Can the VA refuse to treat a 100% service-connected veteran citing their case as "too complex," and also refuse to outsource them for care?

Welcome to the insanity of the VA ! i wish you the best of luck as THEY don't Care !

The VA is notorious for denying claims, usually after three or four attempts they will give in, but like your case SSG Markland it’s difficult and needs special attention, ( glad you finally got it), I tell my buddies get real familiar with your local representative and or congressman if that fails go to the top , NO ONE WANTS A CONGRESSIONAL ON THEIR DESK .

I just went through this with the VA when I retired. I received a 60% disability my son who was previously a veteran service officer for five years, told me to put in a request for an increase in my disability due to my declining health based on service connected problems I filed it took 10 months. They did increase it from 60 to 90% but they also told me that five of my medical issues have been backdated to 2022 that they were overlooked in previous exams for my disability. I receive my increase in my monthly disability check However I was told I would receive $18,000 in backpay due to those medical issues dating back to 2022 time went by three months later no direct deposit for 18,000 that was the last straw for me with the VA. I contacted my US senator provided her with my letter of determination for my increase and also a personal letter as to what I had gone through to deal with the VA Three days later I received a letter from her indicating that a check for $18,000 would be direct deposited into my account within 48 hours. It was. Sometimes the veterans have to play hardball. The veterans administration, especially with disabilities are horrified when senators get involved I do not believe in coincidence The VA will always tell you we’re working on it, but they’ll never never give you an answer without lying about it yes the VA has to treat you or they have to find an outside source that can address your issue. If that doesn’t work go to your senator. I hope this helps.

As a former Hill staffer, I would suggest starting with your Congressional District Representative at their local field office. The Congressional field offices have dedicated staff serving as caseworkers that have contracts with the various Federal agencies, including VA. Having also worked in the Executive Branch, I can assure you Congressional inquiries made on behalf of constituents get flagged for special handling. The last thing a bureaucrat wants to do is ignore, much less bite, the hands from Congress that feed them, through the annual appropriations process. Think of this as the E-4 Mafia on steroids. It’s all about greasing the skids, and that’s what these Congressional Office case workers provide with the Federal agencies, each with their unique cultural bureaucracy. And if nothing else, VA is the quintessential bureaucracy, as sadly too many Long War Veterans have discovered, to their immense and wholly understandable frustration.

The VA can't refuse to help unless they gave exhausted all means. I'm curious of your condition and know of treatments that should help even if slightly. My area area is trauma and medical degerative related. You can email me at [login to see]

When this happened to me I contacted big VA patient advocate via iris. They then put out my procedure to anyone in the VA. It can be done, but it will be a fight, just don’t give up.

Was this a direct result of active duty? If the answer is yes,thn it is covered. You need to ask for a transfer to the outside. There is a surgeon in San antonio tx that can help you. His name is antonio webb, spine surgeon. PITCH A FIT, COME TO SA and get help.

As a 15-year VA employee, I've always been told 100% SC veterans will get whatever treatment they need regardless. If you haven't contacted the patient advocate at that facility yet, do so. I'd also further press the Senators and Congressperson for your district, as the VA cowers in fear at "Congressionals". The NPRC was farting around 2 years ago in fulfilling my AcDu records request, and I could get no answers from them or the Corps until Rep. Pence rattled their cage, then lo-and-behold, he gets my complete record package in mere days. You should damn well be getting whatever is necessary to keep or get you back to a relatively-healthy state, no matter what some bureaucrats may think. You've earned that rating and the care it calls for.

Maybe gp to mexico and come back as a illegal allien. Then you get everyting covered. WTF We put our lives on the line for this country to get FUCKED.

When the VA decides they care not to care, the run around usually follows. Took me an ethics hearing, 3.6 million phone calls, and 9 years before they sent me to a Dr. for Gulf War Illness. Recently I walked onto a freeway for reasons I have no idea, to get their attention. The operator now tells me to stop calling the VA without any fear of losing her job. Sadly, our government does not care for vets the way other vets care for other vets. It's a hard pill to swallow.

When the VA gives you the run around, expect it to never end. Took them 9 years to get me a Dr. for my Gulf War Illness, and even recently I walked onto the freeway to show them how desperate I am to get resources, and they don't care.

You do know that the VA has an IG office to make complaints through?

They can not deny services to a veteran, if they do we have people that are vets that take that case head on and they would hear it so much that they would make it that they took care of you. Believe you me, they don’t want that kind of smoke.

I would go through the American Legion. They have people that are very experienced fighting the VA and will get senators involved too. I've not found a better free advocacy group which is why I joined them.

Try this number for assistance i.e., White House disability assistance [login to see] .
I personally have had no need to call. However, I've spoken to fellow veterans who reported they did get a call back.

I'll let you in on a little secret. The VA is NOT your friend. It's just a paycheck for them. As the administrator at a SW hospital stated. "They should take the vets behind the hospital and shoot them". The VA let him retire 2 weeks early. How embarrassing. I could write a book.

They cannot deny you care, you can find out who it is that is denying you that care and start a list of names at that particular VA to show who they are. I’ve worked at the VA for eight years now, the only way they can deny you care at a location is if they flag you for disruptive behavior. They can outsource you or send you to another VA, but they cannot deny you care.

Theoretically, if you're a 100%-er, the VA is obligated to treat ANY condition that you might have. Including ailments that are NOT related to your initial service-connected conditions.
I'm 100% service-connected disabled due to my collection of Agent Orange illnesses (Ischemic heart disease, Parkinsons Disease, prostate cancer and peripheral neuropathy) and the VA has covered/treated a variety of other conditions that I've had since receiving my rating (including dental implants, lower back problems, dermatology conditions, etc.).
And if my local VA facility doesn't have provisions for the treatment of non-service-connected conditions, they have always managed to adequately outsource the treatment to nearby civilian medical providers.
Perhaps I've just been lucky, but I would suggest that you do everything you can to get the VA to provide the treatments and medications that you're legally entitled to.

I didn't read anything about you being honorably discharged, or your service. I only read complaints. The VA is the best in my book and I don't hang out with sick people and always practice good hygiene. Seems like you're trying to get free money

You could call Secretary of the Veterans Affairs. Then try the POTUS ,.The VA has always tried not to do surgery because it cuts in to their budget.