****Under Construction****
The Basics-
I was blown up two times in Iraq. The first was on January 16, 2006, an IED planted on the side of a road. The Second was in Sept 25, 2006, a VBIED (dump truck w/explosives) which killed multiple Iraq Police and totaled over two dozen casualties. I started my application with the Veteran Administration after leaving the Army in May 2007, and the VA pushed my claim thru closely following my first MRI on my spine. The claim, an overall 60%, also stated a 0% rating for my spine, due to lack of diagnosis. After years of denied appeals thru the VA I finally received a 40% rating for my spine. This is still under rated, and although I have after more than four years finally gotten my claim to 100% (140% total) the situation with the VA has only gotten worse in many different ways.
It has been well over a year since I have had any proper medical treatment from or thru the VA, and even now rated as fully disabled by the VA, my family and I are still lacking most all of the benefits I earned. It is not just me though, many other Veteran have endured far worse at the hands of the VA.
 Official Version of the story to the right. | My Hummer and me... On fire that is, First IED for me, January 16, 2006. I was able to get the vehicle to a stop before going unconscious long enough for the door to weld shut from the heat. After coming to I had to cut off gear and craw over the radios to get out the passenger’s side. Somehow I only received minor burns on hands and head, hand and fingers got dislocated and a major concussion. After two weeks in hospital and another month light duty and leave, I was back on missions in full capacity.
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Part of the remains of a $440,000 newly reconstructed Iraqi Police station after a truck full of explosive pushed thru during a heavy ambush, Sept 2006. Our entire platoon, who had not already received a Purple Heart, got one from this tragic incident. With all the files that had to be drawn up and approved, and since I already had a purple heart, my second Purple Heart was put "on the back burner" (meaning I'm still waiting). |  |
