How a Veteran's AuDHD Exposed the VA's Plan to Wait Her Out

Marine veteran Janice Young is taking on the VA, alleging systemic misconduct and deliberate stalling tactics designed to make her miss a federal court deadline.

Marine veteran Janice Young is taking the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to federal court, alleging the agency intentionally used stalling tactics to make her miss a critical legal deadline. Janice asserts that the very neurodivergence the VA system struggles to handle—her AuDHD (Autism and ADHD)—became the precise cognitive advantage she needed to spot the scheme and fight back.

Janice Young’s breaking point came when she realized the VA’s communication was deliberately designed to confuse her. She noticed that the claim filing dates she was given did not match the strict deadlines for federal court. “I was told one thing by one VA representative, and then stonewalled for several months,” Janice states. She concluded they were “trying to make me miss the federal deadline, hoping I wouldn’t catch it.”

This wasn't an accident. Janice found a clear pattern of suppression: ignoring calls, sending letters that denied responsibility for their negligence, and releasing misleading audits.

Janice Young’s AuDHD—the combination of Autism and ADHD—gave her the unique mental tools to combat the VA’s bureaucratic moves. She describes her advantage as a balanced set of opposing skills: "My ADHD gave me the speed and spontaneity to divert my attention to multiple areas of my filings at once, whereas. my autism gave me the contradictory lens to hyper-focus and spot patterns and inconsistencies the VA attempted to manipulate me with.” She turned her case into a mystery to solve. “It was actually intellectually stimulating for me to essentially play detective,” she reflects. However, this level of intense, prolonged focus is emotionally exhausting for most veterans. As fellow veteran James M. notes, "Due to the nerve damage, anxiety, and depression, I’ve lost confidence in a lot that I do. It's hard to move on when there is always pain and regret wearing it like a weighted vest.”

While the fight has been painful, Janice Young felt her dignity was harmed by having to beg for help, her Marine identity keeps her grounded. “I feel like the Marine Corps gives me the confidence to remind myself everyday that I’ve got this,” she says. This resolve is mirrored by James M., who insists: "No matter what, all vets should be taken care of equally and thoroughly... The VA should do better for us all.”

Janice Young’s ultimate demand is simple: the VA needs to stop trying to exploit neurodivergent veterans and start using their unique abilities. She argues that her "bottom-up thinking" allows her to see problems others miss. “The VA should be seeking us out for highly technical careers like Intelligence that will help them uncover the very fraud and waste I am currently exposing.” Janice Young’s story proves that the unique focus of the neurodivergent mind is a powerful asset the VA should value, not undermine.