Dear Dept. of Veteran Affairs

Dear VA,

I really would appreciate it if you would stop sitting on your hands and address expoditiously, the issues of returning veterans returning from the theaters of our GWOT.

We would not have have to address you with such urgency if our claims for PTSD and other service connected disabilities from combat were addressed and processed in a reasonable time frame, capping at a maximum of 160 days, like you have so publicly stated that you are targeting to have claims completed by to the mainstream media and the veterans still waiting.

Unfortunately, some of us are out of work and so severely disabled that we are not able to return to work to provide for ourselves and our families. We have returned, expecting that we will be taken care of well for our sacrifices we have made to this country, ourselves, and our families.

8 months is too long to endure the financial hardships of waiting for you to finish our claims so that we may move forward with our lives and take care of our disabilities, without fear of basic financial problems and basic survival necessities.

Something must be done for us. My claim has been sitting at the ratings board for 46days, not physically touched for 30 days. You are allowed 60 days by law, but this is not expoditious, and only further delays our ability to begin healing.

At this point, I'm not even concerned about the symptoms of my PTSD because I have been so preoccupied with survival. I would like to get to the point very soon, where I am able to address the symptoms of my PTSD because I am no longer worried about have food and other basic financial necessities.

I would like to reach the point where I am able to begin healing. 4 years of this kind of suffering has been far too long. Please help those who have volunteered to serve you.

Sincerely,

Michael Brande
USMC