Veterans aren’t lying about PTSD

[w8liftinglady]

http://www.veteranstoday.com/2011/01/21/veterans-aren%e2%80%99t-lying-about-ptsd-2/

As the U.S. Dept of Veterans Affairs (DVA) and Veterans Benefit Administration (VBA) made significant steps last year in improving the ludicrous regulations for veterans obtaining disability benefits for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), it has become more clear that anti-veteran forces in the military, the American media, think-tanks and the DVA are still dedicated to preserving the culture of delay, deny and hope you die.
Agent Orange, PTSD, Gulf War Syndrome, Mesothelioma, Sexual assault, veterans gaming the system; the push-back has begun.

Nowhere is this anti-veteran culture more obvious than in the national Associated Press. Last year, Veterans Today’s managing editor, Michael Leon wrote an op-ed column taking AP writer Allen Breed to task.

As the new House of Representatives takes aim at veterans benefits, we believe the 2010 column is even more relevant these next two years during the new legislative session. Now, the new anti-veteran message includes not just fraud, but debt, cost, efficiencies, personality disorder and privatization.



More at site...

[pinboy3niner]

1. Thanks for your OP

I'm one veteran who had no clue about PTSD until 16 years after my service, when I discovered how profoundly I'd been affected psychologically.

I've seen some vets "gaming the system," but for the most part, there are a lot of vets who are suffering, and really need help. The high level of military and veteran suicides we're seeing are happening for a reason.

I could have easily wound up as one of those statistics. The assholes who send us to war have to be responsdible for the consequences, and must at the very least provide the treatment for what they've done to us.

They may try to pretend that we're all faking it, but our brother and sister vets know the truth. Our service has profound consequences, and whether they're willing to help us or not, we're affected for the rest of or lives.

For all who have served, :patriot:. I sincerely hope you're getting the care you deserve.

[mdmc]

2. 2

[madokie]

4. I had no idea why my life took the turn that it did

when I got home until recently when I started reading the symptoms of PTSD. I'm waiting on word that I'm being denied any compensation now as I'm sure I'll be. When I looked down the list of things indicating someone is suffering from/living with PTSD I realized what happened to me and I'm heartbroken about it because I've been living a life these last 40 years that wasn't really me. To the sunsabitches that lied me into Vietnam I hope that if there is a hell they are all burning there now. The wrong turns and the wasted life, mine, and when I realized what was going on and told my doc I was met with a deer caught in the headlights response. I'll be denied just as sure as I'm sitting here this morning. Agent Orange is another matter all together and again I'm sure I'll be denied anything there too. To say I'm pissed today about it all would be an understatement.
Thank you and w8liftinglady for caring. Not many in the system do.
My biggest mistake was shunning the VA for all the years I did and if it wasn't for a DVT in my left leg at the age of 54 and nowhere else to turn I still wouldn't be in the system as they call it now. Sorry Bastids all of them that send young boys to war to become troubled young men who have to live with the after effects for the rest of their lives.
I went through SERE school at Warner Springs Ca. and spent a tour of duty there after graduating the class so I was about as ready for war as anyone out there that went to 'Nam but it didn't matter it still fucked me up.
Peace bro' for being here :hug:
Peace w8liftinglady for caring and for fighting the right fight, for us. :hug:

[pinboy3niner]

7. Love and Peace to you, Brother

Yeah, it took a long time to realize how much that experience fucked us up. But don't give up yet on your chances of the VA recognizing that. I'm with you, bro, and you know I'm with you all the way on your battles with the VA.

You deserve the best, especially after all you've been through. You know I love you, brother, and I'm pulling for you all the way.

Love & Peace,
pinboy3niner

[madokie]

8. You know

Knowing that does make it better, that it does matter.

May love and peace always have a hand on your shoulder bro', you're a special person to me as well I suspect to many others here too.
:hi:

[unhappycamper]

3. PTSD, drugs, alcohol, risky behavior, and homelessness are just some of the things

our veterans must face.

I met this lovely young lady at our last VFP meeting - she worked in the morgue in Kuwait for all of 2005. I asked her if she was experiencing PTSD and she said 'yes'. She has her good days and her bad days.

Most of the (caring) veterans I know have experienced PTSD to one degree or another. Dead bodies, pieces of bodies, and fucked up people are just some of the 'benefits' of 'defending our freedoms'.

[pinboy3niner]

6. You and I understand it, brother

For me, it took a long time.

Virtually all of the combat vets I know have experienced the psychological trauma of war. Even many of the so-called "non-combat" vets have been affected.

I had one friend who served as an Army cook in Vietnam, whose service there didn't affect him at all. When he got back, he was assigned to "Graves Registration," handling the remains of our war casualties. The VA didn't think he qualified for psych benefits...

Thanks for highlighting the service, and the trauma, of women vets. That is something that always tends to be overlooked.

You're a hell of a good man in my book, unhappycamper.

Love & Peace,
pinboy3niner

[Major Hogwash]

5. Suicides are way up due to all of that jazz, too.

Far more suicides than they ever expected.
Way more than what happened after WWII, I'm sure.
Korean veterans didn't even have these high of numbers.
And I seriously doubt that the Vietnam veterans killed themselves at the rate we're seeing today.

Since you asked about it the other day, I thought I'd give you an answer that no one seemed to want to give you.
It's far worse than it ever was amongst our veterans.

[pinboy3niner]

9. K&R...

...for a great lady who works her ass off to support vets.

We love you, w8liftinglady! :hug: