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What are your thoughts given some basic info? Fraud, Criminal Intent, PTSD & psychology.
An Army infantry soldier completes a first term 4 year enlistment, excited following 9/11. Possibly serves only one overseas tour, and never fires his weapon in combat. Gets out of Army following enlistment and joins Army Guard. Within first year of guard duty (upon orders for overseas tour) claims PTSD threatens to kill his comrades. Is released from duty.
Member has tried for 12 years to get benefits, and finally receives 100% disability. Claims to his family that his PTSD disease is cured. Does not follow psychologists prescriptions, as they are not really needed.
Was member fit for duty when enlisting in the Army Guard? Or did this member fraudulently join having pre-existing condition?
Can this member have concealed carry and go hunting, when he claims PTSD for gunfire?
would you consider this member to be defrauding the government and taxpayer?
Soldier has lied to family members claiming to be heroic sniper, only to reveal as lies later, having never fired his weapon in actual combat. Possibly used similar lies to VA psychologist.
How would you approach situation? VA does not seem to care, and does not offer path for investigation.
An Army infantry soldier completes a first term 4 year enlistment, excited following 9/11. Possibly serves only one overseas tour, and never fires his weapon in combat. Gets out of Army following enlistment and joins Army Guard. Within first year of guard duty (upon orders for overseas tour) claims PTSD threatens to kill his comrades. Is released from duty.
Member has tried for 12 years to get benefits, and finally receives 100% disability. Claims to his family that his PTSD disease is cured. Does not follow psychologists prescriptions, as they are not really needed.
Was member fit for duty when enlisting in the Army Guard? Or did this member fraudulently join having pre-existing condition?
Can this member have concealed carry and go hunting, when he claims PTSD for gunfire?
would you consider this member to be defrauding the government and taxpayer?
Soldier has lied to family members claiming to be heroic sniper, only to reveal as lies later, having never fired his weapon in actual combat. Possibly used similar lies to VA psychologist.
How would you approach situation? VA does not seem to care, and does not offer path for investigation.
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
PTSD
Posted 4 y ago
Responses: 460
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Many false claims are never investigated apparently. Unfortunately PTSD is a mental health condition and some folks can fake it. The false statements about his service to family should bring investigation into his disability claims.
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SP5 Richard Welch
GySgt Aaron Skidog If he has everything needed in his file, then that's a no brainier. Combat Arms is extremely stressful, and I believe that everyone has PTSD to one extent or other. Bragging to family about his service overseas is a private matter.
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SP5 Richard Welch
GySgt Aaron Skidog sorry for confusion. I hate it when people question my disabilities, simply because you can't see my spine dissolving. My TBI isn't visible, neither is my PTSD. Respect Bother ..
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SFC David Drury
Idk... iot keep up the charade through all the exams, tests and different experts that look into your head, one would have an academy award issued along with a PTSD diagnosis
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Just one of many many stories that are very similar. I know Guardsman who never saw any type of combat deployment and recieve 80% disability. Oh did I mention they work for the VA as a rater. I just retired after34 years serving 3 combat tours and am struggling to get more than 20% with proven mental health service connected conditions. The ones who earned it struggle the ones who didn't learned how to manipulate the system. It sickens me. I just had an Uncle who passed away who was a helicopter door gunner in Vietnam where the mortality rate for that job was 80% and who witnessed horrors that others couldn't even comprehend and he never got a nickle from the VA and he certainly suffered from PTSD. Its an unjust and unfair process.
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SPC Rebecca Cann
LCpl Walter Kenna - Complete records and organization, even with signed DBQs don't get you appropriate or adequate VA compensation. My medical file at VA is 6,000 pages long and includes about 8 different civilian physicians' and physician specialists' records. Army physicians provided enough tests / pathology reports to back my claim of CFS. But VA and Army docs do not know how to READ such tests or reports. I provided an Army pathology report on my small intestine, which the Army had lost. Army falsified my medical board report, omitting pathology report. I've been denied compensation, un-employability, and Aid and Attendance more times than I can count over the past 30 years. I am so sick and debilitated that I haven't been able to work, even at home since 2004. My case is with the only competent civilian attorneys for veterans that I could find, in front of the BVA for the 4th time since 2007, when I filed my appeal with updated medical evidence. Sometimes the VA paper pushers and baby VA docs are just so stupid that you can't get past them. I have never dealt with any competent BVA judge or competent VA Comp & Pen doc or VA contractor doc. VA has refused me a visit with VA Infectious Diseases doc or VA cardiologist. I have a plethora of medical records from those specific civilian specialists. If my attorneys win, I will receive 32 years of back-pay, partly because Army should have discharged me at 100% when I exhibited vax damage / cardiac damage right after 1990 mobilization of Reserve medical. After vaxes, I could never run again. And I was non-deployable from that moment until discharge from Reserve medical about a year later. Army docs refused to take me off the deployment rosters. And ALL of the above is part of a really good malpractice suit that bypasses the Feris doctrine.
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TSgt James Warfield
My Step day was in Vietnam as crew chief on helicopters, and was also there gunner when the helicopter was flying into pick up down poliots, I learn of this years after he retired, Tried to get him to file for VA claims he wouldn't because of the stigma that was ( and still is attached ) to those who file claims. My mother tried for years get us to see that he was having some bad flash backs after we left home... when she passed and went to leave with my sister we truly saw it in all it's worse.
People have said it I have said it on here. Yes there are those who game ( abuse the system ) but it's every where.
I just retired after 13 plus years working with a NGO that helps those who are needy, from financial to health including mental health,,, there were those who knew how to work the system,,, I had to fight hard not to judge all by those individual and make sure everyone got their case heard with out bias.
People have said it I have said it on here. Yes there are those who game ( abuse the system ) but it's every where.
I just retired after 13 plus years working with a NGO that helps those who are needy, from financial to health including mental health,,, there were those who knew how to work the system,,, I had to fight hard not to judge all by those individual and make sure everyone got their case heard with out bias.
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PO2 Luis Rodriguez
Maybe the reason you have such a low percentage is because you haven’t been diagnosed for anything, or you don’t know how to explain your symptoms when you go to the C&P exam… don’t hate, educate yourself how the VA claim work. Stop hating on others just because you can’t get what you want.
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I have heard people planning on “faking it” to get the disability so they can ride the system. Problem is is that it’s a psychological issue and there is no real way to prove whether someone is lying or not. Say it goes before a court, that soldier could claim he was trying to de-escalate his “condition” for the sake of his family or so he could get a job etc. I think it’s hoursehit guys like that exist but we all know that one guy that was in our unit that did everything they could to work the system. Getting out of deployments, general duties, etc. Show of hands on how many people k ow someone that magically became Muslim prior to a combat deployment and couldn’t go fight their “brothers”? Or came out as homosexual (back when DADT got you out of the military in 3 days)? But back on topic... there are always going to be soldiers that will do whatever they can to use the system to their benefit which unfortunately takes resources from those that need them but they don’t care, because they are getting what they wanted.
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I would say, as a retired PI, that this guy has all the signs of one who is trying the game the VA for benefits that he has not earned. For those of us who have done five or more tours to the sandbox, who actually have PTSD, this makes it difficult for others to claim the benefit because the VA then looks at all of us in a critical light. The VA under Trump has been more proactive in investigating those who try to defraud the VA with stolen honor and fraudulent claims. Perhaps those who are so inclined will think twice before thinking that the VA is an easy get rich scheme.
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SMSgt John Lemon
Wow!!! So much negativity!. Try doing some homework instead of opening your mouth and remove all doubt that you are an idiot.
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It has always been my position that those who claim PTSD for a rating boost are pond scum, and those who claim it to get out of things are rancid poo stains. This condition painfully affects many in our Veteran community. False claims allocate resources to those who don't need it, overburdens the compensation funds causing "cost savings measures" to hurt others (such as refusing concurrent receipt for retirees under 50%), and causes social stigma for all Veterans in the workplace and society in general.
If you can prove this person is committing fraud then report them to the VA.
If you can't prove it but they are exploiting the system, take comfort that one day St Michael will put the POS on extra duty for eternity.
If you can prove this person is committing fraud then report them to the VA.
If you can't prove it but they are exploiting the system, take comfort that one day St Michael will put the POS on extra duty for eternity.
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SPC Tim Thompson
I have used my PTSD to my benefit. It has gotten me out of going to the Mall during the Christmas shopping season. It has also saved me a lot of money by keeping me from being able to attend pro sports events. On the other hand I have, personally, witnessed one veteran coaching two other veterans how to game the system to achieve disability ratings of 100% (to include which VA forms to fill out and when to submit). I was in the library of the Manhattan VA hospital. Back in those days I was more concerned with my injuries than with reporting fraud.
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SFC (Join to see)
I agree 100% with your post. Currently, I’m at 30%. I have been diagnosed with PTSD, but I didn’t file a claim for it for personal reasons. If you stay in long enough to retire, DFAS subtracts your disability payment from your retirement pay. It’s total bullshit, but that’s a fact. When I hear about fakers getting 100% for PTSD and the facts of their case is sketchy at best, my blood boils. Them taking resources they do not deserve, well, they are pond scum. I guess if I wanted to get on the band wagon and do the same, I could, legally with all my support documents. I don’t because I feel there are some out there that truly deserve it more than me. Unfortunately, there are those that don’t.
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In my case I think just dealing with the VA is a cause of PTSD !
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SPC Rebecca Cann
That is so true! Most deployed Reserve medical said they were bored while camped out in tents in the sandbox during ODS. The only excitement was med-evacing US troops to Germany because they couldn't breathe. Sand box docs couldn't treat respiratory symptoms that turned into varieties of bio-weapons pneumonia (mycoplasma - 4 species, and bio-weapons chlamydia pneumonia). And the most trauma they experienced was trying to get past the "stress" that all VA Comp & Pen docs labelled us with. VA admitted in 1999 -- that's 9 years too late! -- that stress had nothing to do with our myriad of symptoms that eventually ended our careers and then our lives.
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Anyone witnessing a traumatic act can develop PTSD,, just look at 1st responders. It does sound very fishy, but PTSD is never cut and dried. It is possible that fraud occurred, trick is going to be finding someone to prove it.
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SGM Bill Frazer
PFC Joe Fugo joe chill- I'm a member of Till Vahalla, 22 too many, E TN Vet2Vet counseling group, and life members of every Vet group in town to include PGR. Have way too many Gold Star families as friends. We didn't say he didn't need help, even if faking it he still needs help, but we can't force him to get it.
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SSgt Richard Kensinger
PFC Joe Fugo - As a clinician of 5 decades and a former AF ER medic I can assure you I am very concerned. I share my research on combat trauma w/ a number of VA entities and will be doing so again for The Warriors Project early next week via a video conference. I can share copies of my research on combat trauma w/ any one on this platform Just contact me " [login to see] "
Rich
Rich
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SMSgt John Lemon
PFC, you seem to be someone that would rather choke on your words than say something positive. Why all the negativity? Who shit in your cheerios?
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There definitely needs to be a criminal investigation into this, sounds like the person played people as suckers. J S.
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SMSgt John Lemon
That's what the VA IG is for. If you think VA employees are lazy report them. If you think VA employees are defrauding the American taxpayer then report them. Don't just wallow in self-pity and negativity do something about it.
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PTSD is a psychological problem, so I'm not qualified to say if a person has it. You may not be either. Possibly it can be cured or come and go. I don't know, so it makes resolving the entire situation you lay out impossible for me and possibly difficult for a mental health professional.
As far as fraudulent enlistment goes, I think that ship sailed when the Soldier was discharged from the Guard. If you truly believe the soldier if defrauding the VA, contact the VA Inspector General. Be sure to have all of your facts together and documented as well as you can. Only way I can think of for the situation to go anywhere.
As far as fraudulent enlistment goes, I think that ship sailed when the Soldier was discharged from the Guard. If you truly believe the soldier if defrauding the VA, contact the VA Inspector General. Be sure to have all of your facts together and documented as well as you can. Only way I can think of for the situation to go anywhere.
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Released from duty or released from the Army National Guard? What type discharge from Active Duty and the Army National Guard ?
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MSgt B Grimes
Unknown for certain, but presume that member was honorably released from Active duty, then enlisted in Guard. Member was released from guard due to PTSD and threats to kill his team and comrades. PTSD claims are based upon Active service. I would have thought member to have claimed upon return from deployment, not months or years later. Furthermore, if member was suffering following active duty, when enlisting in the Guard, is there not forms that must be signed stating pre-existing conditions? i.e PTSD during Active service commitment.
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SFC Casey O'Mally
MSgt B Grimes PTSD does not necessarily manifest immediately or suddenly. It can be triggered later or grow to become unmanageable over time.
Having a traumatic event 2 years ago can still cause new issues today.
I am not there, I do not know, and I refuse to attempt to diagnose from afar. However, it is POSSIBLE this Soldier entered the Guard in good faith and reasonably good mental health, only to deteriorate based on previous trauma.
Having a traumatic event 2 years ago can still cause new issues today.
I am not there, I do not know, and I refuse to attempt to diagnose from afar. However, it is POSSIBLE this Soldier entered the Guard in good faith and reasonably good mental health, only to deteriorate based on previous trauma.
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