With veterans coming home from two wars over the past 8 years, many are leaving service without monetary benefits that they deserve.
Most who do not receive benefits have done so by neglecting their health in not having their injuries documented in their medical records, or because they do not understand the legitimacy of making claims, feeling as though it would be cheating the system that had provided for them, and that they had been honored to serve within.
The truth is that the injuries that may be minor today are going to escalate over a lifetime, possibly resulting in surgeries, debilitation, or both. For this reason alone, veterans should be prepared to answer these questions regarding the claims they are making:
- Is there pain?
- What is the degree of the pain?
- How do you feel?
Is There Pain?
This is a question that is hard for many servicemen and women to answer. Pain in the military is a way of life. Aches and pains given priority in the field of battle can lead to the death of many.
While making claims to the VA, it is time to realize that that lifestyle is over. Pain is not normal. It means that something is wrong and should be given attention. One marine, CWO Dominique Davis, puts it this way in his briefs to subordinates who are anticipating separation from the military:
"When you are asked if you are in pain, just answer the question. Most marines want to say, 'sure, my knee hurts after a 20 mile hike with full gear while carrying an M240G machine gun.' But, does it hurt when you're watching tv? If the answer is yes, don't say, 'well, that's just watching tv.' Your knee is not supposed to hurt when you are watching tv!"
So, the answer to whether you are experiencing pain is yes or no. Do not clarify that there is pain while running or walking up the stairs, but not while sitting in the doctor's office at that moment. If there is pain while performing activities that were once not accompanied by pain, then there is pain, and that is all that is being asked.
What is the Degree of the Pain?
After the answer to 'is there pain?' is given, the severity of the pain will be documented. Again, just as CWO Davis tells his marines, do not use the Superman method of measuring pain.
If the pain in your knee, back, neck, or hip is so great that finishing a simple run is hard, and obstacle courses are impossible without literal sacrifice of limbs, the pain is not a mere inconvenience; it is severe, and should be stated as such. On the other hand, minor pain should not be exaggerated. Lying about the severity of injuries is not only wrong, but can result in the denial of any benefits.
One example of this, stated from a VA source that requested to remain anonymous, was a marine stationed aboard Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina. He had spent an hour talking about how his back hurt so badly that he couldn't do anything, even blow into a meter that would determine if he had any lung capacity shortage from an asbestos claim. When he was finished with his appointment he ran out of the building and jumped in his truck "as if he were afraid it would drive away without him."
The technician who gave him the lung test saw him and documented it in his chart.
Handling the Psychological Examination
Servicemen and women who have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, or other stations around the world, should be honest about their experiences, and how they have been affected by them.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is the most common psychological disorder of men and women coming home, but it is not the same for everyone. Some people drink more than they ever have, and don't have a reason as to why, while others overreact to non-hostile situations. Some seek violence, wishing for someone to do harm to them, and others find it hard to be in crowds, or around a lot of noise.
It is important for veterans to remember that whether they have had positive or negative experiences with the medical units they have had to report to, the VA is completely different as is their mission.
Military medical units are always striving to maintain the combat readiness of the personnel under their care. During these appointments, VA medical personnel are trying to assess the health of service members who are no longer wishing to be combat ready as they have already served their time, and deserve to be compensated for any future pain and discomfort that may come because of it.
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