Joe Rogan: The PROBLEM With Veterans In The United States

[@dane0phelps]

A total of 56 months in combat at “the tip of the spear” and I have more PTSD from the VA than I ever got from war. I can’t walk into a VA without crippling anxiety. The betrayal is the worst.

[@KJV0812]

I only have 24 months of combat, and I get serious anxiety just with VA mail. I've seen plenty of dead bodes etc, but the VA is the worst.

[@jollygreen4662]

2005 nov I walk into the va hospital and complain of allergies and back pain. Got back from oif3 in sept. They made me wait 9...10hrs I wen to rhe va hospital twice in that 1 week trying to give it a chance. In the end, they gave me.pain killers and charged me for it. Bro, if I had my m4 with me.. Years later 2021 dec. Going to the VA... totally different now. I am finally getting things accomplished

[@dcbryant1]

I fell you on this lol

[@dcbryant1]

They don't care for grunts or combat Mos, with tanks for 3 deployments.

[@RY-lu3pz]

Thank you for your service sir

[@Squadfather33]

I served over 20 years 7 deployments, 5 combat tours. Retired in 2009 and I’m still fighting the VA for compensation. This gentleman is spot on on so many levels, it’s disheartening for many vets.

[@natsune09]

I got things moving on my claim by contacting my reps in Congress. The Va will jump into action like a frog on a hot plate that is about to be put into a blender.

[@ReconD31MEU]

Sorry to hear that bud, which VA are you connected with? What Tier and percentage are you up. Did you save any and all service and medical records,;

[@Sati457]

Thank you for your service Juan. I hope we start to cherish our veterans more ❤

[@kristiskinner8542]

My great uncle was still fighting with the VA at 96-97yrs old about compensation he should have been getting since he was medically discharged after WW2! He died at 98 almost 2yrs ago in a VA nursing-home type facility (which he stayed in at no cost although he still never recieved full compensation after going back & forth with them for years- they had him at i believe 80% after they had damaged his spine doing some type of surgery at the end of the war)

[@ghostc1pher]

It's disgusting. I wanted to serve but I see homeless vets who can't get the help that they need. They are quick to lure us in with promises and the allure of heroism but they never show you the dark side of it where you are discarded when you're no longer capable and have to fight foe your compensation.

[@erikjanthes]

My psych evaluation was the most combative, frustrating part of the process. The dude argued that because I was still in the Army doing ETS stuff I was still employed and therefore my behavioral health was fine. I had to go to an emergency BH eval after that because I realized I needed help and the VA wasn't going to help right away. Three deployments to Iraq with 3ID and 1ID. One of my best counselors was a Vietnam Vet that was my same rank and understood. I love you Mr. Gary.

[@robbobpirate3678]

i hired my own physiatrist through a private company because the VA's physiatrist's are biased they tried to throw out my physiatrist's evaluation but i said i'd take them to court i got my 100% P&T shortly after that

[@jamesday7344]

God be with in your travels, stay strong

[@RY-lu3pz]

Thank you for your service sir

[@sapien82]

you heard of Dick Thompson's MACVSOG vet , his system to help with PTSD , had the chance to work with them on a game for arma3 and he spoke a lot about his system to deal with PTSD. If you havent heard about it already.

[@mrnobody5381]

I went in for my ptsd after it cost me multiple jobs. I mean i would just keep getting fired due to my behavior. I was awarded 100 p and t after my second evaluation. First one i still had a job and only got 40 percent. The gun issue is an issue, but if you can maintain your finances then you do not have to worry about it. The guy who revalued me was kind, a fellow vet, and could see i was not lying. He changed everything for me. I recommend using the DAV to file, that was my first mistake not using them and thinking i could do it myself.

[@buckappel6835]

I’m 100% P&T. I tell veterans all the time “ The VA is NOT your friend”. If you are going for benefits, get an advocate like the DAV. Don’t spar with the VA alone. I’ve helped many veterans get what they deserve

[@briannorris8095]

Also, take the time to look into your issues, and what you need for the most compensation.. you don’t have to lie, but I can promise you if you actually look in how the V8 works how your ratings work, and how your injuries are rated, you’re going to find out very quickly how to get maximum value with the least amount of stress.. you do not want to go into the VA system with one eye open.. you need to know what they want to see, you need to know what they’re going to be looking at and how they’re going to determine things.. and above all else.. get everything you can documented and pointed towards the military.. if you’re still in the military, I don’t care what you do but you better get in the hospital to get x-rays, you better be seeing doctors and you better get your stuff taken care of.. just get it documented.. if you do that it’ll be much smoother sailing

[@natsune09]

@@briannorris8095 Great advice, I went in and didn't read up on what they were looking for. Like, they will say, "Bend over." Now, most of us will bend over far, beyond the point of where it starts hurting and do it so far where after the exam, you are walking out like a zombie from Night of the Living Dead because you are in so much pain. They don't tell you to bend over till it starts hurting, so you need to know that. Yeah, I can bend down and touch the floor, but it hurts like hell and I never do it. So when I learned about what you are talking about, I started doing what they were really looking for. It isn't lying, its giving them what they need to make a realistic assessment.

[@natsune09]

It took me like 6 years to get my 100%, and the only reason it was that fast, was because I was constantly contacting my representatives in Congress, and they were more than happy to put pressure on the VA to actually do their job.

[@maxb4210]

@Slim They have ratings below 100% for a reason, not everyone that gets out is beyond all repair physically or mentally. Saying to not go at all if you don’t rate 100% sounds like terrible advice, who’s to say your condition wouldn’t worsen and your rating could bump up in the future?

[@MbisonBalrog]

What is DAV

[@oltomtom]

I'm a combat vet and worked for the VA for 15 years and everything Mike says about the VA system is 100% accurate.

[@sarge420]

Exactly. I served 29yrs, last 15 with a rescue unit, 2 wars 7 deployments. I was rated at 60% in 2011, 2012 uoed to 90%...fought 11 years and finally received my 100% afrer hiring a lawyer. I'm 65 and P&T. Veterans have to jump through numerous hoops.

[@oltomtom]

@sarge4203 ...I think the majority of VA exam doctors believe every veteran they see is just trying to milk the system. I'd get exams and they try their tactics with me until I'd tell them I work for VA and am well aware of what they're doing. That'd usually change their tone, but not always. I did have an ear doctor screw me over on getting SC for hearing loss. He basically said that since I didn't wear hearing protection while moving my yard at home, it was what caused my hearing loss. I guess it was my fault for being honest.

[@jeremyslade4178]

Yes the V.A system is broken . Lost or misplaced record's, incomplete or misdiagnosed C& P exams from VA examiner's and lowball ratings are all part of thier genius plan... Delay Deny until you D**. Its so sad. Quick to give billions to other countries , but our own Vet's oh no lets scrutinize and challenge everything they say.... Pathetic VA system...

[@akidim13]

Are you a rater ? Even if your not can I ask a couple questions ?

[@oltomtom]

@@akidim13 I'm not, but I do have a pretty vast knowledge of the system, so ask away.

[@geoff_tac]

The title should be changed, its not a problem with Veterans, and a problem with the Veterans Administration.

[@Tristensen]

Veterans affairs is the correct title of the VA

[@baylog9679]

@@user-dq9jm4yo4o he's probably from the air force

[@davidmarklein]

Why? The only people who think all veterans are equal are the clueless civilians who think everyone who wore the uniform was Audi Murphy. Too many veterans are just pieces of shit looking to cut a fat hog.

[@SpaceRanger187]

Problem with congress..yall make jokes..They are trying to get rid of Veterans benefits to fund the war in Ukraine along with getting rid of social security..think im bs,,,google it

[@hubertcumberdale6404]

As soon as I read the title I thought the same. Glad this is the top comment.

[@MeatHarmonica]

Did 13 years as a c17 mechanic and it destroyed my body. Sometimes I get down on myself for being medically retired and never seeing combat, but I also understand the work I did ensured the guys down range got what they needed.

[@bigboots6114]

AF (60350) transportation squadron here and it took a pounding on my body, loading and unloading hauls

[@MeatHarmonica]

@thoth81 thanks brother

[@123andme]

I was a crew chief on fighters. My body is messed up. Listen brother, you were exposed to dangerous chemicals, heavy lifting, exhaust, and specialized chemicals and constant tight spaces and all weather. Trust me most of us can't hear for crap, have bad backs, have anxiety from being a foot from intakes with munitions and chafe and flare along with super volatile jet fuel. Oh and if you were in the Gulf back in day running across the flight line to bunkers when siren went off for chemical or potential strikes that didn't help. We always appreciated Army patriot batteries. And last but not least the ingrained fear we had of going to Ft. Leavenworth every time their was an in-flight emergency or a crash in our squadron. Shit always rolled down hill. Ask the two crew chiefs who took their lives when they were gonna go to prison for flight control error, which was an engineering error and crew chiefs followed it, that resulted in death of a pilot and they took blame.

[@Red_Hot_Eraser]

C-5 60 EMS I feel ya brother. I to feel lost out here.

[@cooldudecs]

Thank you for your service

[@briancruz6661]

I'm a VA dental resident and Army Reserve dentist. My absolute biggest gripe with the system is the fact that dental services are not viewed at the same priority as medical. To quality for comprehensive dental, you need to be 70% service connected or higher. Aside from a few exclusions, anyone below 70% is refused without the blink of an eye because the hospital policies. I've seen patients try to walk in with an abscessed tooth and swollen jaw, after their records are reviewed, if they are deemed not eligible they're simply directed to the nearest hospital with an E.R.. A veteran is a veteran and it's such a slap in the face. Dental is expensive out in private practice, but so is medical. Patients go years without teeth or in chronic oral pain. It's sad and upsetting.

[@jeffmarshall94]

I was told only 100 % could get dental care at the VA I’m 90%

[@kevinmcleish6719]

Wow!! Va does us wrong!¡?

[@aprilgeneric8027]

get used to it, i'm not a vet, i can't afford it for myself even, yet all the 'refugees' get free everything , need all new teeth? done, need all your teeth filled, oh you want gold teeth on top of that? done! my aunt and cousin who are dental assistants tell us about all this. i slipped and fell on my sidewalk, while shoveling it clear of snow, had my hand over the end of the shovel and while i was falling ending up jaming the shovel into a chunk of ice and fell onto the shovel handle my hand was on fracturing the right side of my cheek and about breaking my face completely around my eye socket. 3 days later i get a sinus infection that spreads into the roots of my teeth and have an abscessed tooth and an upper jaw completely filled with infection and the right side of my face is twice the size of my left by sunday so i go into urgent care cuz obamacare now you can't afford the emergency room unless you actually are dying breathing your last breath, just to get some antibiotic (amoxicillin as it's the only thing they give since forever so it's the candy placebo) $556. went to the dentist to find out what was wrong with my tooth $37 and scheduled for immediate oral surgery i had to get to in 2 hours. oral surgery went great on my end, felt immediate relief, lost a tooth i loved because the roots of my teeth started dying from sepsis and one tooth's roots were already dead and the canine next to it was getting infected as it spread across my upper jaw line. my roots grow over my jaw and twist together, so it wasn't too easy peasy for the surgeon, cost just under $3k and the loss of one of my most favorite chewing teeth. non life threatening injury = no emergency service, had to schedule an appointment to see some one for my cheek injury 2 months into the future. #1 there are what 200,000 people for every medical professional in america #2 there are too many people needing medical service bogging down the process too busy trying to keep people who are 70+years old alive to be 114years old!!! #3 if your a foreigner, your service is today and free paid for by u.s. tax payers, if you're an american: GFUS and pay out the arse to get anything done so long as you are dying, if you're not dying, to even try until you are! #4 still the art of snake oil salesmen and voodoo witch doctors fresh out of hitlers nazi medical experiments school looking for new labrats to prey upon for study. #5 lab coated hitler nazi medical experiment conductor plying the age old snake oil salemans selling cocaine, meth/speed and other toxic poisons of lesser varying degrees of "try this and see if you die pills!"

[@tonyraul5140]

My Friend and I both Marines he was in so much pain once. He Literally tried to pull his tooth with some rusty pliers talk about desperation we both go to the VA he recently died. awaiting a VA Appointment for his Heart

[@charleswest6372]

Yet we have recruiters in high schools to get more fodder for bogus terrorists...inexcusable.

[@fredsieber2676]

Thank you for bringing this to light. I am a retired Marine, 100% VA disabled from my service in Iraq. I have chosen to live in Okinawa, Japan. Yesterday I got a call that the base hospital will no longer see retirees. We must now seek our care off base, pay all fees up front, and go through the long Tricare/VA claims process. Luckily, I have another job but many retirees here only have their pension so they cannot affort the up front payments. If I were in the states, I could visit a VA hospital but there are none here. When I joined in 1990 we were told that retirees would be taken care of on-base for all dental and medical for life. So much for promises!

[@VikCalo]

🇯🇵 👍🏽. Good choice .

[@mcinteer19]

Well dude, you joined the only service that doesn’t have its own medical personnel. You rely on the Navy for health care, and they could care less about Marines and retirees. Time to start raising hell in the media and with Congress.

[@BootyWarrior80892]

I want to move back to Japan 😩

[@kileyjade420]

Thats insane, I hope things change, we have to fight this. I joined the Corps in 1990 as well Semper Fi brother.

[@WhiteChocolate444]

They should have grandfathered you and anyone else eligible for continuation. I thought they grandfathered people into whichever benefit was better before or after the changes made. Stay safe brother

[@billdover3165]

My dad served for 15 years in the Navy and when he had his knee blown out and had two heart attacks and is a type 2 diabetic they gave him the bare minimum help. I can't imagine what veterans go through when they go to the VA and have to deal with this circus shitshow that they put you guys through. I know veterans say not to do this usually but thank you guys so much for your service and thank you so much for what you sacrificed for this country and God bless everyone of you

[@dartdude4084]

Sounds like your dad was fat

[@wolfumz]

I worked as a counselor for homeless drug addicts in San Diego. I had a client once who I met around 2015. He did 2.5 years enlisted during the Vietnam War, and he was deployed to Vietnam. He had spent the all of his adult life struggling with drugs, a few short stints in jail, hospital stays, unemployment, homelessness and drug treatment programs. When I saw him, he had recently been discharged from a respected VA residential program, where he'd stayed for 12+ months. He wasn't manipulative or conning anyone, from what I could see, but man, he was plugged into the system tight. 2 years of service and 30 years of benefits. I have seen this in the VA, and I mean this respectfully, but there are jobs in the VA and orbiting the VA as non profit contractors, that are kind of like employment programs. These range from guys working as counselors to admin to back of the office stuff. The VA sometimes requires that veterans staff these positions, even these staff never talk to patients, they just do the accounting or something. Sometimes it's really, really hard to find people who are both qualified AND veterans. Sometimes, you know it's going to be a stretch for this guy to be processing reams of paperwork for 6 hrs out of the day. But they must be veterans, so they're hired and you hope they adapt with on the job training. It's extremely hard to hold staff accountable for certain positions, because of these well meaning but sometimes counter productive requirements. I started to think you can't have it both ways. You can't both be an agency focused on churning out good results and performing at a high level AND function as a de facto jobs program. Being laser focused on performance is a high stress environment, and it means having a culture where poor performance is held accountable. That's just not conducive to also operating as a jobs program where stability comes first, and it's meant to nurture employees by giving them chances and bringing them up. These are contradictory cultures. You can't do both. The problem is... this effects the veterans and patients. They are relying on the VA and contractors to perform. But man, sometimes they really, really don't perform. I knew a guy who probably should not have had the job he had, but he had no other training and experience, and it would have been hard for him to find another job (other than maybe a call center, which would pay A LOT less). When the contracted agencies don't perform and their funding is threatened, I have seen some these folks hang on to their jobs with white knuckles, because it's not easy for them to go elsewhere. So its a weird thing. Obviously we want the VA to function. It needs to help veterans. But doing so would mean weeding out veterans who are doing some of this work. Maybe it wouldn't be a bad thing. But there's lots of pressure to resist change from inside.

[@LeRoyBoxley434]

I know it seems complicated. Physical and emotional Issues veteran's have to be service-connected in order to get a rating. Meaning, due to an in-sevice event. Anything else is on the veteran. They don't get assistance just because, just like everybody else.

[@crscott9908]

How are those infirmities service related?

[@turtletom8383]

@@crscott9908 the navy makes them sit a lot and eat candy

[@sarasheaffer8819]

My husband is 100% disabled. He had his 5 year reevaluation in January 2021. He was freaking out! It’s always scared him knowing they can lower him or even take it away ( thankfully he’s had a small buffer cause he’s really 160%) but he was freaking out over this reevaluation and 2 months later he got something in the mail that said he was switched to permanent and total🎉 the relief he had was immense.

[@MustBnice71]

Congratulations

[@mustachesally4134]

The VA roots out vets who claim false benefits. Who doesn't love money? Especially government money. Everyone expects a handout. And the gov knows how to weed out folks who are just there to get a piece of the pie. Hence they poke vets during evals to burst a bubble. It's difficult to evaluate one's words vs a documented physical report that this person was wounded evident this person has a limp, prosthetic or loss of body parts. Not saying all vets are liars. But they have a process to weed out liars. The whole benefits system for disability is screwy and boggling because the dept has to control how much money is going out to those who really need it and when you have tiers in benefits, vets start to freak out because a single change in benefits changes their monthly recurring income. And they do evaluate the vet conditions to see if they have improved or disability unchanged. They want people to get better but I feel the benefits became more of a perk as if winning a prize or something but you need to meet the requirements to get benefits you want. I know a few vets who are 100% able. But claim disability because they rolled their ankle during training or developed anxiety from who knows what. But happily spending their benefit money on a new tv and new starlink internet

[@LeRoyBoxley434]

Going over a hundred doesn't mean anything. A "total person" concept is used for the overall rating.

[@AK-hw9ij]

What are his disabilities if you don’t mind me asking? (Asking since you mentioned it).

[@labarbieXCJNGX]

@@AK-hw9ij get a life

[@pierotdavis1255]

PTSD can happen to some individuals during just one incident. During my time in Nam, I have seen it when newbies showed up and was caught up in their first fire fight and eventually sent home because they could not function safely and would not be safe to have them alongside of others. My hat off to those that were able to bear their time and do more tours. The minute you went through a fight you were at the tip of the spear. One tour was enough for me.

[@BillMcSwain]

I am also 100% permanent and total, and this man is describing exactly what most of us go through.😢

[@03Edgar]

The sad part of us who served in the infantry is that our medical records are so tiny, since it was frond upon in the infantry to go to sick call. The VA denies many of our claims due to that reason, which is really sad.

[@Diff727]

Yep it sucks. Going through the process now trying to build a case hope I can at least get something. Put it off for years thinking I could fix it myself somehow or I didn’t want to leach off the system but I’m done trying on my own with no compensation

[@03Edgar]

@@Diff727 you can hire a veterans lawyer, some of them ask only for 10-20% of your back pay. Which if you get 100% thats a win.

[@Hamptonflanagandrums]

@@Diff727 - Don't give up.

[@GhostRanger5060]

Absolutely correct. The rear-echelon sick call commandoes suffer no negative repercussions for spending their career at the Troop Medical Clinic. But the combat arms guys are expected to take Motrin and gut it out... until their hips, knees,, backs, and feet are beyond treatable.

[@piezoman79]

Between not going to sick call because all they’d do is give you some Motrin anyway, and carrying on with the same mindset once you get out, is what really hampers claims down the road. I’m not sure what career fields allowed for the time to go to the dr for every little thing, but I know that it was more common than not for us to miss our annual appointments due to missions getting in the way of any plans.

[@geewhiz5926]

Thank you to all the veterans here I have huge respect for y'all and your service to our country, God bless America! 🇺🇸

[@Mastermindyoung14]

Gobless

[@MichaelSSmith-hs5pw]

Being a drafted Vietnam Veteran, I’ve noticed that the VA treats drafted veterans like welfare patients while treating enlisted vets very well. It doesn’t matter if vets volunteered or were forced, they should all be treated the same. Same with peacetime or wartime vets, it shouldn’t matter if you were out in a foxhole fighting or back in garrison, the VA should treat you the same, damn it we served & we should be treated accordingly.

[@marksamuelsen2750]

I’m a 71yo USAF Veteran and I enlisted into the service in 1971. I got a broken neck 2 cervical vertebrae and 3 lumbar vertebrae were fractured when I was in the back of helicopter that made a real bad landing and was destroyed. I applied for a disability with the VA when I was 58 yo because I was medically grounded by the FAA and couldn’t work anymore. The VA turned me down and said there was nothing wrong with me. I think it’s very strange that 1 federal agency said I medically grounded due to problems with my right hand and right leg due to the calcium deposits that built up on the fractures over the decades and another federal agency saying there’s nothing wrong with me. It’s really fucked up.

[@MichaelSSmith-hs5pw]

@@marksamuelsen2750 I spent 45years fighting with the VA to get a 100% disability rating for a wounded fucked up leg that I received in Vietnam. I had to spend time in the VA loony ward & talk to psych doctors, I asked a doctor why was I going through all this loony crap when all I got is a service connected wounded leg, he said it was standard procedure for such things? The only thing “crazy” about this is being evaluated by a loony doctor for a leg wound! I whole heartedly believe your story, I’ve seen & heard some nightmares at the VA. It fucking sucks that I was drafted & FORCED to go fight in a war & then when I get wounded, the VA says “Oh well.” The Vietnam war was run by a bunch of four star clowns who wound up giving the whole circus away! 🎖💜♠️🪖🇺🇸

[@paperandmedals8316]

Age likely has more to do with it. You’re obviously older with more complicated health management issues. You’d 100% be better off using Medicare for your healthcare needs working within the civilian healthcare system.

[@Marconius-SPQR]

VA dosen't know enlistees from draftees. It only knows vets.

[@scallopohare9431]

@@paperandmedals8316 Enlisted in 1976, all volunteer Armed Forces. Woman, BTW. VA is a nightmare. I use Medicare/Humana to see outside providers, because VA knows zero about women's health. Which costs me thousands every year in premiums and copays. Thankfully, I can afford it. All I ask from the VA is my prescriptions, which they deny, deny, deny. They definitely made my noncombat PTSD worse.

[@ButtersIsMyHero]

I feel so bad for our service members who were actually out there that volunteered above and beyond, did the job 99.99% would never do and not receive what they deserve. Fortunately in 2016, after 25 years in the Air Force, 21 of that being a PJ, I retired out of AFSOC in Hurlburt Field, FL. I have to say, I was so impressed with how I was treated and received. Everyone from the VA Rep who went through all 3 volumes of medical records with me... actually trying to do more for me then what I believe I deserved, to the Dr who did my final physical. They were all like "you are jacked up and deserve everything we can do for you". Within two months of being retired I was 100% P&D (FYI: I started 6 months out, and completed all my requirements prior to starting terminal leave...took about 3 months). I could not have went through a better process, it truly was amazing. In the end, the VA calculated I was over 270%. Good thing there is a cap! Also, here in San Antonio, I honestly having nothing but good things to say about the VA system here. Once I figured Tricare and VA are separate...You can double dip or at least go to the one that helps you out first or better. And yes, I'm an idiot and it only took 6 years to figure that one out...by accident :) But, honestly, I owe everything to the Vietnam Vets who have really helped change the VA. They especially were treated like shit from the VA and have worked for 50 years to change it. So thank you to them for standing up and making things right. Now time to pay it forward.

[@spectre6570]

I’m glad you made it. I was at Herbie Pea Patch.

[@vanderumd11]

Right on. Thanks for being honest. I know a few guys who feel weird about "free" money. When they know they are able to do work

[@danielbelgard6434]

Really well said

[@FM-ig3th]

21 years as a PJ, I hope you can still walk Brother. 11 years as a Dustoff Medic kicked my ass. Agree with your statement. I've received great care from the VA.

[@josephstclair5937]

That was a VSO not a VA rep. They are in no way affiliated with the VA other than being credentialed through a mandatory course designed to prevent third parties from filing claims for veterans and taking a portion of their disability. No VA employee is supposed to assist in that manner. Even the VA doctors resist writing nexus letters even though they are allowed. Just misguided and misapplied policy. I work in veterans law in Austin and I've had terrible help and great help at local VA. It really is person to person even at good VA locations. Also former AFSOC/Hurlburt Field guy.

[@AnotherRigmarole]

I served in Iraq from 06 - 08 as an 11b. Survived an IED, which left me with a TBI, tore a tiny hole inside my left eye, and I have a constant ringing in my ears that drives me absolutely crazy when I’m in total silence, amongst a handful of other issues. I have nothing but love to all the vets out there.

[@waynesalenski]

Nothing but respect man, the ground work you put down led the next generation to join. We gave it our best to honor what you guys/gals did

[@StyxxxxRiver]

Bro the ringing I've learned to ... Not ignore it. But my current boss will be talking to me for like 3 minutes, can't hear shit but I see his mouth moving and I tell him "I'm ringing my bad" 🤣

[@80ty6ixx]

You were in Iraq for 2 years? I was in Tikrit 08-09 🐺 ⚡️🍓

[@SpaceCityCowboy88]

Love you too brotha! Hooah!

[@FallenUSA]

11b10 all day

[@chupaechoadventures102]

As a former SF guy, Mike is right on point. In 03 I all but bled out on the battlefield. (18D are why I didn't) Dealing with the VA is the most anxious moments of my life. As all my brothers know, that has ever been in direct combat, you hear that loud unexpected noise, and you go right to a million miles an hour. I hear cars back fire on the street sometimes and my heart beats out of my chest. DOL

[@randomname3247]

yeah, I hate cars that backfire. I get pissed at those assholes.

[@jobuswayne9354]

Thunderstorms/lightning had me crawling under couches in southern Florida. It was similar to when I had to low crawl from a latrine in 2003 (bout of severe dysentery) to under a tracked vehicle while insurgents hit FOB McHenry outside of Al Hawijah (the OG McHenry that was right next to he town, the school compound). RPGs, mortars and small arms in a coordinated nighttime attack. I was alone in the apartment and I was sure a bolt was going to come and smite me, was in a state of blind panic until it passed, I only remember being under the couch. I wanted to dig a hole and lay in it. PTSD/TBI is a strange beast. It's likely why they've changed the name of the psychological scourge that afflicts some soldiers half a dozen times since WW1. It gets worse, it shape shifts from a constant uneasiness, unrelenting tension, fear of impending doom, an absolute to the marrow certainty you're dead at any time. Your muscles stay so tight all of the time your goddamn spine goes to shit. You isolate and turn your living space into a fortress you leave with timorousness to fetch food water and drugs. You may find a girlfriend, bur eventually she's your fucking caretaker and becomes a liability in the sense the simple act of some fuck staring might set us off into a deadly rage (yes, it is our responsibility to keep that beast caged, although it's a racing heart and visualization of how you're going to murder this guy completely involuntarily - it takes IMMENSE amount of energy to contain this rage, so much so that you become absolutely exhausted and you have to get the fuck out of there and into to gym, where you hope there are no grunting fucking scumbags that similarly trigger homicidal ideation). It forces one to wonder, would I be like this if I was a not a combat veteran, or have ever joined the military, instead pursuing some gentle passion that perhaps would've seen us in less disturbed mind? It's hard to know, and it makes me feel guilty. After all, there are plenty of folks with trauma from normal ass life who get much less support than us. This dudes right though, there are tons of faking ass mfkers who never left permanent duty station and try to claim military sexual trauma and pin in on a KIA they know the name of, or embellish what would otherwise be a mild experience in Kuwait or large LSA (Logistical support area, essentially a city or super-base that often did take heavy mortar and rocket fire that did indeed score direct hits on living tents which could kill everyone inside). The raters and other staff are largely jaded by the complete transparency of their poor acting, these lying ass Fobbits (vets with Military Occupational Speciality that did not require leaving the wire) fuck the system up. However, my personal experience was largely positive. Fortunately I'm the type of guy that emotion flows right out of me if I'm forced to verbally recall some memories from 2003-2006 in Iraq and these displays of uncontrollable emotion are interpreted as sincerity. So I was also awarded permanent and total 100%. Abroad, actually, my final exam was contracted out to a foreign rater and I was the first combat medic she has interviewed and she was absolutely lovely, a beautiful person who really took care of me those few hours we talked. I thank God for her. The VA can actually be a good experience if you're legit and willing to be completely open and go with the flow, so long as this flow does not violate your principals or what you feel is right. Sometimes you gotta be a screaming loud ass mother fucker to shoe them exactly what's inside of you.

[@billybob2372]

The unwritten rule with the VA, just like an insurance company, is to continue to deny disability claims until the veteran gives up or dies. The VA can stress me out at times that it comes to the point they're doing more harm than good

[@Cave_Johnson]

I had a Texas Veteran Rep tell me “The minute you walk in, you are being evaluated and you need to act like you are going for an Oscar. Every time you go to the VA is the worst day of your life. When the nurse calls you back and asks how you’re doing, don’t give the auto response of good, and you. They will write down, veteran is doing good.” Like they mentioned in the video, they are always watching and evaluating. I have a friend who used to work with the VA eval board and told me some the doctors/nurses who do the C&P exams will actually watch the Vets get out of their cars and walk in the building. The reason you have to play it up is because most will not read the, usually large, medical records of each Vet. It is a horrible game you have to play and VERY frustrating. There are law firms out there, and KZbinrs like Combat Craig, who have come up with a system to help Vets navigate through the VA mess. I have never used Combat Craigs services but he seems to have a good track record. Also, you can still lose your 100% P&T status if you aren’t careful. Missing appointments, not taking your meds anymore, filing new claims, etc. Just my two cents, it took me almost ten years to get mine rated where they should be. Also, that part about the doctor not believing him, happens all the time. Had an intern doctor from a neighboring hospital tell me he didn’t believe the amount of meds I have to take to function. Walked out, told the reception to never give me that doctor again or I would file a grievance and call the Whitehouse complaint line (not sure if it still exists). Watch your anger levels and language, everyone has a panic button to either call the cops or the VA federal police, and then your file gets flagged. You don’t want that, it take forever for it to be removed. Hope this helps a brother or sister out there.

[@SpaceRanger187]

which is gross..My wife got me new shoes and a jacket because i had the same ones forever...wore them to my appt and i got several comments of "oh you look fine" because I dont look homeless at the moment means im fine..because i have new shoes on.. Its crazy to me, i guess they think that if i snap they woln't be on the list lol morons.. You could have ptsd because of the color yellow and then every appt they will bring up yellow..either your just an asshole or your trying to send me over..probally both they want you to off your self, one less person to pay..Heck they get bonuses for denying Veterans..the whole system is a scam..im going to stop now..im getting mad

[@cp-iy1ku]

u can lose your case in first statements........never give up

[@gregmiller9437]

You know it. My gastrointestinal issues, which are presumptive after two trips to SWA, were denied. My primary VA doc wrote how all the meds for my acid reflux were managing me well, according to me saying, "I haven't had any flare ups." Not even looking at one of my discharge diagnoses as GERD. He told me, "I'm not here for your compensation claims, let's get that straight." when I asked him about his statement in my record. And as Mike said; I myself am 50% for PTSD, and I fear some day they will take away my 2A rights. Sergeant, USMC/0311.

[@erikjanthes]

This needs to be in the ETS brochure for every veteran.

[@leftistsarenotpeople]

That is the DAMN truth! I started my VA association with the Dallas VA and that was a g'dam nightmare. Here we are 14 years later and I find myself in the Philippines. Just this past September I finally get my 100% rating after an absolute knock-down, drag out shyt fight. I've had my rating reduced before and now back up to where it should have been all along. What a surreal roller coaster it has been. And yeah, you HAVE to have your absolute WORST day ever EVERY..SINGLE..TIME.. you go to the VA for a checkup. If you don't, they WILL fk you over and do it HARD! It doesn't matter if you have half you torso missing or not. Your actual disability matters not, it is the game you are forced to play... simple as!

[@danielrelinski5665]

The same way with aviators in the military, you NEVER complain about anything for fear of losing your flight status when on active duty.

[@superb60ce]

Exactly

[@Xibyth]

I feel you, I litterally can't sleep without medical aid. All due to the weekly and occasionally daily schedule changes, body just don't know how to sleep anymore.

[@joshcal7370]

I still remember them telling me, while filling out the question if things are wrong. “No stands for New Opportunities.”

[@jdizzle5083]

I was called out during a flight physical for filling out “no” for the answers during the physical. The flight doc said “ you have to be the healthiest soldier in the regiment” 😂 and I just told him I must be lucky

[@vaitomanocu5562]

@@joshcal7370 New Oppurtunities Your Enlistment Stops

[@DavidDragonhammer]

My VA has improved greatly,since I been going,but sad part is 99 percent of who works there,are not veterans,and that is sad,cause vets,can always help vets

[@phil4986]

That should be a requirement of interacting with veterans. That the person should be a veteran doing the evaluations.

[@TheMeanmarine13]

I finally found a good veteran services rep because he was a combat vet himself. I've noticed I always feel more comfortable around people that served. And I completely agree about the VA changing. Back in 2003 my experiences were horrible coming back from Iraq. It's so much better now in my area at least. I can't speak for them all.

[@Crixus0341]

Bro at my VA I’ve seen GS vet treat veterans like garbage. I’ve met guys who have one pump and never made it home others who have been in more firefights than other who have served. You just never know what life has for you. Every vet deserves a piece of the pie.

[@rikuyomi]

@@phil4986 so anyone who wants to aid veterans who unable to serve can get fucked?

[@phil4986]

@@rikuyomi yes ,thats exactly what I wrote. It's amazing how well you read it. Well done.

[@rustledentity5511]

My dad was rendered disabled as a result of his heart surgery, and he tried his best to hang on to his military career so he could provide for his family, but he was forced to medically retire 4 years after his heart surgery. It blew me away when they gave him his disability status in retirement that it wasn't 100 percent, because he could barely walk even with the help of a cane. It took years of battling the VA to get him upgraded to 100 percent disability, when I could have told them how bad my dad's health was just from a glance. The other nonsense they put my dad through was they froze his retirement pay, because they wanted him to submit to a negotiation hearing on how much retirement he qualified for. My dad was in poor health at the time, so he didn't want to go to these meetings. It took a judge advocate speaking on my dad's behalf to get the situation resolved, but for those 4 or 5 months (I lost track of time for how long it went on) my dad had to pay the bills with his savings and had no retirement check to live off of. For a sense of scale my dad had served in the Air Force for 29 years, and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. The military and the US government do not care about their veterans.

[@runoz2839]

Wow...smh...

[@006ahenry]

My dad was in the Air Force for 26yrs. He said first 20 was great, last 6yrs he said he would turn down a "verbal" suggestion to retire weekly. And monthly he would be called in to his Squadron Commander's office, and asked are you ready to retire. He said the day you retire @4PM, you no longer exist to the Air Force, they've got everything thing they need from you. And hope to hell you prepared and got everything you could out of them.

[@dakotadak100]

Guess how much my uncle got from his Company after his heart attack? $0.00 for life year after year.....I'd say your father is quite blessed.

[@runoz2839]

@@dakotadak100 My Condolences 🙏 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ unfair !!! smh

[@AzrealMaximus]

​@@dakotadak100 What company and battalion did your uncle serve in?

[@TheCR3Experience]

Sending love to all my fellow veterans out there. You are capable. You are worthy. You got this!

[@Crixus0341]

🙏 sending back love

[@ryshellso526]

Rah!

[@shandonmeadows8620]

Essayons brother!

[@davidleblanc1964]

Lol said never by Bay Area tech recruiters, but thanks Fam 🤙🏽

[@darthdrk]

But its so ruff sometimes. People just dont see because of the faces we have to put on.

[@TommyNitro]

My grandfather was in a leading combat role in WWII. Was in his late teens. My dad said in the 90s (he was around his 70s at this point) they were driving to the beach. They went past I believe Shaw AFB and a plane was coming in for a landing. Apparently it sounded like a German mortar, because he yelled "hit the deck" and ducked under the steering column. My dad said he had no idea how they didn't wreck. He very quickly sat back up, shook his head, and commented, "It's been how many years now"? A lot of those guys never got the PTSD treatment they needed as it wasn't understood then. Sadly many still are not due to the beurocracy of the VA and those trying to game it.

[@308dad8]

Veterans aren’t trying to scam. If any they’re microscopic percentage. Unfathomable anyone would subject themselves to those dickheads if they don’t have to. Very few in the Va who don’t openly hate or mock us

[@jamesolbrisch2582]

Back then they didn't have medical treatment they had the VFW

[@happyscrub]

I think he was playing a joke on you lol

[@rollout1984]

@@jamesolbrisch2582 in the old days so many guys just drank themselves to death.

[@rickkroll]

@@rollout1984 not just the old days, vets still do. Either medicated or drinking, no one cares to get these people the help they deserve. To the system your just a number. If you can avoid service, do a diffrent kind. Try to work in your community, try to make your world and your family stronger. The military industrial complex is foul and these billionares add to their numbers while our brothers and sisters are taken out

[@georgecorrea8491]

I am a USN veteran but I have experienced some degree of indifference towards me coming from some people but in all fairness I have also been treated with respect and shown appreciation by others as well. It is unfortunate that many veterans are mistreated and disrespected at times. Sad but true. I salute all veterans.

[@ThatDeal]

I served 12 years, 3 in Iraq. I’m 100% p&t. Everything he’s saying is correct. The VA is harder to deal with than the military.

[@slavojzizzek7562]

Never ceases to amaze me how much the VA is like the military itself. It's always unit-dependent. I got cursed with a series of horrible commands and blessed with a great evaluator and a great VA clinic/hospital. My doc is great and understands the problems that are unique to veterans. Normal doctors would have no idea how to treat a lot of the nerve damage, repetitive stress injuries, and other stuff that's typical for veterans. My doc knows it all because he's seen it all. Great bedside manner. I genuinely do believe he's living up to the mission of the VA. He's trying to help me live as a civilian while retaining the dignity of my service. We really do live at the mercy of good leaders, and my doc decided to lead and care about his patients. He laughs at the dark humor jokes. He encourages me to build better habits. I wish every VA clinic was like mine. I know there are bad ones, just like I know there are good command teams in the military. But life has an equilibrium to it, and my horrible series of commanders has been balanced out by a great VA team who is unfortunately stuck cleaning up a lot of the injuries I picked up doing absolutely stupid shit because I was told to by command teams who were trying to make mission and couldn't see the impact it was making on the people who were stuck making their ideas reality. My doc is all about the people.

[@sharkcapper]

This guy is so spot on. I see these "vets" in front of the DC VA all the time. They always hit me up for change every time I enter the entrance. I lost part of my hand (amputee) in Afghanistan and soul (PTSD) in Iraq.

[@diddliewinks3486]

Shouldve vote bernie.

[@leonardwei3914]

@@diddliewinks3486 Bernie sold out to the machine last primaries.

[@jessicahardney2948]

After witnessing what my husband has dealt with the VA for and the biggest run arounds over the years to eventually get his 100% it is astounding how much disrespect, spying, gotcha-esque questioning especially when dealing with someone who has mental health issues related to service that goes on. People who haven't ever dealt with the VA or understand military life would be sooo shocked at what vets have to deal with it's so ridiculous and depressing. Having to figure everything out on your own after getting out, having to learn about your benefits you're eligible for by word of mouth if you even get to come across the right person with experience to tell you, calling the VA because they hardly ever get back to you even when it's their turn to call you back and being met with a bad attitude and sassy remarks to a veteran who has been given the run around from the previous operator, so many circles to go back and forth in, not being believed, having to be on your toes all the time in what seems like a normal conversation with your doctor's but any sentence you say may be taken out of context and recorded as "oh he's fine, he said this today". I'm enraged at how vets with PTSD and dealing with memory issues, depression, anxiety, flashbacks, etc. are examined word for word out of context and expected to be able to keep up with these stupid games or their rating can be minimized for saying the wrong thing or you totally spaced out an appointment you had. Long rant but it's disgusting the way the VA can be for what seems to be most of my husband's interactions with them.

[@jusbamathy1355]

omg yes yes and yes. Your husband and my dad know it all to well. When my pops tells me about his run arounds, appointments, and meetings and the responses he gets from VA i get so fkn angry. Hes got all his ducks in a row but they like to play their games and collect their checks while the vets suffer and die off. its sickening.

[@YasselAlvarez33157]

One doctor sent me to revaluation for responding I’m good without taking in consideration the whole hr I spent talking about my issues.

[@Max-zv8hm]

You guys won the lottery.

[@_.F0X._]

PTSD is a serious condition and our veterans need all the help we can give, by the way be careful if he owns weapons, giving a ptsd diagnosed person a loaded gun is not the smarter thing to do

[@nathicana]

As the wife of a Veteran with service-connected disabilities, my deepest heartfelt "thank you for your service" to you and your husband. Your words are important for many to hear, and need no apolgizing for. As someone who is watching her own battle-scarred husband endure years of going back and forth with the VA to get his deserved care and support, I value your testimony and completely understand your frustrations.

[@justinruiz1203]

I went to a VA place in Washington state, where a Vietnam Vet came in hunched over in pain. He was in tears due to back issues super old guy. He went to the counter to check in and they tried to tell him that they would not check him in until he stood up straight to talk to the lady at the desk. He said he couldn't and she got mad and started yelling at him. I started to approach as he went and sat down, and told the lady she was in the wrong. Her response was disgusting and entitled, so I went down the hall to her boss and told him what had just happened. He came out and removed her from the desk to speak to her while simultaneously the Vet was put in a wheel chair and taken to the back. About 40 minutes later he walked out standing straight almost 6ft 1". I had no clue he was that tall, due to him originally being so hunched over. He walked up to me and thanked me for intervening. The way some of these VA civilians treat us is disgusting. I was blamed for being late to an appointment to an outside location, that had been clearly been shut down for well over a month. The lady said it was my fault and I must've heard wrong. I replayed the voicemail, showed her the text and the mail with the address. All confirming the place I went to was correct. She continued to blame me and was so rude after I had to take time off of work that I finally lost it after she continued to ramble and say I wouldn't be seen. I told her it's people like her that lead to Veterans commiting suicide outside the VA. Of course I got escorted out the building, however I reached out to our state rep and have returned numerous times over the past 3 years and it appears she has either been reassigned or let go. Stay strong y'all.

[@cosmicHalArizona]

Thanks 4 telling ypur story. & service to our natipn

[@bellabonnie3141]

From personal experience, I agree that the VA has some ignorant, rude people working for them

[@rhoff7272]

I am former Marine infantry combat vet, i went through VA dissability process in San Antonio about 10 years ago. San Antonio has several military bases but hardly any combat troops on any of them, its very rare for the VA there to see true salty dogs come through so they are usually caught off guard. Having said that they treated me good and i have no issues with how they handled my process, it took a while but that was expected

[@shaggymusic1174]

Liar

[@Ottovbm]

This episode brought out an internal struggle of mine I didn’t realize I had. You both are improving more lives daily. Thank you Joe and thank you Mike.

[@Brehon_TalkingFinance]

As a veteran, I salute and appreciate every veteran who served!

[@jjthejetplane781]

Shit as a civilian I respect our veterans. You have to respect mf who are willing to put they life on the line for freedom and the people. Even if I don't like you as a person. I still gotta respect you for fighting for the country.

[@Herr.Mitternacht]

Yeah thanks for killing innocent civilians around the globe just go benefit a few wealthy companies.

[@SSchithFoo]

Why? They invades other peoples countries and kill3d people to become the American heroes. Just look at the civilian casualities for last 2 decades.

[@BudsCartoon]

As a citizen we are all wondering why we haven’t won a war in 75 years. But way to go, good job playing army with your buddies.

[@lamadesurvivor5216]

Same bro! I respect any veteran, because none of us knew what we truly were getting ourselves into. We ALL were played. I don’t regret the experience, or people I met though

[@dapv144]

I've lived on the east coast of the US for nearly 30yrs. I've seen people blown up, shot, stabbed run over and dragged. I saw someone holding his own bowels. Hundreds of dead bodies. I know it's nothing compared to what this guy and other service members have seen and participated in. Thanks for your service and I'm forever in awe and indebted to you all.

[@sniffles8655]

Thank you for your service, I could never even begin to understand what you went through.

[@jondspen]

That's part of the problem also - most people at the VA are not military, much less combat. Lazy, fat, vapid pampered Americans have no clue what most of history, most of the world, or life in parts mid/large cities look like. They either have their gated communities (Nashville), or have to dive into work an hour+ from some semi-quiet suburb (DFW), or the whole state is trash and you just hope the gangs/violence doesn't find you today (NYC, Chicago, Atlanta, the whole I5/I15 corridors from San Diego to LA) but let's just put our head in the sand at the beach and pretend it's all gud. Don't know how many cites I've seen same thing - multimillion dollar houses on one street - under a 1/4 mile or one street over trash, violence, homeless - all because some imaginary line was drawn on some piece of paper.

[@andrewdavis3575]

Glad he’s talking about this. The system is a nightmare.

[@kristiskinner8542]

Think its the medical system as a whole not just the VA- that just adds another layer of bureacratic bs/red tape to it though. Worked in the medical field for over 25yrs & have now been a chronic pain patient for over a decade & I was a much better employee (definately didnt agree with all the regs we had to-were supposed to follow etc) than I am a patient. Doctors werent my favorite ppl to work with, but I absolutely hate being a patient of any of them & the way they do their job- or actually dont do their job nowdays due to being held hostage by the DEA. They dont give a damn how many sufferring patients they have as long as the DEA doesnt look into their license/files

[@scallopohare9431]

@@kristiskinner8542It's a bit circular. The VA trains 70% US physicians, and a host of other providers. When they learn to treat patients as problems, it carries over outside the VA.

[@BurrWolf]

Somalia Veteran here (TF1/64) and stories like this are one of the big reasons that's kept me from reaching out to the VA for help. I've constantly heard of how the VA does a great job at making the combat you went through, your 2nd worst experience. :/

[@carltoncoker7541]

Hang in there Brother. I use the VA for health care only. I know I have service connected issues but I refrain from applying for personal reasons. The health care has been as good as any Civilian doctor I have had. Plus it keeps me from having to pay horrendous deductibles from my work health care provider. You earned try to use it. My Dad is a Vietnam vet and they have taken good care of him in San Antonio.

[@zzav2345]

Hio another Somalia Vet here (USSLPH11) was on the NOboat. i went in about 12 years ago for freak toung canser got (combat veterans disability pension non service connected) because they said i was not (in a canser cluster). for a while the VA was great, they took care of my canser and were starting to take care of the mess the radiation and chemo did to me ..... then it changed, when i panicked about a polup on my gum and went in to dental as an emergency when i had a appointment the next day and when they tried to turn me away, i told them i'm going to the patient advocate ... after that i don't know what happened but someone took issue and everything went to $#!T the reporting of my problems and pain went the way of the dodo and i had to retreat in to my mind and faimly to survive and they are JUST getting around to straightening this $#!T out and getting my service connection but i'm still having trouble believing it will be taken care of but now i am going to a lawer if they screw me over again .......

[@stellocut99]

At my old job I used to get a guy that would come every now and then and ask for the veteran discount. Whenever people ask for that we check ID. The ID he handed me said Veteran Affairs. Now back then I didn't really know what the ID is supposed to look like or the difference between a veteran and a veteran affair employee. I just saw it said veteran and approved it. One day he comes and I ask for ID. As he hands it to me he says "why you gotta check every time?" I responded "Well you wouldn't want me to give the discount to someone who's not a veteran right?" That was the last time I saw him.

[@noahmilliken5224]

That shits fucking disgusting

[@letsgomexican1414]

Here in Texas. The worker will have a VA ID with Veteran at the bottom and the branch of service.

[@tonyaccierie2552]

I have PTSD from non combat situation. My commanding officer was a chaplain and I ended up in a situation where I was drugged and sexually assaulted by him. It took me over 20 years and a TBI diagnosis which also occurred in the Marines to get 100% because I didn't want to admit what happened. I am a man, Italian and a Marine and could not face the reality. Luckily after it happened instead of killing the asshole I reported him but they wanted me to testify and I wasn't ready as a 20 yr old. Not until my late 30s when I ended up homeless and moved around did a psych doc finally diagnosed me but the VA wouldn't acknowledge that I had an issue. And then after 5 years of seeing psych docs all over did the VA finally acknowledge it and when they sent me to an outside doc I wasn't completely honest because I was afraid they would lock me up on a psych ward. Finally an Iranian doc of all people helped me get my rating and for 3 years had an annual rating interview. My psych doc also got me evaluated for TBI so now i don't have to have annual ratings. They really put you through the ringer and met other vets and some who get 100% rating and lied about it because they served over seas. The system sucks and needs an overhaul.

[@thetraveler1182]

I'm sorry that happened to you Brother. God Bless you.

[@scallopohare9431]

Woman veteran, PTSD due to SA and attempted murder on active duty. The VA treated me like the criminal. Military SA is definitely different in that you cannot protect yourself. There is a recent law requiring immediate transfer if a Service member reports SA, but not when I was stalked. VSO's won't rep these cases. I had to pay a private attorney.

[@Motorcycle.guy1985]

I’m sorry for how you were treated by a fellow marine. I hope you found peace.

[@ANSWERTHECALLOFJESUSCHRIST]

The VA hospital in San Juan, PR has been amazing to me since they started treating me almost 15 years ago. I heard horror stories about it from old veterans, so I never considered setting foot there. However, when I finally had to, experience was the opposite. I went there against my will being honest and upfront about feeling hopeless and feeling despair two years after ETSing. Everything I told them or they found out in my physical and mental evaluations was worse than what I explained to them. Every doctor that evaluated me in C&P was like, "I'd treat you myself if I could! You're in such rough shape for being so young." I'd try to downplay it and they'd insist I was just in denial and they'd be writing their notes with a concerned look in their faces. When I got my first treatment appointments, every doctor basically like, "Oh dear, you're so young. You poor thing. Look how they hurt you! We're gonna fix you up! Don't you worry!" They started treating me like royalty, and it felt so weird, because they didn't have to. They could've just been nice, but they were too nice for me not having to pay a single penny. If I asked anyone there a question, if they didn't have an answer, they'd start calling everyone they knew right then and there until they got me an answer. When I read or hear about veterans experiencing negative things about the VA system, it saddens me, because my experience was surreally positive. I didn't have to try anything. I just went there like, "I think I need help. I don't feel good." I even found out I had a TBI, which explained so many things.

[@enigmatimes340]

Que todo te salga bien pa y que te mejore

[@Dj.MODÆO]

Each state runs its own VA health system so a veteran’s experience can be hit or miss.

[@andrewrivera9989]

Isla del encanto my man

[@wbsant5968]

Had surgery there the other day. Very nice staff.

[@Gav-Norm]

Puerto Rico? Sheeeit I'm going!

[@justinkurtzhalts]

Mike, you hit it right on the spot. 5 tour Army Ranger and I still fight with the VA over the exact issues you dealt with. 13 months and still waiting for an answer on PTSD/TBI.

[@mickturner957]

If they deny you, DO NOT GIVE UP, get a good Lawyer and Kick the VA's Azz!

[@StevenGaetani]

Airborne All The Way!!!!

[@williamwilcox794]

Thank you for your service and your family's sacrifice. It truly means the world to me. I a civi but I take care of the veterans memorial in my country. Never forget 🇺🇸

[@gregw2133]

I appreciate Mike laying out how shitty the exam is. I did mine in Fayetteville NC and the doc was the rudest person I've ever met. I hate that he is out here gatekeeping PTSD though, really hate the dudes who are like "you need to spend X amount of time in combat, you need to see XYZ to claim you PTSD." It's a huge problem in the community, sometimes we are our own worst enemies.

[@minkeymagik]

Joe for the love of god please keep talking about this. For me, I couldn’t talk about what happened to me because of opsec. Couldn’t say what happened or where because we were and what we were doing. Took me 16 years to get what I needed, also needed a senators help.

[@bluestudio67]

Spot on about the TBI mimicking PTSD. They tried telling me I had PTSD, was bipolar and more. It was TBI. I am now 100% recovered.

[@audreybossman8369]

My experience was slightly different. They wouldn't let me go to a VA therapist for my mental eval. They sent me to a random person 2 hrs away that I had never met. My Hud VASH(Va social workers) advisor told me to speak about the worst days. The days when the anxiety and depression from ptsd are completely crippling. I told them about my never-ending dreams of being blown up and watching people die in my face, which is everyday. They deemed me unemployable.

[@audreybossman8369]

@@Stretch486 I also agree completely with your sentiments on feeling productive. I find myself constantly looking for things to get done on the days that I actually feeling like climbing out of bed. I would honestly describe it is as almost manic. For example, when the weather picks up in a month or two, I have to do an engine swap on some boats. Never worked on an inboard boat motor. In the meantime, I just poured myself the first drink of the day.

[@scottleroy8173]

Weren't you aware of the negatives of being housed...fed..payed...free healthcare...free education...etc...no one forced you to. You chose this. I'm sorry for the end result..I bet you you are still getting paid

[@audreybossman8369]

@@scottleroy8173 No need to be sorry. I'm not going to discuss my financials with a rando on the Tube,. The benefits are pretty dang good. If you are looking for a recruiter, I know a great one. You too can hop off the couch and do something that gives others the ability to sit on the Tube and act like a twat.

[@CLJuvenal]

I worked at the Role 3 in Kandahar, a combat hospital. During that time I took care of people with massive trauma and the dead. I could go on all day about what we saw there and how we had to care for captured enemy, locals and our own every day all shift long. Our base was rocket attacked 49 times while our medical unit was there. To most this felt like a slight inconvenience, though, yes, rockets can kill and did hit critical points on base, 1 contractor was killed during one attack. I wasn't frontline, but I saw plenty and dealt with a lot as a corpsman. Everyone who served there most definitely left with issues. I was an activated reservist. I put myself on a volunteer mobilization list and got picked up for the deployment. A week after being on deployment in Afghanistan I was on an Amtrak from Port Hueneme to Orange County in my civilian clothes surrounded by a labor day crowd. I spent the first 2 weeks home in my room, only going into the main room to cook and go downstairs to get the mail. The first 6 months back I felt like I was walking around in a bubble, I was so disconnected from everything around me. I'm not sure what helped me break through, but I went to Japan to visit my girlfriend a number of times and took up bjj and Krav Maga. I think those things helped. No one can say that only those with direct exposure to combat have PTSD and are entitled to benefits. Our medical unit saw the worst every day for months without ever leaving base. It took me 3 years back home to realize I did have real issues, and it took having everything I was working on crash in front of me. There is a lot more to exposure and mental health that isn't being brought up in this conversation.

[@j-kolh7773]

Our veterans don’t hear it nearly as much as they should, but there’s still Americans that appreciate and respect our military and everything that they do for us. Nothing but love to our Vets, from Ohio.

[@gandalfstormcrow8439]

Thanks, boss. You're the reason why we do it.😉🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@jhoggard8466]

Thank you. Getting harder and harder to be patriotic anymore unfortunately.

[@smokinjoe32927]

Thank you! Actually didn’t serve for individual but a way of life. Always appreciate when vets are acknowledged. Thank you!

[@WordsMatter1982]

Rather than just saying it, how about we support candidates that truly give a damn about vets, as opposed to using them as photo ops?

[@Goatnime]

@@WordsMatter1982 No, that would require actually caring.

[@mitchkim6763]

I want to show my utmost respect to all the veterans, service men and women that sacrifice their lives so I can live my life easy in this beautiful country. God bless 🇺🇸

[@ryanmarshall8569]

The only vets who care to hear stuff like this are the ones who didn't do anything but sit in an air conditioned office drinking coffee all day. Smug wording BTW "so I can live my life easy". Seriously, you should remove your post because it's doing the opposite of what you're intending.

[@PurpleHeartSti]

I was in Operation Moshtarak (Afghanistan) for the first push into Marjah just as a regular grunt. I didn't do anything crazy crazy. In probably 30 or so TICs, day 1 push was like 13 hours or so, lost 10 guys overall, and ultimately I got blown up 4 months which ended my service. Took 10 years after all of that to get 100% P&T because of the people he is describing who are gaming the system and in some cases your service just isn't believable for some of these counselors who've never come across someone who was in it day after day. They expect you to have some insane reactions in front of them describing your experiences so when they're met with someone who is just numb and disconnected to it it doesn't register for them. Just have to be patient and not lose your cool with them.

[@SweatyFatGuy]

I got out in 2005. No PH, long story, but I am 100% now. Was 90 and IU for a long time. The first shrink I got was under contract, civilian doc. Made lots of improvement with him, he knew which questions to ask so I could figure things out. The only one I have ever had where it wasn't a waste of time. I did not realize that most people don't have a rifle in every room, aren't scanning constantly, and don't relive parts of their life when they smell/hear something or the weather is just right etc. I can't even remember life before I had PTSD, so I never realized that is what it is. Then Barry cut the funding and hired a bunch of people from social services. Got a female who decided that I was evil, just because I am male. I had fun messing with her by ridiculing effinism and watching her bristle. The next guy had no freakin clue about PTSD or anything else, so I taught him how I have lived with it for most of my life, mine predates my military time. Hopefully some of it makes it out to the rest of the VA and they actually learn about it rather than just throwing meds at us. Meds dont work. When the potato was installed, they had phone call appointments and just stopped bothering with us. Zero interest in going back to teach them. I know what you mean about being disconnected and numb, that was me for almost 40 years. My PTSD came from my life from 8 to 16, taking beatings at random, often several times a day. Older brother and my dad. Brother tried several times to off me. Poisoned, stabbed, run over, bludgeoned, kicked, slammed into walls, run over my farm equipment, lots of time unconscious.. When they did a head scan on me a while back they found evidence of hundreds of TBIs in my past. I didn't get PTSD from the desert, I had it from years before, but it sorta enhanced it. Now I had new memories and flashbacks from different smells. The desert felt like home when it got real. I only had one deployment where anything happened like you guys, affected me for a while, but I kept telling myself its not 1991.. nobody is trying to end me. My 04 deployment bothers me more than the rest. I moved too many transfer cases on that one. Felt guilty because we were at KCIA, its the only time in my life I felt like I was getting over, not pulling my share. The only thing in my entire life where I feel any remorse or guilt. We got $86 per diem and stayed at the Hilton and Radisson, while a punk kid reservist whined about it not being what he signed up for. In the safest place we could possibly be, getting paid thousands just to be there, and the kid was from California. That was the safest and least messed up deployment I had. Ya know something, once you have been through a world of S*** everything else seems easy. Just have to remember its not 1978, 1983, 1991, 2004, 2013, or whatever. Its today and you are the baddest motherF**er in the valley.

[@sgteduardo2146]

Your right about the system. It’s permanently broken, it’s not like it’s rocket science. So many guys suffer that shouldn’t have to.

[@mh3225]

I was in marjah post moshtarak. The only reason why I have 40% is because I paid out of pocked to see 2 different board certified specialists who concurred that my ankles were obliterated. One of them was surprised that I wasnt on painkillers the all this time. Several rounds of xrays, MRIs all out of pocket and I finally got 10% for my ankles lol. For PTSD my evaluator was wearing an AC/DC shirt, asked me 3 questions, entire thing took 7 minutes and his exact words were "not the best not the worst, 30%". I would think it would take more than 3 questions to decide on a rating. Im worried about guys who have 100% PTSD getting short changed because of that ridiculous interview.

[@nousername4956]

Only reason I’m replying to this is because I am sick of seeing our ppl off themselves and I don’t want this to get in the way of how you look at your deployment. Hopefully it’s not even an issue for you and I’m just making myself look stupid. You were in the shit brother. 30 tics is not a small number, you were in a really nasty AO and you eventually got blown up. Lol you’re a salt dude. You don’t have to have made a MOH run for it to be considered crazy crazy. Don’t look at it like that.

[@kurtrussell5228]

"in some cases your service just isn't believable for some of these counselors" i did just over 20 with 5 of those years being deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan.... i joined right when i turned 18 and got out a few months after 38....i feel im not believed either when talking to a va mental worker.....but i can't be completely mad at the va, there are guys that go in there every day and either flat out lie to them or embellish what they did......in my experience, the guys that walk into the va with patches and stickers and pins and hats with flashing lights and fireworks shooting out of them, the guys that are very outspoken about their " service " and talk about it to ANYONE that will listen, those are the guys that did the least.......the ones that don't talk about it, don't brag or boast. Want to be left alone...those are they guys that tend to have really did something..........there are exceptions, but generally i think this is true.

[@dustantraver6829]

100 percent agree with Mike. 3.5 years in Iraq and a short trip to Afghanistan. I'd rather do that again than the CMP exam for the VA. It felt more like an interrogation than any kind of help. I left that place feeling worse than when I walked in. I still avoid the mental help services because of this. You can't medicate man to perfection again, and you can't legislate peace in our hearts, you can't educate sin from the soul, it's been there from the start.

[@pratical_indifference]

The C&P woman I spoke to kept telling me it was all in my head on it not being that bad. I wasn't in special operations or whatever. Just did route clearance in Afghanistan so we saw more than most but not more than some.

[@Treadstone-C.I.A.]

Appreciate you, sir.

[@JoBlakeLisbon]

​​@@pratical_indifference 'just route clearance' Dude that is some dangerous shit

[@brianandmarcicrawford6671]

As the daughter and wife to 2 amazing Veterans and Mom to our Marine son, it is absolutely unbearable to watch our Veterans wait for care, continually doubted and made to feel completely invisible! The V.A. is an absolute disgrace! Prayers for all of our active duty members! Report it all when you go in for your med board exam. Even if it's hard to talk about.

[@michaelsix9684]

VA is govt. run, they cut costs whenever they can, the easiest way to cut costs is deny you have problems and deserve compensation

[@trishcraig723]

The VA has always been a disgrace. My Marine son is being jerked around to the point we almost lost him. My great uncle, wounded twice in The Battle Of The Bulge, died unesisarirly from sepsis because instead of doing a blood draw they just said to take an ibuprofen for a urinary tract infection. It's total garbage the way our veterans are treated.

[@WhallonJesse]

I've had nothing but excellent treatment and great experiences while going to my VA. I served as an aircraft mechanic (AT) in the Navy. This is not a job that is traditionally though of as being hard or worthy of any serious consideration from stress but let me tell you that working the flight deck of an aircraft carrier, next to 140 dB afterburning jet engines, at night with no lights, 7 days a week, non-stop and having no where to retreat to because your rack is 10 feet below an airport, and doing 3 deployments in 4 years, was stressful and did have lasting injuries.

[@cookie_kat2295]

You didn’t happen to serve on the truman did you?

[@skankmcgank]

Ah yes, here is the fing guy to come with his noncombat "VA works for ME" story. Hey, read the room

[@RR-sz8wl]

Yeah I was an EM on a small boy, and it left me physically and mentally messed up. Did port and starboard for a year straight and seriously injured my shoulders and back with the dumb stuff they made us do in Engineering. The VA for the most part has worked for me the past few years, but back when I separated the hospital was full of old men there for physicals and therapy, while us young guys had real issues.

[@charliebarton]

I was sick for years, My ex told me so, I felt terrible. But VA tests showed I was fine, and I was told I was "just getting old." Turns out, I was really sick. I'm convinced that they actually lied about the results of the tests at the lab. The doctor acknowledged, after I got a diagnosis at a hospital overseas, that my levels were "almost over the line." But that seems so incredibly unlikely. So, basically, go to the VA, get no diagnosis until you're so jacked up that they can't deny it anymore. It's probably incredibly cost inefficient. It's just stupid and corrupt. My first doctor at the VA was amazing, he was a retired professor of medicine. He eventually, I was told, fainted in the hallway of the clinic and then quit. Yep.

[@pooloftim8263]

What diagnosis? Levels of what? You refer to getting sick like it’s some injustice but you can’t even explain what’s going on…

[@MustBnice71]

Always get a second opinion....

[@michaelsmith3381]

Finally someone who is willing to speak out! I know someone who got 100% disability, most of it based on PTSD. This guy never set foot in a combat zone, and lie constantly about his service. His PTSD claim is he said he has PTSD because of live fire training exercises in basic. He still lies about his service to this day, and brags about all his combat tours during the GWOT. He was found by his Mom living in his car after going AWOL in September of 2001, and spent the rest of his time in a psych. Ward till his discharge in February 2002. Zero combat time and zero deployments. In fact this guy ends up getting an interview with George Stephanopoulos about his work as a CI for the FBI.

[@dustinsalisbury4383]

It is by far one of the most frustrating processes ever for a veteran.

[@samsonella7329]

Danger and carnage can shake you up, but the real trauma comes from betrayals and from moral injury.

[@alexmanne]

I also dealt with the same scrutiny with the evaluators when I finally filed for disability. I had to explain I was an SF soldier, explain all my combat experience and all the time I spent overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan, plus Honduras - 54 months total. It wasn't enough that they could see my records and DD214s. Though it really helped I had guys I served with write buddy letters confirming injuries.

[@adamtedder1012]

Not me. I fought in fallujah it was still all over the news at the time a couple years later. I also fought in the invasion and other places after Fallujah. I guess it helped I was delivered in a ambulance because someone cut me down from where I chose to hang out for a bit. Probably a good thing because I would've tried to go hang again. If not for medication I wouldn't be here. If I get off it I'm dead. I won't win against the disease. I tried. Took every medication known until my doctors found the right one. Spent lots of time sick from all of them until the magic pill that didn't make me sick and actually helped me was found.

[@5jjt]

@Adam Tedder Which med is it? Not prying, just seeking too.

[@enginepy]

I’m a veteran. The most frustrating thing is the layers of bureaucracy in the VA system, and the doctors with no care for their patients. It’s so hard to navigate anything and it takes months to get routine things done. It’s a perfect example of government systems that look good but don’t actually work.

[@jondorsey1715]

Ridiculous how our government treats you guys after. That said thank you for your service. Nothing but respect for you guys

[@outdoorswithroostercurrie6984]

Joe I’m glad to see you interviewing a Veteran and seeing what We go through when We go through a C&P Exam. I fought with the VA for 10 Years, and all my information was in my Medical Records.

[@jenh6247]

Agreed. I had to supply numerous copies of the same disability records to VA, and they still kept burying it. Infuriating

[@slavojzizzek7562]

Thankfully, a lot of units now require pre-VA benefits counseling as part of ETS procedures. I showed up to my ETS with all of my medical records in hand in case they didn't have them. Every PHA. Every sick call visit. Every X-ray. Every test.

[@johnapp7826]

I’m a vet and go to the VA clinic in Kona, Hawaii. I have exceptional healthcare from the VA and all of the staff. I could not be happier. I was a USMC Helo pilot with the northern most Helo squadron in country during most of 1966, right on the DMZ serving Khe Sanh, Con Thien, the Rock pile, quang Tri, etc. every time we flew, we were in Indian country. Despite that, the heros on the ground were amazing fighters and humans. You could see it in their faces and eyes when we brought them out. Every one of them could qualify for full VA disability with PTSD. I wish all VA clinics were as good as the one here in Hawaii.

[@firstlast8258]

You get what you vote for

[@trashpanda314]

I’m a Purple Heart recipient that was medically retired after being WIA, I can’t stand the VA and how they’ve repeatedly fucked me over financially. I have terrible anxiety for days leading up to any appointment I have. It’s a feeling of utter betrayal that I can’t even describe.

[@trashpanda314]

@K lake it’s so hot or miss. I live in a metro area and our VA’s service a couple neighboring states as well, so there’s a lot of veterans. We have 2 main hospitals located about 15 minutes apart. One of them is awesome, I never have any issues, everyone is always polite and they actually do their jobs. The other one however… let’s just say it’s like pulling teeth to get them to put their phone down and look at you. They treat you like you’re an actual burden on them because they have to do their job for 2 minutes. It is so infuriating that it’s hard to put into words. There is no consistency in the care the VA provides. It’s a total crap shoot. Even if you’re seen at a “good” VA, all it takes is 1 bad Doc to fuck over a lot of men for life! There needs to be accountability. It’s a massive system that is in desperate need of change from the ground up. We held up our end of the promise, it’s time for them to start honoring theirs.

[@rubens4210]

Brothers and sisters, I’m not going to go into my military career because I hate feeling like I’m looking for attention. But yes a majority of us that have done combat tours have seen some shit I believe people shouldn’t see. And there are people in general not just doctors and VA employees that don’t know how to handle us, but there are good people out there that try. Please be kind to one another, and we can grow from there ❤️

[@scallopohare9431]

Yeah, except that the VA let us become homeless while they fart around with legit claims.

[@YasselAlvarez33157]

My response to when people ask me what I do is: I put some years in the military and the rest is confidential. I have lost dates for saying I’m disabled, I’ve been wrongfully judged by others because I look too strong and young to be disabled; my job was infantrymen in the US Army, and did a 15months deployment to Baghdad, Iraq. I struggle with ptsd, anxiety and depression, and I hate having to bring that up in early conversations with someone I barely know.

[@101elelky]

Same man…. Doesn’t help either if you still push yourself to maintain a active healthy lifestyle either. I mistaken told neighbors a couple years ago my situation and though they don’t see my worse days or what I have to take daily… they see I don’t have to work and I’m always home or going to the gym so they use to gossip and just try to figure my life out… even had family and friends jealous only because they know I get a check every month but have absolutely no clue nor care what I went and currently go through for it to be this way..

[@carrowxhex6891]

Just tell them, any woman worth their salt isn’t going to react negatively. The ones that do, let them go. They’re not right for you.

[@YasselAlvarez33157]

@@101elelky in my experience most people use my personal information against me, and the jealousy as you wrote is very common; people rarely talk about my achievements, even my primary doctor was sarcastically surprised when I mentioned her I ride a motorcycle and lift 225lbs while having back problems. The only people that know my situation well are the VA staff in psychology floor; I’ve shared mostly everything except stuff I don’t want the world to know since I later found out it’s not confidential as they say. My life fkn sucks even though I’m 100% P&T, I have 0 friends and only trust combat veterans but in Miami there aren’t that many around my age at 39; I have two children and they give me purpose. I’m not who I used to be. I want you to know you’re not alone, I understand what you’re going through. It’s not the same to study ptsd than to have it. Luckily VA has had my back always. I wish you the best and pls excuse my English, I’m cuban american.

[@robertsmith2432]

@@YasselAlvarez33157 I'm a former infantryman too. At 51, my friends are veterans who I saw combat with. These brothers are closer to me than my own flesh and blood brother. I am currently only rated at 60 but my claim is moving forward. They didn't care much about us when I got out so there was no support network. It took me 30 years to get to 60. Keep the faith. You have brothers, and more than you can imagine.

[@jenh6247]

That’s fair. I’m sorry you’ve been judged

[@TheNewbsTube]

Served 2 tours in Afghanistan as a combat medic. Like him I've seen hundreds of dead bodies. Took me 7 years after I got out to finally get help. Went through some dark times. I am 100% P&T like this gentleman as well. I hope more people aren't too proud to ask for help like I was.

[@joeJoe-pb3su]

It took me years to get help. But I am glad my friend convinced me to get the help.

[@ericgill6992]

I’m not to proud but I’m not going to be talked to like a dog

[@Treadstone-C.I.A.]

Appreciate you, sir.

[@scallopohare9431]

The VA made me worse.

[@DBragg2124]

There need to be MORE veterans telling their VA horror stories on these platforms!!

[@cyberlabs3515]

Vets could use a better channel of communications...do you have any web dev software engineering experience? There are many platforms available, but it's better to be able to develop your own.

[@Trekkie46]

As long as the horror stories aren't all the general population focus on, creating a negative connotation and tarnishing their view of vets. That can cause bullshit that veterans shouldn't need to deal with.

[@n3r0wolfe]

walked into mental health after doing a thing, told them i needed help, they turned me away .. my advocate was pissed

[@thewalkingcrow8946]

A lot of this actually reminds me of all the work I did at a food pantry I started from scratch when I got out of prison. We occasionally would get donations to help pay utility bills and since it was located inside a church, the volume of scammers I would get got to the point where I became disheartened. Over the course of 6 years doing that I got to where I could tell who was legit in need and who wasn't within the first 30 seconds or so. To keep my sanity I eventually just convinced myself it was okay to get scammed as long as at least 60% of my efforts was going to where it was needed. I was really jaded and my passion faded when my dad came home from a restaurant when he told me that this woman had an interesting story to tell. She recognized my face in his and told him of how much I had done to help them when they became homeless and that she essentially had that job because of my efforts. I finally felt like I hadn't wasted my time. So people who deal with scammers on a daily are at risk of losing faith and hope a lot more than people realize. It creates a lot of frustration on both sides.

[@jasonchristopher2977]

As a vet who was homeless from my drinking I want to say 1 Thank you for helping do good. I saw so many ppl who would panhandle then take off Costume and get in a nice car and drive away. I wanted to help them with a flat tire in the dark, if u get my drift. 2 I'm proud of u for doing so much good and changing urr ways. It's really hard for some ppl to b selfless. And helping others does so much good for us. Ppl take their cushy life for granted. I've been sober now for 13 years and I still recall what it felt like not having a home, car, wife, job and most importantly my own toothbrush. Not having such a simple object like a toothbrush was harder than it seems. It makes me sick to see ppl just not value simple things like this. Id like to see ALL 18 yr olds go through USMC Bootcamp and spend 1 year in Marines. I bet alot less ppl would have homelessness, jail time etc. I know not all kids have a happy home, both parents to teach them life skills but USMC will. We're all capable of a hell of alot more than what our mind will say we are. When we think we can't go 1 more step, do 1 more pull up, embrace the suck and make it through, we can. We will. We r in control of our lives. We all need $ to make it but life's not meant to be wasted chasing a dollar. It's about the journey and who we got in our lives. Anything that can be dead any moment is what's important. We can always get another job, Phone, tv, car etc. I see family's out to eat and all have a screen in their faces. Kids grow up so fast. Enjoy it. Be plenty of time for screens when they're grown. I like the web but we was alot closer b4 it and cell phones. Thank u for helping all ppl u saw. As I used to be 1 of them I can say we do appreciate it more than u will ever know. just like a toothbrush, a hot meal or any food at all means so much when u know that u have no pillow, no bed, no roof over your head tonight. Thank you. I hope Alls well for you.

[@BuddhatheRockstar]

The worst part is when your husband retires and years later the normal life sets in. PTSD is not as bad when you are discharged. Going back to the VA to be reevaluated is a nightmare. Literally.

[@SpaceRanger187]

yup.. and to think that talking about your issues makes them better..umm no alot of dudes would rather just let it eat them, instead of talking about it and causing them to do something crazy..Its crazy how dumb the VA is or how much of assholes they are

[@usernameluis305]

@@SpaceRanger187 va office reminds me of my time with therapists as a kid dealing with abuse at home. They want you to talk about it forever but not really to help

[@joshuacrawford7258]

My first psychiatrist experience was not great. I was I diagnosed at that point with TBI. But they were evaluating for PTSD. The guy stated he didn’t think I had PTSD because I didn’t see dead people in visions or dreams like other guys. Turns out 100% T&P for TBI alone a few years later.

[@YasselAlvarez33157]

I remember I was sent to revaluation for saying I’m doing good, without taking into account the whole hr speaking about my problems. After the C&P exam, she said “you told me you were good”.

[@erikjanthes]

I'm glad you got your decision. My initial experience on that side of the house it seemed the guy was trying to one-up me while I was sharing the stories of my life. He dismissed a lot of it and he wasn't a veteran. That was the worse part of the whole experience as I ETSd. Good on you for being patient.

[@davidcurtis5851]

Thank you for standing up for our brothers and sisters. Letting all know that our country has failed those who truly love our flag.

[@jasong546]

I was told last month by va primary care doctor, “I am not concerned about your pain.” Nothing to do with compensation and pension, but a lot of va doctors seem to be purposely trying everything they can to do as little as possible. But then in other ways, they just waste time and the money on really useless stuff. But Washington says it’s wonderful, so I guess this pain is just wonderful.

[@rogerwilcoxii359]

Fuk the VA, had my 8th VA doctor prescribe gabapentin for bone on bone pain in my hip joint(bone spurs) instead of tramadol, I couldn't get the VA to look at my hip, so after several years of trying I went to my civilian doctor who did x-ray's and a mri and in three weeks found bone spurs

[@danielrelinski5665]

They now take pain into consideration, it was a recent change.

[@Muskiehunter4841]

The VA is socialized medicine so that is what you get and many Americans think we need more of that?

[@VenturaHighwayman]

@@Muskiehunter4841 I’m not saying I disagree with you, but bigbrotherpharma wouldn’t have half the weight it does over “substance control” if it wasn’t a monopoly. There are aspects of healthcare that are worse because of political greed.

[@erikjanthes]

If you smoke green don't tell them. I was warned by a nurse before my last well visit in 2019 to not bring it up or you won't get opiods after surgery.

[@tc7584]

I came back from Iraq in '08 and was hospitalized in '09 and after chest x rays showed what they thought was cancer. VA treated me really well and covered all my x rays and ct scans. Once it came time to discuss "why" it happened they were quick to say it's not our fault. I was 24 and had the lungs of an 90 year old man who smoked. I never filed and moved on with life. They diagnosed me with granuluomaus disease and sarcoidosis and put me on meds. 15 years later as of 1/1/23 these are "presumptive" conditions. I filed this week 15 years later. Some people want to say the toxins overseas are bs. I had what they thought was cancer at 24 and was in and out of hospitals and still live with it all these years later. I would have never filed had it not been for this Pact Act I just didn't want to fight with the VA.

[@jasonchristopher2977]

No the burn pit's and all tge other shit is proven to cause cancer. It's been reported on Vice a few times. They threw furniture that's made with all kinds of poisons, body parts, etc all kinds of plastics. My wife was in AF in Aviano AFB in 2001 got Anthrax shots, I was in USMC 2007 and got them also. We tried and couldn't have kids for a decade. Dr said we should look into adoption as her baby making organs was not working. Well we have 2 kids now after all that time. Quite a few ladies she was stationed with had same issue. I had 2 kids previously so I know I was ok. It's gotta be something we was all jabbed with, exposed to etc. I hope all works out. It's BS we gave up years of life to be treated like scum. Next war all the ppl in washington can supply the bodies to fight and die. Look at how we left in 2021. Disgraceful. What was it all for anyhow? Very salty.

[@aquafishsoup]

Your government loves you, thank you for getting black lung for no reason because you lost the war.

[@BudsCartoon]

Go back and finish what you started… we are a little tired of our veterans having not won wars

[@MustBnice71]

You earn that care.

[@jasonchristopher2977]

@@BudsCartoon Well at the start SOP was any fighting age person with any weapon, then it was positive ID, then can't shoot at until shot at, can't shoot anybody in a mosque, etc. They knew from day 1 we wasn't winning. In Korea the enemy had uniforms. WW2 same. Starting with Nam anybody could be bad guy. Like walking into walmart, everybody dresses same, all are allowed to carry a pew pew but u gotta figure out who the enemy is.

[@sunnykobe3210]

Back when I was in, 03-07, most of my bn have had horrible war experiences. I thought it was the norm and that everyone had gone through something similar. It wasn’t until I got out and was amongst ‘normal’ people that I realized it wasn’t a common thing. I felt so lonely for many years bc I couldn’t relate to anyone. I struggled with accepting a lot of things I had been a part of, too. I met another vet who had a similar experience and that helped a tremendous amount to getting to a healthier state of mind. I still struggle but it’s different from where I once was at. F war.

[@romeofoxtrot363]

02-07 boot 🥾 SEMPER FI

[@romeofoxtrot363]

Checkout “ BOBBY GREY PTSD” MARINE hung himself & lived. He’s my cousin . I’m also MARINE 02-07. SEMPER FI BROTHERS alive & dead ☠️.RIP

[@captainbook3456]

I tried doing the VA thing after getting out, first thing I told them was about my nightmares and headaches after losing a best friend during deployment. They told me since I had no kids I shouldn't be having headaches, and marked it as "phantom pain." I asked another guy who got his VA claim approved and he told me it took him 4 years and that you have to treat it like a full time job. No thanks

[@rob8379]

Mike is completely spot on. Also, getting re-evaluated for disabilities that get worse is a pain in the ass.

[@RadCatFood]

I have a 50% rating and everything he said is 💯 the struggle you deal with when it comes to the VA is unbelievably frustrating.

[@hongtanke]

Spot on. As a vet and having lived straight in combat zones, working at combat hospitals I can say he's spot on. A lot of folks exaggerate, because the VA makes them

[@Truth-Matters-ck8pb]

I went into the VA once and was told to talk to mental health. When I met the “lady”, the first thing she said was “if you say anything I don’t like, I will call the police”. I plead the 5th during our visit. Then they told me being in the infantry field, you will not have any back problems. Federal employees can be fired, it’s the management who doesn’t fire them.

[@philipg8283]

Love you Mike. You’re a sharp and good guy. You’re healthy enough to see if from someone else’s perspective. Not sure if it’s training or you got some help or what, but I have a lot of respect for you.

[@earljohnson50]

I know two airmen that were deployed to Kyrgyzstan in 2010. During that time there was a coup there and they heard gun shots nearby and saw a tank in the distance. They’re both 70% disabled for PTSD.

[@adamtedder1012]

Disgusting

[@ZackHughes]

Mike is a huge leader in our special operations community. He nailed this as usual.

[@zazasnruntz7505]

What did he nail? He was a paid gang member and now that he’s out of the gang he want money 🤦‍♂️

[@gabriellebron9968]

@@zazasnruntz7505 what have you done with your life?

[@TsarOfRuss]

"Special operations" against goat herders who wear flipflops and carry AK47 .. yet you still lost the war

[@04jems]

Dude acts like if you're not combat arms, you're scum. We all raised our right hand.

[@philliph.5179]

Thanks for sharing this...absolutely no lies spoken, and I hope this exposure meets the right ear⚔️

[@krank3682]

The VA is absolutely horrible…I have PTSD and I’ve had doctors scream at me and tell me I’m just fine!! A vet in Phoenix walked in the main lobby and doused himself with gas and lit himself on fire!! 21 of us a day commit suicide mostly because of the LACK of care and judgment you get when you finally break down and go there for help!!

[@warrenhall7060]

I HAVE SAID IT A THOUSAND TIME'S 30 VETS A DAY COMMIT SUCIDE ....THIS IS NOT ON MISTAKE ....THIS IS COST EFFECTIVE IN THE EYE'S OF THE VA...UNFORTUNATELY FOR ALL OF US VETERAN'S

[@mikeb3419]

44 actually. Half the people I knew in the military are dead now.

[@Phoenixrises113]

@@mikeb3419 that is so sad. None should be left behind like that

[@machinech183]

The last thing the VA will ever do is help. You go there for a fight. I'd rather do another tour than walk in their doors.

[@BootyWarrior80892]

@@mikeb3419 😣

[@r_stiltskin1461]

I’m glad this is coming out on a platform as big as Joe’s.

[@SpaceRanger187]

Joe needs to bring up how they are trying to take Veterans Benefits and Social security.. right now..they are going to take veterans benefits to fund the war in Ukraine..yall better wake up

[@ferallion3546]

I had the unfortunate circumstance to get contract gulf war syndrome/illness and have been fighting to get my claim reviewed after 30 years. On the ground level, there are great people it’s the VA leadership that’s the problem. Four generations of veterans in my family and we all experienced very similar experiences. You keep going. Never give up.

[@charliedee9276]

I was injured severely on the flight line in 1983, non combat situation. I was awarded 10% for that in 1988 and I've been fighting with the V. A since then. Last weekI finally got my 100% P&T after over 40 years. The VA seems to be the biggest enemy of the veterans.

[@stonehalo1632]

Now they're saying victims of domestic abuse, or childhood abuse causes ptsd... so do they lose firearm rights

[@phil4986]

Any excuse possible to disarm the American people. Any excuse possible. Tyrants and dictators want sheep, not wolves.

[@CornPopsDood]

This is why red flag laws create more problems than they can ever solve.

[@idowrk8682]

In some states, with some laws... yes, if you're labeled with a mental disorder they can and do take your rights.

[@notabot2732]

Don't give them any ideas

[@michaelmartin96]

I have been on anxiety medication for a fee months after my divorce and I worry about that affecting me later on down the road one day

[@pjfeys99]

Really glad Joe did this, the VA is very hard at times and takes a long time. Took me 6 months to get my rating. Many guys take longer

[@skankmcgank]

Six months is insanely short

[@francavable]

I did one tour of Afghanistan. Got blown up twice by IEDs and saw some combat. Nothing super crazy, but a couple dozen fights. I was also injured in a parachute training jump a year later and broke my back in 3 places and ruptured several of the disks in my back and neck. The first time I went to VA, they treated me like a bug. They were constantly rescheduling appointments at the last minute or just canceling them on me, jerking me around. It took me a long time, almost 4 years, to finally get rated and start getting treatment. You don't have to be Spec Ops or something for military service to mess you up and yeah, there are some straight grifters who ruin it for the rest of us, but it sucks that guys get treated like dirt the second they walk in and ask for help.

[@rayhepburnable]

Maybe you picked the wrong job?

[@francavable]

@@rayhepburnable meaning?

[@leifanderson3487]

@@rayhepburnable ........................

[@j.b8728]

I'm sorry that this veteran has had a tough time with his disability. My experience has been the opposite, the West LA VA has been well to me so far.

[@MH-il1lk]

I am glad this man brought up how the VA can just say your health one day and you healed another. They did that to me with my back. I had 10%, then they gave me 40%, then said I healed so they gave me 20%. I am now at 40% because I showed them an Xray result that they did that showed my degenerative disc disease. The VA doctors are the worse too.

[@MarcusTheJR]

I was at 60% then got reevaluation after. After u got a job. Thinking I was lifting heavy equipment. I wasn't. They had me reevaluate to 40%. After my final appointments I'm at 90% and it's crazy. It's like an interrogation

[@acdcduke2037]

The Parma, Ohio VA is wonderful facility. I am a combat vet and stayed away for 30 years. I didn’t realize how messed up I am. I walked into the VA and was immediately approached and was told you have the stare are you all right? We went from there and still going to this day. Everyone at our VA is top shelf and am so grateful for their help. Don’t try and understand what I mean by being messed up. Only another combat veteran can. Thank God for all veterans. Prayers and only good wishes.

[@mtwilla]

I love the VA.. they found out a disease my dad had and treated it allowing him to live longer.. also, they saved my life.. I am thankful for them

[@chucksolutions4579]

Glad to hear your story

[@CheezeBane]

Thank you so much for bringing this to light. I have fought for well over eight years to get my percentage. I was infantry, served overseas but was injured in training. I have had spinal issues that have only gotten worse. Kept being denied over and over again. I remember during my first compensation and pension exam I mentioned about my neck in the issues and my neck legitimately popped so loud you could hear it in the next room and they just shrugged it off, just kept writing. I told him the pain is extensive. And the doctor just told me what you're just going to have to deal with it and suck it up. I finally have my 100% p&t but it took me eight years of fighting and my health has gotten so much worse since then. The system is broken and they need an overhaul to actually treat veterans better. I know that there are going to be some shitbags in the heap trying to get their cut. But there is a lot of veterans out there with legitimate issues that don't even want to go to the VA because they know of how much of a fight it's going to be.

[@grantbuxton]

I am 70% disabled permanently 100% unemployable chronic ptsd, it took me 20 years to ask for help

[@sunnykobe3210]

Glad you asked. Welcome home, brotha. Go live your life ❤

[@billyray6913]

I can confirm this is 100% accurate about the VA. I get so anxious and nervous dealing with the VA and the paperwork almost isn't worth it.

[@pizzaparty-r1c]

I get 100% disability for PTSD. It is enough for me to not have to work and not be around people. But before, when I was working and always having to leave my home, I knew eventually I would have ended up killing someone or myself. I now stay at home and can avoid society. This is why the VA awarded me 100%. They know what PTSD can lead to. Before my time in the military, I had friends, family, and girl friends. After separating from the military, I have none of that anymore.

[@puffherb]

My cousin did two tours in Iraq, we were honestly like brothers. Unfortunately the therapist he found when he came back the first time was named Pabst Blue Ribbon. He had to do some terrible shit over there. The best parts of him were used by our military in an illegal, immoral war where the "enemy" was never really black/white until the bullets were already flying. He just couldn't say no to the opportunity to make sure his friends made it home by going on a second tour, but so many didn't and they are the ones that fuck my cousin up. It's war. A bunch of wealthy old dickheads sending younger generations of people off to be scared physically and mentally for....literally no good fucking reason at all - I fucking hate this bullshit cycle. On top of it all, the physical and mental damage we've inflicted on at least two generations of people in the Middle East...which will likely "necessitate" military action again. I'm not delusional, I know I can't relate to you. I've not been to war, but I've seen what's left of those who go off to war and make it back. Your story, and the story of people like you, are vital to show war should only be used as a VERY LAST RESORT. I'd share your story with the world, if I could, every last fucked up detail, translated into every language - not for my sake, or even yours, but for the sake of humanity. We're numb to war because we see it every day on TV or the internet. War should be the most appalling thing we can behold, wholesale killing should be ended immediately by ANY nation not perpetrating it. Every day I feel like my life is just a bit more like the origin story of a supervillain. It's hard to not hate your species when it continually fails itself ad nauseam.

[@watata1t]

And for what?, what was it all for ?

[@pizzaparty-r1c]

@@watata1t Being treated like a sub-human. My ex fuking everyone on base. Lowly peasant wages. 12 hour shifts, including weekends. Disrespect. List goes on and on. Combat is easy. Losing your family isn't. Worst trauma any man can ever experience.

[@TheJMan1K]

@@pizzaparty-r1cwhere did you fight?

[@pizzaparty-r1c]

@@TheJMan1K I never deployed. VA disability has nothing to do with combat. Thats what most vets don't realize. The military causes a disability, not combat. Its why most vets don't pursue and get approved a rating. They don't understand how the system truly works. My divorce caused my PTSD. My divorce was caused by the military. By the way, I'm a contractor now and have done time in Bagram and Kandahar. So don't hate too much. lol

[@hotrodblonde]

I am not a vet but have been serving vets for decades. We are in the process of dedicating the rest of our lives into veteran care and assistance. Please pray for my husband and I to get the funding we need to do this.

[@skankmcgank]

Why don't you fund lawyers to sue the VA