Veterans UK "help" and AFCS issues
Looking for someadvice on AFCS appeal please...
Was diagnosed with PTSD in 2011 as a result of Ops on TELIC and HERRICK, but mainly, as a result, of a particularly shitty tour on HERRICK where we were regularly QRF throughout various AOs. Received treatment while still in but was MD'd in 2015, and then been under NHS and Combat Stress 2015 onwards.
AFCS awarded level 10 (ie have illness for 5 years) award, which I appealed with letters from two separate consultant psychiatrists confirming PTSD was permanent (had it seven years, and had all the treatment on offer, but reality is you learn to help cope with it, not cure it) - but Veterans UK replied with the following:
" - It is not a matter of our Medical Advisor overriding the opinion of treating clinicians but applying the legislation to the evidence in order to achieve an outcome.
- The term “permanent” is defined at Article 5 of AFCS 2011 and is not merely the dictionary definition. Article 5 states “Functional limitation or restriction is “permanent” where following appropriate clinical management of adequate duration an injury has reached steady of stable state at maximum medical improvement and no further improvement is expected.”
- Our decision is the opinion of Secretary of State based on the totality of the available evidence with which you disagree and are taking forward to an independent Tribunal . The independent Tribunal are entitled to make a different decision to that of Secretary of State."
My partner has used a lawyer and responded with updated evidence, stating that Consultant pyschiatrists acknowledge AFCS definition of Permanent, and that it applies to the case.
Just wondering if anyone else has had similar issues? And if so, how did you fight them?
The thought of being dragged through an appeal and stirring everything up in my head even more makes me feel sick, but i refuse to let them chin us off as i lost jobs, home and savings as a result of the issues.
I absolutely loved the majority of my 10 years in, but veterans uk have made me bitter at the system. If i didn't have my partner and kids i reckon i would have ******* set myself on fire outside of their offices in order to make them listen. Several of the lads from the Herrick tour have killed themselves, and no doubt that Veterans UK are part of the problem.. they didnt even get follow on treatment post discharge or any pension, so life turned shit pretty quick when they left. Ex mil network helps get the odd bit of work here and there, but totally get that its hard to keep offering jobs to someone who keeps ******* them up
Anyways, apologies for the rant.
Looking for someadvice on AFCS appeal please...
Was diagnosed with PTSD in 2011 as a result of Ops on TELIC and HERRICK, but mainly, as a result, of a particularly shitty tour on HERRICK where we were regularly QRF throughout various AOs. Received treatment while still in but was MD'd in 2015, and then been under NHS and Combat Stress 2015 onwards.
AFCS awarded level 10 (ie have illness for 5 years) award, which I appealed with letters from two separate consultant psychiatrists confirming PTSD was permanent (had it seven years, and had all the treatment on offer, but reality is you learn to help cope with it, not cure it) - but Veterans UK replied with the following:
" - It is not a matter of our Medical Advisor overriding the opinion of treating clinicians but applying the legislation to the evidence in order to achieve an outcome.
- The term “permanent” is defined at Article 5 of AFCS 2011 and is not merely the dictionary definition. Article 5 states “Functional limitation or restriction is “permanent” where following appropriate clinical management of adequate duration an injury has reached steady of stable state at maximum medical improvement and no further improvement is expected.”
- Our decision is the opinion of Secretary of State based on the totality of the available evidence with which you disagree and are taking forward to an independent Tribunal . The independent Tribunal are entitled to make a different decision to that of Secretary of State."
My partner has used a lawyer and responded with updated evidence, stating that Consultant pyschiatrists acknowledge AFCS definition of Permanent, and that it applies to the case.
Just wondering if anyone else has had similar issues? And if so, how did you fight them?
The thought of being dragged through an appeal and stirring everything up in my head even more makes me feel sick, but i refuse to let them chin us off as i lost jobs, home and savings as a result of the issues.
I absolutely loved the majority of my 10 years in, but veterans uk have made me bitter at the system. If i didn't have my partner and kids i reckon i would have ******* set myself on fire outside of their offices in order to make them listen. Several of the lads from the Herrick tour have killed themselves, and no doubt that Veterans UK are part of the problem.. they didnt even get follow on treatment post discharge or any pension, so life turned shit pretty quick when they left. Ex mil network helps get the odd bit of work here and there, but totally get that its hard to keep offering jobs to someone who keeps ******* them up
Anyways, apologies for the rant.
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