Has anyone successfully used the Claims section of VFW Magazine to assist in your research to substantiate an event that occurred? VA just takes someone's word as validation? I'm going to give it a shot....but it's a shot in the dark.
VA Claim Research
- Thread starter XUSNORDIE
- Start date
OP
That seems to be the only way to go anymore. A friend of mine got a lawyer, and received a VA disability without any documentation in his medical records of the events he claimed. Seems shady and a tad unethical to me....I gave up the fight a long time ago, but have been thinking of re-opening my claims the closer I get to retiring. My biggest issue is trying to substantiate an event, my DD214 reenlistment code is RE3P and it states I received a lump sum at discharge with "no further compensation".
jack black
Hunter
I had to appeal 4 times with a lawyer.
Do not give up
Do not give up
OP
Under duress is right. They made it sound as if I had no choice, could even be brought up on charges under UCMJ. Said I would be taken care of and medically discharged with a pension. Instead, they handed me a check and two years privileges at the commissary/exchange. Meanwhile the letters came from the VA stating I was reduced to zero percent disability. I was discharged with solid/consecutive 4.0 performance rating. It was because of a knee injury. Which I had replaced last year. But there was another injury caused by an event, which I mentioned during my discharge physical and during separation class. When the event happened, I was given Motrin by a Corpsman, and told to report it to Medical at my next command. I was given more Motrin. It's a back injury. It's been getting terribly worse as I age. I've had two surgeries for it and staring at another one. They want to rebuild my sacrum with metal brackets. Over the years when surgeons looked at my xrays they all stated that the original injury was old, and could only be caused by something like the event that I was involved in. That event was JULY 1987. I was seen several times for it in sick bay. Only one is documented in my medical record copies. All they were concerned with on the med board was my knee.
I should mention. I was put on Med Board for the knee just prior to Clinton taking office. When he got in....everything sped up and poof I was out....
I fought this many times the traditional way and was always turned down. The first time the VA actually said my original claim didn't exist. After awhile I gave up. My friends are begging me to see this lawyer....money doesn't take away pain. But it's getting to the point it's interfering with my work, hobbies, overall quality of life...and I am nearing retirement.
I think I'm just venting and unfortunately boring those reading this....but I feel to be successful I need to substantiate the event since it's no longer in my record. Not all of it anyway. Will be tough...only few will know of it. A pilot, co pilot, crew chief and a couple of us strapped to a tiny seat. Maybe some crew members on deck at the time. I sent a request to VFW Magazine to place one of those classified type things folks do when looking for people involved to help substantiate proof. Long shot in the dark while blindfolded.
Remember VA Health Services has nothing to do with disability compensation. Quite a few Veteran's think the opposite. My VA Health Care has been head and shoulders above private health care. I would never go back to the private sector. Three to four weeks for an appointment, still waiting an hour after my appointment time, the Doctor looking at his watch as he enters the room, no thanks! VA act's like your doing them a big favor coming to them. YOU make the appointment when it's convenient for YOU. 1:00 PM appointment at the VA and 1:01 I'm in the office getting my vitals taken. They pay mileage for my round trip. Can't beat them.
OP
I'm aware of that. I'm not interested in VA Health Services. My Wife has outstanding health coverage thankfully and it has covered several major surgeries for us both. Besides, the closest VA Health Facilities to me are far away....and the closest has a terrible reputation for unsanitary conditions and long waits. I know a few guys (and gals) who use them because they don't have decent medical coverage offered by their employers. One friend said he never sees the same Doctor even though it's the same condition being treated. He also said for awhile he was asked about depression and if he had access to guns. No thanks....nobody's business but mine.
From what I hear on the XM radio adds all you had to do was visit Camp Lajune during a certain time period..... something like 30 or 40 years and you are owed $500,000.
ex13F
Single-Sixer
The whole process is made to be frustrating to discourage claims. The asshats in the admin offices are the problem not the providers. I only use the VA and have in a couple different states where I lived. I'm no Spring Chicken and when I went one time to an outside the VA doctor's office (covered by the VA) I had a 19 year old (female?) with dyed hair in rainbow colors and nose rings who posed as a receptionist call me by my first name as though we were friends. In over 40 years at the VA I have always been addressed as Mister and Sir. I will say that in the past 3.5 years I have noticed a decline in services from the previous years but that seems to be nation-wide on many levels not just the VA.
As far as claims, keep appealing. I saw an ad a week or so ago about a private company that for roughly $1000 they would interview you about your claim and file it for you and follow up and they claimed to have a result in 120 days or less as opposed to years. I think it was vet.comm.us? I'm not saying this is the way to go or even if it is legit but it may be something to look into? Do your own due diligence as in any undertaking. Just don't quit!
As far as claims, keep appealing. I saw an ad a week or so ago about a private company that for roughly $1000 they would interview you about your claim and file it for you and follow up and they claimed to have a result in 120 days or less as opposed to years. I think it was vet.comm.us? I'm not saying this is the way to go or even if it is legit but it may be something to look into? Do your own due diligence as in any undertaking. Just don't quit!
DeletedMember275
Hunter
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2002
- Messages
- 2,759
You've obviously never been to the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, is all I can say. Be very, very glad that the VA health care system that you use is as efficient as you say it is. Such is not universally the case.
OP
That is nonsense. VA isn't working as a charity. They aren't volunteer medical workers. The VA has some major issues that private health care (in my experience) doesn't. I'm very happy with the healthcare I have. I'm glad I don't have to rely on the inconvenience of using VA. But I am glad that it's available to others in need of it.
Same here. I'll also add then when VA has issues it's plastered all over the news because it's government. Civilian health care is not that transparent. While anecdotal, In my life I've known friends & acquaintances than have filed malpractice & wrongful death suits against doctors & hospitals. I've had no major complaints about the VA & after 3 surgeries, & 23 day civilian hospital stay would at least rate them excellent. Financially VA, TRICARE, & Medicare, I paid nothing. Follow up care was all VA & without any long wait. This same experience through the AZ & FL VA facilities. What they couldn't do, or for my convenience of location, they've referred me to a civilian facility.
I will add that I was first denied by the VA, even though my military records were evidence of a medical problem (hearing loss). I went through the AZ state veteran agency & my claim was approved in short order. No lawyer was needed.
Neither is the civilian health care system. No more evident than during the Covid fiasco.
Just an FYI (who may or may not know) for those in the system & retired from the military & getting disability payment, there's been a program in place to reimburse the VA deduction from your retirement check. I believe it only applies to those with less then 30% disability. It's the Combat Related Service Connected program (CRSC). So what ever your amount comes from the VA (10 or 20%) the CRSC matches it & is retro active up to 6 years back. I received a notice that the program is trying to get those reimbursement payment retro to when the claim was first awarded. Nothing new on that yet.
Nonsense? How? A private medical facility has to show a profit or they're out of business, the VA doesn't. I was under a private medical plan for my entire working life. It sucked. Cost me money and the service was terrible. The VA was so good I couldn't believe it. They catered to me constantly. Need new glasses? You'll have them in a week after your exam. Same with heading aids. Not cheap ones either, top shelf. Prescription to your door, disability pay on time? Of course it is, and Mr. Veteran don't forget to sign for your mileage reimbursement. Appointments when YOU want, not their convenience. Yeah, private health care is soo much better.
It took almost a year for me. I had pretty much forgotten about it, then back pay for a 70% Service Connected Disability.. DON’T give up! It Does take time.
OP
Easy fella. Sorry for your bad experience. I'm glad it's working well for you. But in my area it is a inconvenience to use VA. Too far away and the facilities have bad reputations. My experiences in private medical are apparently very different from yours. I have a lot of medical issues, as does my Wife. We have great coverage. We both are cancer survivors, have had major surgeries (I've had three back surgeries, a total knee replacement, cancer surgery, and all the pre and post treatments that go along with them.). Hardly a dime out of our pockets. Our family has had two primary Doctors. One for over 20 years until he retired and his NP took over for him. Both great and know us, and all their patients well. No problems getting appointments either.
Heck, I'm staring at another back surgery now. Severe stenosis L4-L5-S1. Overdid it this weekend and as I type this it's killing me....last night I simply jumped on our providers portal and had five options for an appointment this morning. A 20 min drive later this am and I will see my surgeon, who is already familiar with my condition. Now my friends who use VA can't do that. It's a major road trip for them. They don't see the same Doc every time either. It's whoever is there at the time much like a Urgent Care facility.
Everyone has different experiences and I've heard and read mixed ones about VA. I'm very glad it's working well for you. Be well.
Have you contacted your Congressman? It's free, unlike a lawyer. One thing I know from 25 years of Federal Service is the departments like the Veteran's Administration is that they hate to get questions from Congressmen. They call them "Congressionals" and they sure stir things up.
Last edited:
Colonialgirl
Hawkeye
I guess I'm fortunate in that the local VA Hospital (John C. Haley ) in Tampa is one of the BEST in the country and even better than whatever near Washington, DC. I've always gotten excellent service in all areas and great service when in a bed for back surgery, and pneumonia, great eye care and Hearing aids too !! I also got corrective shoes issued by podiatry (2 PAIR !!!).
DeletedMember275
Hunter
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2002
- Messages
- 2,759
The VA health care system is similar to private health care in that the quality of service can (and does) vary tremendously from either one location to another, or even within different departments within the same facility. My local outpatient clinic is 10 miles away, and they generally do very well, in my experience. The main hospital is 30+ miles away, through Houston traffic. Getting an appointment can take months. Two weeks ago I was scheduled for the 'next available' appointment for an endoscopy - in mid-October. When I have an Orthopedic appointment, I know that I will have to wait for over an hour after my scheduled appointment to be seen by a Resident physician. If there's actually something wrong with me, the Resident may summon the Attending physician or a PA to take a look at me. Total time with the provider no more than 5 minutes. One day after waiting over an hour to be seen, the Resident sent me to Radiology for imaging. Gee, perhaps I could have done that during my 60+ minutes waiting! Wait for 30 minutes at Radiology, then return to Ortho and wait another hour to see the Resident again. That's efficiency! I spent a week in their Ortho recovery ward after having a TKR done last year, and I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. The actual surgery was great; the follow-up not so much. So let's just say that they do some things better than others.
You are aware that if you live more tha 30 miles from a VA care facility you can go wherever you want and have them bill the VA , right? Or maybe you didn’t?
Sounds like you’re looking for sympathy, not advice. “The VA is not a charity”. Who said it was? It’s a right you have for your Service. Rely on the inconvenience? What are you talking about?? What branch of Service were you in? Sounds a lot like whining.
OP
You are aware you already put in your two cents and opinion right? You've already replied but feel the need to answer again in a insulting way. Not looking for sympathy not sure how you arrived at that conclusion. If the likes of you are what I would have chats with at the VA well there's another reason I wouldn't go. Have a nice day Sir. It's Sunday today, just in case you were confused, as it seems you tend to be.
I would like t
