How does the VA get back on track?

CSM Michael Lynch — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 10:45:54 -0500

I don't think we have gone a day in the last 12 months that the VA hasn't been in the news for wrong doing. This article is very disturbing, 13,000 Claims in a filing cabinet over two years ago and they are still not sure how many of them have been processed properly. Some claims were in there dating back to 1990.

Unacceptable and people need to be removed, charged and jailed for these type of incidents. Get people hired that truly care about veterans. If the VA is there for Veterans why is more then 75% of the personnel non-veterans?

http://www.wsj.com/articles/va-watchdog-finds-california-office-mismanaged-thousands-of-disability-claims [login to see] ?mod=rss_US_News

VA Watchdog Finds California Office Mismanaged Thousands of Disability Claims

The Department of Veterans Affairs’ internal watchdog determined that an Oakland, Calif.-based regional office mismanaged more than 13,000 disability claims found tucked away in a filing cabinet over two years ago.

Response by SGT Jim Z. made Feb 20 at 2015 10:51 AM

SGT Jim Z. — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 10:51:45 -0500

When we figure that out we will have found the holy grail.....

Seriously, I would say fire everyone from the top down but that is not the answer either. I think an unbiased GAO audit on the entire system is a good start because I am sure there are hospitals and clinics doing an excellent job and others that are failing. Once they have the audit completed they have a outside panel make recommendations on how to improve the system. Rome was not built overnight and the VA will be fixed that quickly either.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Feb 20 at 2015 11:40 AM

CPT Jack Durish — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 11:40:51 -0500

...and yet I read this morning that firings at the VA last year were down.

Whazzup with that?

Response by PV2 David Minnicks made Feb 20 at 2015 1:12 PM

PV2 David Minnicks — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 13:12:48 -0500

Sadly the VA is in a horrible state of affairs and veterans are not getting the services they were promised at the time of enlistment. Whatever is done to shore up the VA will most likely end up causing more damage and harm initially and sadly again the veterans who are the ones in desperate need of care and services will be the ones who suffer most. I just wonder if it wouldn’t be better to have existing private practice physicians and medical practices take care of all the remote care instead of having all these satellite facilities then after a one year period and based on scorecards from the veterans seen then those who provide best care and have excellent track records and maintain these standards receive additional funding to be the new satellite centers and specialize in care of veterans. The other thing I personally would like to see is to get those veterans who never used their benefits since they either had private health care or just didn’t need care to have an opportunity to receive health benefits. For the past thirty years I have had an employer sponsored health plan and I never took advantage of my VA health benefits. I ended up with a rare disease and can no longer work and now I don’t have an employer sponsored health plan. After recently applying for VA health benefits I find out I am not eligible? I don’t understand this I am permanently disabled, I have to use a power wheelchair since I cannot stand or walk and I was discharged honorable under honorable. It was explained to me very curtly in fact that since this disease and its effects are not service connected and since I haven’t used health benefits ever and my disability pay will be just enough to put me over the poverty line I am still not eligible? Funny thing is that when I volunteered I still remember being told I would have VA health benefits for the rest of my life? I also found out that I am not eligible for Medicaid until have been permanently disabled for 24 months but I also have to legally have health care that I can't afford or will be fined. Done with my rant and surely others have it much worse than I do it is just so very frustrating and yet our leaders who serve if only for just one term will have health care for life as well as a pretty nice retirement plan.

Response by PO3 Michael James made Feb 20 at 2015 3:06 PM

PO3 Michael James — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 15:06:46 -0500

Similar to "basic" or Boot Camp.. one screw up, entire company will pay for it !! Worked before..