Posted by Donald (205.188.199.184) on August 12, 1999 at 01:15:37:
In Reply to: Disability posted by Tom Cosentino on August 11, 1999 at 16:16:31:
I'm a disabled vet, but not for CH's. My best guess is that you would not be able to get your CH's rated as a "Service Connected" disability. I've read where others have gotten medical discharges for CH's.
I've been able to get treated at the VA clinic (What a Treat!) for CH's and get Rx's, as would retirees, but that's because I was already rated at 30%.
It is a good idea to keep all your paperwork in order, and to talk to someone at a Vet Center, and possibly to a lawyer while you are still on active duty. The VA is picky as hell though, including with people who's medical problems are CLEARLY service connected. If there are people that you've served with who have seen you in agony, you may want to ask them to put it down in writing. Especially if you can get doctors to do a write-up for you. After some years go by those people may be hard to find. And VA claims are heavy on requirements for documentation and substantiation.
Also, back in the 70's, I wrote a letter to the VA to complain about the treatment that I was receiving. In the letter, I DETAILED the experience that I had when I was wounded. That letter became a part of my file, and a doctor later complimented me for having documented my case in a way that was a permanent record. They don't ask for things like that, but if you give it to them along with all the other mandatory forms, they have to preserve it in your file.
All The Best,
Donald