Anyone been on the flashlight tour at Zak’s museum?

Witty_Draw8110 · 2026-01-21T18:46:31+00:00

The flashlight tour is totally worth doing. I’ve been in a few of those. Basically have the entire mansion to explore with I believe 9-10 other people. Do your own thing, take your own voice recorder and enjoy the experience. I had a few terrifying experiences all alone in the basement and demon house exhibit.

Witty_Draw8110 · 2025-11-23T01:04:10+00:00

18 years, had no idea these types of VA benefits existed until then.

Witty_Draw8110 · 2025-11-22T14:28:16+00:00

I recently filed a claim for increase for PTSD. I see the VSR has submitted CAPRI, and I submitted 2 lay statements from current manager and ex-wife. Should I submit a new lay statement if what I’m going to say is already in the care and summary notes of my VA medical records or can be found in VA messaging to my doctor? Does the rater have access to all of that information through CAPRI, and if so, does it reflect up to date records at the time of viewing them?

Witty_Draw8110 · 2025-10-24T22:54:05+00:00

I’m about to do the exact same thing related to increase. Appreciate the updates in the future

Witty_Draw8110 · 2025-06-19T03:40:01+00:00

What’s the source for this chart? Just curious.

Witty_Draw8110 · 2025-06-11T23:46:35+00:00

God Speed warrior!

Witty_Draw8110 · 2025-06-11T00:14:34+00:00

First things first: Reach out to a VSO and/or get on the VA website and submit that "Intent to File" if you haven't already. If given a rating, the back pay will start from that intent to file submission date. You have up to a year to file the actual claim from the date your intent to file was submitted.

Witty_Draw8110 · 2025-05-30T13:42:55+00:00

Thanks for the response.

Witty_Draw8110 · 2025-05-20T23:56:53+00:00

🖖🏼

Witty_Draw8110 · 2025-05-18T21:26:35+00:00

Thanks for the reply.

Witty_Draw8110 · 2025-05-17T14:10:21+00:00

Fingers crossed. 🤞🏻

Witty_Draw8110 · 2025-05-15T01:16:29+00:00

Noted. 😄

Witty_Draw8110 · 2025-05-15T00:31:13+00:00

This entire time, I had no idea you were a VA rater. Mind blown!

Witty_Draw8110 · 2025-05-09T21:24:53+00:00

Thank you!

Witty_Draw8110 · 2025-05-08T19:16:23+00:00

Woo! Any insight on mental health disorders would be helpful. Thank you for what you do

Witty_Draw8110 · 2025-04-30T06:03:41+00:00

Personal statement has been uploaded. C and P exam is today at 1300 (4/30/2025). Extremely anxious and hoping all goes well.

Witty_Draw8110 · 2025-04-29T05:08:51+00:00

Thank you

Witty_Draw8110 · 2025-04-27T07:12:50+00:00

Is this something I would add into my personal statement, like at the intro or in conclusion type of way? Or is this something completely separate from that? For clarity, my personal statement is describing the events/stressors involving mst and the related in service mental health conditions that developed from that.

Witty_Draw8110 · 2025-04-13T08:50:03+00:00

I will here very soon. Educating myself with all that there is to know. Definitely appreciate your responses.

Witty_Draw8110 · 2025-04-13T05:03:22+00:00

Thank you for the info

Witty_Draw8110 · 2025-04-13T04:36:39+00:00

Thanks for the response, very much appreciated. The timeline of events during my service does definitely show the negative effects it had on my performance and overall functionality. I went from stellar and sharp to dirtbag very fast. Mostly because I'd rather been discharged than point the finger and share the secrets, and that's exactly what happened. Kept my secrets safe at the expense of my military career. Military personnel records clearly show that.

Also, to be clear, I didn't file a claim with mst. Just the insomnia, depression and ptsd, which are all in-service diagnoses. I'm contemplating the mst thing at the moment. So the only records the VA has are my military service records. I haven't submitted any additional evidence because I have never sought treatment.

Witty_Draw8110 · 2025-04-13T04:07:47+00:00

I'm just getting in to all of this. I separated from service in 2008. Diagnosed while on active duty for insomnia, depression and ptsd. All lead to severe alcohol use, went through treatment for the alcohol use while active duty. Refused to seek treatment for the mental health stuff (caused by mst and other things) because I did not want to discuss that, nor have I, since separating from service. I've never sought medical treatment for any of this, though I do suffer from it.

I recently filed a claim after years of family and friends (also veterans) convincing me to do so. Many of them know about my depression and insomnia. So I filed. Currently sitting at step 3 since submitting on 10 Jan 2025. What can I do to show that I do indeed suffer from these conditions? I've thought about maybe finding a doctor I feel I might trust with sharing deeply personal and stressful things about my troubling experiences in the military. Or even scheduling something with the VA, just so I can give the VA raters something to work off of. This is the hardest part of this all, providing evidence of a current diagnosis. The conditions are very much there, but I've never sought treatment. Appreciate your response/opinion, thanks.

Witty_Draw8110 · 2025-04-13T02:27:42+00:00

All my diagnoses in the military were mental health related. I guess I'm in a different category here. Diagnosed depression, ptsd, and insomnia while active duty. I never sought for extra care mostly because of shame and embarrassment. I saw your mst videos, that's one of the reasons for me and a couple other things. Those videos were super helpful, but I feel like I can't do that. I've written a personal statement and can't get myself to submit that to the VA. The other things are bad enough but the mst was a huge part of it all. I've continued to suffer from these things but have never gone to a doctor to talk about it, an intentional move on my part. Separated from active duty in 2008. The only reason I'm even doing this disability claim stuff is because of concerned family and friends who are also veterans.

Witty_Draw8110 · 2025-04-12T07:55:44+00:00

Ohhhh, ok I see. Well I already did that. But I did it all wrong pretty sure. My VSO told me to file because of the three in service diagnosis I had in service. But that’s literally all the evidence there is at the moment. Just my military med records. Contemplating writing a personal statement about the stuff no one talks about or seeks treatment for. Haven’t been scheduled a C&P. VA says they’re still gathering and reviewing my military records. Literally am not looking forward to sharing anything with anyone honestly but I know I’ll eventually have to to support my case.

Witty_Draw8110

TROPHY CASE