Getting Started With The Va

[Guest angie]

Since being let go by old physican,I had to make

the choice and try to get my VA benefits going.

Waiting on my DD214 took forever.While my

physical isssue's aren't going away.Finally got

my 214 last Friday and went to the VA to get myself

in the system,hopefully be assigned an ENT(eye ear nose and throat)

doc to find out what is up with my voice.Or lack there of.

My bff told me to dress everyday,not over the top girly.

OK,I can do that.So I went in wearing a blue jean skirt

and a lacy(very) camisole and lacy bra combo with cover shirt.

Femme,but not too so. Or so I thought.I was the guy who

in processed me's first trans woman.That was easy to spot.

When he asked if he could help me ma'am,and I gave him my

discharge papers and name change documents,he took the

time to read each and every word.Kept looking from my paper

work to me.Like thinking,can this be real? Could that tiny woman

have really served as a Combat Engineer,as a man?While only

making the statement that he hadn't ever seen Angelique spelled

like I do my name.(bet he hasn't met to many Angelique's either)

Now to his credit,he gendered me right alway's,treated me with

the respect and deference a woman should be treated with.But...

I don't think he believed that my discharge papers were authentic.

Here they are,a notarized copy from the Department of Veteran's

Affairs St Louis,and he tells me he will have to send them off to

Chicago to have them do a back ground check to verify my time in service.

Argh,another delay. Well, at least I am in the system.And hopefully

it doesn't take too long to get me assigned to a physican to take

care of my more pressing needs.

Angelique

[Guest Donna Jean]

Good on you, Ang...getting that started!

Gee, the wheels turn slowly, but you'll make progress.

I've heard some encouraging things about the VA and Trans Vets lately....I hope they're true!

Keep us updated...I'm VERY interested!

HUGGS & LUCK....

Donna Jean

[Guest Bailey]

Angie,

I am sorry you are experiencing the delay. Just look on the bright side. You pass so well they can not believe you were a man. I know from my own experience that once they finish the paperwork you should move through the system fairly quickly. When I first signed up it took a couple days but once done I was rushed through to a new doctor and got my diabetes diagnosed. Anyway I hope you experience a simiarly quick inprocessing.

With Love,

Aislinn

[Guest Elizabeth K]

My bff told me to dress everyday,not over the top girly.

OK,I can do that.So I went in wearing a blue jean skirt

and a lacy(very) camisole and lacy bra combo with cover shirt.

Femme,but not too so. Or so I thought

ANGIE!!!

Give us a break! You were a knockout like that! 'Not over the top girly' is blue jeans and a pull-over sweatshirt! You had the poor guy's blood pressure soaring!

hee hee

You are a trip!

Love my south SA girlfriend!

Lizzette

[Guest Jewel]

Kept looking from my paper

work to me.Like thinking,can this be real? Could that tiny woman

have really served as a Combat Engineer,as a man?

Hahaha, that's great.... I'm sure he was kneeling to pick up his jaw from the floor later. Like Liz said, you're a knockout.

Glad to hear you've got the wheel rolling, even if it turns slowly due to bureaucracy.

[Guest angie]

My favorite was telling the rep I had been married.

After being asked marital status and saying divorced.

His response was,"Really,how long and to who?"

You just know others think(gay marriage) and a man.

It blows them away when I tell them to a woman for decades,and

am a father of two grown women,grandmother of two grandson's.

(heh-heh-heh) I love doing that.Talk about shock and awe.(grin)

Really messes with other's preconceptions of being a transsexual

wouldn't you say?(smile)

Angie

[Guest Jewel]

My favorite was telling the rep I had been married.

After being asked marital status and saying divorced.

His response was,"Really,how long and to who?"

You just know others think(gay marriage) and a man.

It blows them away when I tell them to a woman for decades,and

am a father of two grown women,grandmother of two grandson's.

(heh-heh-heh) I love doing that.Talk about shock and awe.(grin)

Really messes with other's preconceptions of being a transsexual

wouldn't you say?(smile)

Angie

Grandmother?? That is un-possible! You're too young for that! Can you even legally drink yet?

It used to bother me a lot when I had to disclose that I'm trans. Now part of me kinda enjoys the "shock and awe", LOL.

[Guest Smitty]

I'm wondering, I'll have 6 years next year when my contract is up, I'm also a GWOT vet. By discharging would I qualify for VA because or not because I'm guard.

[Guest sarah f]

Welcome to Laura's Smitty. I am glad you found the site and starting to post. Wow this is the second member that has made their first post in the military section. I am proud of each and everyone of you.

I would like to hear more about you when you have a chance. How about an introduction about yourself sometime. I look forward to seeing more about you.

[Guest Donna Jean]

I'm wondering, I'll have 6 years next year when my contract is up, I'm also a GWOT vet. By discharging would I qualify for VA because or not because I'm guard.

Hello, Smitty...

Welcome to the Playground!

I'm Donna Jean..Vietnam VetUSAF C-130 combat loadmaster...

I just signed up for VA benefits...

And I was treated like a queen!

I'm not sure that I underestand your question...

If you're still Guard, they take care of you...

If you are out and have your DD214...you're good to go at the VA!

HUGGS!

Donna Jean

[Guest someone else]

Well it has been a month. How is it going?