I was discharged from the Marine Corps for having a dissociative disorder following a traumatic head injury while in the military and during operational hours while on duty. Following the injury, I had whiteouts and blank spells where I did not know what I was doing during a period up to two hours sometimes that persisted for almost 10 years following my exit from the military. I also had maxillofacial surgery in the military at Bethesda Naval hospital which resulted in an improperly healed nasal septum that has caused severe sleep apnea for almost 30 years causing me to use a BIPAP machine just to sleep.
Some additional background: I had a head injury that pierced my skull when I was 10 years old that was reported in my medical report.
I was Honorably discharged with a rating of 30% for the dissociative disorder, less 10% for EPTE (supposedly related to my head injury as a child). Lump sum payout of 20% and nothing else, and I never looked back.
My questions are:
Some additional background: I had a head injury that pierced my skull when I was 10 years old that was reported in my medical report.
I was Honorably discharged with a rating of 30% for the dissociative disorder, less 10% for EPTE (supposedly related to my head injury as a child). Lump sum payout of 20% and nothing else, and I never looked back.
My questions are:
- Can I appeal to have my rating changed and get disability payments? base privileges, commissary, etc. I think I’d have to pay back my lump sum payment, not sure, but this is not a problem.
- Can I get the VA to correct the improperly healed septum that has caused my obstructive sleep apnea?
- I have never applied for any benefits or even been to the VA since I got out of the service in 1993. Can I still apply for benefits?
