Diary of a VA Claim

By Larry Stimeling Staff Writer

I want to give a history of just one VA claim. The name has been changed to protect the veteran and honor his Privacy. The details of the claim are true. The outcome is yet to be determined.

Richard contacted me in June of 2008 asking how he would go about filing a claim with the VA. After talking to Richard for a while I determined the following:

Richard was an Lieutenant in an infantry unit in Vietnam. As such he was entitled to a CIB. After just a few months in country, he contracted viral encephalitis. He spent time in a field hospital before being sent to Japan then to a hospital in the states before being discharged. Because of his being medivaced out of Vietnam, he was never awarded the CIB he was entitled to receive.

Richard has symptoms of PTSD, headaches as a residual of the encephalitus, and several other conditions that can be related to either the encephalitus or PTSD.

I advised him to file for all of the conditions. His claim was received by the VA in June of 08. December 08 brought a complete denial of all claims. Each denial had the same phrase "Service treatment records provide no evidence at enlistment, during service, or at separation, that you were diagnosed with this condition in service. There is no current diagnosis of this condition of record."

All Richard’s claims have been appealed. while he waits for copies of his in service medical records.

Richard finally had a session with a mental health professional at his VA facility in August of 08, FOURTEEN MONTHS after he filed his claim and 9 months after his claim was denied.

While I feel certain that when it is all said and done Richard will be service connected for all of the conditions he filed claims for, I can’t help but wonder why the VA would deny claims that they know will eventually be overturned on appeal.

My only conclusion is the VA has a plan to Deny, Delay and Discourage. Deny the claim. Delay the outcome. Discourage the veteran from following up on the appeals. This is a travesty of the system and must be stopped. The VA nust not be allowed to continue treating veterans as second class citizens who are all out to get something for nothing. These veterans are suffering as a result of their military service and should be compensated without being humiliated!