. What a great thing to have happen--it didn't used to be that way!!!

Have you tried going through the VFW????? They helped my husband when he was trying to get disability from VA.
It couldn't hurt to contact them and see if there is an advocate that can help you.
You deserve all the help you can get!!
God bless our VietNam Veterans!!! God bless All our veterans.

Something I did when applying for my husband was that I also wrote to all of our local congressmen. They have people that help you in getting what you need done. When I appeared at his hearing at the Va that commented on the official letters from the congress people. Things sped up real fast.

WOW, lots of friends here from the MS room, unfortuneately not surprising. started my VA claim in may, got the medical approved to level 5 already. If a purple heart gets you level 3 who he HEck is 1? but anyway the laws in each state are diff but I was told getting the medical helps getting the dis ability, GGGRRRR The lucky ones didn't come home...

Hi to Everyone,
I am a Service Connected Viet Nam era vet. Viet Nam era because I was 1 of 5 guys in my A.I.T. unit from Ft. Jackson, Columbia, SC who was sent to S Korea instead of Nam. I felt so lucky and then I came home to Ft. Polk, Leesville LA and broke my neck in a freak accident. I was evaluated and medically retired in Dec., 1976 as a Spec 4 with 100% disability. Even tho I was told I would never walk again, thanks to my wife(of 33 years in March) and being stubborn as heck, learned to walk again. It is difficult to mentally move each leg and to balance but can do it.
paatuncfan - I contacted my congressman and 2 veterans' groups - PVA and DAV to get my paperwork pushed through but it still took about 6 months before I saw a penny in SSDI and VA Comp.

Hi Cheryl and welcome to our little group of Vets. I am 65 and a 15 1/2 year veteran of both the Air Force (65-69) and Navy (71-83). I received an Honorable from AF and a General under Honorable from Navy. (I had a bit of a drinking problem, since under control since 1982). I did a secret mission in Vietnam in 1966. My first AA sponsor was also a Nam Vet who helped me greatly with PTSD. He was a counselor for a Health Group in Maryland.

I am currently 100% disabled (non-service connected) and am currently collecting SSD. I was operated on in 2003 at the VA Hospital in West Haven, CT for blockages in my arteries (5 by passes). I see the cardio every 4 months and primary every 6 months at the VA in Newington, CT. Cannot say enough about the wonderful doctors and treatment I get. Never more than a 20 min wait to see anyone.

I would suggest you talk to the Disabled Veterans Association nearest you. They may be able to hook you up with other service-connected organizations for the help you need.

Hi and thanks for helping all the guys who came back . THANKS !
The VA told me: no my illness was not combat related. I have PTSD , Isamatic (Spelling?) heart disease , a brain tumor. . They flat right out said NO
I got so mad.......... I wrote and told them: don't insult me. Dont ever tell me that I wasn't in a combat zone... Never tell me that again..NEVER.
I guess they got my point... shortly after that i was approved..... Later on I was also approved for the heart disease automatically because of agent Orange. I just started thinking.... Who the hell are they to tell me that........ One person..... A committee........ probably never been there........ F-ck them............ Never give up my friend..... Write to congress men.......... the President....... if need be ,,, get a lawyer.
Good luck to you............. God Bless..............
Timeman

Hi Cheryl. I'm 100% P&T. I was turned down the 1st time without a C&P. I hired a lawyer and had a C&P and was approved a few months later. Maybe you can get a lawyer if the VSO won't help you.

Just pointing out that this is a pretty old thread.

Welcome though .. to the newcomers to the group.