Why the VA sucks.

[RED]

Sometimes the VA really sucks but other times they can be outstanding. Several years ago I banged my knee on a trailer hitch. The knee swelled up and became extremely painful to the extent I could only walk with crutches. The VA did Xrays and after a 1 week they told me it was just a bruise and issued me some pain pills. A month goes by and I go in for a recheck, same story, no new Xrays, just go home and man up.

Another month goes by and I went to a civilian Orthopedic Surgeon. They took an Xray and the surgeon studied it very carefully for about 5 seconds and told me, "your kneecap is broken." The fracture was obvious to any casual observer including a 1/2 inch chip. The surgeon said that after all those weeks, the bone had calcified so much the only fix was surgery... that I couldn't afford.

On a different occasion the VA diagnosed I had COPD and put me on an excellent routine of meds that have basically kept me going. So, some good and some not.

[seagoatami]

you all just dont understand the reasoning behind the way the V A works , they work slow so that you will die before they have to put any money out for your problems. Personally I just pay my health ins. and go see the doc when I hurt ..........so much easier on the nerves , costly on the wallet though

[holdover]

The VA Clinic and hospital here in Salem Virginia is great. Talented caring people. I give them an A+, The administrative part of the VA that processes the claims is a national disgrace I give them a F-. Years to get a settlement, usually you have to appeal their finding, and now according to an article in either the VFW or AL mag the appeal process is up to 1400+ days. From my experience it seems like there should be a mass firing of the administrative section, waiting 5.5 yrs and counting. Your mileage may vary

[GillaFunk]

IF you have an application in for a claim, just go straight to the Disabled American Veterans website and seek out where you can get help. They will assign you legal counsel and get this sorted out much faster.

[Michaelp]

Those guys are not looking for solutions or advice.
Part of the "kiss my ass, you owe me," crowd that probably can't buy a hamburger without starting a fight.
Seen to many of them.
Getcha some of that Obama care,

[dave]

Well I would sure like to know how a friend got 5000 bucks worth of hearing aids (no trouble according to him) after serving 3-4 years in the Navy back in early 50's. Never on a ship so no big guns ond only lost his hearing in later years, he is in his early 80s. now! Got them 3 year ago! I have no service connected stuff but my wife said I should do like he did and I refused. Lost my hearing working in an oil refinery.

[gwp]

Last year I went to the Indianapolis VA for a hearing test. I do not have a documented service related disability but I wanted an unbiased evaluation of my hearing loss. I was told with my hearing loss I would only find hearing aids useful for a few minutes a day. He also told me to make an appointment when the hearing loss was greater because the VA now provides hearing aids without service related proof.

[holdover]

"IF you have an application in for a claim, just go straight to the Disabled American Veterans website and seek out where you can get help. They will assign you legal counsel and get this sorted out much faster. "

The DAV is my rep, they don't seem to have much luck either, next stop is my congressman.

[Former Cav]

your congressman cant do SQUAT either because the VA is "cabinet level".
I've been screwing with them since 1969! and they still don't have it right. Meanwhile, I look at non-combat guys rated at 100% and I wonder WTF! I got very physical visual stuff wrong with me from RPG fragments and it is like it doesn't count.
Hell, I can't even get a new I.D. card and have been trying for 15 + years. I still have my "max clelland purple triangle bolo badge card" that is disintigrating!!

[madsenshooter]

I know someone will stand up and say I'm racist. But, I think what would help the VA most is to get some staff that doesn't speak with a foreign accent. Most of the Drs are people who couldn't maintain a practice outside of the VA. Their decision making skills are not up to the task, and a poor decision can cost a life. I know, they about cost me mine.