Categories: USA Veteran News

OTH 112A following Combat Deployment- PTSD claim denied 8 years ago-CoD Honorable for VA, New Records Discovered, & more : Veterans

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This one is a doozy…

Below are recently written summaries of my situation that I have sent to various VSOs and firms doing pro-bono work. I have already applied to the NLSVP for help with my discharge upgrade through the Navy Discharge Review Board, but it is likely to take a year or more before progress can be made short of paying for representation out of pocket. I also just applied to the Yale NVCLR PTSD email contact after running across their recent success with the Army discharge review boards. I have decided to go with the DAV for my VSO, but I want to be as thorough with this as I possibly can.

Questions that I have-

  1. How do I proceed without screwing myself? I have been unemployed for a year now, and while I would love for every single avenue to be explored, at this point 9+ years later I just need any help I can get.

  2. What is the best way to collect and present character statements? I plan to contact anyone I can on social media from my unit/life to vouch for both my time before, during, and after service, but I don’t want to put too much effort in a potential “small” category of overall importance.

  3. I know of others in my unit who were also ADSEPd following our deployment for misconduct in similar circumstances, many with differing outcomes- Are these potentially relevant to my case if I can get permission to cite their discharges?

  4. What would be the potential bars from getting backpay on my original 2012 claim that was closed? I missed my C&P exams, but I legitimately never knew they were scheduled in the first place.- Also, in light of the recent [Federal circuit decision] (http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/opinions-orders/20-1072.OPINION.3-3-2021_1741990.pdf), to what degree was the VA obligated to notify me of the new evidence they received in 2014 at my new address? In order to register an account on e-benefits, I had to fill out a survey that included a soft credit check and questions regarding my past addresses. They knew, or were able to on demand pull and verify, every single address I’ve resided at, but up until two weeks ago my mail was going to the WRONG address; the one I enlisted from? Hell, even the email addresses listed on my VA profile belonged to my parents! None of the contact information in the VA systems I’ve come across has been even remotely accurate…

This is a lot, but I feel as if there are a lot of things at play in my situation. I can post redacted copies of what I have or clarify further on anything needed. Thank you in advance for reading.


START HERE FOR BACKGROUND INFO

Subject: New Service Records Discovered by VA- 2012 Claim

Good Afternoon Mr. XXXX,

I was ADSEP’d (Administratively Separated) with an OTH (General-Under Other Than Honorable Conditions) in 2012 for smoking marijuana to self-treat PTSD following a combat deployment. SARPs (on base Substance Abuse Rehab Program) diagnosed me with Adjustment Disorder w/Depressed mood and Alcohol dependency, but I completed the program and fought the ADSEP by taking a board review. While the board recommended to retain me suspend the discharge recommendation with a conditional OTH in the event of further misconduct, my unit deployed before the board could convene and contrary to everything I had been told up until that moment, I received a 10-day letter with ~5 days left on it informing me that the reviewing authority upheld the boards characterization of service but rejected their retention recommendation.

It demolished me and I have seemingly never recovered. Thankfully, my parents pushed me to file a claim through the American Legion in XXXXXX when I initially got home, but I moved all around in the interim, was told it was a fat chance in hell to overturn drug pop discharges (2012) and that I was by default ineligible by my command/others. Unable to stay at home because of my PTSD, I moved out of state and never received any further correspondence from the VA which led to missing C&P exams.

The initial compensation claim was filed on X-XX-2012 and I was granted service connection for treatment purposes only for Adjustment Disorder w/Depressed Mood, which I did NOT claim. I did claim PTSD, left knee, right knee, back problems- all of which were denied service connection.

Under REASONS FOR DECISION for Service Connection for PTSD, my decision letter states that they conceded my stressor (Combat Action Ribbon), but that my service records do not contain complaints, treatment, or diagnosis for that condition, and I did not attend my VA examination- as well as “Therefore, medical evidence that could have been useful to support your claim was not available to us.” In addition to my SARPs diagnosis of Adj Disorder w/depressed mood (an ACUTE disorder), there are records of me being seen at the Naval hospital on Lejeune for night sweats, a PTSD symptom, but I am unsure if that was included in the original compensation decision evidence.

Fast forward to a few months ago and I discover I can be seen for free at a Vet Center, where treatment leads me to eventually contacting a VSO with the XXXXXXX. The VSO found a few files in my record that I have never seen in my life. After days of making calls to the VBA and VHA, I go from being emphatically told by the VBA eligibility department I am ineligible due to my Discharge Characterization- to registered with free VA healthcare on the same phone call earlier this month.

Fast forward to last week, I receive a letter from VHA Member Services informing me that they have determined I am ineligible to enroll in VA healthcare due to the VBA determination letter I’ve copied/pasted below. THIS DIRECTLY CONFLICTS WITH THE 2013 VBA DETERMINATION LETTER CITED AS EVIDENCE.

I made a million calls to the VA, and eventually get a call back and am told yesterday that my Characterization of Service Review claim was pulled by the VA XXXXXXX Regional Office and that there appear to be a few issues with my claims.

  • The VA received more records from the service branch in 2014, a year after my original claims were Closed, but the claims were never reopened/examined, and nothing was done. The records were service records and medical records mixed together.

  • The wording of the 2012 VBA decision letter (made by a different Regional Office than I currently reside in) are “conflicting” and confusing the VA Reviewers, which was the reason given to me why the XXXXXX office “has” my characterization of service claim.

Today, I received a letter from the DVA Evidence Intake Center informing me that I have 60 days to provide evidence that helps with their decision concerning my eligibility for VA benefits. I do not even know where to begin. I have been in a pretty bad spot mentally, physically, and spiritually essentially since deployment, so to discover that I could have been getting help all this time is both infuriating and crushing.

The VA Reviewer I spoke to at XXXXXXX said they would mail me a copy of the files the VA received from DoD in 2014 and that I need to go through everything with a fine-tooth comb and possibly consider getting representation. (I just got these yesterday, they seem to be similar to records I have from e-benefits and some that I kept from time in the service, but I cannot confirm 100% as they will not disclose to me what the newly discovered medical records pertain to)

See the 2013 Character of discharge determinations copy/pasted below, I’ve XX’d out dates but can provide them as well as scanned copies of what I’ve received along with my original ADSEP package that I got a copy of before being discharged (potential conflict from my commands processing, they crossed through a required field on my ADSEP checklist for a CO’s letter of referral to the VA and wrote NA- told me I was SOL in no uncertain terms).


Updates-

“While the board recommended to retain me with a conditional OTH in the event of further misconduct, my unit deployed before the board could convene and contrary to everything I had been told up until that moment, I received a 10-day letter with ~5 days left on it informing me that the reviewing authority upheld the boards characterization of service but rejected their retention recommendation.”

• I called the Administrative Law section at the LSSS-E (covers Camp Lejeune, where I was ADSEP’d) today and learned that my OTH was actually Suspended, which is different than a recommendation to retain.

DID find supporting documents in my “milconnectrecordpull” that were also present in the newly discovered records that the VA did not previously consider (they received them in 2014, a year after my original claims were CLOSED)

• These included my ADSEP package and board findings, INCLUDING a Minority Report filed by a board member in support of a higher characterization of service on the grounds that it was an isolated incident- THIS WAS NOT considered in my original claims, but I was still previously granted Honorable for VA purposes (in 2013)

•ALSO included the order from the CO of my Units Remain Behind Element recommending that I be retained in response to the boards finding to suspend my discharge, a recommendation that was IGNORED- resulting in my discharge with an OTH.

The linked album contains a redacted copy of the 2013 rating decision on my 2012 claim that was closed.


Character of Discharge letters from 2012 CoD


ISSUE: Character of discharge.

ADMINISTRATIVE DECISION EVIDENCE:

DD Form 214

Facts and Circumstances from the Service Department

DECISION:

The claimant’s service from XXXXXX to XXXXXX was under other than honorable conditions.

The claimant is entitled to receive VA benefits based upon this period of service.

The claimant is eligible for health care and, related benefits authorized under Chapter 17 of Title 38, United States Code, for any disability or disabilities incurred or aggravated in line of duty during active service.

REASONS AND BASES:

38’USC §101(2); 38 CFR 3.12(a)

38 CFR 3.12(d)

38 CFR 3.360

The claimant entered active duty in the U.S. XXXXXXX. The Facts and circumstances furnished by the service department show that after the Veteran returned from his tour station in Afghanistan, the claimant tested positive for TCH 35 (marijuana) and subsequently charged with misconduct due illegal drug use. It also states that despite the Veteran’s good conduct (awarded Good Conduct medal in XXXX), favorable character appraisal by his command, involvement in highly dangerous combat activities such as Mojave Viper and lack of evidence showing pattern of misconduct the board decided to appoint the claimant an other than honorable discharge:

This appears to have been an isolated incident. The Facts and Circumstances state that the Veteran was made the poor choice of turning to an illegal drug and alcohol to cope with his mental health issues derived after his tour in Afghanistan. Prior to this incident the claimant had not used any illegal substance or had any pattern of behavioral health issues. Furthermore, there is no pattern of misconduct that can be established Without restoring to mere speculation. With several mental health studies being done that have linked alcoholism & drug use as a coping mechanism to deal with untreated mental health issues such as anxiety, adjustment disorder & PTSD the claimant’s testimony is considered probable. In view of the evidence of record it is determined that this offense does not constitute willful and persistent misconduct.

(Signed as Concurred and Approved on 8/21/2013)


As well as this letter


Dear XXXXXX,

We made a decision regarding your discharge from military service. Every effort was made to see that your claim received complete consideration.

This letter tells you what we decided, how we reached our decision and what evidence we used to reach our decision. We have also included information on what you can do if you don’t agree with our decision, and who to contact if you have questions or need assistance.

What We Decided

We decided that your military service for the period XXXXX through XXXXX is honorable for VA purposes. You and your dependents are eligible for any VA benefits for this period of military service.

How Did We Make Our Decision?

The evidence shows that your service from XXXXX to XXXX was under other than honorable conditions.

You are entitled to receive VA benefits based upon this period of service.

You are eligible for health care and related benefits authorized under Chapter 17 of Title 38, United States Code, for any disability or disabilities incurred or aggravated in line of duty during active service.

Evidence Used to Decide Your Claim

In making our decision, we used the following evidence: • DD Form 214 • Facts and Circumstances from the Service Department

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