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A Veteran’s Path to Healthcare Advocacy and Entrepreneurship
When Air Force Veteran Theresa Irving retired in 2014, she couldn’t have predicted the unexpected journey ahead. What began as a frustrating quest for proper medical documentation eventually opened doors to a fulfilling career helping fellow Veterans pursue entrepreneurship. Her story reveals how addressing healthcare needs can unlock possibilities for post-military professional growth.
A Global Military Career
Theresa’s military career took her around the world, serving primarily overseas with tours in England and Japan, along with two combat deployments to Iraq with the 82nd Airborne. By age 20, she had already visited more than 32 countries while serving in the United States Air Force.
“I loved and served with honor throughout my career,” Theresa reflects. “The whole experience for me was amazing.”
After retiring in 2014 through the TERA program, Theresa and her husband returned to Michigan to start a new chapter of their lives. What she didn’t anticipate were the obstacles she would face in securing proper healthcare documentation for conditions connected to her service.
Administrative Oversights and Healthcare Challenges
Due to a paperwork error during her separation process, Theresa’s initial disability documentation request was shut down. “They actually thought I was 16 years old, and I never got my original compensation and pension appointment,” she explains. “They thought I was lying about the claims I was making.”
It wasn’t until 2018, after four years as a billable patient and developing serious health issues including tumors in her ear canals, that a friend who worked as a service officer suggested she might have service-connected conditions.
Though Theresa eventually initiated the documentation process, the results didn’t address her most significant issues: vision loss and severe migraines. The standard appointment structure (“The doctor allotted an hour, and they want you out in 10 minutes”) didn’t allow for comprehensive documentation of her conditions.
The Quest for Accurate Medical Documentation
After hearing about REE Medical from a friend who had a positive experience, Theresa decided to reach out. What impressed her most was the personalized approach to documentation.
“Somebody really took me through a reflection of my military service and my medical history,” she explains. “There are so many things that you thought you knew about yourself that you had forgotten.”
The process allowed Theresa to consider factors she had overlooked when attempting to document her conditions on her own:
- Specific dates and locations of service
- Supporting statements from fellow service members
- Documentation related to potential exposures
As a female Veteran who often faced assumptions about her service (“People ask me what my husband did in the service or if I’m here to check him in”), Theresa initially approached the process with caution. Her experience with REE Medical, however, proved to be different. “It’s really important to be an advocate for yourself but also have the right advocate in your corner,” she notes.
A Healthcare Transformation
The comprehensive medical documentation Theresa received transformed her healthcare experience with the VA.
“At that moment is when my healthcare shifted from the type of care that everybody else was getting to the healthcare that Teresa Irving needed and deserved because of her commitment and career,” she shares. “I wasn’t the complaining Veteran anymore. I had real conditions that needed to be addressed.”
This shift in perception and documentation quality allowed Theresa to receive specialized care for her vision issues and migraines. The process also provided practical guidance on locating important records and evidence to support her case.
Finding New Purpose Through Entrepreneurship
With her healthcare needs properly documented and addressed, Theresa found herself able to focus on new goals, and even served as the former Programming Director for Warrior Rising, a nonprofit organization that supports Veteran entrepreneurship.
“At Warrior Rising, we have epic lives in and out of uniform,” Theresa explains. The organization provides virtual workshops, coaching calls, master classes, and other resources to help Veterans and their families pursue entrepreneurial ventures.
Theresa sees a natural connection between Veteran experiences and entrepreneurship: “I tried corporate. Other people tried to work as civilians and found that they saw problems in the service and out, and they started a business to answer and solve those problems.”
She believes Veterans make exceptional entrepreneurs because, as she puts it, “they run into the fire and not away from it.”
The Connectivity Between Health and Purpose
For Theresa, getting proper medical care through accurate documentation made all the difference in her ability to pursue this new chapter.
“Because I’m back connected with my care and I’m not having that anxiety, depression, and loneliness, I’m able to focus on the next chapter of my life with confidence in entrepreneurship,” she reflects.
Her journey illustrates how proper medical documentation can lead to improved healthcare, which in turn creates space for Veterans to pursue meaningful post-service careers and contributions.
Looking Forward to Real Change
Theresa’s story highlights the importance of advocacy—both in securing disability benefits and in finding purpose after military service.
It can be easy to feel lost in the system. But when you find the right support—whether it’s through REE Medical for your medical documentation or Warrior Rising for entrepreneurship—you can realize you’re not alone.
Theresa’s advice to fellow Veterans? Start by reaching out.
REE Medical can help ensure your medical documentation tells the full story. And if you’re looking for your next step, Warrior Rising is here to help you build something meaningful. You don’t have to navigate this alone.
Your Next Steps
If you or a Veteran you know is struggling with the VA process or searching for a renewed sense of purpose, there are resources available.
- For independent, thorough medical documentation: Contact REE Medical to ensure your conditions are properly recorded and understood.
- For entrepreneurship and career guidance: Explore Warrior Rising and discover the opportunities available for Veterans ready to take control of their futures.
Because every Veteran’s journey matters—and with the right support, success is within reach.