Re: finally a break

[Guest guest]

Rick, I have a 100% VA disability rating. When I got it, I was

automatically eligible for social security disability income. However, I

didn't take the SSDI benefits because I already had been rated as disabled

for civil service status. If I had taken the SSDI benefits it would have

only been offset against my civil service disability rating. There is a

federal law that states you can't get two disability checks from the

federal govt. at the same time. However, VA benefits are excluded from

that law. So I didn't apply for SSDI, and I just waited till I could put

in for soc. sec. at my early age of 62--at that time. I first got out of

the service in 1958 after spending several months in army and navy

hospitals. I was told that I would probably never get another attack of

Reiter's. That's a laugh. I went through hell for years with virtually no

help from the VA or any one else. I use to get large bottles of aspirin and

darvon compound pain killers from the VA, but I got no recognition that

Reiter's was causing me a horror show for me of disability, and anxiety,

as to when I was going to be disabled next. This made a shambles of my life

for the first 22 years out of the service. The VA did give me 10%

disability rating for an aspect of Reiter's that was no longer prevalent in

me after I was out of the service for seven years. I could never understand

that. Yet, they saw how much pain I was in and swelling of joints, but

refused to relate it to Reiter's. Finally, in 1979 I saw two women

rheumatologists. One was from Australia--Dr. Spark. I'll always

remember her. She told me that doctors received virtually little training

as to what Reiter's long-term affects were during the early seventies.

However, the VA was getting a lot of information from patients with Rea that

reinforced each other's story. She also said, " You have irrefutable proof

of Reiter's and what it's been doing to your life. " I then got raised to

40% dis. rating. Interestingly, for a period of time in the late '80s,

the VA was automatically giving servicemen who came down with a serious case

of Reiter's a 100% dis. rating. I believe that has changed. When I went

up for a new rating and appeal of my rating in the early 1990s, I

assembled five specialists to support my appeal as to how Reiter's had

affected my life, and showing it was continuing to do so. I was put through

a rigorous 4-5 hrs. of examinations by rheumatologists at the VA over a

three day period. One doctor, during the compensation exam, said, " We see

guys that have ratings and we can't find anything wrong with them. But

you...you have everything! " I got my 100%, and I've been grateful ever

since. It came late, but thank God it came finally. However, I can honestly

look back in life when I was in such terrible pain, with no resources, not

knowing where to turn for help, hoping that the attack (flare) would pass,

and now I can honestly say, " I don't know how I make it. "

I hope you don't have to go through the same as I did. I don't think you

will have to. There is so much more information available and we can thank

people like Rick and Dave that have helped create this site and keep it

going. Still there is a lot of ignorance by doctors and even specialists

concerning Rea today. Arm yourself with as much knowledge as you can. The

archives here are a big help. I don't know if this has been of any help,

but you can e-mail me direct if you want that I should try to answer any

questions direct. .Brazil@...

[Guest guest]

, I'm so glad that you're getting a break! We all need a break sometimes. I just had a break for a week visiting a friend and it was great! That is why I am behind in my posts. But it was nice.ne

From: <denise092769@...>Subject: ( ) finally a break Date: Thursday, February 24, 2011, 1:06 PM

hi my boyfriend and myself don't have much alone time to go out our jd went away for 2 nites with his grandad hope no meltdowns i do want him have fun at the bech house but we need a break i'm enjoying the free time

[Guest guest]

Wow I'm glad you did my break ended too soon lolSent via BlackBerry from T-MobileFrom: susanne hansen <s_hansen34@...>Sender: Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2011 19:49:08 -0800 (PST)< >Reply Subject: Re: ( ) finally a break , I'm so glad that you're getting a break! We all need a break sometimes. I just had a break for a week visiting a friend and it was great! That is why I am behind in my posts. But it was nice.neFrom: <denise092769@...>Subject: ( ) finally a break Date: Thursday, February 24, 2011, 1:06 PM hi my boyfriend and myself don't have much alone time to go out our jd went away for 2 nites with his grandad hope no meltdowns i do want him have fun at the bech house but we need a break i'm enjoying the free time