Has anyone contacted their Federal Representatives (Representative or Senator) in regards to the VA? If so, what was the result?

PO2 Robert M. — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 14:34:14 -0500

Response by SGT Damaso V Santana made Mar 5 at 2017 2:58 PM

SGT Damaso V Santana — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 14:58:14 -0500

I tried and tried during the obama regime, a total waste of time.
Now that there is a new VA head I will try again.

Response by SMSgt Roger Horton made Mar 5 at 2017 3:06 PM

SMSgt Roger Horton — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 15:06:29 -0500

As Sgt Santana commented. A total waste of time. I even tried to get McDonalds e-mail address and found that no one high up in the VA had an e-mail address that was available to the public. I found several individuals e-mail and figured out that all their e-mail address was first initial, last name @VA.gov. Sent McDonald several and he never replied. My VA doctor told me he can't e-mail his patients.

Response by PO1 Michael Fullmer made Mar 5 at 2017 3:09 PM

PO1 Michael Fullmer — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 15:09:12 -0500

Thank you for your concern. We are looking into matters at the VA and will do our best to make sure our nations veterans are cared for as they should be.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Mar 5 at 2017 3:21 PM

MCPO Roger Collins — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 15:21:14 -0500

Good luck, mine replies with a form letter. One of the reasons I don't vote for them.

Response by MSgt John McGowan made Mar 5 at 2017 4:20 PM

MSgt John McGowan — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 16:20:51 -0500

To contact a member of Congress about a general question will normally get you a general answer. If they have the staff s swear it at all. They never see it and could care less about the little piss ants (us) running around. They don't want they, they could care less.

Response by SFC George Smith made Mar 5 at 2017 4:58 PM

SFC George Smith — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 16:58:32 -0500

Yes... and Got a Thank you for you concern... From the office of The Senator... Robert C Byrd... Not Much else...

Response by LTC Jason Strickland made Mar 5 at 2017 6:05 PM

LTC Jason Strickland — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 18:05:10 -0500

PO2 Robert M., good question. My job is to prepare a response to Members of Congress on behalf of one of the office in the Veterans Health Administration - the Office of Community Care. We certainly receive a lot of correspondence from Senators and Representatives from across the country, and we take each concern very seriously and try to reply as expeditiously as possible. Nevertheless, if a Veteran can't solve his/her inquiry at the lowest level, and they've exhausted other avenues, then we can certainly take an inquiry from a congressperson. If I can be of assistance, please let me know.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 5 at 2017 7:52 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 19:52:53 -0500

Emailed my Representative and both Senators with questions on concurrent receipt (CRDP) and no answers to my concerns. CRDP replaced the VA disability offset.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Mar 5 at 2017 11:11 PM

COL Charles Williams — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 23:11:21 -0500

PO2 Robert M. I contacted Claire McCaskill... One of my senators, because she was well known for kicking the militaries ass... All I got was a few form letters... No sure if they every expedited anything...

Response by LTC Sonya Friday made Mar 5 at 2017 11:45 PM

LTC Sonya Friday — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 23:45:19 -0500

I would say go thorough your congressional representative if you really want a response. As you know the VA has multiple single points of failure which are not going to be fixed over night. I'm keeping hope alive for the VA in the meantime.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Mar 6 at 2017 8:52 AM

SGT Dave Tracy — Mon, 06 Mar 2017 08:52:00 -0500

Form letter.

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made Mar 6 at 2017 10:34 AM

Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth — Mon, 06 Mar 2017 10:34:03 -0500

I did shortly after I retired. I did my VA physical while I was still on active duty because they told me that if I did that it would be complete and approved shortly after I retired versus a year or so. It took over a year and I contacted my Senator and congressman. Got form letters and I though Oh great, no action here but I was contacted by the VA within a week with the status of where it was in the process. Took another month and it finally came through. It worked as I guess they made a phone call or it was just the right timing but I am assuming they offices made the phone calls and got the ball rolling. That was my experience.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Mar 6 at 2017 2:51 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Mon, 06 Mar 2017 14:51:16 -0500

This very dated as I was an O-2 deploying to Antarctica. We were buying a home in Mission Viejo for an upcoming PCS to El Toro. Since I wouldn't be there to sign stuff, we executed a Power of Attorney at the VA office in LA. It was witnessed by the Head Administrator. I deploy, and then VA says the POA isn't any good. Wife contacted Congressman who tries but is gaffed off by the same administrator that signed off on the POA. I'm probably the only O-2 in history that had a diplomatic pouch routed with the paperwork for me to sign like I was a somebody. Seems the Congressman rang up State to make it happen. The whole process there and back was 2 1/2 days.

Postscript: The Congressman was bemused when we rung him up later because the US Marshalls were at my wife's door looking for me. Another story.