The VA Sends Veterans but Not Funding to Local Nonprofits

I was working with Angie Sheer, founder of Equus Medendi (Latin for Horse Healing) Equine Therapy and Martin, an Iraqi war veteran. Martin, was the squad leader of patrol in Iraq with his unit when they hit an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and simultaneously attacked with small arms fire. Martin had lost 3 of his troops and was injured himself during the attack. He was in the Nevada Army National Guard and had a good job before his tour to Iraq. He has 5 children and is 100% disabled due to his back, & leg injury, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). He has lost his civilian job due to his injuries and struggles allot with his family. His temper has become a problem for everyone in his family because of his PTSD and TBI. His circle of friends has gotten smaller and he feels his world is closing in on him. Every time Martin and his family needed to go somewhere he struggled with the traffic and overpasses because of his triggers. When he hears loud noises he panics and struggles to come back to the present. While driving down the interstate he heard a loud noise in a construction zone and almost wrecked his car with his family in it, his story is not uncommon. There are thousands of veterans that suffer just like Martin.

There are allot of different treatments that help our veterans and their families, equine therapy is one of them. Anxiety is a huge issue among veterans who have seen combat. Because a horse is a flight animal and humans are carnivore’s horses have the ability to sense any anxiety in a person. The horse by nature picks up on the anxiety or nerviness in the clients and senses it as danger. The horse will not allow the clients to hide their anxiety, causing the veteran to learn how to control their anxiety. The horse is a 1200 pound lie detector, when someone says their anxiety is under control the horse will know if your lying and act accordingly. Once the clients have control of their anxiety the horses can begin to trust the veteran. One of the main goals is to build trust in the relationship between the horse and the clients to work together to reach more extensive goals. This is impossible if the anxiety is not under control.  

Because PTSD is an anxiety disorder horses are instrumental in the recovery of some clients. Many veterans lose their social and communication skills due to their PTSD and the horse helps the veteran re-build those lost skills. If the horse senses any anxiety or stress they will not come near the client, they must control their stress level and anxiety for the horse to “partner up” with them, or follow your lead to complete other tasks.   

It is imperative that each horse be a good match for the client’s. Like people every horse has their own personality. During the orientation process the clinician and the equine specialist discuss the client’s story with them and what they are looking for in the equine therapeutic process. After the initial meeting, the equine specialist and the clinician choose which horse is the best for that client.   

Equus Medendi has multiple horse owners that allow Angie to use their horses to work with veterans. Angie has eight horses to choose from. Two of the horses were abused retired race horses and have built in trust issues. Two are stubborn and the client must work to convince the horse to do what the client wants them to do. One horse struggles with boundaries and likes to be with the client and in their face, one is just a brat, one is a mustang born wild and broken as a colt, and one is an alpha female with attitude. Angie was trained by Monty Roberts AKA “the Horse whisperer” She was also trained in Eagala therapy making her good at what she does.

Since the founding of Equus Medendi they have seen several hundred veterans and family members. Of those 75 to 100 veterans have been sent by the VA. In many instances they are some of the toughest cases. Martin was one of those cases. He had been through several different programs the VA has offered.  At times, many clinicians have tough cases that show little if no improvement. When Martin was sent to the equine program he was struggling. When he had finished the equine program he had improved enough to give clinicians a starting point to complete his traditional therapy sessions. The problem is the VA sends Veterans to the equine program, but sends no resources or funds to support the program.

The funding for the services come from many sources, people donate to the program and apply for grants. Equus Medendi pride themselves in never having to charge a veteran for their services. The VA has been reluctant to fund the program even though research has proven equine therapy has proven effective. There are some VA’s that fund programs like equine, but each VA is different and some place their funds elsewhere. Many non-profits struggle to financially make ends meet with little to no monetary funds from the Government. Often the VA wants to utilize non-profits and not fund them, which is the case with Equus Medendi. Since the VA can’t see everyone it would make sense to fund outside sources who treat veterans, but why should they, folks like Angie do it for free. Please support your local veteran non-profits to help fill the cracks in the VA mental health system.

For questions or comments, I can be reached at afterdutyvets@gmail.com or visit our website at marriedtoptsdpro.com and like us on Facebook at Married to PTSD Pro. 

Today’s Veterans Owe Allot to our Predecessors

Kevin walked up to me one day and started talking about his time during the Vietnam War. As he continued to talk his demeanor changed when he started discussing his health and the Veterans Administration (VA).  He had been drafted into the military and started having problems as he got older. Like many Vietnam veterans he suffers from diabetes, a presumptive illness for Vietnam Veterans caused by Agent Orange. A presumptive disease is where the VA assumes there are certain diseases that can be directly related to exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam and Chemical weapons, oil smoke, and vaccines in Gulf War veterans.  He believes his exposure to Agent Orange is the cause of his diabetes, but after numerous attempts the VA has failed to give him his benefits. According to the VA, veterans who develop type 2 diabetes mellitus and were exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides during military service do not have to prove a connection between their diabetes and military service to be eligible to receive disability compensation. You would think Kevin would qualify for this disability according to the VA’s own words. The only problem is Kevin was never sent to Vietnam. He was in the Air Force stationed at one of the six air bases in Thailand where he handled Agent Orange while loading it onto aircraft to be dispersed, but the VA denies his claims. According to the VA those that served in Thailand on or near the perimeters of military bases between 2/28/61 to 5/7/75 may qualify for VA benefits, may being the key word. Kevin falls into the category, but the VA is attributing his diabetes to age, not the presumptive of Agent Orange exposure.

This is not the first I have heard of this type of situation. It seems to be the person with the best advocate, not the claim that helps get benefits. Multiple veteran groups like the American Legion, VFW, and the DAV have advocates on staff.  It appears to be the luck of the draw if you go it alone. As I was researching this situation I read a story about two Navy buddies that were on the same ship at the same time off the coast of Vietnam. Both filed a claim for diabetes, one received the benefits and one was denied. The problem seems to not be with the people of the VA but the inconsistency of the VA system and training. As long as humans are handling these claims, there will be inconsistency.

Another case that seems to not make since is the VA is not accepting some claims from Vietnam veterans with PTSD because it did not exist. According to some in the VA it is not possible for a Vietnam veteran to have PTSD because it was not in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) at the time. Instead of PTSD they used either combat neurosis or Post-Vietnam Syndrome which was not compensable. What is disturbing is Vietnam veterans were used to provide information for the establishment of the PTSD criteria in the DSM. If not for the Vietnam veterans it is possible the advancements we have today on PTSD would not exist. Even though the VA used them to establish PTSD guidelines some claims are still being denied because the diagnosis was not established until 1980.

This era of veterans owe allot to our predecessors. As a Desert Storm veteran I am well aware of who made sure we were treated with respect when we returned home. They are the main force behind the respect veteran’s receive today. They have laid the groundwork for us to follow and the ones used to prove PTSD existed.  They continue to fight for veteran’s rights every day. They made sure there are presumptive diseases with the VA. Our era of veterans has presumptive diseases because the Vietnam era veterans fought and continue to fight for our rights.

We must remember the Korean War veterans were generally ignored, and the Vietnam veterans were treated poorly and are still fighting for what is right. Peacetime veterans are totally overlooked by the VA and many in the community. Most did not get free school, some are getting denied for Agent Orange and PTSD claims. It is because of their fights and sacrifices that veterans have what we have today. As a recent veteran I remind myself every day of what our veterans have had to endure for us to have what we have. When you see a WWII, Korean War, Vietnam, Peace time, or Granada veteran be sure and thank them for the benefits you have, and will continue to have. They are still fighting for veteran’s rights! It’s our turn to pick up the flag and move forward!  

For questions or comments, I can be reached at afterdutyvets@gmail.com or visit our website at marriedtoptsdpro.com and like us on Facebook at Married to PTSD Pro.

Is the PTSD Epidemic Society’s Fault?

I was looking through some videos for use in my class and ran across Sabastian Junger, who thinks that the problem with the PTSD epidemic might be society, rather than those with PTSD. What he was saying is plausible if you look at the way our society treats people with mental health issues. We have become so individualistic that veterans do not know who to turn to, so they do not turn to anyone and they try to deal with their PTSD on their own. No one says it aloud, but we do not welcome those with PTSD back into society. People fear them and often try to stay away from them, leaving their families to pick up the pieces. So often people throw money at an issue and think that will fix the problem but it never does.

I am often asked “why was PTSD not an issue after WWII and the Korean war”? That is a good question, and I have a theory. After WWII and Korea, veterans came home and blended back into society, they were accepted because everyone understood, everyone contributed to the war effort and sacrifices were made by all of society. WWII veterans also had time to decompress with their buddies while on the long ship ride home. Whenever a WWII or Korean war veteran did something considered outside the norm of society all that needed to be said was “he was in the war” and the issue was dropped. These veterans were not looked down upon, they were respected and not labeled with a “disability”. So often these veterans were accepted back into society and lived a normal life. That all changed when the troops from the Vietnam War came home.

The Vietnam War was a turning point for America when it comes to wars and society. The Anti-war protesters rallied and called our veterans baby killer.  Our veterans were spit on, and shunned because our society could not, and did not want to understand. Many of the protesters dodged the draft for assorted reasons, so they created a hostile environment for our Vietnam veterans to return to.  Since we know PTSD is a constant battle with threat assessment, these protests exacerbated veteran’s PTSD, the veterans felt threatened, as anyone would have, causing them to disconnect from society. This makes it is easy to understand how PTSD could stick around for some veterans.    

In the recent wars, we have had service members go on multiple deployments. Unlike the Vietnam veterans the present veterans are coming home to a hero’s welcome. It often makes you wonder if this is a good thing. I believe the new veterans are treated with respect and looked up to because of the guilt society has about how our Vietnam veterans were treated when they returned. Just like when the Vietnam veterans returned our society continually struggles with divisiveness, hate, and contempt. We are not a unified country and this puts our veterans in a heighted state of threat assessment, intensifying their PTSD. They feel they need to be on guard all the time. I don’t think this is what we fought for, a country that is divided to a point of dysfunction. If the military was as dysfunctional as our society it would cease to exist.      

For many veterans, this type of society is not what we fought for. We miss the camaraderie of our military family. We know that even if we have issues with someone in our military family they will still have our backs. We lose that sense of security when we return to society, we must watch our own backs, feeding into the hypervigilance caused by PTSD. The idea of feeling safe is gone, leaving us to use PTSD as a tool to survive.  What our veterans with PTSD need is connection, understanding, and a purpose. But society will not give them a chance because they are different and society doesn’t understand because they don’t have to.

For questions or comments, I can be reached at afterdutyvets@gmail.com or visit our website at marriedtoptsdpro.com and like us on Facebook at Married to PTSD Pro. 

Giving a Pass is Not Always Best

Dave served in the Air Force for 6 years and has a combat tour in Iraq. He struggles with his Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) because of a roadside bomb that hit his convoy while in a supply convoy. Dave’s PTSD is well known throughout his family and his small town. Dave has been pulled over by the local police several times for a Driving under the Influence (DUI) but was given a pass because of his military service and PTSD. They would make him park his car and drive him home, there were no repercussions for his actions. Dave has been self-medicating for years, using alcohol while trying to live with his PTSD. Dave looks back at his time in the military and remembers the stigma in the military for seeking mental health help. Dave hangs on to the idea that it is more acceptable to drink than go see a “shrink”. Dave had support in the military from his buddies, they helped him hide the seriousness of his drinking while he was in. Dave understood the ramifications of a DUI in the military but seems to have forgotten them once he got out.  Dave felt like he was alone once he separated, he drank alone, and pushed his family away. Dave’s first DUI pass happened while on his way to get more alcohol. Dave saw his drinking as a way to deal with his PTSD. But self-medicating is not helping, it just caused a larger problem.   

Often, people feel they are doing the right thing by giving veterans a pass for their discretions thinking it would help. Self-Medicating is a huge issue in the veteran culture for those with PTSD. Self-medicating causes a host of issues people overlook because of their service to the country. Dave keeps getting passes for his actions because people feel “sorry for him” because of his combat PTSD. Dave’s spouse, Darlene even allows Dave to drink around the children, when Dave acts up, she blames the war, not Dave for his actions. Darlene is not alone. So many people give folks with PTSD a pass because of their own guilt of not sacrificing themselves. So often spouses feel they can’t leave the spouse with PTSD because they will be leaving a “war veteran” or leaving “a tortured soul”. Darlene feels stuck but continues to coddle him and make excuses for him even though Dave has become a danger to himself and others because of his drinking.

Others in society give Dave a pass, this includes the local police. This is especially true in a small town where everyone knows everyone. Dave could get the help he needed if people would just force his hand and hold him accountable for his actions. Dave should have spent a lot of time in jail because of his DUI stops, but he has gotten a pass by the police. Dave might have gotten help if Darlene had left with the children vowing to not come back until he is better. Dave keeps getting passes from his family, community, and police endangering himself and everyone in the community.

What so many people forget is the cost for giving a pass to someone who needs help. This cost can be the children in the home getting PTSD from domestic violence cause by substance abuse, to believing the parental relationship with alcohol is normal. It is also an issue because if the police or society give a pass for the DUI or the physical assault caused by the misuse of drugs or alcohol will make the person believe he/she will get a pass and keep doing the negative behavior.  By giving the pass they are being enabled making it ok to behave badly. In the end there is a larger cost to society. Your guilt or feelings of shame are not warranted and can cost yourself and society dearly. If Dave had not been given a pass for all his transgressions, he might be alive today. Dave was killed while driving while drunk. I did not know he was struggling, he lived in Ohio and we did not stay in constant contact. I had not talked to him in 2 years and found out we lost him after a phone call from another buddy. Darlene called me a couple of months after his death and told me his story and what happened. We lost Dave because no one held him accountable for his actions. It might be easier to let things slide. It might even make you feel better because you “cut someone a break” but in the end, giving a pass is not always best.

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For questions or comments, I can be reached at afterdutyvets@gmail.com or visit our website at marriedtoptsdpro.com and like us on Facebook at Married to PTSD Pro.

PTSD Is Not Always Combat Related

Johnathan came into session upset that his family feels his problems that brought on his Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is no different than anyone else’s issues and minimizes his fears. Johnathan struggles himself with is PTSD diagnosis because it was not caused by combat. Johnathan’s PTSD came from an incident that happened while he was in the Army but did not come from what everyone expects. Johnathan’s PTSD came from a vehicle accident that happened during training. Johnathan discussed how the Humvee he was riding in rolled down a mountain while he was serving at Ft. Wainwright Alaska. The accident occurred on the bombing range on the back side of Ft. Wainwright, they were alone while driving from one location to another and it took hours for someone to find them. Johnathan was stranded in the Humvee for hours beside his troop who was killed in the accident.    

Johnathan states his spouse; Evelin and his family don’t understand or want to understand what he is going through. Johnathan disclosed that he feels his family looks at his issues as no reason to have PTSD because people have automobile accidents every day.  Johnathan’s family don’t see his PTSD as anything different, they struggle to understand why Johnathan suffers and others don’t who have been in an auto accident. Johnathan’s family makes him feel invisible and refuses to make concessions for his PTSD and just looks at him as being weird. Johnathan was not married or have children while he was in the Army and struggled the rest of the time he was in; he has been dealing with the loss of his troop since the incident. Johnathan began to drink heavily causing him to fall out of favor with his command causing more issues. Johnathan’s family did not know him before the accident and never knew him without his PTSD.

Johnathan recently realized through counseling that he has been going throughout life accommodating his PTSD. Johnathan found job’s that allow him to feel safe with his PTSD which helped hide the PTSD symptoms. But his family continues to not understand. Johnathan feels the sacrifices he has gone through has been unnoticed because his family feels his PTSD is not valid because it was not due to combat. He believes his family looks at his incident as just another automobile accident. Not the fact that he was stuck for an extended time with a dead troop beside him in the Humvee. Johnathan has stopped talking to his family about his triggers because they blow them off and don’t take it seriously. With his family blowing off his triggers Johnathan feels invisible.

One of the biggest things I see in our veteran population is people discounting the sacrifices of those who’s military service’s PTSD did not involve combat. It appears to most people, even combat veterans, that those who did not deploy should not look at their PTSD as the same as a combat veteran’s. The people around Johnathan discount his experiences because they believe Johnathan’s automobile accident is no different than the thousands of accidents that happen in the country every day. What his family does not understand is auto accidents cause more PTSD than combat… it just not talked about. Johnathan continues to struggle with his PTSD because his family discounts his experiences casing him to feel invisible and helpless.

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For questions or comments, I can be reached at afterdutyvets@gmail.com or visit our website at marriedtoptsdpro.com and like us on Facebook at Married to PTSD Pro.

Nature Can Help With PTSD

Kevin came to me one day and asked, what I can do to help me deal with my Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The answer I gave him might come as a surprise to some, but not those who work with PTSD clients. I like to tell people outside sports is a great outlet for a lot of folks with PTSD. Outside activity is good for the psyche, especially hiking, camping, or fishing. The idea is to be in the moment and not be in your head where the flashbacks live. When you are outside you focus on the here and now, not the past. I believe sports like basketball, football, soccer, or baseball are not as good because the competition can be a trigger and frustrating. Also, there tend to be a crowd at these events where nature activities can be done with limited crowds.

Hiking can be a great way to deal with PTSD. Going for a walk in the woods can be very therapeutic for most people. Hiking can be done alone, with family, or with a group of trusted friends. Any way you look at it, hiking can keep you in the here and now which is helpful when combating PTSD. Understanding that you are in a safe place can be comforting and helpful. Being in the woods can be relaxing and give someone with PTSD the quiet time they need to slow their brains down and combat their hypervilligance. Like hiking camping can be good too.

Camping is good for PTSD because you can get away from the crowds and have some quality time with your family, friends, or alone. Camping gets you into a comfort zone and connect you with nature, helping you feel safe and secure. Camping is peaceful and quiet especially if you combine hiking into a remote area to camp. When I lived in Alaska there were thousands of veterans who lived in the “bush” for the peace and quiet, they hiked into the wilderness, built a cabin back in the woods where they could be left alone. I am not advocating someone go into the wilderness and be alone, I am advocating that it is healthy from time to time to get out of your head and reconnect with the solitude of nature, especially if it involves fishing.

Fishing is one of the best things for PTSD, especially fly fishing. The quiet and serenity of fly-fishing is one of the most therapeutic things someone with PTSD can do. The cadence and the rhythm of casting the fly, reading the streams, matching the hatch, all place the individual in a trance like state if done correctly. Fly-fishing is proven throughout the years to be successful in helping veterans work through their PTSD. There are several groups dedicated to teaching veterans how to fly fish. During the time they are fly-fishing veterans are in the moment, not worried about the problems or troubles, they are focused on what they’re doing.

If fly-fishing isn’t your thing, bass and trout fishing may be the answer. I’m not talking about throwing the worm out and just sitting on the bank, and drinking beer. I am talking about what a friend calls “fish hunting”. Fish hunting is the art of trying to find the pattern fish are on for that day. Fish move around a lake or river based on temperature, sunlight, weather fronts, water flow and oxygen levels. Finding where the fish are located is a challenge, making them bite is another one. During certain times of the year and certain times of the day fish move around the lake or river and develop a pattern. Trying to figure out that pattern puts someone with PTSD in a focused state and not thinking about their triggers. Reading the bank contour and structure of the lake keeps someone with PTSD in the moment. Fishing is how I get my sanity, and I know it works for other people too, especially those with PTSD. Like so many other people I use fishing as an escape to get away from all the hassles of normal day-to-day life.

I know they’ll be people out there especially spouses who think I am crazy for saying hiking, camping, and fishing can help with PTSD, but it has been proven time and time again. Being in the moment and not worried about all the outside influences that trigger a person with PTSD is good. I told Kevin that he needed to investigate getting out of the house and getting into nature to help him deal with his PTSD. I encourage anyone who has PTSD, or any anxiety disorder to take the time and go into nature and relax. Being in the moment and not worried about the triggers of everyday life is very therapeutic.

For questions or comments, I can be reached at afterdutyvets@gmail.com or visit our website at marriedtoptsdpro.com and like us on Facebook at Married to PTSD Pro.

For more information about learning how to fly fish contact

Project Healing Waters

www.projecthealingwaters.org

760-780-7216

jim.owner@projecthealingwaters.org

The VA Sends Veterans But Not Funding to Local Nonprofits

I was working with Angie Sheer, founder of Equus Medendi (Latin for Horse Healing) Equine Therapy and Martin, an Iraqi war veteran. Martin, was the squad leader of patrol in Iraq with his unit when they hit an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and simultaneously attacked with small arms fire. Martin had lost 3 of his troops and was injured himself during the attack. He was in the Nevada Army National Guard and had a good job before his tour to Iraq. He has 5 children and is 100% disabled due to his back, & leg injury, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). He has lost his civilian job due to his injuries and struggles allot with his family. His temper has become a problem for everyone in his family because of his PTSD and TBI. His circle of friends has gotten smaller and he feels his world is closing in on him. Every time Martin and his family needed to go somewhere he struggled with the traffic and overpasses because of his triggers. When he hears loud noises he panics and struggles to come back to the present. While driving down the interstate he heard a loud noise in a construction zone and almost wrecked his car with his family in it, his story is not uncommon. There are thousands of veterans that suffer just like Martin.

There are allot of different treatments that help our veterans and their families, equine therapy is one of them. Anxiety is a huge issue among veterans who have seen combat. Because a horse is a flight animal and humans are carnivore’s horses have the ability to sense any anxiety in a person. The horse by nature picks up on the anxiety or nerviness in the clients and senses it as danger. The horse will not allow the clients to hide their anxiety, causing the veteran to learn how to control their anxiety. The horse is a 1200 pound lie detector, when someone says their anxiety is under control the horse will know if your lying and act accordingly. Once the clients have control of their anxiety the horses can begin to trust the veteran. One of the main goals is to build trust in the relationship between the horse and the clients to work together to reach more extensive goals. This is impossible if the anxiety is not under control.  

Because PTSD is an anxiety disorder horses are instrumental in the recovery of some clients. Many veterans lose their social and communication skills due to their PTSD and the horse helps the veteran re-build those lost skills. If the horse senses any anxiety or stress they will not come near the client, they must control their stress level and anxiety for the horse to “partner up” with them, or follow your lead to complete other tasks.   

It is imperative that each horse be a good match for the client’s. Like people every horse has their own personality. During the orientation process the clinician and the equine specialist discuss the client’s story with them and what they are looking for in the equine therapeutic process. After the initial meeting, the equine specialist and the clinician choose which horse is the best for that client.   

Equus Medendi has multiple horse owners that allow Angie to use their horses to work with veterans. Angie has eight horses to choose from. Two of the horses were abused retired race horses and have built in trust issues. Two are stubborn and the client must work to convince the horse to do what the client wants them to do. One horse struggles with boundaries and likes to be with the client and in their face, one is just a brat, one is a mustang born wild and broken as a colt, and one is an alpha female with attitude. Angie was trained by Monty Roberts AKA “the Horse whisperer” She was also trained in Eagala therapy making her good at what she does.

Since the founding of Equus Medendi they have seen several hundred veterans and family members. Of those 75 to 100 veterans have been sent by the VA. In many instances they are some of the toughest cases. Martin was one of those cases. He had been through several different programs the VA has offered.  At times, many clinicians have tough cases that show little if no improvement. When Martin was sent to the equine program he was struggling. When he had finished the equine program he had improved enough to give clinicians a starting point to complete his traditional therapy sessions. The problem is the VA sends Veterans to the equine program, but sends no resources or funds to support the program.

The funding for the services come from many sources, people donate to the program and apply for grants. Equus Medendi pride themselves in never having to charge a veteran for their services. The VA has been reluctant to fund the program even though research has proven equine therapy has proven effective. There are some VA’s that fund programs like equine, but each VA is different and some place their funds elsewhere. Many non-profits struggle to financially make ends meet with little to no monetary funds from the Government. Often the VA wants to utilize non-profits and not fund them, which is the case with Equus Medendi. Since the VA can’t see everyone it would make sense to fund outside sources who treat veterans, but why should they, folks like Angie do it for free. Please support your local veteran non-profits to help fill the cracks in the VA mental health system.

For questions or comments, I can be reached at afterdutyvets@gmail.com or visit our website at marriedtoptsdpro.com and like us on Facebook at Married to PTSD Pro. 

Today’s Veterans Owe Allot to our Predecessors

Kevin walked up to me one day and started talking about his time during the Vietnam War. As he continued to talk his demeanor changed when he started discussing his health and the Veterans Administration (VA).  He had been drafted into the military and started having problems as he got older. Like many Vietnam veterans he suffers from diabetes, a presumptive illness for Vietnam Veterans caused by Agent Orange. A presumptive disease is where the VA assumes there are certain diseases that can be directly related to exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam and Chemical weapons, oil smoke, and vaccines in Gulf War veterans.  He believes his exposure to Agent Orange is the cause of his diabetes, but after numerous attempts the VA has failed to give him his benefits. According to the VA, veterans who develop type 2 diabetes mellitus and were exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides during military service do not have to prove a connection between their diabetes and military service to be eligible to receive disability compensation. You would think Kevin would qualify for this disability according to the VA’s own words. The only problem is Kevin was never sent to Vietnam. He was in the Air Force stationed at one of the six air bases in Thailand where he handled Agent Orange while loading it onto aircraft to be dispersed, but the VA denies his claims. According to the VA those that served in Thailand on or near the perimeters of military bases between 2/28/61 to 5/7/75 may qualify for VA benefits, may being the key word. Kevin falls into the category, but the VA is attributing his diabetes to age, not the presumptive of Agent Orange exposure.

This is not the first I have heard of this type of situation. It seems to be the person with the best advocate, not the claim that helps get benefits. Multiple veteran groups like the American Legion, VFW, and the DAV have advocates on staff.  It appears to be the luck of the draw if you go it alone. As I was researching this situation I read a story about two Navy buddies that were on the same ship at the same time off the coast of Vietnam. Both filed a claim for diabetes, one received the benefits and one was denied. The problem seems to not be with the people of the VA but the inconsistency of the VA system and training. As long as humans are handling these claims, there will be inconsistency.

Another case that seems to not make since is the VA is not accepting some claims from Vietnam veterans with PTSD because it did not exist. According to some in the VA it is not possible for a Vietnam veteran to have PTSD because it was not in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) at the time. Instead of PTSD they used either combat neurosis or Post-Vietnam Syndrome which was not compensable. What is disturbing is Vietnam veterans were used to provide information for the establishment of the PTSD criteria in the DSM. If not for the Vietnam veterans it is possible the advancements we have today on PTSD would not exist. Even though the VA used them to establish PTSD guidelines some claims are still being denied because the diagnosis was not established until 1980.

This era of veterans owe allot to our predecessors. As a Desert Storm veteran I am well aware of who made sure we were treated with respect when we returned home. They are the main force behind the respect veteran’s receive today. They have laid the groundwork for us to follow and the ones used to prove PTSD existed.  They continue to fight for veteran’s rights every day. They made sure there are presumptive diseases with the VA. Our era of veterans has presumptive diseases because the Vietnam era veterans fought and continue to fight for our rights.

We must remember the Korean War veterans were generally ignored, and the Vietnam veterans were treated poorly and are still fighting for what is right. Peacetime veterans are totally overlooked by the VA and many in the community. Most did not get free school, some are getting denied for Agent Orange and PTSD claims. It is because of their fights and sacrifices that veterans have what we have today. As a recent veteran I remind myself every day of what our veterans have had to endure for us to have what we have. When you see a WWII, Korean War, Vietnam, Peace time, or Granada veteran be sure and thank them for the benefits you have, and will continue to have. They are still fighting for veteran’s rights! It’s our turn to pick up the flag and move forward!  

For questions or comments, I can be reached at afterdutyvets@gmail.com or visit our website at marriedtoptsdpro.com and like us on Facebook at Married to PTSD Pro.