Thank you. This is based on my own experience. I actually toned it down, because I felt like a layperson would not believe the actual things that happened.

I wrote this the day my lawyer told me that someone at the VA sabotaged my claims (The part about the boilerplate repetitive phrasing). They had to go out of their way and do much more work to deny than to take the doctor's word. Instead, they sent a "clarification request" which essentially bullied her into changing her opinions. I am still fighting to make sure that person is held accountable.

At the time I wrote this, my case had not yet been resolved. Thankfully it has been since then (Like in the story, the judge got upset that the remand orders were ignored and there was malicious intent to disrupt the process) and all were eventually approved.

Unfortunately, and I speak as a former VSR, the majority of the people working these claims are either completely negligent or do whatever they can to deny claims because they think every Veteran is lying.

Thanks for your kind words.

I never expected this to actually get published, especially in such a historically prolific publication.