[kerr]

If it weren't for the VA I would be dead. Plane and simple . Thank god for the cheap meds. or I would not be able to afford anything else and than not my meds. I gave the ARMY 4 years active , they are makeing it possible for me to afford to keep liveing , good trade you ask me . Never have used them for anything else but I,m not one to go to the doc. whenever I fart off key .

They been good to me and I am very thankfull for them . Kerr

 

[hmass18z]

I view the VA as a double-edged sword. I keep telling myself that the VA is there for the veterans, etc., and if I didn't get my medical care at Fort Carson, I would have to go to the VA in Pueblo. But I also have to remind myself that they are a government agency and they work for "the man" and at the end of the day, as I used to say, if minimum standards wern't good enough, they would not have them. When I retired in 2007, I went to the VA Doc for a physical, and I had to keep reminding myself that I was going to see him for my disability %, but he is there to keep me from getting a high % and disability $$. I also loved how all my disabilities added up to about 140% individually, but VA math had me at 70%..........go figure. Then, after less than a year, I had to go to Denver for a re-evaluation.

So bottom line, am I thankful for the VA, yes. I was able to travel to Russia in 1993 and they do not have a VA equivelant. I saw Vets from their Afghan War, one in particular that I remember, sitting on the sidewalk, his leg swollen to the point of the skin bursting open from gangren infection (hope I spelled that right) and then one morning .... he was gone. So, I feel fairly confident as a US Vet, I should not ever have to deal with that, thanks to the VA.

But then again, they are a gov't agency, and the government is their boss. Therefore, I feel that they keep the gov't in their best interest, and not the vet.

Plus, just my $.02, where does the current administration look to cut $$$ from the Federal budget ? You got it, the VA......so that freebie's can be handed out to the illegal's etc........people who have given NOTHING to keep this country free, and the home of the brave.

 

[oldbrass]

I filed my appeal for my back and had the physical a few months ago, when I went in there and saw a few young troops missing limbs and really struggling I almost turned around and walked out because I felt guilty for whining about my back..I hope these young troops get all they fought for.

 

[Big Shrek]

One of my newborn sons got MRSA during a hernia operation...I asked why they didn't check the staff for this and take precautions...
was told that it was so widespread now that they just treat it after its caught instead of trying to head it off...GRRR

But at least we know he's got it, and by default, his twin brother, myself and my wife probably have it by now as well.
You can't NOT kiss your own baby

So we do sanitize better than regular folks...just to keep others from catching it.
And we slapped MRSA QUARANTINE stickers on their carseats/stroller, so folks don't touch 'em without permission.
Helps get the word out about MRSA too...

 

[tinspark1]

Nam vet

Went to VA to get tested for AO.Filled out forms in March2003 . VA sent letter saying 17JAN2003 VA put limimt on grossincome eligibility of$24,644 gross income,I recieved the letter9AUG2003. 22JUN2009 the VA sent me letter saying the Obama administration was raising the limit to$35,475...00 with no dependents after dedcting for living expenses. BUSH 2003 Obama 2009 cuss him if you want who put his money with the vets.

 

[redlegagent]

One of my newborn sons got MRSA during a hernia operation...I asked why they didn't check the staff for this and take precautions...
was told that it was so widespread now that they just treat it after its caught instead of trying to head it off...GRRR

But at least we know he's got it, and by default, his twin brother, myself and my wife probably have it by now as well.
You can't NOT kiss your own baby

So we do sanitize better than regular folks...just to keep others from catching it.
And we slapped MRSA QUARANTINE stickers on their carseats/stroller, so folks don't touch 'em without permission.
Helps get the word out about MRSA too...

MRSA is widespread in the communities. It comes from antibiotic over use. For most healthy people it is no problem. People exposed to it are essentially "colonized" but your normal bacteria - and you carry a lot on your body - keeps it in check. You can get MRSA in different places. If your son had it in his wound - once that wound has healed - he probably won't be contagious as the wound has healed shut. Some people get it in their respiratory tracks and some people get it in their blood or urine. They can do cultures to check after he's healed up. If the cultures are negative X3 - he's considered clean. Trust me, there are people walking around the malls and working in resturants etc. that have been exposed to MRSA - try not to over react. :ahhhhh:

 

[ncnick]

Don't trust them. Now, when you go in for any appointment, they ask if you feel threatened at home or if you are depressed. Then they ask if you have guns at home. If you answer "yes", they report you to DHS and if you have a Concealed Carry Permit, they will pull it. That should be 100% un-constitutional. When will they stop?

 

[Gohon]

If you answer "yes", they report you to DHS and if you have a Concealed Carry Permit, they will pull it.

Bull crap............in the first place the VA has no authority over a state issued carry permit and neither does the Department of Homeland Security.

 

[tamu74]

When I got out of the Air Force, I had, had to have my ankle fused twice due to an accident on a bomb range. I immediately went to the VA office in Lubbock, Texas and registered. I was checked out by their clinic and was awarded a 50% disability. Subsequently, I was sent to the VA hospital in Dallas for further treatment. and after a year of travelling back and forth from Lubbock to Dallas and three hospitalizations, thanks to the aid of my congressman, George MahHon, instead of amputating my foot they brought in a specialist and refused my ankle and lower foot. I would not willingly step foot back into the Dallas VA Hospital. However, I have lived close to Houston for the past 25 years and the VA hospital here is top notch. The only problem I have with them is that it takes forever to get an appointment. But in an emergency situation the will take care of you quick, fast, and in a hurry. For example, I was given an echo cardiogram as part of a physical check up and they discovered I had a bad aortic valve and I was admitted that day and treated until they could replace it. I have been recieving follow up care ever since. I now have a VA primary care doctor in the Texas City VA clinic that is just 4 miles from my house, and the Houston VA hospital is just 30 miles away.

I also went back to college on the Veteran's Rehabilitation Program and got both my batchelor's and master's degrees under that program.

Do I trust the VA? Yes,I do but only to a point; as President Reagan said, "Trust, but verify."

 

[Marlinjunkie]

I have heard many horror stories about the VA from friends all over the states. I experienced a total lack of caring myself about 30 years ago. Two years ago, at the insistence of my brother, I went to James A. Haley in Tampa FL. This resulted in me filing some claims. Within a year I was 100% disabled and the health care providers have been extremely helpful (everyone I came in contact with was- except my AMVETS representative who was supposed to help me with my claims; so I dropped him and did it all myself). The VA in Florida also processed my claims very quickly. So I have only admiration for those folks in Florida.

Of course I can only speak to my own experiences.

 

[lost yankee]

I started dealing with the VA in March of 2008, sometimes its good and sometimes its bad, took almost 3 years to get my disability rating but i got it, all i can say is stick with it and dont give up, if you get rated and a disability payment they pay you from when you put your claim in, so HANG IN THERE BROTHERS & SISTERS!!

 

[Wrangler0331]

I agree with yankee, stick with it. Do not be afraid to challenge your doctors or if the VA hospital is not trating you properly change facilities. Also take advantage of Vet Centers and service organizations. But do not give up.

 

[lost yankee]

IMHO it seems that they are counting on you giving up, again just my mho

 

[hogbear]

A long time ago (1968), when I got out of the USMC I went to the VA to see if I could get any additional INFO, not money or even aid, for a physical problem that showed up on my leaving Viet Nam exam and was noted as "service connected". I was told, in plain English, laced with a lot of profanity, that I was not a "real veteran" that I had never been in a "real war" and that I was just some "dammned hippy" trying to scam the government out of a free ride. It took all I could muster of self control to keep my hands off that guy. I never went back to the VA. Fast foreward to 2005, I suffered a stroke. No one on either side of my family, as far back as I could go, even back to the French and Indian War had any history of cardiovascular problems. The doctors who treated my stroke told me to go to the VA and get checked for agent orange exposure. Reluctantlhy, I went. The folks I dealt with were polite and helpful and I got a very thorough physical. The funny thing was I had "no exposure to agent orange" but I now get a news letter about agent orange from the VA. Oh, the problem I had when I left Viet Nam was hearing loss. Forty seven years later the VA gave me two hearing aids. Some things have changed, some things haven't.

 

[tlc361]

When I got out I did not have a physical done (separations time frame was to short), was not told anything about the VA and never went to the VA until years later. I have been told by a rep that he had "combat vets that had been blown up, why he was wasting time on me he didn't know" My response was "if you got combat vets that need help take care of them and come find me when you're done". I was told they had a fire in St. Louis and no records could be found.

I've been told so many times that my being a "peace time vet" isn't a real Veteran. This from VA, Federal job applications, and some state jobs (thank you California and Arizona). I serve this country, volunteered for missions and assignments when many other did not. Burns my hide to be told such things, as a result I haven't been to the VA in years. Last time I went I got a bill from them.

 

[djj2012]

as a 23 yr vet/uscg/ret , No i do not trust the administrative side of VA, hospital provides excellent service (however I personally do not use ) but have been told nothing but good things bout the hospitals. My dealings with the va came after i saw a 60 mins episode from the past director that resigned, which was a 30 yr marine. He stated that the Va motto was "deny all claims u can, and reject or delay all others. He resigned because what the marines taught him the va were the exact opposite, he no longer could do this to fellow vets. Simply they do not answer to congress, they answer the commander in chief only. My claim was surprisingly fast 9 months i believe. Appeal, no good.... now getting lawyers involved, But to make matters worse when i remarried it took them 14 months to add my new wife as a dependent. Yes 14 months, they overpaid me during my divorce a whooping 450.00 dollars they are taking out in Nov, But they owe me 2000 grand for my stepdaughter in backpayment. I get a letter stating i owe them, they do not even address the back payment. so wouldnt u think they would calcualate it once, and send me 1550.00. I have called wrote letters and they will not even responde.it amazes me how IRS can compute and complete every americans tax returns in months, but it takes the va yrs to process claims...frustrated and down right hate talking about it as much as this election. I wouldnt kick a mule in the rear for either one.Im thru venting now.lol take care all, have a great weekend.

 

[kindapointless]

It all depends on the va it seems like. My first experience was at mtn home va in johnson city tn, they were quite good. Then I moved and discovered apparently the smallest most underfunded va in the system by thier own admittance butler pa va. Somehow in the move my appeal got lost but I was never informed of anything. Every time I asked about it I was told it was being processed. That was 08. Fast foward to last month and I finally got ahold of a higher guy in food chain from Pittsburgh va and they have no record of the appeal. Little back story as a tac lift load master I g9t beat around a lot int the back of the old herc and had got my foot stuck in the rail system and caused damage to my ankle for one and been bounced around a lot causing a slipped disc, carparl tunnel, tennis elbow (both arms), and seveal tbi's. I also got diagnosed with dysthimia on the last trip in the box which ended me flying forever. I filed for all this since my career was over and I could never fly again. I got 30 percent for the dysthimia and 0 for my sinuses being burnt from the exhaust I constantly stood in. Cant keep a crappy job cause my back goes in and out and my left leg feels like fire from the nerve damage with the depression and ptsd not helping. So I have to re file and am told I can not get my back pay from when I filed the appeal because they lost it. I probably wont even get the new claim approved even though I am treated for all of these issues and they are the va diagnosment. I go to them at least once a week still cause I hope it helps and they have me on a ridiculous amount of meds. They have lost all my records 3 times so far also.

 

[NoImpactNoIdea]

I believe the Veterans Administration's motto is "Delay,Deny,and hope they Die" before you get what is due to you.

 

[grizbear13]

A long time ago (1968), when I got out of the USMC I went to the VA to see if I could get any additional INFO, not money or even aid, for a physical problem that showed up on my leaving Viet Nam exam and was noted as "service connected". I was told, in plain English, laced with a lot of profanity, that I was not a "real veteran" that I had never been in a "real war" and that I was just some "dammned hippy" trying to scam the government out of a free ride. It took all I could muster of self control to keep my hands off that guy. I never went back to the VA. Fast foreward to 2005, I suffered a stroke. No one on either side of my family, as far back as I could go, even back to the French and Indian War had any history of cardiovascular problems. The doctors who treated my stroke told me to go to the VA and get checked for agent orange exposure. Reluctantlhy, I went. The folks I dealt with were polite and helpful and I got a very thorough physical. The funny thing was I had "no exposure to agent orange" but I now get a news letter about agent orange from the VA. Oh, the problem I had when I left Viet Nam was hearing loss. Forty seven years later the VA gave me two hearing aids. Some things have changed, some things haven't.

Same thing here, 47 yrs later I get the hearing aids and 0% for hearing loss but 10% for tinnitus ,have appealed and am still waiting after still more tests for their decision. NOT HOLDING MY BREATH!! Don't expect them to do what is right any time soon.

 

[sskangakiller]

Hey Grizbear ,I got discharged from the Australian Army in '70. In '73 put into our VA for anxiety, hearing loss among other things. Got 10% pension for hearing loss, VA says my anxiety, depression, booze was due to me being recently married, child etc. The first person I ran into at the VA said that Vietnam wasn't a war , had to be WW1/2,Korea, Malaya, anyhow I got through the day without ripping that idiots heart out of their neck. All later claims met with the "stress and strain of married life,crap,crap and crap.
Our Vietnam Veterans Assn was gathering speed and I finally used them on my last claim in the 90's. Within a few months I was awarded the highest benefits an Aussie can get!!!
Our Vietnam Veterans Assn is open to all Aussie returnees of ALL our military involvements, they have opened the eyes of all our older diggers(veterans), especially the WW2 blokes.
The Australian Department of Veterans Affairs pays out a reasonable allowance(could be better), don't get me wrong, they give nothing away before they put you through the mill and will hand down ridiculous decisions/reasons to make you go away and give up. To get even with your VA will need a lot of heads together/legal assistance, heaps of factual knowledge, group backing and spear heading into 'em. Also our VA doesn't recognise Agent Orange,BUT, covers us for ALL cancers otherwise, go figure that.
Hope you have better luck in the days ahead, sooner rather than later. Governments abhor handing out money, BUT, always remember-Governments don't have any money, they only use the tax payers funds (YOURS). All the best mate. sskangakiller.