Posted 10/25/2013 11:36 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you, all my friends, and in particular, my other Nam brothers from all branches of the service.
Need to make a correction, it took 3 years and 10 months, not 4 years and 10 months. Would have been 4 years this December.
I still have a few minor formalities to go through, including a visit with a local VA doctor to confirm the medical side (that will be no problem with my medical history and dealing with advanced PC).
What the hang up was all this time, is that in my duty stations, it didn't specifically show me boots on the ground. Due to the nature of my squadron, VP-17. We flew out of Sangley Point NAS, PI, but detached to both Thailand and Cam Rah Bay. A lot of Navy aviation guys have had the same problem as I did.
But they researched, as I had hoped, where and how my squadron operated and saw indeed, that it was all true. Plus, here with the VA in SC, they treated my claim like I was a piece of crap from the start. Not the local VA county office, but the state processing center in Charleston.
When they denied me twice, and I insisted on going on appeal in DC, they threw a fit, called me a liar on the phone, and tried everything they could to discourage me from appealing.
This was even spelled out in the letter that came today, and the fact that they were so stupid on their end, that they claimed I was in the Navy when I was still a junior in high school, lol. Plus, they admitted that the Navy did a poor job in those days of keeping accurate flight logs. The flights/missions I went on, I volunteered every chance I got, and it was only as an observation spot, mostly strapped to a canvas seat for 12-16 hour missions, mostly over the South China Sea and Mykong Delta. There was always x amount of enlisted guys that were either too drunk or on sick call to make the flights, so they would ask for volunteers.
But patience is something I am good at, and of course, I know what I did and where I was 42 years ago.
More like being innocent and having the VA assume you were guilty.
I was prepared to appeal it to the next level, but thankful I won't have to. So going to the county office on Monday, so they can have copies, and instruct me of the next step and time line.
For those that have been through this, how long from this point, do you think it will take for the money to flow? Weeks, or months?
Just from the money owed back to December, 2009, we will be able to be debt free, including what's left on our modest mortgage. My dream is complete, I didn't want to die and leave my wife with any debt.
And yes, next year's cruise will be much better.
To those starting this path, you can win, but be prepared to be told no, and be prepared to spend a lot of time. Same thing happened with my Social Security Disability.
Thanks for all of you that have supported me through this ordeal.
David