Hello and thank you all,
My story is a bit long and detailed. I'll try to be short. My end question pertains to me feeling forgotten and being afraid to push for fear of being forced out without proper processing.
2009 to 2010 severed in Afghanistan, Qatar, Kuwait, and in and out of Iraq all as an EOD Tech.
2013 started VA process. Dec 2015 sent to Walter Reed. Army confirmed blasts, chem, and even mustard gas exposure.
Jan 2016 failed Army PHA. Doc stated "you've been screwed" based on the long version of my story.
Summer 2016 VA bumps rating to 90% with a jump to 100% P&T due to work interference. The VA cited the mustard gas exposure as evidence.
All LODs forgotten. No one is processing them. I go in on my own time to push for 2 years now. Meeting with senior enlisted to upper officers who all want to help. Yet I always seem to get forgotten by next drill.
I am struggling hard. I know many are worse, so please know it is super difficult for me to write this and not feel like I'm being weak. Walking is almost impossible several days a week. Getting up from low seats or the ground is very difficult. My lungs hurt and I black out super easy under normal strain. My PTSD is so strong that it takes all my will power to keep it together just to stay alive. This is all well documented through years of treatment to include full VA service connection. I am 35.
I can no longer drill. It takes so much out of me. I am honestly afraid my efforts and personal strengths will not be enough at some point in the future.
I have 13 years of mixed time. A few years of active with the majority drilling. I was enlisted and I am now an officer.
I need to step out for self care. It is time. It took me 5 years of treatment to accept this.
I am lost and yet trying to read everything to get ahead. What do you think I should do next? Does medical retirement look possible for me? At this point I care less about the money and more about my health.
Also I was a fed employee. They kicked me out due to military injuries and medically retired me.
Thank you all for your help,
Dave
My story is a bit long and detailed. I'll try to be short. My end question pertains to me feeling forgotten and being afraid to push for fear of being forced out without proper processing.
2009 to 2010 severed in Afghanistan, Qatar, Kuwait, and in and out of Iraq all as an EOD Tech.
2013 started VA process. Dec 2015 sent to Walter Reed. Army confirmed blasts, chem, and even mustard gas exposure.
Jan 2016 failed Army PHA. Doc stated "you've been screwed" based on the long version of my story.
Summer 2016 VA bumps rating to 90% with a jump to 100% P&T due to work interference. The VA cited the mustard gas exposure as evidence.
All LODs forgotten. No one is processing them. I go in on my own time to push for 2 years now. Meeting with senior enlisted to upper officers who all want to help. Yet I always seem to get forgotten by next drill.
I am struggling hard. I know many are worse, so please know it is super difficult for me to write this and not feel like I'm being weak. Walking is almost impossible several days a week. Getting up from low seats or the ground is very difficult. My lungs hurt and I black out super easy under normal strain. My PTSD is so strong that it takes all my will power to keep it together just to stay alive. This is all well documented through years of treatment to include full VA service connection. I am 35.
I can no longer drill. It takes so much out of me. I am honestly afraid my efforts and personal strengths will not be enough at some point in the future.
I have 13 years of mixed time. A few years of active with the majority drilling. I was enlisted and I am now an officer.
I need to step out for self care. It is time. It took me 5 years of treatment to accept this.
I am lost and yet trying to read everything to get ahead. What do you think I should do next? Does medical retirement look possible for me? At this point I care less about the money and more about my health.
Also I was a fed employee. They kicked me out due to military injuries and medically retired me.
Thank you all for your help,
Dave
