I am a 79 yr old, USAF, Nam Era ptsd disabled vet who, among other issues suffer direct ptsd symptom, a humiliating disorder that gives me trychotilamania as well as some fairly bad dreams. Dr Hood may not totally realize that my VA apointed via Vets Choice program has helped me in a manner that is NOT available within the VA Mental Health system. Instead the ONLY MH therapy that VA MD Psychiatrists offer to me ( perhaps THOUSANDS of similar vet claimed as "therapeutic" is the incessant pushing of dangerous drugs the most often turn many vets into "zombies" who so tragically simple end their own lives rather than try to fight the VA for Service Connected on duty ptsd who need our earned (GI BILL circa 1930s after WW2 google it). Yes there are so many Vets who have serious PHYSICAL traumatic service (limbs, eyes, heart, visable trauma injuries and many who suffer schzoid symptoms , that visable mental issues, such as drug induce schizophrenia , migraine, night terrors, and other isues that it MAY be necessary to use psychotropic drugs such as Abilify relate drugs (google relationship of the symptoms of ptsd issues that the dangerous drugs "abilify related drugs which combined with valium, fleuxotine, lithium carbonate, opiods etcetera, along with other VA authorized drugs by many of the other prescriptive medications in general too numerous to name in this review of my MH treatment by Dr. Hood.
Unfortunately, AFTER the VA approved me for LOCAL medical related health issues under the failed "Veterans Choice" boondoggles late 2014- 2015, 16, 17, for which the VA Admin OFFFERED regional local health care throug Healthnet, and several other confusing but failed OUTSIDE by VA to manage the failed and failing Veterans Choice programs (please try to google it). The VAs Vets Choice systym is itself "schzoid" in my humble opinion. Many vets I have met are damaged by the past and even present Vet Choice programs (misinformation, uneducated phone jockies, etc as I and many others experience (failed legitimate MD/Psychologists payments, etc, leaving Vets with NO CARE other than (in my case a 50-60 mile trip to VAMC Mt Home, long waits, costly gasoline, wear and tear on many of our "wrent a wreck vehicles and yest there is some so called
busing service that requires home area pick ups to specified locations that any vets with traumatic heath service health issues that OFTEN are extremely long wiat to get to VAMCS and forced long waits for transport back to our home ares drop off points. ABSOLUTLY insufferable in my opinion.
I am legally blind left eye , 80 % or more left ear hearing loss some back/hip injuries, etc WHICK makes long drives to and fro for example from having to drive 50+ miles ONE WAY to Mt Home, TN in bad weather (rain, black ise, sleet snow conditions to get to the VAMC...extremely dangerous for this sight and hearing loss issues.
I know because I will not endanger other bad weather drivers on our highways. Our old beater vehicles take a beating over time.
But if/when I and other senior age (I am going on 80) disabled vets EVER get, in my case "VA CERTIFIED ADVANCED AGE FOR VA F9 TRIBUNAL and often fruitless live hearing in varius locations, in my case to be held in WDC at a stil UNKNOWN date certain date/time.
I seek no pity or charity. I live now for years on SSDI and a wee 10% sevrice related "tinnitus" monthly benefit of approx $135. per month OUT OF WHICH an average of $50 t0 $75. is DEDUCTED by the US Treasury Dept to to may the $8 = $$ for needed VA approved prescriptions. In my case they rake up to $75. per month and an ongoing balance ( usually over $200 owed for past VSA prescriptons co-pay expense AND in my case the Mt Home VA admin does NOT allow me the "mileage benefit" offered for vehicle travel to/fro places like Mt Hoem ( my assigned VAMC and places over 75 to over 100 mile one way drives from the BOONE , NC region. REASON in my case, Mr. Nelson you make too much money from SSA (and now the 10% stipend for my tinnitus which itself is with me 24/7) My m, with NO COLA any more for years now monthly SSA income that is presntly fixed until and IF I ever get my WDC F9 appeal "trial" date B4 what I believe is a kangaroo hearing which is proven often in denying the VA compensation that began in the late 1930s when Congress authorized FEDERAL law, GI BILL of RIGHTS
But now I must pay, out of my low income already now ravaged by "co-pay" , full and vehicle maintenence for very old vehicles, just try to find a parking space at VAMC Quillen, VA Hospital at Mt Home , Tennessee.. I dare anyone.
The system is ,in my , and many others opinions, now near daily news casts media news, etc rife with incompetence, mismanagement by HIGHEST level VA administrator (highly paid) corrupt and incompetency. all a homongous on the "boots on the ground" VAMC employees who are underpaid and over worked and under staff employtees who are often Vets themselves. Just make a walk around vist to Mt Home VAMC on any Monday- Friday mornings when the "parking" issue ads, not helps disabled vets and families. a NIGHTMARE, and for this I am indebted to Dr RON HOOD for his efforts to provide any support as well as my now out of pocket pasychoy therapy visits located leas than 4 mles from my front door (of which I am now under eviction tgreats.
Once again, I am NOT seeking humiliating or charitable assistance or pity. Iseek only that which I was promised under GI BILL for my 4 yr enlistment in the USAF. AND know this, the KNOXVILLE RATINGS BUREAU denied my claims "due to no available supporting evidence". They never admitted my " flight records were "LOST" along with 75% of USAF and 100% Army Military permanent records in the devastating "4th of July, 1971 HALOCOST FIRE at the St Louis NATIONAL ARCHIVES!!" any one is free to google National Archives huge fire losses and for which Knoxville DENIED my righteous military disability comp claims in 2017. I had been on SSA/SSDI since approx 1973, with COLAs that at least increased my cost of living related benefits (approx 3% per year until the GOP ended that benefit for me and all other SSA recipients.
Now my much under stated regards and competent effort by Dr Ron, Blue Ridge Psychological Services, Boone, NC who was my window of "Hope as and Anchor, Firm and secure ( Hebrews 6:19)"fyi.
I do NOT make up or invent most of anything I have written in Dr Hoods much appreciated effort to help this Vet who has now provide the evidence of my service disability. Now only 3 days ago, my non related to the VA independent Legal support application has finally been approved for their attorneys not owing anything to th VA to defend me in the stil not date certain F9 Appeals hearing to be held at my expence of travel from SW North Carolina to WDC. I do not have any assets to even support that expensive at least 2-3 day hotel and travel cost. I will have to beg my 4 yr older brother (also my witness to the above as well as several other witness' who should be a part of my VA and RepForVets
legal counsel to fihght for my rights and I have tons of saved PC evidence that may take a whole hell of a lot of F9 hearing time (and the taxpayers pay for their "time" to try to NOT provide my benefits, under Fed Laws), an onerous TASK for any vet and surely for all of us service PTSD victims that most likely apply to any denied VA benefits, to my understanding.
I thank Dr. Ron Hood of Boone, NC and the highest recommendation for anyone seeking psychological support be they "civilians" or Veterans.
Respectfully and for ALL disabled veterans in the now millions of Vets who are supposed to be
cared for, under Federal law, before God to help vets get legal benefits, not look for unscrupulous means to DENY Vets benefits. (google all of it if any one care.I plead)
Bruce R Nelson, Banner Elk, NC 28604.
I know, quite wordy but required by me and my Maker.
CC for "RepForVets," Tampa, FL litigation records
by Bruce R Nelson
xxx.xxx.147.42
August 06, 2018
