Veteran's Introductions

[tomwilson222]

Veteran's introduction

I'm a Vietnam-era (US) Navy fighter/carrier pilot that got out of the Naval Academy in 1960 and the Navy at the end of 1966. In mid-2003, I was mis-diagnosed as having a heart attack (it was actually a GI bleed), and the good doc who did an [unnecessary] angiogram on me threw in MRCA for free. After a week+ of scratching their collective physicians' asses, I needed an emergency C-5 to T-4 lamenectomy to save my life and came out a C-7 incomplete tetraplegic. Since then, I've had some great re-hab to offset repeated assassination attempts by the local health care delivery system, but today I can walk (barely) with 2 canes buy use a wheelchair for most mobility Neuropathic pain is my biggest problem and I'm always looking for a better mix of pain medications. Have a great SCI doc at the Cincinnati VAMC (Austin Nobunaga) and all things considered, I know a lot of people my age that are much worse off than I am -- ergo, no complaints!

[JimmyMack]

I've had some great re-hab to offset repeated assassination attempts by the local health care delivery system.

Welcome Tom, i'm a lover of great sentences and the one above is a classic my friend.. I'm going to Bethesda on tuesday to visit the wounded Marines there, I'm going with some of the guys from the Marine Corps Slattery Detachment. Thanks for serving our Country, and welcome to CareCure.

[RAFS]

I'm a Vietnam-era (US) Navy fighter/carrier pilot that got out of the Naval Academy in 1960 and the Navy at the end of 1966. In mid-2003, I was mis-diagnosed as having a heart attack (it was actually a GI bleed), and the good doc who did an [unnecessary] angiogram on me threw in MRCA for free. After a week+ of scratching their collective physicians' asses, I needed an emergency C-5 to T-4 lamenectomy to save my life and came out a C-7 incomplete tetraplegic. Since then, I've had some great re-hab to offset repeated assassination attempts by the local health care delivery system, but today I can walk (barely) with 2 canes buy use a wheelchair for most mobility Neuropathic pain is my biggest problem and I'm always looking for a better mix of pain medications. Have a great SCI doc at the Cincinnati VAMC (Austin Nobunaga) and all things considered, I know a lot of people my age that are much worse off than I am -- ergo, no complaints!

Hi Tom,
Welcome to Care Cure as we say here sorry you had to find us but glad that you did. You've come to the right place. If you ever have any questions don't forget to post them here. Some one will answer you and if they don't know the answer they will find it for you and get back to you here. Also don't forget the GREAT SCI Nurses here and also the great Dr. Wise Young the originator of this site. Thank you for having served and for your sacrifice. WIsh you the gest Tom !
Take care my fellow Veteran.

[ben1son1]

1. United States
2. US Army ASA/US Coast Guard (Electronic)
3. 1968-1973/1973-2000
4. Service-connected 100%/hurt on duty
5. Can not work so I point Vets in the direction and armed the with information
ben1son1@hotmail.com

[ButterflyMom]

1. United States
2. USAF (Aircargo Specialist)
3. 1984-1989
4. Not service related
5. I got out of the Air Force a few months before Desert Storm, Was hard watching the people I worked with go off to war. I wanted to be with them, but I was also happy with a brand new baby girl. Bitter-Sweet

[yaardworker]

1. United States
2. US Army Engineers
3. 1971-73
4. SCI not service connected
5. I am 30% service connected for skin problems that began while serving in
Vietnam. In 1980 I injured L1 and L2 in a car crash. Spinal fusion 1981. For
the last few years I have come to rely on the VA more and more. For the
most part I have no complaints with their care.
Thank you, Erik.

[VertigoGypsy]

1) U.S.A.
2) Army
3) june 01-feb 07
4) active duty deployment

[RAFS]

1) U.S.A.
2) Army
3) june 01-feb 07
4) active duty deployment

Hello Fellow Veteran. Welcome to Care Cure Community & the Veterans Forum. Sorry you had to find us but like we say glad that you did. This is a great site and if you ever have any questions please come here and post or suggestions post as well.
Thank you for having served and for your sacrifice. I'm an Air Force Veteran myself. I served 8/71 to 5/75.
Best of luck to you always.
RAFS

[Sue Pendleton]

1) U.S.A.
2) Army
3) june 01-feb 07
4) active duty deployment

Hi Vertigo,

Which branch of the Army were you in? I was a Czech Interceptor in Military Intelligence back before the Wall came down.

Do you have a spinal cord injury? If so, what level?

Thanks for your service!

[Sue Pendleton]

Welcome home, Yaardworker! Sounds like you were in country same time as my husband. He also has a recurring breakout on his chin when stress hits or he's getting a cold. His is from sun poisoning in Eritrea back in '67. Yea, he volunteered in early '67 and they send him to Kagnu Station in what was then Ethiopia. Vietnam, with occasional incursions into Cambodia, took up all of '72. He had 10% hearing loss on retirement from mortars, most likely. All incoming.

[M Nedela]

Veteran's introduction

1. USA
2. Army
3. 93-98
4. T3 non service connected 2004
5. receive my care through the VA

Hello,
I have been reading posts here since I was injured in 2004. This is such a great site, and has helped me so much esp. when I was first injured.

I am very greatfull for the care I receive from my local VA SCI clinic (Ann Arbor, MI.) and the Hines VA SCI center (Chicago). I go to Hines every year for my annual eval.

I Was wondering if my non service connected 50% disability rating can be increased? I’ve always assumed it was 50% because I was not injured while in the army. The reason I want to increase it is so I can get dental care through the VA.


Thanks,
Matt

[SCI-Nurse]

VA Dental care is a different issue. Unless you are specifically service connected for your teeth, it is unlikely you can get full dental care (other than emergency services) through the VA. You would do best to talk to your PVA NSO about whether this would apply to you or not.

(KLD)

[Oldtimer]

I believe you can get VA dental care as an inpatient. Might want to consider admitting yourself. I do not believe this should or could be done for regular cleanings, x-rays, etc.

[betheny]

Welcome Tom, i'm a lover of great sentences and the one above is a classic my friend.. I'm going to Bethesda on tuesday to visit the wounded Marines there, I'm going with some of the guys from the Marine Corps Slattery Detachment. Thanks for serving our Country, and welcome to CareCure.

Just have to second this vote in favor of the term "Attempted Assissination Attempts" aka Repetitive Disasters in Health Care.

[skippy13]

The only way you can get full dental care through the VA is if you are service connected for dental damage in any award amount, or if you are 100% SC for anything else at all.

If you are service connected for any condition and then awarded Individual Unemployability (being paid at the 100% disabled rate) you will also qualify for full dental care.

Matt, you should have a VSO look over your case and you yourself can try to recall everything you were treated for in the service that still shows residuals in your life today. If you find something that you may be able to service connect, then file a claim for that. Get a copy of your "C" file from the VA and look it over yourself for any leads to service connect.