Posted on Apr 24, 2014
Has anyone suffered from the Veterans Health Care Administration that resulted in the death of a loved one?
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Has anyone suffered from the Veterans Health Care Administration that resulted severe complications or death?
Recently there has been a lot of discussions about the actions of the Veterans Hospital in Phoenix. What is your experience with the Veterans health Care administration? Do you have any illness that your physicians are neglecting? Have you experienced a wait time greater than 6 hours at an ER? Has the Veterans Administration denied to pay for your hospital bills with a service connected disability? Has the VA denied recommended care by an outside physician?
Just be honest the good and the bad about our system.
Recently there has been a lot of discussions about the actions of the Veterans Hospital in Phoenix. What is your experience with the Veterans health Care administration? Do you have any illness that your physicians are neglecting? Have you experienced a wait time greater than 6 hours at an ER? Has the Veterans Administration denied to pay for your hospital bills with a service connected disability? Has the VA denied recommended care by an outside physician?
Just be honest the good and the bad about our system.
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Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 9
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PO3 Gracik
I cannot tell you how frustrated I am feeling to hear your husband has had to resort to having a congressman step in to get some attention to his condition. It angers me, and I'm sure other Veterans feel the same, to find out that senior leadership within the VA are using "tricks" to garner bonuses while Veterans are not getting care they deserve.
I cannot speak to your concerns - besides, doing so might interfere with the congressional assistance you are getting. However, here are a few things I tell every Veteran I meet that might be able to help them in gaining the help they need.
1. Find a Veterans Service Organization (VSO) and enlist the aid of that VSO's Service Officer to help you as an advocate. There are many out there so I won't belabor the issue of which to decide upon. Mine is the VFW. However, the VSO and the VSO's Service Officer serve two areas. The Service Officer helps you in the filing of your claim - sometimes literally sitting down in your home filling out paperwork with or for you. You will have to provide information and may have to drag out paperwork you have that the VA / Military Medical does not. Secondly, as your assigned advocate, you authorize that VSO to look at your VA file to ensure everything is in order PRIOR to the claim / appeal / re-appeal is submitted for decision - on the VA's side and YOURs. NOTE: You do NOT have to be a member of that organization to be assisted. If you find a VSO that refuses to be your advocate or assist you - kindly let me know and I'll see to it that someone asks some serious questions.
2. Stay involved. It's your claim. Don't take the VA's word as gospel. Get second opinions from outside doctors. If you don't know any doctors that will assist you in this - once again, contact your advocating VSO - ASK FOR HELP. When dealing with the VA, your ego needs to stop at the door. ASK FOR HELP from a VSO. Believe me, VSO's are experts at dealing with the VA and the paperwork.
3. Generally, you don't need a lawyer to deal with the VA. I know, I know...everybody wants to lawyer-up and sue. Just don't. I can't tell you how many Veterans spend time with lawyers and the lawyer doesn't do anymore than a VSO. Understand; I'm not saying a lawyer can't do the job - nor will the lawyer do a bad job. Use a lawyer when everything else fails and you're actually ready to go to court. Remember this - there's really no limit to the number of times you can appeal a decision by the VA.
4. Understand that the decision will take time - you may have to go to outside doctors for your needs until that decision is made. Many Veterans are eligible for care in the VA healthcare system without having to be a wounded Veteran. If you have difficulty getting registered in the VA system.....drumroll please - contact one of the many VSO's for help.
5. I realize what I've said may well have been attempted by any number of Veterans without success. If this is true - while I can't personally help everyone - please contact me. I will do my best to find a VSO that CAN help you. I'm just a simple country boy....but I have been known to knock on a few doors rather loudly.
I cannot tell you how frustrated I am feeling to hear your husband has had to resort to having a congressman step in to get some attention to his condition. It angers me, and I'm sure other Veterans feel the same, to find out that senior leadership within the VA are using "tricks" to garner bonuses while Veterans are not getting care they deserve.
I cannot speak to your concerns - besides, doing so might interfere with the congressional assistance you are getting. However, here are a few things I tell every Veteran I meet that might be able to help them in gaining the help they need.
1. Find a Veterans Service Organization (VSO) and enlist the aid of that VSO's Service Officer to help you as an advocate. There are many out there so I won't belabor the issue of which to decide upon. Mine is the VFW. However, the VSO and the VSO's Service Officer serve two areas. The Service Officer helps you in the filing of your claim - sometimes literally sitting down in your home filling out paperwork with or for you. You will have to provide information and may have to drag out paperwork you have that the VA / Military Medical does not. Secondly, as your assigned advocate, you authorize that VSO to look at your VA file to ensure everything is in order PRIOR to the claim / appeal / re-appeal is submitted for decision - on the VA's side and YOURs. NOTE: You do NOT have to be a member of that organization to be assisted. If you find a VSO that refuses to be your advocate or assist you - kindly let me know and I'll see to it that someone asks some serious questions.
2. Stay involved. It's your claim. Don't take the VA's word as gospel. Get second opinions from outside doctors. If you don't know any doctors that will assist you in this - once again, contact your advocating VSO - ASK FOR HELP. When dealing with the VA, your ego needs to stop at the door. ASK FOR HELP from a VSO. Believe me, VSO's are experts at dealing with the VA and the paperwork.
3. Generally, you don't need a lawyer to deal with the VA. I know, I know...everybody wants to lawyer-up and sue. Just don't. I can't tell you how many Veterans spend time with lawyers and the lawyer doesn't do anymore than a VSO. Understand; I'm not saying a lawyer can't do the job - nor will the lawyer do a bad job. Use a lawyer when everything else fails and you're actually ready to go to court. Remember this - there's really no limit to the number of times you can appeal a decision by the VA.
4. Understand that the decision will take time - you may have to go to outside doctors for your needs until that decision is made. Many Veterans are eligible for care in the VA healthcare system without having to be a wounded Veteran. If you have difficulty getting registered in the VA system.....drumroll please - contact one of the many VSO's for help.
5. I realize what I've said may well have been attempted by any number of Veterans without success. If this is true - while I can't personally help everyone - please contact me. I will do my best to find a VSO that CAN help you. I'm just a simple country boy....but I have been known to knock on a few doors rather loudly.
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PO1 (Join to see)
PO3 Gracik
You're welcome. Sometimes honesty is all we have to provide. I've seen several others within this forum offer assistance - allow me to offer same should you need it - hopefully with congressional staff helping you and bringing attention to your husbands situation you won't need any other help for your husband.
However - I do want to urge you to partake in the same options for your own healthcare. I realize you might not WANT to have anything to do with VA healthcare after what has happened with your husband. However, you might want to at least get yourself in the VA healthcare system for yourself just in case you might need it in the future. I have Veterans who find themselves without any form of health care years later and have to go thru the stress of entering into the VA healthcare system in an urgent or emergency situation. By having already been listed within the VA healthcare system - even at a level 8 - you have access to healthcare that meets ACA minimums (AKA Obamacare) if you find yourself without a job or a job that does not offer healthcare. I realize you may not wish to hear this - in view of your husbands situation, but you many find yourself in a desperate way and need it some time in the future.
You're welcome. Sometimes honesty is all we have to provide. I've seen several others within this forum offer assistance - allow me to offer same should you need it - hopefully with congressional staff helping you and bringing attention to your husbands situation you won't need any other help for your husband.
However - I do want to urge you to partake in the same options for your own healthcare. I realize you might not WANT to have anything to do with VA healthcare after what has happened with your husband. However, you might want to at least get yourself in the VA healthcare system for yourself just in case you might need it in the future. I have Veterans who find themselves without any form of health care years later and have to go thru the stress of entering into the VA healthcare system in an urgent or emergency situation. By having already been listed within the VA healthcare system - even at a level 8 - you have access to healthcare that meets ACA minimums (AKA Obamacare) if you find yourself without a job or a job that does not offer healthcare. I realize you may not wish to hear this - in view of your husbands situation, but you many find yourself in a desperate way and need it some time in the future.
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Im glad you brought this subject out in the open for me - My mother about 5 yrs ago lost her loved one because they had run out of their savings waiting for the VA to get the proper information - I personally think he should have been in the VAs care instead of a outside nursing home -he was a decorated NAVY vet of 12 yrs. service sorry for your hardships.
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I have not, though my claim process is going on 3 years now, and that is common among my group of veteran friends. And that's with a VSO helping take care of the claim...still caught up somewhere!
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PO1 (Join to see)
Cpt Kletzing
Have you requested a copy of your current VA file recently? You many have to find out where to go to the local office that handles Release of Information (ROI), but generally I get a copy of my file at least once a year...sometimes as many as 8 or 9 times a year depending on where I am in the appeal process....
Just a thought....
Have you requested a copy of your current VA file recently? You many have to find out where to go to the local office that handles Release of Information (ROI), but generally I get a copy of my file at least once a year...sometimes as many as 8 or 9 times a year depending on where I am in the appeal process....
Just a thought....
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Not me personally. My only gripe about VA is their current sleep study program that I need done and is taking forever. Every other medical service is fine.
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PO1 (Join to see)
Sgt Hill
May I suggest you contact the local VA Release of Information (ROI) office to find out the current status of your request? Also, establishing a VSO Advocate and contacting that Advocate may give you some options.
May I suggest you contact the local VA Release of Information (ROI) office to find out the current status of your request? Also, establishing a VSO Advocate and contacting that Advocate may give you some options.
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Sgt Randy Hill
Thanks I have the service officer will try the release of information avenue thank you PO1 Medley.
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I will say that, as PO3 Gracik acknowledges, there are good and bad facilities depending on a number of factors, such as location, number of services, number of SMs seeking assistance v. capabilities, etc. And, I, too, have followed some of the disturbing news that is out there. I mean to take nothing away from those suffering or those impacted. However, I have utilized the VA services in Salisbury, NC and outpatient services in Charlotte, NC. Once I finally got *through* the phone registration process (insert major frustration here), the personnel and services at both locations have been exemplary, with minimal waiting for EKG, labs, x-ray, outpatient surgery, follow-up, pharmacy, etc. Wait times have typically been <30 minutes, and if procedures were unanticipated (x-ray, optical, etc.), it was a phone call by the referring staff while I waited, and an immediate walk down the hall, to be seen (again) within <30 minutes. (Now that I've shared that, everyone will be coming to Salisbury/Charlotte to receive services!) My only complaint with the Charlotte location is that they don't offer physical therapy... I would have to (and choose not to) drive 90 minutes to Salisbury for that.
These two sites are not near large installations, and perhaps that's why they are able to provide the level of service/care that they do. I believe that every SM is entitled to that level of care--I wish that everyone would receive it!
These two sites are not near large installations, and perhaps that's why they are able to provide the level of service/care that they do. I believe that every SM is entitled to that level of care--I wish that everyone would receive it!
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Phoenix isn't the only location where this monkey business has happened.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/08/us/va-san-antonio-allegation/index.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_us+%28RSS%3A+U.S.%29&utm_content=Netvibes
While I haven't died at the hands of the VA, I've had to endure incompetence, interminable waits and drive while medically-impaired. Nobody coming home from a war should have to put up with this kind of treatment. I wouldn't do this to a dog I didn't like.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/08/us/va-san-antonio-allegation/index.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_us+%28RSS%3A+U.S.%29&utm_content=Netvibes
While I haven't died at the hands of the VA, I've had to endure incompetence, interminable waits and drive while medically-impaired. Nobody coming home from a war should have to put up with this kind of treatment. I wouldn't do this to a dog I didn't like.
VA scheduler in Texas claims waits for appointments were covered up - CNN.com
Clerks scheduling medical appointments for veterans were told to hide inordinately long wait times, a scheduler in San Antonio says.
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Candace, if you need more assistance I am happy to try to help you. I am sorry that you are having to deal with this, but know that you are not alone.
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PO3 Candace Gracik
I am great full that you are offering your assistance. I realize that I am not alone and I am just thankful that God has given me the ability, knowledge and support to fight the VA system and hopefully improve it for other vets.
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No one I'm aware has gone throough any of these situations. If you are going this, I'm sorry. This is horrible.
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PO3 Candace Gracik
My husband has been in these situations. So basically I have fought the VA system on his behalf since he was incapacitated. Talking only goes so far so I took action and contacted my local Congress woman and Governor to bring the issues with the VA health care system to light.
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