Re: SDA (Special Duty Area)

by **Kramer** Sat 29 Aug 2020, 18:46

What many don't get about PTSD:

A physical impairment (some), is almost tangible. PTSD not even close. One person with PTSD might have a number of issues associated with it...but one person's worst problem might be say...sleeping.....while the next person be depression. Being sleep deprived is awful and so is having depression (and all the others); try getting motivated to shovel the drive or cut the grass!!! sometimes the weight is just too great and you do nothing. Unless a person can relate, it is very difficult to express. Try explaining to someone who has never had chicken or turkey the difference between the two....hmmm very difficult to do.

People/staff within VAC have an idea...but that is as far as it goes.

by johnny211 Sat 29 Aug 2020, 14:42

Bigrex, Teentitan. - Good day Brothers. Both great pts. I have been on Vip for yrs. I have some physical and ptsd/ anxiety issues. I think it’s bull if there not giving Vip just on Ptsd/ mental issues. Concentration, and triggers are a safety factor in doing outside and inside stuff. Working around lawnmowers, whipper snippers, I find too difficult. And I can’t count how many times I left the stove, oven on, as the mind cannot concentrate on more then one thing. I think all Vets should use the safety issue. Just my thoughts, have a good day all, stay safe. On another note I’m on 72 wks for a reassessment. These times are gone beyond stupid..Johnny Out,,VVV...

by Unknown Soldier Sat 29 Aug 2020, 12:53

Teentitan wrote:
bigrex wrote:Unfortunately, VIP was designed for Veterans who were not physically capable of maintaining their home. But with PTSD, and other psychological conditions, the veteran is physically able to mow the lawn, shovel the driveway, and their own housework. So it's a much higher bar, that they have to jump over, to get approved for those supports.

Yes physically a veteran with PTSD can mow the lawn or shovel snow but can they mentally ignore their depression to go out and mow their lawn? Clean their home? Not an expert about PTSD but I do know about depression and mowing the lawn or shoveling snow was not a priority to me.

This reminds me of how District Offices would reject VIP for a veteran with a physical injury because the veteran has a spouse and/or dependents who can do the work back in early 2000. It was fought and won by veteran advocates. Hope VAC sees how discriminating rejecting VIP for veterans with PTSD is and change the rules/guidelines.

some do get it, but as l stated, their dr. Has to write that the veterans ptsd/anxiety/depression make outdoor work impossible, l know for myself I was outside twice this winter and got into an argument with the neighbor on either side of me both times over property, so their are other factors to consider as well when dealing with mental injuries.

by **Teentitan** Sat 29 Aug 2020, 11:28

bigrex wrote:Unfortunately, VIP was designed for Veterans who were not physically capable of maintaining their home. But with PTSD, and other psychological conditions, the veteran is physically able to mow the lawn, shovel the driveway, and their own housework. So it's a much higher bar, that they have to jump over, to get approved for those supports.

Yes physically a veteran with PTSD can mow the lawn or shovel snow but can they mentally ignore their depression to go out and mow their lawn? Clean their home? Not an expert about PTSD but I do know about depression and mowing the lawn or shoveling snow was not a priority to me.

This reminds me of how District Offices would reject VIP for a veteran with a physical injury because the veteran has a spouse and/or dependents who can do the work back in early 2000. It was fought and won by veteran advocates. Hope VAC sees how discriminating rejecting VIP for veterans with PTSD is and change the rules/guidelines.

by **bigrex** Sat 29 Aug 2020, 09:47

Unfortunately, VIP was designed for Veterans who were not physically capable of maintaining their home. But with PTSD, and other psychological conditions, the veteran is physically able to mow the lawn, shovel the driveway, and their own housework. So it's a much higher bar, that they have to jump over, to get approved for those supports.

by Unknown Soldier Sat 29 Aug 2020, 02:03

Gunner8 wrote:No they didn’t ask me if it was getting worse. They just read off a bunch of questions from a paper, took about 10 minutes. And then said I will 99% chance I will get denied but I can appeal if I want to.

vac has it written right in the policy not to give VIP for PTSD unless your Dr. says your mental disability is so bad that you can’t even step out of the house on a daily basis.

by Gunner8 Fri 28 Aug 2020, 21:33

Thank you teentitan

by **Teentitan** Thu 27 Aug 2020, 12:37

Gunner8 wrote:What’s the ombudsman? What’s The ovo?

OVO is the Office of the Veteran's Ombudsman

The Ombudsman Office is for veterans who are having a problem with VAC. You can call them to lodge a complaint or seek help on issues like what you are currently going thru.

Here's the link:

https://www.ombudsman-veterans.gc.ca/eng

And here's the phone number to call
1-888-566-7582

by Gunner8 Thu 27 Aug 2020, 10:23

What’s the ombudsman? What’s The ovo?

by **Teentitan** Wed 26 Aug 2020, 17:13

Gunner8 wrote:No they didn’t ask me if it was getting worse. They just read off a bunch of questions from a paper, took about 10 minutes. And then said I will 99% chance I will get denied but I can appeal if I want to.

Before you appeal contact the OVO to make sure this District Office (DO) is operating and their Service Officers (SO) are following correct procedures.

This would not be the first time a DO and the SO is making decisions beyond their authority which results in screwing their clients. Trust me I have seen this before.

by Gunner8 Wed 26 Aug 2020, 16:58

No they didn’t ask me if it was getting worse. They just read off a bunch of questions from a paper, took about 10 minutes. And then said I will 99% chance I will get denied but I can appeal if I want to.

by **Teentitan** Wed 26 Aug 2020, 16:00

Gunner8 wrote:Teentitan, I got a phone call and asked questions. She told me over the phone that I was probably going to get denied because I didn’t have a physical injury. (I have ptsd). And about a week later I got denied. Not sure what to do now.

To my knowledge an application for VIP requires an in-home consult not a phone call so IMO that is mistake #1.

Mistake #2 a physical injury is only part of being granted VIP...it's your overall health and mental health, PTSD, also has to be considered as this seems to be your main pensioned condition.

Mistake #3 did the person who called you ask if your health is getting worse? Or did they ask if your doctor recognizes your PTSD is getting worse?

Everything seems to be changing lately with VAC so I strongly suggest you contact the Ombudsmans Office for further guidance on this issue.

by Gunner8 Wed 26 Aug 2020, 14:54

Teentitan, I got a phone call and asked questions. She told me over the phone that I was probably going to get denied because I didn’t have a physical injury. (I have ptsd). And about a week later I got denied. Not sure what to do now.

by Unknown Soldier Wed 19 Aug 2020, 17:32

Teentitan wrote:
Unknown Soldier wrote:
Gunner8 wrote:I got declined for VIP. So I guess I won’t be able to get B coverage?
what were the reasons for your denial?
Here`s another question for the group, If a veteran has VIP for over a decade can VAC still take it way, stating they feel the vets injuries have improved?

Doesn't matter what VAC "feels" they have to medically prove that the client is getting healthier. So a VAC doctor has to prove the client is getting healthy which is tricky because almost all veterans are under the care of specialists and last time I checked VAC only has GP doctors on the payroll not specialists. Also the client has the right to go thru the VAC appeal process if they do prove the client is healthier.

As for your question I have never heard of a VAC client having their VIP taken away.

Gunner8 were you declined because you do not have B coverage? Did you have an in-home consult with a VAC Service Officer?

Also you can still apply for B coverage if your doctors see your health is declining or consequential injuries due to your pensioned conditions are increasing.

take everything with a grain of salt but I just read elsewhere that as of April 1 2019 VAC has a new policy to reassess VIP every 3 years for potential removal if the original reason the vet received VIP has improved.

by **Teentitan** Wed 19 Aug 2020, 10:10

Unknown Soldier wrote:
Gunner8 wrote:I got declined for VIP. So I guess I won’t be able to get B coverage?
what were the reasons for your denial?
Here`s another question for the group, If a veteran has VIP for over a decade can VAC still take it way, stating they feel the vets injuries have improved?

Doesn't matter what VAC "feels" they have to medically prove that the client is getting healthier. So a VAC doctor has to prove the client is getting healthy which is tricky because almost all veterans are under the care of specialists and last time I checked VAC only has GP doctors on the payroll not specialists. Also the client has the right to go thru the VAC appeal process if they do prove the client is healthier.

As for your question I have never heard of a VAC client having their VIP taken away.

Gunner8 were you declined because you do not have B coverage? Did you have an in-home consult with a VAC Service Officer?

Also you can still apply for B coverage if your doctors see your health is declining or consequential injuries due to your pensioned conditions are increasing.

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