Comments on: PROMOTING ARMY AND VET SUICIDES: "FRAMED" WITH BAD DISCHARGES

By: DISHONOR WOMEN VETERAN

DISHONOR WOMEN VETERAN — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 06:38:05 +0000

FORGET IT THE GOVERNMENT KNOWS WE ENLISTED VETERANS ARE NOT BEING HIRED THERE IS SO MUCH DISCRIMINATION COMMING FROM THE GOVERNMENT, THE FACTS ARE ALL THERE LOOK AT THE DAV FACTS N THE VA THEY ONLY HIRED 30 PERCENT VETERANS. THE DISCRIMINATION IS BEING DONE BY ARE OWN GOVERNMENT AND THEY TELL YOU TO THE DOL/VETS THERE WORTHLESS THERE TO BUSY TO DO ANYTHING. THEY WILL DENY YOU CAE AND TELL YOU TO GO THE MSPB BOARD WHERE YOU HAVE TO HIRE A BLOOD SUCKING LAWYER TO FIGHT FOR YOU SO YOU CAN GET A GOVERNMENT JOB, THEY WANT YOU YOU TO GIVE ANOTHER ARM LEG MONEY TOO SO YOU CAN GET A GOVERNMENT JOB. THEY WILL LOSE YOUR MEDICAL RECORDS ANY DENY YOUR COMPOENSATIONS, THE VA IS A RACKET BY THE GOVERNMENT TO SCREW VETERANS OVER. I WOULD NOT SERVE AT ALL OF WHAT I SEEN YOU HAVE TO BE BRAIN DEAD IF YOU WANT TO SERVE THEY TREAT US DOG POOP ON SOMEONE SHOES. THE GOVERNMENT KNOWS THEY ARE DISCRIMINATING AND THEY DON’T CARE JUST GO READ THE FEDERAL TIMES ARTICEL CALLED SNUBIING VETERAN PREFERNCE IS A JOKE IT HAS MORE LOOP HOLES THEN A SPEGETTI STRAINER. THE BEST THING TO DO JUST BE LIKE BUSH AND CLINTON STAY HOME AND AND SAY HELL TO SERVING AND YOU TOO CAN BE PRESIDENT

By: KAsdrummergirl

KAsdrummergirl — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 01:40:41 +0000

Mr Skinner,

I agree with you, this whole thing didn’t start with Bush, so I wish those out there in cyberland would stop blaming him for our current problems and the ineffectivenes of the VA. Bush is just one in a long line of presidents that created what we have today. I truly don’t believe one president and his administration can fix or right the wrongs of the past in one or two terms.

By: Terry

Terry — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:52:51 +0000

Dear liberty.

Its sad that you would leave behind a vet who you think is un wise.

Myself I help all vets. Especially those who dont have a clue.

Terry

By: Byron Skinner

Byron Skinner — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 22:36:08 +0000

Good Evening Tom,

Out here in San Diego as of July the word hasn’t gotten out, The PTSD clinic I attended they were still culling SA’s from PTSD treatment, but that had noting to do with the processing of their disability claims. The policy, at lest out here in The Democratic Peoples Republic of Kaleefornia is that The disability claim process and the treatment process as tow issues and are not dependent on either for support. The purpose of course was that treatment can start immediately while claims process will take months, which kinda makes sense to me.

I hope that what you say will filter down to our local VA, SA is a major problem with returning Veterans as well as older Vietnam era Veterans. Our local PTSD over the past eight years has went from two working but medically uncertified staffers to three clinically certified MD’s and some half dozen non clinical staffers, mostly Phd candidates from UCSD. I would have to cut them some slack in getting the years of neglect washed out of the system and the separation of SA’s might reflect the lack of personal and facilities to handle these tow problems together.

ALLONS,
Byron Skinner

By: Liberty

Liberty — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:52:37 +0000

Terry: Your Question answered. “Soldiers who act before discharge have more rights then after. All can be rated medically and collect. If I disclose how it is done here in the open, THAT ACTION WILL RUIN IT FOR ALL THOSE WIZE ENOUGH TO COLLECT.

By: barrie w.

barrie w. — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:36:06 +0000

as we move along here, i’m thinking we need a glossary, or something, to explain what some of these acronyms are. i try to follow along, but it gets tough sometimes.

By: barrie w.

barrie w. — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:24:31 +0000

i’m not convinced they are/were wrong.

By: TOM

TOM — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:49:31 +0000

The explicit policy from Central Office VA changed the required sobriety rule about a year ago. Now the facility MUST accept diagnosed PTSD cases for treatment even if they have Substance Use Disorder, AND treat the dual diagnosis of PTSD/SUD concurrently, in parallel. Its likely there are some rogue hospitals or programs out there, so here is an offer: if you or other readers have a specific case with recent dates and details, send it to the Duffster. He should be able to locate my email, and I would be happy to intervene, and kick some ass if necessary. Being retired and knowing a lot of people can be a gift at times.

A general note: The Duffster is correct, and so are the majority of responders, except for those who forgot their tinfoil hat today. I testified for PTSD and against Sally, and Tony Principi gave me permission to use my full text, that others were trying to censor. Rob Simmons (R-CT) was very understanding: no wonder after two tours of VN. Unfortunately Sally’s AEI connections and friendship with Lynn Cheney gave her a lot of influence, until the poor advice these right wingers gave to poor Mr Nicholson led to his embarassment and downfall. A decent but gullible guy. Jim Peake was brought in to clean up the PTSD mess, and he began to do so. Not surprising: the man was severely wounded and could not continue with the 101st, so he became a surgeon, and a very good commander and Army Surgeon General indeed. He asked me to lecture the American Medical Student Association on PTSD and TBI, despite what the flunkies must have been whispering in his ear about me. Shinseki only has to talk to his old subordinate (he knows Peake well) to get a doctor and combat paratrooper views on PTSD. Shinseki probably does not need much coaching: he introduced the Army Suicide prevention Program when he was COS. (Then it was junked, once they pushed him out.) My only problem with Shinseki is the slow pace he set to root out the incompetents and burrowed in hacks from VACO. Keep up the pressure, Duff!!!
a very general comment on the tone of discussions on these pages, which I enjoy immensely except for a few dements or demagogues:If veterans want to have influence, they should fill both parties with competent people. Otherwise the left and right loonies will continue to dominate the discussion nationally. In 35 years in VA and ten in USAR MC I have served good patriots from both parties, and total idiots as well (actually I did not ’serve’ the latter: like Barnes I managed quite well to blunt some really stupid ideas, and save quite a few veterans from injustice. The VARO’s dont like me much….)

By: Robert Lee Mason

Robert Lee Mason — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:28:12 +0000

A lot of this was done to Vietnam vets under Nixon, thye were pushing vets out of the military on phoney medical discharges. No legal councilors were assigned, members were not at PEB hearings. Mine was suppose to have been at Ft. Gordan a place I have never been and there are no travel orders sending me there, yet the paperwork says I was and gave no evidence on my behalf, well yes I wasn’t there!
No legal councilor and no signature from me or my supposed legal councilor, only one item on the discharge a rating of 10% for a lymphatic condition that the VA now says is Agent Orange.
Nothing about PTSD or a Spinal Injury. And so far no answer from Gen. Sensike or President Oboma on this matter, only a letter from the BCMR of the Army wanting me to put infor my missing metals, why bother. With them or without them I can now get a senior coffee at Mc Donalds.

By: terry

terry — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 07:04:13 +0000

This web site really sheds light on what problems veterans face. What is lacking is stratigys on how to get around this army and VA BS

IF you really want to help these vets. Please share with us your ideas on how they get there comp with these kind of strikes against them.

Terry

By: terry

terry — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 06:51:23 +0000

A pyhoney PD diagnosis should not stop any veteran from getting testing at the VA. Many times those with PTSD do have PD aquried due to circumstances of service. GOvernment hides behind phoney PD or real PD diagnosis so no treatment can occure.

To beat that and get VA testing. Just say your psych symptoms have gotten worse. You have a right to free medical care within 2 to 5 years at the VA. Any psych problems found at the VA will get you compensaton if sever enouogh.

Document now. The VA is trying to run the clock out so they can say you have no documentaton what so ever proving your claim.

Terry

By: Sgt Jmackinjersey

Sgt Jmackinjersey — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 02:38:56 +0000

I understan that this is a terrible thing to have happen.

However, I think that the OP is a terrible person and does not know what he is talking about. Just a few weeks ago, he posted an article that said the V.A. was a loving, caring, wonderful place to go when you are discharged from the Military, and that they don’t have any such means of saving money, nor are there any suicide or death squads throughout the V.A.

It is about time that his idiot gets himself a real job and a life.

By: Byron Skinner

Byron Skinner — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 22:50:37 +0000

Good Evening Guys,

Good post Duff and good follow up comments by Barnes. For Dennis Rick, you are correct this didn’t start with Bush (43). I first saw it in the 1980 when the weasel David Stockman under Reagan cut off all substance abuse treatment. I personally saw Veterans who came for scheduled clinics who were upset that they had been canceled take away in hand cuffs. Substance abuse is as Duff said a possible sign of PTSD or even part of the condition itself.

But I can’t give all the credit to Reagan. When Clinton came into office treatment for SA started to come back, but again was trashed when the VA decided to give benefits for AO. The Clintons wanted a zero sum transition so the SA’s were transitioned out.

A note here on SA. When the VA has the funds and can provide treatment, they do a good job. The VA’s successful 1 and 2 year recovery rates tend to be double that of other programs including the high priced celebrity private clinics.

My only problem with the current VA program of PTSD treatment is that a Veteran has to be clean and sober for six to twelve months before the VA will address the PTSD. As Duff indicated the SA is part of the PTSD and should be treated as such.

ALLONS,
Byron Skinner

By: Jake

Jake — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 20:47:16 +0000

I’m glad to finally hear this and see it in writing. All of us Vets and everyone in the Military have known this.

By: Michael

Michael — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 17:00:41 +0000

I do wholeheartedly believe in PTSD. That being said, it does seems as if there is a disproportionate amount of PTSD cases as compared to other campaigns, wars or whatever you want to label OIF/OEF. Is the next generation of soldiers and sailors a bunch of sissy-boy pants? Oops, should I have said that aloud? Here comes the fireworks. By the way Duff, you are not a Patriot, if’n you ask me. Left is not right!

By: Robert Ryoan

Robert Ryoan — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 12:20:40 +0000

forgot to put my name on the above entry

By: These

These — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 12:19:33 +0000

same Cols., Gnes., Adms., and seniros NCO’s are going to their parties, social gatherings where booze is the choice of the event, and then piss on the junior enlisted men. Bunch of “F-ing” hippocties is what they are. That includes the gutless eclected officals of this nation.

By: Robert T. Wooster, Sr.

Robert T. Wooster, Sr. — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 12:11:24 +0000

In as brief as possible, I will tell a story of just how the US Army and DOD are letting us as vets down. Also how many of ya’ll know about the 1997 Force Health Protection Law, PL 105-85, Section 761-771? This law requires the military to provide pre- and post-deployment medical exams to all service members.
This is the account of myself: As an E-7 with a TS/SCI security clearance, V identifier and Spec Ops Support Identifier. I was assigned to 2nd BN 7thSFG(A), and while going through a nasty divorce after 19 years of marriage experienced the following. As an added note, the [Judge Kimberly K. Tucker] in Cumberland County NC found my ex guilty of illicit sexual behavior prior to the date of separation and denied her alimony for life with Prejudice.
Back up in time to May 2002, when an incident occurred where I was enroute to an appointment at WOMACK on Fort Bragg, NC. I saw my ‘to-be-ex’ sitting down awaiting an appointment as I walked down a hallway; I said nothing & continued to walk until my ‘to-be-ex’ spoke to me. Afterwards I walked away. {Note: we’re in the middle of a nasty divorce}, My to-be-ex’s “friend” began calling me on my cell phone (guess where he got the #?) During these calls to me I decided that I would record them as he was threatening my life with comments like: “I’m going to put a bullet in you”. I’d had finally had enough of these threats and filed charges against him. I notified my chain of command of the repeated incidents and requested my 1SG sign documentation that I was taking a concealed handgun carry class to receive a permit – due to the threats, for self protection while off-post. ** For the record – GET an honest tally of SF guys and you will find a large number that are carrying all the time, and without a permit, and leave those Privately Owned Weapons in their respective POV’s during the work day “on a military installation”
After my appointment @ WOMACK and back at the team room I get a call to come see the 1SG, and I comply and of course my ex not only violated one of the many written court orders not to have contact with my chain of command, she also falsified a government record by her ‘statement’. Well, so much for court orders when it involves the female. My POV was searched and my POW was in there.
Ok, I’m then by force (not physical) admitted to WOMACK, (I spend 4 days there) and here all along my chain of command is aware most SF guys carry 100% of the time, and they also know I’m being threatened by some quack and have a restraining order in an attempt to keep this guy at a distance.
After my release from the hospital I go to my “OFF-POST RESIDENCE” – things don’t look right, so I call Hope Mills Police Department, and Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department Crime Scene Investigators; Long story short the fingerprints of Cpt Tom Snead, 1Lt Kenneth Rutka, and 1SG Brian Bernard are found inside and outside of my “OFF-POST RESIDENCE” At this point, the three have violated both civilian law and UCMJ.
I then made complaints and filed charges with Fort Bragg MPI, and CID, followed by complaint and charges with the SOCOM IG, then to the XVIIIth Airborne Corp Command and Commander of Fort Bragg. Needless to say “Uncle” protects his own.
Ok, while in WOMACK a Command Directed psychological exam is done by LTC Peduto. LTC Peduto states, and puts in writing that I meet all the requirement for retention by the AR, yet somehow he contradicts himself and recommends discharge for “Personality Disorder”. On my DD214 that reason is placed in the box for Reason For Discharge. Now we all know that there are some 24,000+ soldiers the Army alone has dumped with that “Reason for Discharge”. To a totally excessive amount all of these are denied any benefits – Nice way for Uncle to get in the last screw job on a soldier. Yes, I also had bogus crap made up against me during this time – even my buddies and team mates could see it and ask me why I wasn’t doing anything about it. I tried but the Jag officer I talked to didn’t have a set of balls, i.e. He was afraid the system would do the same to him.
The V.A. in El Paso, TX is where I go for care. I began going there in January of 2003 as I had to sell the ‘former marital residence in Hope Mills, NC. I now drive from Alpine, as it is now my home. The BHS people state something to the affect: “You don’t have a Personality Disorder, you have and demonstrate PTSD symptoms. Ok, you guessed it, I put in a claim and it was denied. Yet all this time from January 2003 to present I’ve been receiving counseling and medications for PTSD, and continue to this very day.
Then in April of 2009 the V.A. in El Paso decides to screen me for TBI, their playing catch-up (I’m told is a directive they received for thousands upon thousands of soldiers) The El Paso V.A. now proclaims me to now as have “Service-Connected TBI”. They follow that up by placing me on a National Registry for TBI Veterans. I’ve put in the claim and provided all the documentation ask for (2 additional request after the initial claim submitted, **** I expect they will also deny that claim.
WHERE is the justice? I know that I’m not the only veteran with problems like these. I even received by mailing – a “flyer-type thing” from Congressman Ciro D. Rodriquez (who makes big claims to be ‘looking out for the veteran’. On the cover of this document is a picture of Monroe Ray Hendrix – who from the caption, and I quote: “had tried unsuccessfully to get help from the VA since 1971 for PTSD and diabetes-related illness. Then Congressman Rodriguez took his case. Now, Hendrix and his wife Rosemary will get the help they need, including back medical pay totaling $30,0000 and monthly benefits”. Thanks in advance for a workable solution. SFC Robert T. Wooster, Sr. P.O. Box 623 Alpine, TX 79831 rngrbird@hotmail.com

By: Luis Carlos Montalvan

Luis Carlos Montalvan — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 11:04:49 +0000

Gordon,

This is one damn fine article! Thank you for writing about an issue that has been plaguing my mind and that I had yet to write about.

With best regards and thanks for your continued service…

Fmr. Capt. Luis Carlos Montalvan, USA

By: Terry

Terry — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 10:44:13 +0000

Regarding the history of vets getting screwed by presidental administratons and congress. That has gone on since Rosevelt took away judical review for vets in 1933 and congress told the VA to be vauge in its denials to vets.
I go back to the Ford administraton when i was labled PD when in fact I had more serious diagnosis that was compensatabel but denieed for 25 years.
The government does not want to pay disabled veterans. We all know that. Only those who dont play the game as the VA has rigged it to be played. Those vets get the benifits.
Veterans who try to spell it out what tactics the VA uses and how to beat them. I have been thrown out of Hadit.com, VBN and assulted on this web site with name calling. SOme of us know the secretes. I only wish this site would stop deleating half of my messages.

Terry