See, my problem is the VA uses what it says are NSC issues as the excuse to withhold education benefits from me. In short, here is what I have been through: I got the anthrax shots shortly before getting out of the Marine Corps. I have had health problems (real health problems, which are verified when lab tests and scans are actually done) ever since getting the anthrax shots. I went to the VA and said I believe my health problems are secondary to my anthrax shots. The VA medical side then began to write derogatory notes about me into my medical record literally because I dared mention the anthrax vaccine. In fact, I have a copy of a memo that the VA wrote about me which literally stated that the VA employees had to start a "psycho-social" profile because I spoke about the anthrax vaccine. Thus I can't get SC for those health problems. The benefits side of the VA, thanks to the medical side, says that I am "too disabled" to go to college because of......."mental illness." Where does the "mental illness" come from? The fact that when I dared mention the anthrax vaccine, the VA would chart into my medical record "delusional thinking."
It is so bad that if I go to the VA medical system and say how depressed I feel about not getting help for school, the VA will chart: "delusions of a persecutory nature." Albeit, they won't bother to state what these delusions are. You see? I am "delusional" for telling the VA about what the VA itself is doing. Thus the benefits side can take those notes and further use those to....withhold education benefits.
I am now stuck in a trap in terms of dealing with the VA. If I even attempt to try to explain anything, no matter how polite I am, that also gets labeled as "anger." What is interesting is that I was literally flagged by the VA for asking for help for my depression. Think I am embellishing, I am not. My Congresswoman's office even found that one out. It was explained to me that I am flagged FOREVER. If I make it into old age and I am in a wheelchair, I will still be flagged by the VA. This proves that it has NOTHING to do with behavior. I have one speeding ticket from 1997 as the only offense of any kind. I have never threatened anybody, nor have I ever harmed anybody. In fact, I have never raised my voice at anybody except for over the phone many years ago. I am by nature a very timid person, especially in person. My step dad who is a disabled veteran actually kicked a VA nurse and was flagged for one year. I, on the other hand, have been told that I am flagged FOREVER.
That said, the VA has referred to things like me writing a WELL-WRITTEN, POLITE letter giving a play-by-play of how the VA is withholding my education benefits as THREATENING. No vulgarity, no profanity. I even signed the letter cordially at the end. The VA didn't even bother to respond to my letter. No. They just call it "threatening." In fact, I chose to correspond through a letter precisely so that the VA would not be able to morph what I said into a "delusion" or something worse. What do they do? They ignore the substance, and call it a "threatening" letter.
I bring all of this up because I think I know what is going on. The VA sees me as a "political" opponent--so-to-speak. I have empirical evidence of VA misfeasance. I have cognitive skills. Just see my website
www.NoAnthraxVaccine.net I can write clearly and proficiently. The VA is more concerned about political opponents than they are real security threats. If the VA has engaged in misfeasance against a veteran, the VA must do EVERYTHING in its power to keep that veteran discredited. I guess I should take the VA's behavior as a positive sign that I must have a pretty good case against the VA.
Cordially,
Mark Anderson
QUOTE (john999 @ Aug 23 2008, 06:24 PM)

If you are 31 and have a less than 100% or TDIU then I think you should be able to get voc rehab. What I was saying is that for guys who are near to retirement age and have severe disabilities the VA is probably not going to want to do voc rehab on them. It is possible to force them with enough persistence. The thing is you face age discrimination inside and outside the system. It is illegal to discriminate because of age but employers do it all the time. If I was 31 and not too disabled that I could not work I would try voc rehab. If the rehab people said I was not a good candidate I would put in for TDIU. If you can't be rehabilitated then how can you work and support yourself? I had trouble getting voc rehab when I was 30% because I had a job at the post office. I hated the work and wanted something better but at age 50 what could I do. You know the door sort of slams shut on you after a certain age in many careers. I also had some on the job injuries and this was the kiss of death.