Dear Elsa,

I have many challenges in my life, including a serious illness that prevents me from working.

My former employer is the US military, and I believe they exacerbated my medical condition due to abuse, harassment and medical mismanagement. I filed a claim, but Veteran’s Affairs turned it down, saying that the military didn’t have anything to do with this.

I need to file an appeal of that decision. I really don’t care about any pensions that I would get from winning… but I genuinely need certain medical services that would be provided if I won.

It’s been very difficult emotionally to file an appeal, and I’ve avoided it for months. A part of me just wants to cut my losses. But, another part of me says that this is why they got away with their mistreatment of me in the first place! I just wasn’t strong enough to fight them while it was happening.

I already feel like a total failure for not being able to work anymore. Should I even bother to appeal and try to fight with these people?

Signed,
Discouraged