The benefits were put forward to me. I had a good chain of command. When I injured my knees overseas in Afghanistan, I had a call in right away to Veterans Affairs, because the date of the claim beginning is when the date of the benefits kick in. I was compensated under the Pension Act.
I received my retraining benefits, as a Veterans Affairs client, through SISIP, because I was getting released from the military. You do meet with a social worker on your way out the door. On your way out, they'll say, hey, this is something you're entitled to. This was in September 2004, when my contract ended. I'd gotten in just prior to 9/11.
The thing is that in some cases, PTSD will incubate for decades. There are still World War II veterans coming forward saying “You know what? I've suffered with this over my lifetime.”
I came forward with PTSD in 2010. By that time, the rules had been changed. I'd been a civilian, I'd been working, I'd been earning income, I was gainfully employed as a bar manager, I was making my way, far in excess of what I was making as a private in 2004.
When I came forward and asked Veterans Affairs for help, I was told to go home, that I was clearly a mess, and that I was going to be taken care of. My pay at the time was 75% of my 2004 private salary indexed to 2010 and then taxed. So I went from earning roughly $4,500 a month to $2,100 a month. Due to the clawback, my $600-a-month pension under the Pension Act was clawed back.