Back in 1985 I received my disability from active duty Navy under honorable conditions, my active duty years was a little over 10 years. Following orders to turn my active duty health records over to the nearest VA I did so and was not informed of anything of what to do next. Going to the Washington State Disabled American Veterans office in Seattle WA I requested help with all the paperwork required to file my disability claim at the VA. A year later and several letters to the DAV still nothing was done. My next stop services division of the American Legion in my home town. Here I received a great deal of help with any paperwork needed to file and refile my claim, never drop a claim but resubmit.

Through the years I worked with my service officer keeping my claim for reconsideration of my claim of sercive connected disabilities. Finally in 1992 the VA adjusted my percent of sercive connected disability and proper names to all my disabilities and gave me 100% disability with unemployabilty. Many times I wanted to just drop my claim but kept going. 

Through those years to now I have fallen through many cracks at the VA.  Either wih the claims department but also at the VA Hospital regarding treatment. My story is no different then many others. Life can be difficult dealing with a disability but having to also fight the claims department but also receiving medical treatment and care does effect your daily life and yes cause depresion.

While in the Navy I learned to keep going to get the job done and work things out or never give up. The same goes with fighting the VA for what is right.

This is just part of what I have gone through at the VA since 1985.  We all have a story, the good and bad how us disabiled veterans face life at the VA and keep going. I hope others could tell their stories so those now becoming disabiled and going into the VA system can learn and keep on fighting. It is difficult hearing on the news that another recently disabiled veterans took their life because of the stress and depression not only from active duty but also the constant fight with the VA and it's paperwork. Adjusting ones life due to being disabiled is difficult enough but also add all the VA paperwork, being denied and resubmiting your claim, dealing with stress from treatments at the VA and it's Doctors and dealing with real life issues of a limited income or no job at all. 

Now I hope the new people going into the VA system can learn from what I have gone through. Keep up the good fight, you did what was required not only for your country but your friends and buddies while active duty. Now you have not only myself but many others disabiled Veterans who are willing to talk and offer support to keep the new fight going at the VA. None of us really wanted to join this club of disabiled Veterans.

As with active duty and the VA, it always comes down to the paperwork.  But we are not just numbers, we are a select group not really wanting to be here. 

Salute to all and welcome home to those going into the VA system, we all are important.