I’m a retired Army 1SG and veteran of 2 tours in Iraq and 1 in Afghanistan with several trips to various places around the world. My entire military career I was one of those leaders who didn’t take profiles as it was more important that I am “out front” leading Soldiers and doing what good leaders do.
When it came time for retirement, I went through all the exit physical stuff and filled out paperwork leaving no symptom unlisted. I went to Disabled American Veterans to review my medical records and submit all my claims. I was amazed that only a couple of follow up appointments were made but nothing significant to identify underlying issues. I distinctly remember sitting in a doctor’s office and I explained that I was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea and that I had been using a CPAP machine for several years, and that I was still falling asleep during the day and always felt tired. Within 5 minutes he informed me that he was diagnosing me with “chronic fatigue syndrome”… and sent me on my way. 90 days after my official end of service, I started receiving VA disability checks into my bank account and I got my letter of explanation. I was shocked to see multiple items that were 0%, service connected with the explanation of “although there is evidence of treatment, there is no clear diagnosis” and therefore nothing was awarded… additionally, I saw the diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome due to insomnia” which didn’t make sense because I sleep too much. Overall, my final rating was at 70% disability, and I was happy with that. So, I was left alone enough because I just simply didn’t know what to do or how to do anything about what I disagreed with. The rumor out there is to “NOT ROCK THE BOAT” or “DON”T POKE THE BEAR” because everyone supposedly knows someone who got their rating lowered when they resubmitted.
Several years later, I had several different friends tell me I needed to redo things. I submitted an intent to file for re-evaluation on several conditions. I spent a year going to appointments and redoing everything that should have been done as part of exit physical. Once I had all my documentation where I thought I needed it to be, I went back to DAV where I was advised that I should just leave everything as is. The guy at the desk said “you already have a good rating, why poke the bear?” and he was basically trying to talk me out of the process.
That’s when I reached out to POVAT, and I have never looked back since then. POVAT got me in touch with the right people, and when I say that I mean people who know exactly what to do and how to do it. They know how to read and understand medical files as well as fight for re-evaluations. I completely put my trust in this organization and am so happy that I did. It took time and effort, and everyone checked in, checked up and were available when I was ready to give up. Eventually, I obtained a rating of 100% Permanent and Total disability.
How this changed my life financially is obvious; the extra money goes a long way to help a guy who at the time was in a chapter 13 bankruptcy. That extra money helped me to keep my house, and more importantly my family safe and secure. I struggled financially because of an inability to hold a job after the Army, I struggled to adjust and find that place in the civilian work force. I joined the Army as a truck driver and that was initially a skill that transferred into the civilian workforce, but at a certain point in my career, I became a leader which meant I was no longer a truck driver. All I know is how to lead and manage projects, but that doesn’t fit any “specific career” outside of the Army. So, I stumbled from job to job, getting laid off and eventually I recognized that I was just different or so I felt. Thru the re-evaluation process, I was encouraged to see a psychologist who identified that I had moderate to severe PTSD. The VA had me go thru another Psychological Evaluation and that Psychologist noted that after my 2nd deployment I had raised flags in my post deployment assessments, but that the Army never followed up. It left me with a feeling of abandonment from something that I had given so much of my life to, that my family had sacrificed for. Project One Vet @ A Time has helped me and my family as I now have a comfortable life in retirement. I currently am not working and just enjoying my family like I hadn’t during my time in service. This organization has changed the course of my after-Army life and I am forever thankful for that.
On behalf of my family and from me personally, thank you.
1SG (R), U.S. Army