No problem.
I'd agree. When I was released in 1998.... I don't know if Nicole had the same experience, but at the base in Kingston, somebody actually sat down with me, went through my medical file and said, “Okay, you had these injuries. We're going to put in a claim to Veterans Affairs. We're going to help you with it.” I know that in 2007, when my husband was released, they didn't do that anymore. They put in a claim, and I thought, “Oh, that is great service,” but it took years of going through Veterans Affairs, and people were questioning me.
Keep in mind that at this time, I was a health professional, and they were questioning me, asking just ridiculous questions about anatomy and things they didn't even understand. I had to sit in front of a tribunal and justify how I had hurt myself. Well, I fell and I hurt myself. Why did I have to justify that? I filled out a CF 98. I did all of the right things. It was an absolute nightmare, and we went through the same nightmare trying to get my husband's claim.
I'm not sure it was any different for men or women, though he had served longer and was army. I was navy, so that was also a different thing.
I have to say the whole process was terrible at the time. Now, should you wish to add anything else to your claim—because we know most veterans don't come forward with claims until 15 years after they've released—they stop your entire file until it's adjudicated, which makes zero sense.