Anyone ever dealt with the VA?

[alibi]

I have to say I have no personal experience with the VA medical services, despite that I retired from the Army Reserve in 1997 and started receiving retirement pay in 2007.

While I was on active duty in 1970 I was in the back of a 1/4 truck that because of the panic of the driver free wheeled down a steep slope and when it hit bottom I was thrown clear of the vehicle and then landed on my back in the vehicle. There was no report of the incident and I never went on sick call because of it. I now suffer lower back pain on a recurring basis and considered the idea of making a claim with VA. From what I have heard regarding the VA requirement for documentation and witness statements, none of which I have, I figured that would be futile. I went on to active and reserve duty and figured if I ever made a claim I would be discharged, so in the end I think I came out the better for it. However, I would recommend that anyone in any military scenario that is injured immediately request a Line of Duty Report, and document the event. (As the XO of a reserve unit on annual training at Ft. Irwin I wrote eleven Line of Duty Reports, including two on the same soldier for falling off a tank and separate occasions)

I have two female acquaintances that have nothing but good things to say about VA treatment. One was a reservist on active duty for training when she fell ill, was hospitalized and diagnosed with Lupus. She was medically retired and has been very well taken care of by VA since.

The other person is a "gray area retiree" that is no longer active in the reserve, but eligible for retirement pay, but not old enough to draw retirement. She was diagnosed with breast cancer and was treated by a physician. She then had double breast implants (one to replace the breast removed and one cosmetic to make them both the same) that was badly done. She went to the VA and has been treated to repair the problem with the implants and has been completely satisfied with the service.

Most of the complaints I have heard about the VA regarding application for treatment has been for exotic conditions such as the health problems from "Agent Orange" and "Gulf War Syndrome" although I'm sure there are others. I know a fellow that is a member of the "Atomic Veterans" that were exposed to the detonation atomic weapons, and there is a high incidence of illness related to radiation poisoning among these people.

The Veteran's Administration has been highly criticized for treating people with phony claims of service related injury, and with the tightening budgets it is to be expected that the scrutiny of claims will be thorough. I hope that all who require medical treatment and relief through disability payments will receive those benefits to their satisfaction.

Reading the replies to this thread has been both enlighting and saddening. I hope that you are successful in getting the treatment you require and deserve.

[amber]

TO HOLDOVER -- when your knee claim finally gets settled, you will receive back disability payments for it. Please read my posts eariler in this thread. With the exception of a personality conflict with my VA priminary care doctor andl anguage problems (my hearing clearly), I could not be happier with the care I've received at the VA Hospital and of course the full disability I receive.

I hope all Viet Nam Vets belong to the Viet Nam Veterans of America and of course their local chapter. In the 25 or 30 years that I've been a member, I have never attended any meetings and still when I asked for help on how to file for disability, they steered me in the right direction with no BS. MY local state Service Officer is great too. She told me to do whatever she said without question, no matter how stupid it seemed at the time. I followed instructions to the letter and even though my rating is 70%, I get 100% money because I can not work. In addition, I am in Priority 1 for medical care. I pay for nothing. They even want to give me a couple of dental implants which I understand could be worth 4,000 $$ each, but so far I can still get along without any new teeth -- why go through the pain until I really have to. My wife could also get free medical care - that's EVERYTHING - if she ever wanted to. But she has private insurance from her former employer and is happy with that.

FOR YOU VETS WHO HAVEN'T APPLIED YET, WORDS OF ADVICE:

1. Be nice. Even though you are entitled to benefits, don't demand anything. Sugar catches a lot of bees.
2. Use your State Service Officer (SO), that's why they are there, to help you stay on track.
3. Follow the SO's instructions exactly.
4. Be patient. This stuff takes time. Remember that you WILL get back benefits.
5. Gather all your military records together before applying. Have your sh-t in an orderly fashion.
6. Make copies of EVERYTHING. I can't imagine not having a copy maching especially at today's prices.
7. Don't miss an appointment. If you can not be there, CALL. Be on time too, even though you'll probably have to wait.

[Former Cav]

KEEP after them and DON'T give up!! that is what they want you to do.
If you live in the north, Like MN, IL or some LIBERAL place like that, it might be wise for you to MOVE to a "more veteran friendly state".
It took me THIRTY years to get comp for one leg, one eye, and two ears, and it was ALL right their on THEIR paper. I've known other guys who just got "theirs" after FORTY years!!
Good luck and DON'T give up.
BTW... I firmly believe that the VA gave me PTSD !!! don't tell them that though.

[joem]

7. Don't miss an appointment. If you can not be there, CALL. Be on time too, even though you'll probably have to wait. I was told that never miss or be late for you appointment without calling. I'm always early and sometimes if sombody misses their appointment I get in early.

[Big_Al]

I did my three and got out, back in 1970. For reasons that don't really matter anymore, I never recieved an exit physical. My hearing had been damaged in service, but I just learned to live with it.
A friend (WWII vet) last year got some hearing aids from the VA, and my wife (who has griped about my hearing for the 22 years we've been married) convinced me to try. Having seen buddies encounter the VA Motto "Deny, deny, deny; 'till you die" I started with my state service officer, every county in Florida has one. He is a 20+ year Navy vet and he sent in my application for Priority Six, Vietnam service. The VA bumped me up one level to Priority Five (low income). I am now "in the system" and have been tested and approved for hearing aids, had an Agent Orange Evaluation, and a general physical.
Our local rural area clinic is staffed by friendly caring people. I had to go to two different places in two different cities for other things, and llike m1grunt above noted the system is stretched to the limit, the staff is friendly and professional but overwhelmed.
I have not, nor will I, file for disability for my hearing (service connection too hard to prove) nor my PTSD. However, if i get any of the Agent Orange related diseases I probably will.
#1 thing: get help from a Service Officer, whether that's provided by your state, county, local VFW, American Legion, DAV, whatever. Do not try to do it yourself, the frustration will kill you.

[Bill D]

Big All is absolutely correct. I tried to do a disability claim for hearing and got nowhere. I then was told that I would have MUCH better luck by going with the El Paso County VSO. The nice gentleman there told me that unluss you understand the system intimatly, the claim is going nowhere. I have now been tested and am waiting for the paperwork. Still no hearing aids but things are at least moving. The ball is in the VA's court.

[Big_Al]

Bill, it took two months to get the appointment with the audiologist. The VA farmed the hearing test out to a local, civilian place, who did the test and sent the results in for approval (severe hearing loss, according to the audiologist). Three more weeks went by before I learned I was approved, now they are being made for me. My appointment for fitting required another three week wait.
After June 4th, I should be able to hear the birds sing for the first time since Nam. I'm excited!
Note: This was the process for hearing aids WITHOUT filing a disability claim. That would take a lot longer.
The VA did not have to approve me, they could have turned me down since I can not prove service connection.

[Bill D]

I'd say you were very fortunate in your dealing with them. The VSO told me that I needed to go the disability route after they had turned me down for just asking for aids even with documentation that I had hearing loss. I was sent out to Fort Carson for my hearing test. Fort Carson (and I suppose the entire VA system) is pretty busy now with folks coming back from Afghanistan. I had the hearing test about two months ago. The lady administering the test told me I needed aids and that was before she put me in the booth.

Guess I'll just have to wait. Glad you are having better luck.

Bill D

[Big_Al]

Ahhhh, Fort Carson. I did time there with the 46th Field Artillery Group. We were down in the old wood barracks by the back gate. Our motor pool was the last one before the gate, in fact.
Too darn cold for a Florida boy! I volunteered for Vietnam to get the heck outta there.

[Bill D]

You wouldn't know the place now. All the old building are gone with brand new fancy buildings in their place. I was out there this week and a couple of vacant lots are now covered with housing units and a new school. It just keeps getting bigger and bigger with an Aviation Brigade due in any day now. I used to be with an NG artillery battery (8" self-propelled, the old full cab models) and we set up and ran fire missions about where the new hospital is now.

I guess nothing stays the same.

[Former Cav]

only took me THIRTY years to get compensation for what was on my records in 1968 and they had em all there! BTW... did you know that McKenzies Raiders (3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 25th Inf. Div) was a NON-combat unit in 1968. That's what the fat lib at the VA told me.
I had a 100% FAILURE rate in dealing with them over 30 years.
I could write a book about it but I don't want to bore you all to tears.
I STAY away from them.

[coastie]

I have been going to Houston VA almost 20 years now.
My best primary care Doctor left to become a chief at a Canadian hospital.--Hey, she was a foreign trained Doctor!
Some doctors have the idea that this is a pool of subjects for practice. PSA very low, but a doc in training wanted practice to check prostates.
Not me. [procedure was dubbed "a nail gun up the......" Got the picture?]
And a prominent doctor conducted a two year knee study. I believe he came close to cooking the books on my case.
The good doctors and nurses and staff are great here.
The paperwork is......well, gov'mt.
But go to records and get copies of doctors reports, and tests, and x-ray and mri results.
You may have to ask for amendments, and correct some entries.
oh, co pay is subjective. And confusing.
And be carefull of prescriptions sent that you do not want. You have co-pay, remember.
Remember to tell when you are forced to medicare.
Take care out there, y'all, Paul

[navdocret]

I am "serviced" by the Fayetteville Ar. VA. Very good care for the most part. However, forget about an new treatment modalities. I've been dx'd with leukemia and my only options are: "slash, burn and poison" according to american cancer society guidelines. Will be visiting a clinic overseas soon.

[cplnorton]

I lost partial sight in my left eye when I was in the Marines and it was highly documented in my medical records, and was a big part of why I was discharged. I never filed for disability with it, but it's been getting worse and I can't see very well. Well I filed a claim with the VA mostly to get free medical help with it, not so much for the montly paycheck, that was over 2 years ago and they are still reviewing it. I had a VA eye appointment over 7 months ago and the doc said there is damage and said he would try to push it through so I could get medical treatment on it. Like I said that was 7 months ago.

I'm glad it's not something I could have died from. Because I would be dead now.

Maybe I need to get in trouble with the law and go to prison. At least my eye would be fixed free of charge within a month. Plus free food, a nice gym, and free rent. It's sad that us vets get treated this way.

[holdover]

In my opinion the care at the local VA hospital in Salem VA is top notch, the adminstrative part of the VA gets a F-, still waiting for a military records documented claim filed in Nov 2008.