Before I get into the heart of the matter let me say I know there are
good, honest hardworking people in the VA, maybe even the majority. However, it only takes a few for the whole
group to be tarnished.
While I appreciate the sentiment of Veterans Day it would be even better if the government of the United States kept their promises to its veterans when they have to apply for health and compensation benefits when their service begins to impact their lives in the future. Too often it seems as if the Department of Veterans Affairs look for ways to deny benefits, push pills for treatment, and are more concerned about bonuses for executives.
While I appreciate the sentiment of Veterans Day it would be even better if the government of the United States kept their promises to its veterans when they have to apply for health and compensation benefits when their service begins to impact their lives in the future. Too often it seems as if the Department of Veterans Affairs look for ways to deny benefits, push pills for treatment, and are more concerned about bonuses for executives.
This is not new. From the
beginning of the country veterans have often been used and then tossed aside
like chaff after the harvest, left to be blown about by the vagrancies of the
wind, the promises going up in smoke from the fires that are used to get rid of
the trash.
It is not just the VA's fault.
From the executive branch not pushing enough to the congressmen and
senators who use the veterans for photo ops and trying to buy votes with empty
promises (much like Democratic candidates going into black churches and
Republican candidates going to evangelical churches) the government often fails
the veterans until many have succumbed to the ravages of war, and yet it will
seem to many, because of the passing of time, that it is something else that
has caused the death or maiming of a veteran.
The wounds of war often are not
ones that can be seen, and these wounds often start small and then begin to
fester before one even realizes the hurt is from serving. Many times by the time it is evident help is
needed the poison in the body and/or soul has spread impacting not just the
veteran, but the friends and family of the same veteran.
Here are some experiences with the VA myself and others have
encountered in the last two decades.
Most of them have occurred in the last few years, and some of those in
the last few months. Some are from news
reports, some are personal. Some are
from interactions and observations. It
is only the tip of the iceberg.
1. Being hung up on because it
is five o’clock/quitting time. This is
even after being on hold. No explanation
given, just click or "Thank you for calling the Depart of Veterans
Affairs. Our office hours
are..." This has happened not just
20+ years ago, but in the last few months.
2. For certain type of comp and
pension exams unqualified doctors being used.
An example is found in Minneapolis where GPs were doing traumatic brain
injury evaluations despite the VA regulation saying only specialists in certain
fields were allowed to do so.
3. Medical and other sensitive information being thrown away in the public trash with no safeguards taken. Examples include Sacramento, Hot Springs/Rapid City, Dorn VAMC in South Carolina, and many more.
3. Medical and other sensitive information being thrown away in the public trash with no safeguards taken. Examples include Sacramento, Hot Springs/Rapid City, Dorn VAMC in South Carolina, and many more.
4. While some may argue the
following point, I think it is not good that they do it, and it should be easy
enough to fix with today’s technology.
The issue is when you call just about any number in the VA system you
will get a recording that says in essence “Thank you for call The Generic
Veterans Medical Center (or whatever spot it is). If this is a medical emergency please hang up
and dial 9-1-1. If you are thinking of
harming yourself or others hang up and call the Veterans Crisis Line their
number is: .” For many facing a mental health challenge it
is difficult to make the first phone call, and then to be told call someone
else may result in them not ever calling.
There should be a way to push a button to be connected to the Crisis
Line as well as a way to push a button to be connected to the local 9-1-1
operator if it is a medical emergency.
5. To go along with number two many of the VA doctors are not versed in exposures the military faces, and when brought up many doctors will not believe what you have to say. I have personally been told that sand cannot be inhaled deep into the lower parts of the lungs even though the Dept of Defense has issued at least one major report that says sand in the Middle East especially Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia can be less than two micrometers in diameter. The sand can cause scarring that does not show up in X-rays or pulmonary function tests. Sand is but one issue, chemicals in daily work, fumes from various sources, infectious diseases and the list goes on and on.
6. Seemingly try to find ways to deny benefits even to the point of going after another opinion and phrasing the request to point to the conclusion they want. This can be especially true of one physician has linked the condition to military service and the VA does not want to give it a rating.
5. To go along with number two many of the VA doctors are not versed in exposures the military faces, and when brought up many doctors will not believe what you have to say. I have personally been told that sand cannot be inhaled deep into the lower parts of the lungs even though the Dept of Defense has issued at least one major report that says sand in the Middle East especially Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia can be less than two micrometers in diameter. The sand can cause scarring that does not show up in X-rays or pulmonary function tests. Sand is but one issue, chemicals in daily work, fumes from various sources, infectious diseases and the list goes on and on.
6. Seemingly try to find ways to deny benefits even to the point of going after another opinion and phrasing the request to point to the conclusion they want. This can be especially true of one physician has linked the condition to military service and the VA does not want to give it a rating.
7. Making it difficult to talk
to National Service Officers, and the VA Benefits Administration in general, by
having them in a building that requires a security check that sends subtle
intimidation with an over- abundance of VA/Federal police, passing through
security that is a joke, but requires everything out of pockets, belts removed,
jackets removed. Passing through the
security one day I heard one of the officers saying that he had hoped the lady
a few minutes before would have given him more attitude toward having to take
off her belt. He was actively wanting a
confrontation to happen. The security is
a joke as it is passing thorugh a metal detector and having belts, jackets, etc
go through some sort of scanner/x-ray.
While the common people have to wait to go through just feet from the
metal detector is an employee entrance with no security other than what looks
like a key card type of entry. If anyone
acquires a card then they will be able to enter freely. Outside the building you have to go through a
security check at the entrance, show your license, and then have a gate
opened. Again the employees have access
to lots that just have a gate on it. Realizing
there may be other measures not seen if one wanted to cause damage to a federal
building all one would have to do is to drive a truck much like Timothy McVeigh
had through an unmanned gate, drive to the building, disgorge any terrorists
that may be hidden within or blow the truck up even though the entrance is
25-50 feet from the driveway. The very front entrance may be somewhat safer,
but it is full of glass, the distance is not great enough to prevent major
damage, and on either side they could drive into a steep ditch and be right
next to the building.
On a related note I was in the travel section of the VA Medical Center
when somebody was complaining a bit loudly about the shortage of workers
helping people even though there were workers not doing anything. Another veteran told the one complaining to
be careful because they would call the VA police for almost anything. Intimidation is there even if they say it is
not.
8. Laying the burden of proof on the veteran when their respective service, the service in which medical help was sought, or DOD has lost the files of the event that occurred. Even with medical records it can be difficult. It is a documented fact that many units in Desert Storm threw away their records because of a directive that said to do so because it would be too expensive to ship otherwise. Shot records are routinely lost, and the DOD even acknowledges that there are going to be records lost in a combat theater. Often the reason for denial is because there is no evidence of an event that caused injury in one's service file. Even if there is evidence it can be difficult to receive benefits for the injury. I have seen a private health care provider who was also a reservist at one time. This individual was eith a NP or PA, and had been activated several times in support of the units for OEF, OIF, and Afghanistan, and spent quite a bit of time in a deployment/redeployment center. We have talked twice and both times she has said that there was a belief among the armed service personnel at the center that unless one was missing a limb, and even then there very well might be questions, that you would not be granted your claim.
I could go on and on with examples from myself and from others, but you can get the idea. If one wants to honor the veterans the best way is to pressure the legislative and executive branches to honor the promises and obligations made to those who serve with the expectation that the government will fulfill their obligations.
Dave
8. Laying the burden of proof on the veteran when their respective service, the service in which medical help was sought, or DOD has lost the files of the event that occurred. Even with medical records it can be difficult. It is a documented fact that many units in Desert Storm threw away their records because of a directive that said to do so because it would be too expensive to ship otherwise. Shot records are routinely lost, and the DOD even acknowledges that there are going to be records lost in a combat theater. Often the reason for denial is because there is no evidence of an event that caused injury in one's service file. Even if there is evidence it can be difficult to receive benefits for the injury. I have seen a private health care provider who was also a reservist at one time. This individual was eith a NP or PA, and had been activated several times in support of the units for OEF, OIF, and Afghanistan, and spent quite a bit of time in a deployment/redeployment center. We have talked twice and both times she has said that there was a belief among the armed service personnel at the center that unless one was missing a limb, and even then there very well might be questions, that you would not be granted your claim.
I could go on and on with examples from myself and from others, but you can get the idea. If one wants to honor the veterans the best way is to pressure the legislative and executive branches to honor the promises and obligations made to those who serve with the expectation that the government will fulfill their obligations.
Dave
