Senator Murray and other members of this committee,
Thank you for your efforts to ensure those of who served in combat, and those of us who continue to serve, are being looked after and taken care of. Unlike so many, I cannot complain about the care I'm receiving from the VA. They have been gracious, compassionate and mostly productive in their care for me. I owe a debt of gratitude towards those that have and continue to treat me.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for my experience in going through the medical command on Camp Murray (Washington Army National Guard [WANG]). The dismissive and lack of information falls in line with the horror stories I heard before I began the MEB/PEB process. They do not provide information to Soldiers on where a Soldier is in the process, or even if this Soldier has begun the process. They could not tell me where my medical records were, or who to to contact to verify my records were received. The provider who saw me when I inquired about my status told me multiple times I should just be happy with my VA compensation and to just walk away at the end of my contract. My contract is/was up 10/2011. I told the provider (who is a Major) that I'm fully eligible for medical retirement and his response was "it's your gamble". He said over and over again there is no way the Army will find me unfit for PTSD because "you probably don't have PTSD; you probably have a re-adjustment disorder".
I had never thought about suicide until that night. I felt dismissed and alone in my fight. I still feel alone in this fight. I have medical documentation from the Army from my time in Iraq including an LOD that states PTSD/TBI/Anxiety "In line of Duty" while supporting OIF. This Major was so eager to try to get me to walk away. I have 16 years of service ... I'm not walking away. I just signed a 6 year contract so I can make sure my family and I receive the benefits we have earned. the sad part for me is when this Major told me over and over again that he is a board member on the MEB at Madigan Army Hospital. He said he sees these cases all the time, where the VA says a SM has PTSD. (I paraphrase)"Most cases the VA claims to be PTSD are not really PTSD ... they're really an (re)adjustment disorder."
Once again, I'm asking you to continue your efforts to make sure the VA is doing what the VA should be doing. But please, for the young SM's who are not experienced enough to know better; for the young SM's who are intimidated by rank and takes what a Major says as policy, please do not lose sight of the fact that this process begins at the local medical commands and they need as much vetting and QC as the VA does. I sit idly waiting to hear about my case, wondering if it's been received or dismissed like I felt I was by a fellow Soldier. Thank you for your time.
Thank you for your efforts to ensure those of who served in combat, and those of us who continue to serve, are being looked after and taken care of. Unlike so many, I cannot complain about the care I'm receiving from the VA. They have been gracious, compassionate and mostly productive in their care for me. I owe a debt of gratitude towards those that have and continue to treat me.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for my experience in going through the medical command on Camp Murray (Washington Army National Guard [WANG]). The dismissive and lack of information falls in line with the horror stories I heard before I began the MEB/PEB process. They do not provide information to Soldiers on where a Soldier is in the process, or even if this Soldier has begun the process. They could not tell me where my medical records were, or who to to contact to verify my records were received. The provider who saw me when I inquired about my status told me multiple times I should just be happy with my VA compensation and to just walk away at the end of my contract. My contract is/was up 10/2011. I told the provider (who is a Major) that I'm fully eligible for medical retirement and his response was "it's your gamble". He said over and over again there is no way the Army will find me unfit for PTSD because "you probably don't have PTSD; you probably have a re-adjustment disorder".
I had never thought about suicide until that night. I felt dismissed and alone in my fight. I still feel alone in this fight. I have medical documentation from the Army from my time in Iraq including an LOD that states PTSD/TBI/Anxiety "In line of Duty" while supporting OIF. This Major was so eager to try to get me to walk away. I have 16 years of service ... I'm not walking away. I just signed a 6 year contract so I can make sure my family and I receive the benefits we have earned. the sad part for me is when this Major told me over and over again that he is a board member on the MEB at Madigan Army Hospital. He said he sees these cases all the time, where the VA says a SM has PTSD. (I paraphrase)"Most cases the VA claims to be PTSD are not really PTSD ... they're really an (re)adjustment disorder."
Once again, I'm asking you to continue your efforts to make sure the VA is doing what the VA should be doing. But please, for the young SM's who are not experienced enough to know better; for the young SM's who are intimidated by rank and takes what a Major says as policy, please do not lose sight of the fact that this process begins at the local medical commands and they need as much vetting and QC as the VA does. I sit idly waiting to hear about my case, wondering if it's been received or dismissed like I felt I was by a fellow Soldier. Thank you for your time.
