Released from inpatient psychiatric care at the Hines VA for PTSD suicidal ideation.

I was recently released from an extended mental hospital stay. Overall positive things occurred while I was an inpatient at the Hines VA facility but the experience was uncomfortable overall. Towards the end of the stay I did summarize with the outlook that they quite simply treated me like a mental health patient because I quite frankly was one. Reasons for psychiatric inpatient care at the veterans hospital I had severe depression along with PTSD that was leading to allot of suicidal thinking. I shared all of this with my psychiatrist and did sign myself in willingly. I wanted to feel safe and to have my medicine adjusted. I was directly admitted by my psychiatrist, bypassing the whole waiting process. This got me right into the emergency room where my vitals were monitored along with an EKG that was administered. I was given Ativan and a turkey sandwich. I was told it would be about an hour. My belongings were very carefully inventoried. Blood was drawn and a urine sample was given. I calmly waited to be admitted.

This was not my first time at the show so I wasn't too nervous.

I walked through the double locked and double door entry hall way and was greated by an unfriendly black man who took my vitals. I was given a room and some basic essentials as my things were locked up in a storage area for patient belongings. I was a little worried about my phone, tablet, wallet or cash being stolen by fortunately this did not happen to me. I sat in my room with another veteran who shared the small drab dorm like room. This guy had been in for just a few days and proudly proclaimed that he was getting the fuck out of there quick and never coming back to the Veterans Affairs for healthcare again. I took this with a grain of salt. I didn't want to get too worked up about what might or might not happen while I was in the VA for psychiatric reasons. My treatment goals were to change medications, specifically my anti depressant medication. I had been taking lexapro daily for one year and the medication kind of pooped out on me despite efforts to max out the dosage. I had to tackle the suicidal ideation and I wanted to inquire about using a service dog for my condition, PTSD. Visit my service dog website at: Please Visit Military PTSD Service Dog Website Here More coming soon!

Getting Screwed by Veteran's Affairs. Disability Compensation

Benefits denied, benefits cut, benefits overpaid, benefits underpaid....overmedicated, misdiagnosed and underdiagnosed. Waiting, waiting, and more waiting.

Veterans across this country have had their patience tested by the Veteran's Administration. Some have been getting screwed by the VA for a few months, others have been getting shafted for a few decades. Look at my grandfather, a WWII veteran, who finally got his disability approved 60 years after he returned from Germany. Veterans all over are fighting and often losing to the Veteran's Affairs.





So how do we troops fight the VA and win?

Find a Veteran's Service Officer that knows what they are doing.
This is very important. Now you can definitely file without the help of someone else. In fact, you can download all the forms that you need to file for disability on the VA's website. However, many veterans over explain or do not provide the proper details when arguing for disability. Some vets will write pages of reasons on why the should be compensated by the VA. This is unnecessary and will not get you any further in the disability process. In fact, I heard some disability boards won't read past the first page of explanations because it is just anecdotal evidence. The VA disability board is interested in medical evidence.

A veteran's service officer will help you navigate through the paperwork when filing for disability. They file these claims all day long for veterans and can be of great help to vets. However, there are some VSOs (veteran service officers) that will show complete disinterest in your case and may be downright lazy. My advice to you is to shop around for the best representative to support your claim. Find a service officer that shows genuine concern in what you are doing.



Provide medical evidence in support of your disability claim.
I can't stress this point enough. Show enough proof that your disability is bothering you. Many veterans just file a claim and think they will be awarded disability. This is pointless and will only result in a denial of compensation. Without proper evidence, documented by doctors, your claim will likely be denied. There should be a medical history from your military service of the injuries that you are claiming disability for. At the very least, there should be a VA medical record of treatment of said injuries that you are claiming. I tell everyone that when they get out, the first thing that they should do is get established at a local VA hospital or clinic. Then they need to start making appointments to begin medical treatment for their disabilities. This will establish a record of treatment that can be used to win your disability case.

Have a medical doctor recommend you for veteran's disability compensation.
Deliver your information straight from the "horse's mouth." Whose word is more credible? A whiny veteran or a medical doctor? If your doctor can right a few paragraphs about how your disability effects your physical, emotional, vocational, social or academic well being, then you have the best possible chance at winning your disability case.

Filing for disability is a stressful process. Especially when you know that you are deserving of these benefits. The worst part about the disability system is the waiting game that must be played by the veteran. It took nearly two years for me to receive my second disability award and I provided more than enough medical evidence. I also had a great veterans service officer helping me out. So be prepared for a long wait. If the VA sends back a letter asking for more evidence, go back to your doctors, file more appointments, get more recommendations if possible. Your claim must be supported by medical fact not by personal feelings and stories.

My last advice is to hurry up and wait.