The  Regional VA Office (benefits in Boise) fails to understand the issues Soldiers face. Soldiers are often times kept from Reporting injury, or discouraged from reporting injuries, because reporting the injuries would result in condemnation from superiors. So, more often than not, real injuries (small and not so small) are ignored or Simply not reported. Then when the soldier retires or leaves military service, and presents data to the VA the benefit personnel simply ignore the information, or find legal wording to simply deny benefit.

This is exactly what has happened with my left leg, hip and back. An injury that happened when I fell off an M1-A1, witnessed by several people, which is causing me serious Pain and problems now, is simply not something the VA acknowledges. So, I live in pain, and have no recourse.

As I talked to a former soldier I worked with about this a few days ago, it became clear I was not the only one who feels this way. Things happen when you are in Army. Things the average person would never understand.  You do your best to not let these things hinder your effort.  You try to “soldier on” and typically the pain and issues go away, and you are fine.  But, 25 years later here I am with pains, and problems that are attributable to several incidents in the military and nobody to help.

Blown up; Thrown off tanks; Fallen several feet and thought I had broken a leg; smoke inhalation; gassed; whiplash (multiple times)….and this is the short list.