VA Medical Care

[Ridge Runner]

My son recently retired after 22 years of service and the VA has taken good care of him. Not the same experience I had in the 70’s and 80’s. I haven’t been back to VA since but my son tells me it is different now that people appreciate vets again.

Hate to burst many older vets perceptions, but facts are facts!!!

It's not so much being appreciated as it is about being medically, physically, mentally cared for.

Many providers and All Those Others, then and now appreciate vets, for various reasons.

As then, As now, Vets want proper care!! We earned it!!!......FACT: Illegals and criminals in prisons have better and easier access to Healthcare than Veterans!!!.

Is or has the V.A. improved or changed since the 1970's - 80's ? I don't know. Because I didn't start my claims until 2002. This is 2024. I can only account for my experiences at Mountain Home V.A. till 2014-15? More money was spent on upgrades/ remodeling and remodeling the remodeled and remodeling the previous remodeled. Until finally a parking garage was finally built to improve parking in 2022?? That's from BS remodeling of offices in 2002 to constuction of a much more badly needed parking area for vets in 2022. Billions of dollars wasted at just 1 V.A. facility over 20 years.

Veteran care is definitely political. And not until V.A. administrators, and any and all employees can be terminated on the spot for lack of care or erroneous behavior towards vets will vets be at least 95% properly treated with respect!! provided with proper medical, physical, men healthcare!!!.

Yes!!, There are many more programs, ie. The PACT Act, to acknowledge and supposedly improve the veterans chances approval for V.A. Healthcare.

Overall: No!! Nothing has improved in the V.A. since the 70's-80's. Vets still receive automatic claim denial letters, spend years fighting to prove their claim(s). All because the initial claim approval person failed to, or can't - didn't want to read the vet claim and attached evidence.

The vet, even with the best VSO, has to provide repeated documentation before getting approved and a V.A. rating, usually the minimal possible, and the vet or his/her rep in conjuction with the VSO continually have to proved repeated evidence before a vet can achieve their respective highest percentage rating for injuries: physical, mental, health sustained during military service.

Case in point: a former friend/acquaintance, was denied a V.A. rating at Mountain Home V.A.M.C. he served in the Army was blown up by an IED TWICE, once in Iraq and once in Afghanistan. His wide took him to Nashville V.A.M.C. where he was automatically given 100% T&C before being wheeled (chair) into the vet rep's office. 100% T&C is the max he was rated, last I heard 200% with added compensation for incognisence and ED.

This is all first hand knowledge not hearsay or opinionated.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I just started using the VA at 72 and have a disability claim in process, so I don't have a long history with them. However, I agree that the VSO is got to be on the ball. I changed to a different county and got much better service. That being said the VA is like a military unit, it may be great for a few years but then the command and soldiers rotate out and in comes the new, maybe better, maybe worse.

My understanding is the Disability Claim side is different than the Healthcare side and operate independently. Almost like the Army & Navy. The VSO is on the claims side.

I went through a MEB/PEB so I didn’t use a VSO, as I had an assigned military case officer, but for anyone trying to do a disability claim after they’re already separated I think it’d be a great benefit. I believe the VFW and American Legion have them as well as the Military Order of the Purple Heart and several other veterans organizations. My current county has one as a county employee, and they helped a buddy of mine sort his claim out after he missed some appointments because he was in a bad motorcycle wreck.

 

[Ridge Runner]

I waited four years to get my first visit with a primary care provider after retiring from the Army in 2020. It was a horrible visit and I never plan to go back. I only use Tricare for medical coverage.

Exactly what I have been trying to point out.

Not to pry, but (rethorical question) why so long for a PC appointment? PC appointments are generally easy to make. And usually 3 to 6 months. Can understand several months to get an appointment for beyond PC care with a piss poor V.A.M.C./H.

 

[Ridge Runner]

I think by law you will be penalize if you do not sign up for medicare and use tricare for life as your supplement. Then also for the VA Just my opinion.

Somewhat, but not totally correct.
Medicare penalizes recipients for additional Parts if not added within certain time frames. The V.A. does not penalize. As for Tricare or Medicare being the primary/secondary that's between Medicare and Tricare on primary and secondary and the V.A. Until the vet is rated 100% or the vet needs/requires NON EMERGENCY or NON Life Threatening Healthcare.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

Case in point: a former friend/acquaintance, was denied a V.A. rating at Mountain Home V.A.M.C. he served in the Army was blown up by an IED TWICE, once in Iraq and once in Afghanistan. His wide took him to Nashville V.A.M.C. where he was automatically given 100% T&C before being wheeled (chair) into the vet rep's office. 100% T&C is the max he was rated, last I heard 200% with added compensation for incognisence and ED.

This is all first hand knowledge not hearsay or opinionated.

I’m no expert but I think he’s still only 100% P&T and receiving VA SMC (Special Monthly Compensation). These are like kickers for amputees, or someone bound to a wheelchair, loss of speech, etc. My understanding is even if all your conditions add up to over 100% using the VA’s funky math, you still only get 100%.

Depending upon how he retired from the military to further convolute it, he might also get CRSC or CRDP. You can only get one of the two, with CRDP being better/more money and required someone to have done a minimum of 20 years. I’d wager @Red Leg gets CRDP since he did over 20yrs and retired + has a 100% rating. CRSC is an offset for someone who was retired with less than 20 years due to injuries sustained in combat. It was enacted post 9/11 since the laws for Disability and Pension required 20yrs and lots of GWOT vets were loosing limbs and having careers cut short. There’s also the Major Richard Star Act which was put before congress (again) to try and allow medically retired service members (because combat injuries) the ability to collect both their pension and VA disability with out a weird VA math offset like they currently see with CRSC.

If he gets 100% VA and 100% CRSC that’s probably where you’re getting your 200% from. CRSC isn’t a VA thing it’s from your branch of service.

 

[Ridge Runner]

As a 'somewhat younger' vet, and having received VA care in Washington state and now in Texas, it's been pretty damn poor. From different VA facilities not being able to access or see what other providers or notes were input at another facility (which doesn't make much sense to me, being in the medical field) to having appointments that occur, and then NOTHING, 18months go by with no followup. I've learned long ago, that if you aren't your own advocate, then it most likely isn't going to get done by the VA.

EXACTLY!!

Piss Poor V.A.M.C. and Healthcare provider.

There has been a systems update, although only a state by state and only within that state can other V.A. healthcare providers see and only when the Healthcare provider chooses to access the information or have such Community Care provider transmit to them the results of the veterans visit.

It's why veterans are required to present their V.A. ID when visiting an outside V.A.M.C.

The system SUCKS!! Because in theory and politician want the system to work. Veterans know this system doesn't and never has worked. MILLIONS of tax dollars wasted.

 

[sgtsabai]

I recently spent 8 months in Minneapolis VA for Agent Orange caused throat cancer, complete laryngectomy (much to some folk's delight), and no other VA facility before. I can only attest to what I saw. Excellent doctors and care. Up to date cancer treatment. I have a new "throat" to swallow, thanks to part of my leg, 12 hours surgery, 2 surgical teams +.

How long did it take to get in you say. The time it took after diagnosis here in Thailand for me to make plane reservations, attend the USMC B-day Ball in Vientiane, Lao and about 5 days after arriving in the states. Problems: not enough staff, rooms, etc. I unfortunately came down with an impacted bowel within days of being released while visiting my old outlaw, politician, rancher, Veteran etc. friends in Chama/Tierra Amarilla, New Mexico (I was LEO). Ended up in Albuquerque VA. Not as up to date as Minneapolis and staff not quite as friendly but still damn good. I did get to see more old friends from the Albq. area. I cannot recommend highly enough the VA.

I get tired of those that believe the right wing lies and fall for the efforts to privatize our VA. Groups like the Koch phony CVA, Concerned Veterans of America, are only concerned with one thing, destroying the VA and replacing it with money grabbing private doctors and hospitals.

My complaint, I live in Thailand and the VA will NOT send medical supplies to me. I can understand medicines but not supplies. I get my medicine here, Foreign Medical Program pays, eventually. Same for my doctors and exams, i.e. blood tests, upcoming PET scan. The same as during Covid when the VA hid behind regulations, 'the book', and refused to furnish vaccine for Veterans overseas. This needs to change. There are thousands of Veterans living overseas. Estimates are around 1,000 here in Thailand. Like I told the VA big wigs back then, the 'book' goes out the window first shot, same with Covid etc. There are times the 'book' needs to go out the window. There are people in Minneapolis VA working extremely hard right now to get my needed supplies to me. I do not in any way blame any of the staff for the problem.

I'm also fortunate to have a great VSO. I can tell you that makes all the difference. I am 100%+. I get extra for home care, wheelchair, necessary handicap improvements to my house etc.

I am sure there are bad facilities and they need to be straightened out, now. From my standpoint as a patient the major problems are within the overhead, the big wigs, the top echelon. They do not fight hard enough, especially to stop and reverse the privatization. The VA is the best thing going for us Veterans, do not let the right wing destroy it in search of more money for the greedy. Don't just complain, fight for our VA. Save Our VA, fully staff and fund the VA.

Wayne Beverly
USMS SGT-Vietnam 1966/67

 

[SaintPanzer]

I have to say that it is hard to understand some of the reports that people have on here. The VA has a mandate that, at least for specialist care, a patient has to be scheduled within 28 days or they are offered care in the community. The comment about the different VAs not sharing patient records is just not true. I can access a patients records from any VA visit anywhere in the country. Its a little cumbersome but no big deal. For my specialty, and many others, the average wait times in the private world is several months. The delays I have been seeing are actually most often related to the 3rd party scheduler the VA uses-triwest- to arrange care in the community. In my area, And getting my care in the private sector, I generally have to wait 10months or more to see a routine pcp, 6-8 months for a specialist. I had a severe issue with my spine that coincidentally occurred at the same time that one of my staff, who is a vet and gets their care at the VA, had the same problem. She was seen in a week or two while I waited 3 months. She was recovering from surgery while I was doing physical therapy mandated by blue cross and was back at work fully recovered when I finally had surgery nearly a year later. The unfortunate reality with medical care is that not everyone gets better, not everyone is going to be happy with even the best of care, no matter what system you are in it will be imperfect, when you are hurting its easy to blame the system you expected to cure you.

Just to give some real-world examples.

VA is updating its EHR system... and so my records have been "caught in-between". Not always an issue, but can be, and can certainly slow things down.

As far as Community Care goes, two specific issues come to mind:

Calling to schedule or find out information, being forced to leave a message, and hoping they call you back in the next 72(!) hours.

Trying to get a referral sent to the non-system providers. Required whenever the local clinic either does not provide the service, cannot schedule you in 28 days, or you are more than 50 miles from the "local" clinic.

Like most government-run programs, the closer you are to major metropolitan areas, the easier. It's almost as if they want everyone to move into dense population centers and ignore more rural communities.

 

[sgtsabai]

At one point in time the VA in New Mexico had a system that worked well for rural patients, which were more than likely well over 50%. I was one. The VA at that time contracted with local clinics, not private doctors or clinics. For some reason, although we had 2 good clinics in my area they were not in the program. I do not know why. I still had a drive close to 2 hours for the doctor. Well, where I lived it was damn near 2 hours anywhere. The Clinic was nothing fancy but did have access to the local hospital if needed. I did once, broken bone near the orbital socket breaking up a fight. Drove down and one look by the doctor and off we went to x-ray. OK, just let it be, no danger. When the doc decided she wanted a better physical it was scheduled at Albuquerque VA and within 10 days done. The system was working good when I had to leave the state. I do not know why it was abandoned. The current program as I understand from friends, does not work very well, private doctors etc. Not enough staff at the hospital to take care of patients. There are many improvements that can be made but the will to do and the ability to fight the privatizers make matters worse. And yes, like many private run programs the closer you are to the major metropolitan areas, the easier. Confession, my time in NM was many, many moons ago. I had to move back to TX (divorce from hell) for 12 miserable years. I've been in Thailand since 2002 and full time since 2010.

 

[sgtsabai]

An example of private care: Back in Texas I always went for a checkup at employee health when I returned from a one month millionaire visit to Thailand. A blood test showed a liver problem. I was sent to a private doc/clinic. The doc said you have a cyst/tumor on your liver. Oh great. He said slow down life style, not malignant, no real danger. OK I said but do you know what Agent Orange is. Doc replies "a what?" I got up, walked out and never went back. VA doctors are aware of our problems, private doctors aren't.

 

[Ridge Runner]

My understanding is the Disability Claim side is different than the Healthcare side and operate independently. Almost like the Army & Navy. The VSO is on the claims side.

I went through a MEB/PEB so I didn’t use a VSO, as I had an assigned military case officer, but for anyone trying to do a disability claim after they’re already separated I think it’d be a great benefit. I believe the VFW and American Legion have them as well as the Military Order of the Purple Heart and several other veterans organizations. My current county has one as a county employee, and they helped a buddy of mine sort his claim out after he missed some appointments because he was in a bad motorcycle wreck.

Correct...to some extent. Complicated.

The care and claims are two different entities. To get V.A. care one must just prove they are a veteran....and comes at various cost to the veteran; ie in co-pays.

Claims are just that. The veteran is claiming such injury/injuries were sustained during military service. Even more so when the veteran is awarded a V.A. rating prior to their discharge.

Once the claim is eventually processed and verified, which can take years, the veteran is given a disability rating based on that particular claim, and longer pays co-pays for meds and care and is able to collect travel expenses from home to the V.A.M.C., V.A. Clinic, and Community Care facility.

 

[Ridge Runner]

I’m no expert but I think he’s still only 100% P&T and receiving VA SMC (Special Monthly Compensation). These are like kickers for amputees, or someone bound to a wheelchair, loss of speech, etc. My understanding is even if all your conditions add up to over 100% using the VA’s funky math, you still only get 100%.

Depending upon how he retired from the military to further convolute it, he might also get CRSC or CRDP. You can only get one of the two, with CRDP being better/more money and required someone to have done a minimum of 20 years. I’d wager @Red Leg gets CRDP since he did over 20yrs and retired + has a 100% rating. CRSC is an offset for someone who was retired with less than 20 years due to injuries sustained in combat. It was enacted post 9/11 since the laws for Disability and Pension required 20yrs and lots of GWOT vets were loosing limbs and having careers cut short. There’s also the Major Richard Star Act which was put before congress (again) to try and allow medically retired service members (because combat injuries) the ability to collect both their pension and VA disability with out a weird VA math offset like they currently see with CRSC.

If he gets 100% VA and 100% CRSC that’s probably where you’re getting your 200% from. CRSC isn’t a VA thing it’s from your branch of service.

Correct the V.A. only pays a maximum of 100% disability regardless of the number of claims a vet files and is granted.

What few vets and the civilian world is not aware of is once a vet is granted a V.A. rating within 10 years of that rating the V.A. if so determined by a physician, can reduce or deny that rating and the vet will have to re-file his claim, go through the entire process again to have his/her rating restored.

Example: IIRC
A vet has a 100% rating for both knees @ 20% each knee, lower back @60%, hearing 15% each ear, right hip @ 20%. This equates to 150% total disability rating. Max V.A. rating 100% C&P.

During and prior to receiving 100% rating my lower back, although non operational to alieve the pain and repair the damage, was down graded from 60% to 40%. During this time frame my rating and benefits dropped from 80% to 60%. My hearing loss claim was finally approved @10% for each ear raising my rating and benefits back to 80%. Essentially no change in upgrade from 80% to what should have been an upgrade to 100%.

With excess over 100% should the V.A. fined any reason to reduce a vet's rating on a claim the vet with assistance from a good VSO or other rep can retain their current rating. Unfortunately for vet's with at or less than 100% V.A. rating the process is to prove the V.A. was erroneous in the reduction.

 

[Ridge Runner]

I recently spent 8 months in Minneapolis VA for Agent Orange caused throat cancer, complete laryngectomy (much to some folk's delight), and no other VA facility before. I can only attest to what I saw. Excellent doctors and care. Up to date cancer treatment. I have a new "throat" to swallow, thanks to part of my leg, 12 hours surgery, 2 surgical teams +.

How long did it take to get in you say. The time it took after diagnosis here in Thailand for me to make plane reservations, attend the USMC B-day Ball in Vientiane, Lao and about 5 days after arriving in the states. Problems: not enough staff, rooms, etc. I unfortunately came down with an impacted bowel within days of being released while visiting my old outlaw, politician, rancher, Veteran etc. friends in Chama/Tierra Amarilla, New Mexico (I was LEO). Ended up in Albuquerque VA. Not as up to date as Minneapolis and staff not quite as friendly but still damn good. I did get to see more old friends from the Albq. area. I cannot recommend highly enough the VA.

I get tired of those that believe the right wing lies and fall for the efforts to privatize our VA. Groups like the Koch phony CVA, Concerned Veterans of America, are only concerned with one thing, destroying the VA and replacing it with money grabbing private doctors and hospitals.

My complaint, I live in Thailand and the VA will NOT send medical supplies to me. I can understand medicines but not supplies. I get my medicine here, Foreign Medical Program pays, eventually. Same for my doctors and exams, i.e. blood tests, upcoming PET scan. The same as during Covid when the VA hid behind regulations, 'the book', and refused to furnish vaccine for Veterans overseas. This needs to change. There are thousands of Veterans living overseas. Estimates are around 1,000 here in Thailand. Like I told the VA big wigs back then, the 'book' goes out the window first shot, same with Covid etc. There are times the 'book' needs to go out the window. There are people in Minneapolis VA working extremely hard right now to get my needed supplies to me. I do not in any way blame any of the staff for the problem.

I'm also fortunate to have a great VSO. I can tell you that makes all the difference. I am 100%+. I get extra for home care, wheelchair, necessary handicap improvements to my house etc.

I am sure there are bad facilities and they need to be straightened out, now. From my standpoint as a patient the major problems are within the overhead, the big wigs, the top echelon. They do not fight hard enough, especially to stop and reverse the privatization. The VA is the best thing going for us Veterans, do not let the right wing destroy it in search of more money for the greedy. Don't just complain, fight for our VA. Save Our VA, fully staff and fund the VA.

Wayne Beverly
USMS SGT-Vietnam 1966/67

I agree it's not always the medical personnel that are the problem, quite the opposite, for most medical staff, at least from my experiences, I did have 2 PCs at Mountain Home that seemed to treat vets asstats rather than patients. The main problems with the V.A. system are those in the higher echelon administration, aka pencil pushers, not doing their jobs to help veterans.

It's quicker and easier to send multiple denial letters and hope the veteran gets frustrated enough to stop filing claim(s) than to actually pull up their service records to verify the vet's claim(s).

V.A. administrators need to be held accountable and fired from the system just like civilian companies can hire and fire bad employees.

VSOs who work/paid by the V.A. that know and can fully work a veteran's claim(s) to get the veteran his/her benefits approved should not be removed/transferred, hindered, or intimidated and replaced by less competent personnel: 1 VSO at Nashville, 2 VSOs at Mountain Home that I know of. These 3 VSOs had the most and highest success rate of getting veteran's claims approved.

IMO Privatizing the V.A. would be the worst possible scenario for veterans. It would further the use of veteran's being "guinea pigs"/"lab rats" for "Big Pharma" companies. A push to socialized medicine and healthcare with the same problems with medicare/medicaid.

 

[sgtsabai]

A VSO is vital to getting your claim. When the VFW VSO here in Udon started work with me, I knew immediately he wasn't going to help. I went shopping for a good one. Luckily one of the Marines in our little group did the work and then some and became a VSO and a damn good one. The good ones know the ins and outs, what documents to submit and how to phrase your claim. Very true, your rate may only rise to 100% but your income may go higher due to special disability circumstances. It took me 10 years to get above 70% service connected although I got to the 100% due to unemployability. Of course now with the cancer and mobility problems etc. it has caused I do get the extra money for house improvements etc. Assisted living is also paid for. Things did not exactly work out as I had planned and hoped, the recovery may never allow me to hunt again or do many of the everyday things I used to. Shall we say my bar hoping days appear to over also. I am thankful that my Lao lady of many years is here to help. Without, and even with friends, I would be lost. Once again, get a good, really good VSO. Ah frankly the VA is socialized medicine. Leave the states, you can't use Medicare or probably your private insurance. Time for me to hit the rack.

 

[Ridge Runner]

I have to say that it is hard to understand some of the reports that people have on here. The VA has a mandate that, at least for specialist care, a patient has to be scheduled within 28 days or they are offered care in the community. The comment about the different VAs not sharing patient records is just not true. I can access a patients records from any VA visit anywhere in the country. Its a little cumbersome but no big deal. For my specialty, and many others, the average wait times in the private world is several months. The delays I have been seeing are actually most often related to the 3rd party scheduler the VA uses-triwest- to arrange care in the community. In my area, And getting my care in the private sector, I generally have to wait 10months or more to see a routine pcp, 6-8 months for a specialist. I had a severe issue with my spine that coincidentally occurred at the same time that one of my staff, who is a vet and gets their care at the VA, had the same problem. She was seen in a week or two while I waited 3 months. She was recovering from surgery while I was doing physical therapy mandated by blue cross and was back at work fully recovered when I finally had surgery nearly a year later. The unfortunate reality with medical care is that not everyone gets better, not everyone is going to be happy with even the best of care, no matter what system you are in it will be imperfect, when you are hurting its easy to blame the system you expected to cure you.

Try telling that to Mountain Home and Nashville.
I'm closer to Mountain Home 30 minute drive vs 5-1/2 hours to Nashville.

Ended up calling my PC at the V.A clinic in Cookeville, a 3 hour drive, to get a Community Care appointment an hour away. All because Mountain Home claimed they couldn't access my records in Nashville. Same thing in Nashville. Good thing it wasn't an emergency situation.

They claimed it to be for my security, to limit access to personal and healthcare information.