ANOTHER DISSATISFIED VET GOES VIRAL PLEASE READ Hello, my name is Jimmy Dan Shirley. I served in the US ARMY for 15 years and in the Oklahoma National Guard fro 7 years. My goal had been to retired from the US ARMY but I got caught in the reduction of force in 1992. With that being said, I retired as an E6 from the Oklahoma National Guard in 1999. While on active duty, my unit and I were completing an obstacle course. During one of the exercises, I tore my ACL. The ARMY had to do surgery to repair the damages only to have to redo the repairs when the casting room forgot to lock the stoppers on my cast and when I got up from the table the cast buckled only to re-tear the repairs that had been done so back to step one for a 2nd surgery. Due to the constant wear and tear of the ACL, I finally had to have a total knee replacement done on September 1, 2010. Although my doctors at the Temple Texas VA are awesome, I knew from the very beginning something was not right. My doctors requested that I give the knee and muscles time to heal so I spent the next 2 1/2 years doing just that. I tried to avoid having a 5th surgery on my left knee because I know that each time it is harder for the muscles and body to recover. By the time February 2014 rolled around, my knee was popping in and out of place several times a day. Each time very painful and almost unbearable. On March 19, 2014 I had a total knee revision. After the surgery in 2010, I was not progressing up to the VA Physical Therapy standards so they released me stating I would have to complete my recovery on my own. The doctors gave me a year to make that happen an with the love of my family and Gods grace I recovered enough to return to work. At the time of my revision, I was able to make progress so they keep working with me until May when I reached the VA Physical Therapy goal at which time they sent me home to continue my recovery process. The doctors gave me 6 months which does not end until September 19, 2014 to finish the recovery process. Unfortunately, I will have to return to work not because I am fully recovered but because a bunch of so-called disability specialist (NOT DOCTORS) basically say because I did not complain or visit the doctor enough I would return to my 50% disability rating 30% of it is for the knee as of July 1, 2014. It would have been nice to have had that information prior to July 1 dont you think. Now not only am I getting screwed out of my temporary 100% for 6 months approved by my doctors but I have already lost a months pay from my job. Although I am having to go back to work before I am fully recovered I am going to fight the decision made by the Waco VA Disability Specialists. I know it is going to be a fight but I have been patient for long enough and I am ready for this fight. Lets all pray that with the prolonged standing, stooping, and repetitive motion does not cause me to to re-injure my knee yet again. What happens to Americas Vets who have or been ready to defend our country is unfair. I like many others are extremely dissatisfied with the VA Disability Department in Waco, Texas. On a positive note, the doctors I have interacted with at the Temple VA are wonderful and I cant thank them enough for all they have done for me.
Posted on: Wed, 30 Jul 2014 22:07:04 +0000
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