Back in 1973 I was (still am) in a lot of pain. I started traveling to different VA hospitals in Calif. where I lived, looking for some kind of pain relief. Each and every hospital I would go to would send me away to another VA hospital in Calif. because I was not "Service connected" and they could not treat me for my pain. All the hospitals were very generous with anti-inflammatory drugs for me. When I became upset at the VA, I started getting Valium in the mail for the next ten years, but nothing for the pain. I would pay to go to civilian doctors only to have them say that this was a VA problem and that I asked for pain medication and that they will not give it to me because of the "Chronic nature of the pain" Back about 1975 I started to have stomach problems and I was told it was just gas and to take antacid. A few years later I entered an emergency room at a hospital with very sharp stomach pains. I was told is was just gas and gave me meds for gas pains. about two years later it happened again. Same diagnoses, same meds. one year later I was in the emergency room with a very large bleeding ulcer There were days in the hospital and blood transfusions. It seems that all the years of taking anti-inflammatory drugs given to me by the VA had eaten away my stomach lining. The VA excepted responsibility and paid my doctor bills and now send me drugs to fight my stomach problem, The VA also gives me O % disability for this problem.

  

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