Is it appropriate for a non-combat veteran to use the Vet Center and/or VA?

Although I have two under my belt it is called The Department of Veterans Affairs, not The Department of Combat Veterans Affairs. You wore the uniform you deserve the right to use it.

It needs to be overhauled. Congress and the House have set us up with their own rules. If any person who joins then completes basic training with 365/1 year of service should receive help. Half the the chemicals we work with have effects upon the human body that no one can say what will happen to you when in contact. For instance take me...I can run around behind naked and never get sunburned or roll around in poison ivy and never have it effect me but yet I do believe JP-4 and JP-8 may have caused my R.A. (Rheumatoid Arthritis) to be as bad as it is at age 49 yet who can prove and say it did or did not? All my brothers and sisters in arms from ..Army..Navy..Coast Guard..Marines..Air Force and National Guard and Reserves deserve to have the help. Our blank check still stands and will only get destroyed when we pass.
This is just my thoughts on it. I understand somethings may prevent it ..but it needs overhauled. If this country can afford to send $$$ to other countries for support then they can fix our problem first before going to fix others problems. Maybe we should all do like they did before and go set on the hill until our voices are heard. Did Congress or the House go and volunteer like we did and serve on the line like most of you guys did?..No..maybe 1-5 out of how many hundreds that work in both houses? I wear my AF blue all the time..I fly my flag all the time yet I will not let this get me down because I did my job when the time came.

Chuck D

SPC (Join to see) Absolutely! Service is service. Military service is not an easy task, there often is a toll!

How dare any veteran assume his or her service is more valuable to our country because he or she received orders to deploy to combat. Shame on anyone who believes this, and you are really an egotistical jackass. Statistically only about 1% or so of our population ever serves to begin with. If someone on this forum doesn't like to whom the Veterans Health Administration provides healthcare, I suggest you petition your federal congress person to change it OR KEEP YOUR UNEDUCATED, BIASED, SELF-IMPORTANT OPINION TO YOURSELF. In the military, we do as we are ordered to do and that involves deployments. These orders do not always fall in line with what we want to do. I was in many units over my 22 years and from 2001 through my 2006 retirement I had MANY SOLDIERS ask to be augmentees to units that deployed and were highly disappointed when those positions were filled with others. Does this mean they are less a veteran? Does this mean that if they were injured in a NON-COMBAT related military incident preparing for his or her combat role as we are all supposed to that injury shouldn't be treated at government expense at a VA facility?

Service connection is a service connection. Doesn't have to be from combat. I think that there is a stigma in the guys that didn't serve that they will be looked down upon for having a disability and not having sustained it in combat.

to answer truthfully, I felt that the VA was for veterans that got out with injures, and other related military medical issues. after losing my job in 2011 and trying to get disability and other state help which I have been denied several times. my stepdad, a navy non-combat service vet had been getting treatment at the local VA. I was dealing with hearing loss and some other health issues, but since I lost my job had no income and no where to go for treatment.

my mom and stepdad took me to the VA hospital and had me fill out the paperwork. I asked the person behind the counter if they treated ALL veterans, the answer was yes as long as they are honorabley discharged or had service related injures or Med Board out.

if it wasn't for the VA, I would not be here today as my health has gotten worse in some ways and better in others, now that I am under their care.

Very strange question to ask here. We're all veterans, we all signed on the bottom line and went where we were told and did the job we were required to do.

I know for a good chunk of the guys serving now, the world as they know it began in 2001. Combat deployments, real world ops, blah blah blah, but the military does exist during "peacetime". And our existence is what maintains the peace. The same "peacetime" military that was there September 10, 2001 was the same one that kicked the door in September 12, 2001. There's no difference between the guy/gal who left the service without racking up whatever combat accolades or deployment ribbons or the guy/gal who leaves with a Silver Star when it comes to veteran access. You've earned to opportunity to be provided for. The folks who came before you and the ones after struggled and will struggle for your benefit even if they don't know you. Why? Because we expect one another to raise a voice. Use what you've earned, and make sure you encourage others to do so as well

A veteran is a veteran.

Military service comes with its hazards no matter combat or no. Ft
Hood just had those soilders injured and killed. If you served your time honorably. Yes. No question.