Charlie

Surviving the VA: A Veteran’s Story

My name is Charlie. I began working with Mike Coonan, LMSW, ACSW, BCD, because the VA turned me away. He brought my wife into the VA Disability Compensation process.   This is my story.

I went to Vietnam as an infantryman with the 4th Infantry Division in 1968. I spent most of that year up in the Central Highlands, catching mortar rounds, rockets, and small-arms fire. I ran patrols near the Cambodian border with little backup and saw good men wounded and killed. I earned my Combat Infantry Badge and a few medals, but I also came home with busted hearing and memories that never left. When I got back, I wasn’t the same man. Not even close.
I had nightmares, couldn’t sleep worth a damn, and stayed wound tight all the time. Loud noises set me off. I didn’t trust crowds. I kept my distance from folks, even people I cared about. Jobs didn’t last. Relationships didn’t either. I felt angry, numb, worn down to the bone. Truth is, over the years, I thought about ending my life more times than I care to say.

I went to the VA more than once. I was never sent to see a psychiatrist. What I got was bits and pieces, some screenings here, some meds there, but nobody ever sat me down and took a hard look at the whole picture. Nobody connected the dots between my combat, my symptoms, and how I was living. The only thing they really recognized was my hearing loss. They gave me a 30% rating on that and called it good. Meanwhile, my mental health kept sliding downhill. I couldn’t work, and I shut myself off. My world kept getting smaller and smaller.

That went on for over 40 years. It wasn’t until Mike Coonan, LMSW, ACSW BCD, conducted a full Military History Psychosocial Assessment and listened to my whole story, and referred me to the VA psychiatrist.

When I tried to follow through with the VA referral, I ran into a VA gatekeeper who diverted me to an appointment that was described as psychiatric, but it wasn’t. Mike supported me during the VA compensation.

I was dealing with severe PTSD, depression, anxiety, and insomnia, all tied straight back to my combat service. After that, the VA finally recognized it awarded a combination of 90% disability for PTSD and hearing loss. I do not want to go back to the VA for another evaluation. I lived with the cost of the VA’s failure for decades with no treatment. I am a member of the group, We Are On Point 4 Veterans.

Mental Health/ Military History Psychosocial Assessment was written by Mike Coonan, LMSW, ACSW, BCD. 

His treating VA psychiatrist provided the Expert Medical Opinion. 

Both were prepared and completed at no cost to the veteran.

Both made a significant impact on his VA Disability Compensation Evaluation and Decision.