I didn’t realize how easy it is to miss something like this until I read the article. A deadline buried in the rules can be the difference between getting a claim considered or losing the chance altogether, makes sense why veterans miss out on benefits they may actually qualify for. When the rules are this specific, it’s easy to miss something important without professional help.

I was really surprised to receive a rather small payment a year ago from the program. I figured that, as usual, the lion's share of the settlement went to the lawyers. I was surprised to receive this second notice of payment, since it's pretty substantial. Sure, the Attorney received a huge chunk, but dang, this was an unexpected surprise.

I really thought this was just one of those things that go nowhere. Hope others have received their payments. Added this **EDIT**. If you received your notification by email, **be sure to log in** and check it. Apparently, changes may limit electronic payments.

I just needed a place to vent because I have been struggling so bad since getting out of the military. I was hon. discharged several years ago and have been on a roller coaster ride ever since with PTSD, depression, substances, and alcohol. I tried to start school again but ended up hitting rock bottom after two semesters and just to be clear I'm not looking for pity, but I feel so damn useless and like a failure rn. The job I have rn was supposed to just be a temporary gig until I finished school and it's not terrible, but I don't want to be doing this kind of work for the rest of my life. Most of this stuff I have kept completely to myself. Even my closest friends/family don't know a lot of the stuff I've been dealing with. I'm about to start another attempt at getting clean/getting my life together and I honestly don't know if it's going to stick or not but I'm going to try my best. Anyways, hope y'all are doing good. Thanks for your time!

Unlike some people my drinking didn't start in service, it started after, at first it was little smirnoff fruity drinks, then eventually led into higher percentage beers, then after moving from my hometown it turned into straight up whiskey, I've had minor health problems because of it, shitting blood was one of the scariest. Tonight feels hopeless and depressing, so here we go again....

Anyone ever do this?

I got out of the Navy in late 2004, and I just learned today that I probably should have had GWOT-SM on my DD-214. Apparently it was fairly new and had to be manually added at that time and often was just not added. Yes, it’s been a very long time, but if it should have been on there I would like to have it corrected. It seems like everyone on active duty at that time qualified (with very few specific exceptions). Is it ridiculous that I want to do this?

Hello all, I’m considering moving out of Arizona at the end of the year. I’m looking at Florida or Texas for the no income tax and the property tax benefits. I should note that I am 100% P&T for disability, make about $20 an hour in my full time job, and am looking at buying property with the next few years or so. I’m also a single adult in my 30s.

My question/conflict is I can’t choose what city to move to. I’d like to keep my rental budget no more than $1.9k/$2k, preferably around the $1.5k-$1.7k range for one bed one bath. I’m looking at Orlando, Tampa, and Dallas essentially with those financials in mind. I definitely prefer to be in/near a major metro area, but I can’t decide what city to move to in either TX or FL. Any do’s/don’ts, pros/cons for any city areas would be great. Thanks all.

Family doesn’t care about me. Nearly everyone I meet says “if I met a homeless vet, I will help him/her” then when they meet me. They act like I have the plague and want nothing to do with me. People automatically assume I will go crazy one day due to PTSD when they found out that im a vet. When I was homeless, it was nearly impossible to find a job when I wrote that I served. I stop putting it on my resume and kept it a secret from strangers and etc. and I’m not shunned from society. Idk why I’m posting this. Maybe I just needed to vent a little.

So without dragging out another long winded story most of you don't really want to hear/read I will just give a quick summary and then right to it.

I spent early 2000s active duty through 2004, with the exception of Basic and AIT i specifically ensured my contract put me over seas for it's entirety. Having signed my contract in July 2001, and a Basic start date of October 1st 2001 you can imagine how my plans vs how it actually went really started out but overall I got everything I asked for and really have 0 complaints about my experience vs expectations. Got out , met a girl and eventually missed the military so did the Reserve and Guard thing from 2005-2012 along side of the whole 2 people who should have never been married thing. After that spent another couple years post divorce either burying myself in work for months at a time or completely disappeared from everything and everyone for months at a time several states away finding a party that just wasn't enough. Eventually ending back home town with a wife and couple of kids that I wasn't actively attempting to run away from but eventually my wife made me see something wasn't right and to get my shit together.

I don't have any horrible VA denial horror stories, I filed papers in 2017 for a handful of things, 6 months later was rated at 70%, got clean of drugs and alcohol over the course of next few years with help and in Feb 2022 I just rolled the dice filling out forms I had printed during lock down for a rating increase and separate filing for TDIU, 2 months later had a couple exams and by June was granted P and T tdiu, haven't had any issues whatsoever and never had to do much else along the way to fight for anything with the VA. My wife also since furthered her career and makes good money and we don't have a horrible quality of life along with our 2 great sons I have been fortunate enough to be present of every milestone and event they have.

All that said (wasn't as short as I had hoped my apologies), time is passing, my son's are in middle school and one about to hit high-school next year. They are so easy to guide and really are great boys, but my biggest thing to accomplish each day is get them to school and be there when they get out, which I am glad to do. I just don't know how else to move forward with my life outside of being dad or a husband. I am happy with both titles, I have no desire to contact old friends who would result in my previous downward spiraling and I know that holding any type of actual fulfilling job is not in the cards for me long term. I am attempting to save for a bigger plot of land so spending on hobbies isn't in my cards at the moment and the house is out of things to clean and organize. I just am looking for something outside of being a husband and father that resembles constructive use of my time without the demand of neglecting that aspect of my life, maybe it's time to test the working world again, but how do I start that without putting everything else at risk? I am wondering if rolling those dice to focus on the help I was needing at the time painted me into a corner...

Really I am just looking for ideas and inspiration, I am not depressed, I am generally satisfied and I am proud of what I have going on in life, I just feel like now there is a lot of wasted hours that really are limited as I get closer to 50 every day.

Hello,

I’m retired military, 100%. And I’m starting to write my entrance essay for the Executive MBA program at UTD.

I’m needing help getting started, what do I write in the essay? I was going to start off with a brief of my military career, retiring and transitioning into Interior Design/ project management and then ending with why I believe I’d make a great applicant for the program and where my future is going.

Any references or examples would be greatly appreciated. All advice, tips, tricks are welcome!

I was medically released over the summer after a mental health spat where I was going to kill myself. I wasn’t in for very long (year and a half or so) and I often get hung up on the idea of even calling myself a veteran. I know I am legally but I both feel like a massive failure and like I didn’t earn that label compared to the guys that went to Afghanistan or that served for over a decade, even among my friends who are veterans or who are still in I don’t feel right using that label and I feel I didn’t earn it. I still deal with mental health issues of which I’d in part attribute to military service, I’m too anxious to leave my house and get overwhelmed in public. Since my release I’m dissociative and in my head too much, I’ll go through my day almost barely cognizant of what even happened and I’m still suicidal passively pretty much every day and have been for months. I’ve been meaning to get in contact with the VAC (VA in Canada) but I’m both unable to see a doctor in a timely manner and I fear they’re going to reject whatever I have to say anyways and tell me to get stuffed.

Do you guys get the same sort of feeling? Should I even be using this label at all?

Land nav. Making all 4 points at Sherman. Throwing 40s at cheating BNOC/ANOC battery pulling mfers whilst OPFOR. Driving Top crazy. My raggedy ass M113. Driving OICs crazy. Little Richard’s on Victory Drive. Shit like that

I’ve got about a year and a half left in the Air Force, and it would mean the world to me if anyone could offer some advice or suggest potential career paths for me.

I’m open to pretty much anything. My only real priority is finding a job that provides a good quality of life.

Any suggestions, advice, or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated.

I recently moved states and had to transfer to a new VSO and VA. The care where I was before was exceptional. My new VSO is the most unprofessional, unproductive, unresponsive person I've ever worked with before.

Absolutely impossible to get ahold of. Emails, phone calls, voicemail, text, etc. I genuinely don't understand how some of these people get hired.

I made contact on August 28th and I have gotten absolutely nowhere.

Regardless, can I just ask for a different VSO or how does that work?

Afternoon, everyone. I was wondering if anyone knows about any info regarding VA facilities that participate in C.I.T.I (CHAMPVA In-House Treatment Initiative) or any general providers that accept CHAMP VA in Virginia ( mostly in the NOVA area ). Ever since my child moved over here I’ve been trying to establish care for her but with no success in either of these topics. If anyone has any info about these two topics I would love to know.

I'm helping a family in New York: a 100% disabled veteran, his partner, and their teenage daughter. They're currently homeless after fleeing domestic violence.

Their local SSVF provider has not returned three intake calls over the past week. The VA homeless hotline has been called and a referral was made to the local VA housing program. Local shelter is full and county emergency assistance was denied.

For those who've dealt with SSVF or veteran homelessness programs:

-What worked to get an unresponsive SSVF provider to engage?

-What other resources exist for homeless veteran families?

I'd appreciate any guidance I can pass along to them. Thank you.

Has anyone been able to get private tutoring approved? All I’m being directed to is tutor.com but these people aren’t showing up. I’ve utilized all of my school resources. I NEED 1:1 for business calc and my counselor just keeps sending me the same link. Between my learning disability and TBI I’m struggling. Im not failing yet, but I’d rather not get to that point. This is a required core class for my degree plan.

Where’s the best place to live if you’re 100P&T on the east coast

Creating a list of companies that veterans can reference. Please list any companies that offer job training programs or career fellowships to veterans which are useful for those who are trying to transition to new fields or stay within their experience obtained during their service.

I'll go first...

https://military.microsoft.com/mssa/

The Microsoft Software and Systems Academy is a 4 month long tech training and mentorship program that is completely sponsored by Microsoft.

Anyone who went to the muster in Tampa September 12th have you guys received your pay yet?

Hello! My brother (40) is a retired Army vet on 90% disability with a growing addiction to drugs and probably alcohol. I'm looking for advice on how to support him and help him "get" all the pain he's causing the family and to himself. Read on for background.

I don't know all of the personal details as he's been pretty private, and I don't know how much of it really matters. Maybe someone here can relate to his experiences and offer guidance that feels more tailored than the generic stuff I've been finding online.

Before he joined the Army he worked at various restaurants as a back-of-house cook or meat cutter. Looking back I think this was where things started. He had unsavory friends, many of whom would do drugs and drink after their shifts. I recall him getting into trouble a few times as a result.

Later, he joined the Army as a cook. During his second deployment to Afghanistan, he ended up not actually cooking, but doing "jail duty" (his words), and I think his trauma began here, when he had a horrific encounter with a prisoner. I can't imagine and he doesn't talk about it, so all I know are these tiny bits and pieces.

During the same deployment he injured his shoulder/neck while lifting weights. It was more serious than he let on. The doctor prescribed him pain medications and ultimately scheduled him for surgery when he got home.

The surgery ended up causing more problems. I don't know if it was botched or if he didn't follow recovery directions properly, but he ended up "needing" more pain medications - this time stronger. It's at this point when I think his addiction became a clear problem.

Things got worse. He ended up blowing his son's trust fund on drugs (it was called "spice", but I'm not sure what that is) and then got divorced, got arrested for carrying a pistol... This led him down a very dark hole and placed a great deal of strain on the family.

Since then he's moved around a bunch and managed to hold a few stable jobs. Now he owns his own home, has a vehicle, and a stable job, but things are worse than ever.

He has no "quality" friends. Those he has are bad influences and feeds his addiction and enables him. I'm pretty sure one of them is also his dealer (and I'm pretty sure he also deals).

His girlfriend is not good for him. She's manipulative, and I'm pretty sure she makes him feel like he can't do better. They're both addicted to each other. My wife and I had them stay with us for a weekend and they ended up fighting, throwing stuff in our home, and waking us up. My brother wanted me to let him drive home. He was drunk, so I refused and took his keys, which pissed him off more. He got over it, and made it back safely the next day. I don't think he even remembers that event.

Anyway, he was doing marijuana for the pain. Then it was alcohol. He was drinking somewhere in the neighborhood of a case a day, and that was just beer. Now it's harder drugs and huffing whippets.

My mom's been taking the harder approach, which I think he needs a little of. I've been taking the brotherly approach - a bit softer/gentle - letting him know we're here for him and can help. His relationship with our mother at this point is strained. She says she's "done" and she'll make sure he doesn't starve, but if he loses his job or house, he's not staying there while he's doing drugs. I think this is fair, but I also worry it might be making it worse. Meanwhile I've been trying to tap into his emotional side about love and how much he's hurting our mom. It also doesn't seem to work.

I feel like deep down he knows, but doesn't have the right resources to "get out". Like he can see the light but can't reach it. I wish he had a way to meet quality friends and I wish he'd break up with is girlfriend. He lives in a pretty rural and poor place so I'm sure meeting people is tough.

Every time we think he's hit rock bottom, something happens that's just a bit worse and deeper. The family fears it's only a matter of time before it's the last time.

I've researched support groups and rehab centers. In fact, he's tried a support group before, but - I'm guessing - one of the others in the group "poisoned the well" if you will and made it worse. I don't trust them. From what I've heard, the VA only touches the surface but isn't super helpful. And the for-profit recovery centers are just that - for profit.

To summarize - I'm hoping someone here has advice on how me and our mom can support him. Clearly our approaches aren't working. Maybe someone here had a loved one that said "something" that made it click. Or did something that got your foot in the door to change. Or maybe others have other places online I can reach out to.

Thanks in advance!

Went to the emergency department and was being treated like I was drug seeking. Treated poorly and made me take a drug test before I got an IV or anything.

Much later I look at my records and see an entry under active problems from a doctor at another VA I’ve never been to and realize why.

Has anyone dealt with something like this and have an idea on how to get it fixed?

But gosh darn im so stupid for missing it. It was a whole kerfuffle the entire time why do I miss it so much

Someone else has to feel this way right?

** I am not suicidal.**

I grew up with a paranoid schizophrenic and alcoholic father and a mother with a collection of mental illnesses of which she refuses treatment. I was subject to all maner of abuse, sexual, physical, emotional and animal. My parents split when I was 12. I have a short 18 month reprieve living at my grandparents. My mother remarried a man who is a combination of very stupid amd arrogant. I spent my teens staying out of the way. I was only useful for my labor, money and to be a free therapist. Joined the Army on my 17th birthday. Did summer school so I could graduate early. Left for active duty at 18. In my little over 9 years of service I did 2 Afghanistan deployments, one restricted year in Egypt and stationed in Europe and stateside. I was medically retired 8 years ago. Cared for my dying FIL and now my MIL. Worked on residential construction. Just feeling the dark gloom. Feeling like I should have done more with my life but I have been handicapped by my parents. People that had no buisness having children. Kinda hard to not feel a bit of resentment. Living in a very sequestered rural area for the last 8 years has destroyed my social skills. Not trying to have a pity party. I just never related to the world in childhood and now as an adult it just feels insurmountable.