DRY SHAVING

flipfarts
Registered: 05/12/09
Posts: 19

	07/31/09	#1

HELLO VETERANS I DESPERATELY NEED SOME HELP FROM OTHER VETERANS REGARDING “FORCED DRY SHAVING”. I WAS FORCED TO “DRY SHAVE” AS PUNISHMENT WHILE IN BOOT CAMP AT FORT KNOX, KENTUCKY. I WAS THERE FROM 9-72 THROUGH 12-72. I WAS RECYCLED BECAUSE I BROKE MY LEFT ANKLE. ARE THERE OTHER VETERANS OUT THERE WHO WAS FORCED TO “DRY SHAVE” DURING THIS PERIOD 9-72 THROUGH 12-72 AT FT KNOX, KY? IF SO PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS THREAD. I NEED TO SPEAK WITH YOU. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO MY CLAIM. IT COULD BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WINNING OR LOSING MY APPEALS. THANK YOU, RMG
Edit \| Delete

RobD1956

Moderator
Registered: 11/22/08
Posts: 31

	07/31/09	#2

I can’t say this will help but dry shaving is not unheard of . In fact during my time at RTC San Diego in 73 it was common place before inspections to be dry shaved had you missed a spot during the morning rituals. This happened to me and a host of others. I can testify this is fact.__________________ Mod
Edit \| Delete

flipfarts
Registered: 05/12/09
Posts: 19

	07/31/09	#3

Hi Mod That does suck. Dry shaving meant punishment for my platoon. Even if I was shaved right they still made an example of us. The DI’s were hillbilly redneck types who hated us because we were from Ca. We were the only platoon/group that was from Ca. Back in 72 there was a spinal meningitis outbreak at Ft Ord Ca. We were diverted to Ft Knox because intake at Ft ord was closed. We were called queers and mamas boys by all the DI’s and the other trainees from the area. Our dry shave punishment was to get a discarded razor from the trash. The first guy used it and passed it down to the next guy. By the time it got to me it was bloody and had pieces of skin on it. We were not allowed to wash off or stop the bleeding. After this we were ordered to push Kentucky(push ups) until we either passed out or finished the punishment. Then we had to run and catch up with the rest of the company to make up for what we missed. I broke my left ankle trying to catch up marching up Agony hill with full gear. I was kicked out of my company and labeled a Ca pussy sissy. I finished basic with a cast on my left ankle and swore to never return to Kentucky… Are there any other ways I can get my question out via the Internet? I emailed larry scott at VAwatchdog.org. Still looking for other media to use. Thank you for the encouragement… RMG
Edit \| Delete

NOD

Manager
Registered: 11/22/08
Posts: 654

	08/05/09	#4

Other than personal testimonials, I don’t know how any of us can back up your claim. We had dry shave if one guy was guilty of a “5 0’clock shadow. So the Italian guy really caught hell all thru basic. We tried to keep a good, new one on one of us and give it to him if he needed it. He lucked out as he didn’t get exposed to any of us. But it sure couldn’t have been any fun. AN
Edit \| Delete

flipfarts
Registered: 05/12/09
Posts: 19

	08/05/09	#5

Hi Mgr Thanks for the input. My attorney used the word “preponderance of the evidence” regarding my claim. He is looking for other boots that was forced to dry shave with the same razor. At ft Knox, KY during the year 1972-73. He is a Nam vet himself and has done this before. He also says we have a “CUE” for another claim filed in 2001. This is the hardest appeal to win. Here is another fact I didn’t know. My attorney insisted I must be “honest” regarding winning my appeal. He said the govt doesn’t send my back money to him. If I win my appeal the check comes to me only!! He also said the usual 33.3% is the fee approved by the VA. Does anyone know if this is true? Here in CA these kind of claims are usually no more than 15% of any money money recovered. The dry shave proof is a backup to the CUE claim if he doesn’t win. Lawyers have always confused me. Any information is greatly appreciated.. Thanks RMG
Edit \| Delete

NOD

Manager
Registered: 11/22/08
Posts: 654

	08/15/09	#6

Truth is I do not know the reimbursement laws. I thought it was 20 % with the VA. He is right. They mail it to you and you are morally bound (not legally) to pay his his retainer. The “CUE” you are referring to is Clear and Unmistakable Evidence. If you filed another claim in 2001 and he spotted something in it that was not legally correct, then he can, with your permission, go back and try to correct it. This is the only way you can revisit a BVA denial. CUE cases are decided by the BVA only, not the local VARO. They have to meet 3 very stringent legal requirements which I won’t go into here. You can appeal a rotten ruling to the CAVA, but that’s it. Nod
Edit \| Delete

flipfarts
Registered: 05/12/09
Posts: 19

	05/25/10	#7

Hi NOD and fellow veterans I have a question. Which is the lesser of 2 evils: The Decision Review Officer Process or The Traditional Appeal Process? I received my denial again(third) for service connection for HCV. I fired a ripoff lawyer some months ago. I have all my records, doctor letters, etc. I have researched my case extensively and believe I can represent myself adequately. It took some time to read and understand cites and VA law. My old lawyer was correct in his analysiys of my appeal. However ripping me off for 33 1/3 percent and possible more if it went to BVA here in CA. Anyway the letter says I have 60 days to notify them which route I wish to go. PLEASE GIVE-SHARE SOME INFORMATION OF THIS NEXT STEP IN MY APPEAL. I AM IN THE DARK ABOUT THIS PROCESS. Thanks much TYFYS Robert…
Edit \| Delete

NOD

Manager
Registered: 11/22/08
Posts: 654

	05/29/10	#8

Robert- I have tried the Decision Review Officer route. I just assumed I would get on older, more mature examiner on my claim. Wrong. My advice to you, for what it is worth, is to proceed to the Form 9 and the traditional process. Get your case in front of a Veterans Law Judge (VLJ)that knows the law and respects it. They aren’t all perfect, obviously, but you will get a better shake. The next step will be for the your local Regional Office (or the Veterans Service Center [ha] in our Politically Correct Society parlance) to certify your claim and mail it off to D.C. This can and does often take up to 8-10 months. When it gets to D.C., you get in line again and await a Court Docket date. This can be up to two years, Robert, so do not get all wiggly and excited about the though of eminent justice. You are free to submit anything that will help you win your case right up until the time your case is decided. You can also contact the BVA directly in D.C. after they receive your file and find out more about a court date. You are allowed to either meet personally with a traveling Law Judge or have a video deposition before your VLJ in D.C. if you choose to. I believe you can do this yourself . I’ve used the DAV, the AMVETS and last but not least. the Military Order of the Purple Nurple. MOPH told me I didn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of winning the Hep or the AO claim for Porphyria. I canned their sorry a$$es and went on alone. I won and got 100% right out of the gate. They gave me my Permanent and Total 8 months later so my son could get a college education. This is rare. Of the 3 million plus Veterans receiving compensation payments, only 258,000 have been rated 100% totally disabled. Granted, I am pretty sick but I’ve met Vets at the VAMC with both legs amputated due to DM2 or a Bouncing Betty fighting to get that elusive 100%. Its a pretty sorry circus they run. If you can access Chapter 38, Code of Federal Regulations to the left of this post and research things necessary to buttress your claim, rebut the VA’s assertions for your denial and mount a well-reasoned defense, I think you can win. An open minded VLJ will really help. The chuckleheads deciding your claim at your local RO are programmed to do one thing only- DENY! Same for the DRO. Getting an Independent Medical Opinion (IMO) is virtually the only way to win at the RO level. Guess who decides if you get that? Yep. The RO. So you can see that the sooner you get your claim out of Dodge, the sooner you’ll get a date in D.C. Remember, just because you, Robert, think you know how you got the Hep, you have to have a Doctor provide the nexus opinion that clearly ties your Hep to some event or risk factor in service. If your hep infection is as old as your dates of service as determined by a liver biopsy then you claim is much stronger. Most importantly, your doctor providing the nexus must review your military medical records and state that he did so. He must present a clear, reasoned opinion for his belief that you contracted this while in service and phrase it in the proper parlance as discussed in the column to the left. Best of luck in your endeavor and I hope you have a memorable Memorial Day weekend, sir. Always remember- All gave some, Some gave all.