Posted on Nov 12, 2014
VA Trying to address problems. What do you think?
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I have a mixed message because of some of my troubles with the VA. I have never had a problem with the doctors, PAs and Nurses. In fact the staff at Hillandale I and II Clinics is generally above reproach.
However let's backtrack to early 2013, when I was homeless. Sleeping in my car at a variety places, including truck stops, Walmart Parking Lots, Denny's, Flying J Truckstops and Rest Areas.
Just me and my cat and a litany of dangerous people always lurking especially with those Party Buses and some of the party goers. But a person's choices become more and more limited. My therapist called me a survivor, but I was NOT the ONLY and I was not the only vet.
CW2 Joseph Evans is doing a bang-up job and I might have a job for someone on this site. I have been talking to a graduate of the University of Arkansas myself and vet friends from Linkedin and elsewhere. I also have a plan and it is networking to help people at this site and other veterans who are under bridges and taking their chances at 24hr a day businesses.
Now the biggest rub and think that CW2 Evans has the right idea. The state of NC is also embarking on a project that will help the homeless with treatment and HOUSING. I am going to be honest with you, the homeless advocacy sucks and I was to the point of possibly being a danger to myself. Finally I was getting help from a local Human Society. The helped me with my cat who got fixed at no expense to me. Provided food and litter, etc. More on that later.
Their biggest concern was the fact that winter was approaching and I was in my car. At the Human Society they were worried about me and so was Sen. Burr of NC. I told him my situation and within a month I had some help and a stable place to live.
But just because I am safe now doesn't mean I forget what I went through, struggling with a left hand which is getting weaker and Stress, GAD and Severe Depression, not to mention Petit Mal Seizures. The Dr handling my case noted that my situation was dire so I got the help and I think Senators who do this, should be lauded for their initiative.
However let's backtrack to early 2013, when I was homeless. Sleeping in my car at a variety places, including truck stops, Walmart Parking Lots, Denny's, Flying J Truckstops and Rest Areas.
Just me and my cat and a litany of dangerous people always lurking especially with those Party Buses and some of the party goers. But a person's choices become more and more limited. My therapist called me a survivor, but I was NOT the ONLY and I was not the only vet.
CW2 Joseph Evans is doing a bang-up job and I might have a job for someone on this site. I have been talking to a graduate of the University of Arkansas myself and vet friends from Linkedin and elsewhere. I also have a plan and it is networking to help people at this site and other veterans who are under bridges and taking their chances at 24hr a day businesses.
Now the biggest rub and think that CW2 Evans has the right idea. The state of NC is also embarking on a project that will help the homeless with treatment and HOUSING. I am going to be honest with you, the homeless advocacy sucks and I was to the point of possibly being a danger to myself. Finally I was getting help from a local Human Society. The helped me with my cat who got fixed at no expense to me. Provided food and litter, etc. More on that later.
Their biggest concern was the fact that winter was approaching and I was in my car. At the Human Society they were worried about me and so was Sen. Burr of NC. I told him my situation and within a month I had some help and a stable place to live.
But just because I am safe now doesn't mean I forget what I went through, struggling with a left hand which is getting weaker and Stress, GAD and Severe Depression, not to mention Petit Mal Seizures. The Dr handling my case noted that my situation was dire so I got the help and I think Senators who do this, should be lauded for their initiative.
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Homeless
Homeless
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 12
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1. Cut out the layers of bureaucrap between doctors and patients
2. Make vouchers available so veterans who don't live near a VA hospital can get medical care from a private physician.
3. Increase veterans' outreach to attack the homeless problem. If need be, expand existing hospital physical space and let homeless vets live there.
4. Encourage veterans to attend college by removing the roadblocks to VA tuition assistance. Right now, if you're going to college less than full time, you might as well forget any tuition assistance at all. That's fine -- unless you work.
Just my little bit for the cause
2. Make vouchers available so veterans who don't live near a VA hospital can get medical care from a private physician.
3. Increase veterans' outreach to attack the homeless problem. If need be, expand existing hospital physical space and let homeless vets live there.
4. Encourage veterans to attend college by removing the roadblocks to VA tuition assistance. Right now, if you're going to college less than full time, you might as well forget any tuition assistance at all. That's fine -- unless you work.
Just my little bit for the cause
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SGT Steve Vincent
1SG, I may have misunderstood you. I took what you said to mean only vets who were too far away from a VA facility. I think this would be a good idea/option for any veteran, even if they live next door to a VA hospital.
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1SG Michael Blount
SGT Steve Vincent - actually, I meant any qualiifying vet should have the choice of using the local VA hospital (if close by) or using a voucher which is good at his personal doctor's. Sometimes competition is good. For too long, vets have been subjected to the monopoly exercised by VA - it's time that ended.
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MSgt Scott Gaston
Noble cause and I'm sure many are scrambling now that they've found out at least 1,000 heads will roll, but as far as I'm concerned , you're seeing more CYA than anything right now. As I sit and write this, never mind...I'll just leave it that I had people contact me who said they would help me (a 50% Disabled registered in the VA's Health System)...until they weren't getting any more pressure...I'm in pain and seething right now...and it's not just on the health front! How many jobs are out there that the VA and other agencies are just dragging their feet on?! I'm sorry to be so negative and am normally a very positive guy, but all I'm experiencing is lip service and window dressing. I pray that those worse off are experiencing better!
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SGT Steve Vincent
1SG, in that case, we are in complete agreement. I fully agree that it is long past time to fix this system. The tricky part, seeing as everything is politically motivated these days, and you have bureaucrats acting outside of the powers given to them, and everything is completely FUBAR'd at a lot of VA hospitals, especially the one I am assigned to here in Phoenix. It seems to me it is way past time to try and fix the system, as it is beyond the point of just putting in a new figurehead. I think each facility that falls under the auspices of the VA system, needs to be completely overhauled, top to bottom. The reason this hasn't happened is because there is too much bureaucracy involved, and it would mean a whole hell of a lot of people losing their cushy government paycheck. I think that a number of individuals need to be held accountable for the travesty that has been operating for decades. People need to not only lose their jobs, but a lot of them should be prosecuted and sent to prison. When you have veterans dying because of bureaucratic malfeasance, they should be prosecuted for their role in the deaths. There have been at least 46 deaths uncovered during the investigation into the Phoenix VA, and that number is much higher, according to several whistleblowers. People need to pay for this, as they were receiving bonuses, pay raises, etc., based on false numbers that were being sent to their bosses, and it was a deliberate, willful cover-up. It absolutely sickens me beyond words, because I had one of my friends move out here to live with me while he got on his feet. Once he moved out, I didn't get to talk to him very much, but I knew he was having issues with them telling him they had him scheduled for various appointments, and then when he would show up for them, he was told he didn't have an appointment. He wound up taking his own life last year, just before the whole scandal erupted. I place his death and blood squarely on the hands of the administration at the hospital. Furthermore, I myself have had the same issue several times with this hospital. It is gross malfeasance, and downright criminal, the way they have been running things. Give all vets using that facility vouchers for private medical care, and then start firing people at the top, and work your way down the chain, until you have eliminated all the corruption. Then, bring in a staff that actually does their job, and actually cares about the persons in their care. These men and women are there in the first place, because they were messed up in some way, serving this country of ours, and to see them get treated this way is beyond the pale. These people should be getting the absolute best care that can be provided, and instead they would be better off going to some free clinic set up for people on the government dole. Absolutely sickens me. Sorry for the long response, but I am on a lot of meds right now, and I keep spacing out.
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In 1961, JFK challenged this country to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade. With no experience, resources, personnel, plans or direction, this country gave birth to NASA and put a man on the moon in 8 years. Today after billions in spending, we're about to "try" to land a probe on a comet.
Yet we can't fix problems here on earth - WTF?
The VA as we know it has been around since the 1920s, we've been dealing with veteran issues since the Revolutionary War, our government through its actions keeps creating new veterans by the day, yet we're still "trying" - WHY??
Yet we can't fix problems here on earth - WTF?
The VA as we know it has been around since the 1920s, we've been dealing with veteran issues since the Revolutionary War, our government through its actions keeps creating new veterans by the day, yet we're still "trying" - WHY??
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CW4 Robert Goldsmith
MAJ Petrarca,
The reason that we're still trying is that the lawmakers are not real stakeholders. The vast majority of them never served a day in uniform and the majority that have are seniors in Congress and the Senate who are career politicians. The VA is a pig that Congress puts lipstick on. The agency is understaffed and underfunded with a workload that far exceeds the capacity that was promised to the President and Congress, much like DOD. The two agencies are joined at the hip and Congress could truly care less about either. They care about Wall Street, Political Actions Committees and lobbyists, which is their constituency.
The reason that we're still trying is that the lawmakers are not real stakeholders. The vast majority of them never served a day in uniform and the majority that have are seniors in Congress and the Senate who are career politicians. The VA is a pig that Congress puts lipstick on. The agency is understaffed and underfunded with a workload that far exceeds the capacity that was promised to the President and Congress, much like DOD. The two agencies are joined at the hip and Congress could truly care less about either. They care about Wall Street, Political Actions Committees and lobbyists, which is their constituency.
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SGT Eugene Faber
Mr. Goldsmith,
As a VA employee and a Veteran I agree with all of what you said; however, with the problems the VA is having right now you do not neccessarily need to be a Veteran to fix. Alot of these problems can be fixed by putting people of power(I use that term loosely) down on the front lines to observe what is going on. We have already established that no one and I mean no one in our leadership can be trusted to report the truth. So send the analyst down to the VA's themselves to see first hand what is going on. It is frustrating to see the lack of expediency we have in repairing this system. More barriers than wide open lanes here. I hope that one day it will get worked out.
As a VA employee and a Veteran I agree with all of what you said; however, with the problems the VA is having right now you do not neccessarily need to be a Veteran to fix. Alot of these problems can be fixed by putting people of power(I use that term loosely) down on the front lines to observe what is going on. We have already established that no one and I mean no one in our leadership can be trusted to report the truth. So send the analyst down to the VA's themselves to see first hand what is going on. It is frustrating to see the lack of expediency we have in repairing this system. More barriers than wide open lanes here. I hope that one day it will get worked out.
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SSgt (Join to see)
When I was in Tampa I had no idea that I could use the VA and I did not know, and Josh Dadoff can bite me, because when I needed help (also a former vet) he did squat....
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Try my a$$. Its time for DO or DO NOT. I'm sick & tired of hearing the word "try" when it relates to government's ability to do something. When you're in a combat zone, you don't have time for trying, you do it. The only time I want to hear "try" is when we try these idiots in the court of public opinion for doing, accomplishing and being successful at nothing.
I always bust my brother who's a dentist - when are you going to stop practicing and do it for real :-)
I always bust my brother who's a dentist - when are you going to stop practicing and do it for real :-)
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I think that maybe the new Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert McDonald just might be what the VA needed. He has no government or medical experience but I believe he does know management. Having been the President and CEO of Procter & Gamble. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy and was in the Army for 5 years, with the 82nd Airborne Division, attaining the rank of Captain. It going to be a hard road and he is saying all the right things. So hopefully you will see some improvements in the system. One can only hope.
Other then fighting with them on my disability claim (40% right now and starting a appeal). I haven't had any other dealing with them. SSgt (Join to see) I really hope that your situation continues to improve because we all deserve to be happy in life.
Other then fighting with them on my disability claim (40% right now and starting a appeal). I haven't had any other dealing with them. SSgt (Join to see) I really hope that your situation continues to improve because we all deserve to be happy in life.
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SSgt Rick Gresh
I'm right there with you MSgt. I'm a retired Marine infantryman with several claims and I too only received a 40% rating. I submitted a new claim and have been waiting since last May. It just recently went backwards in the processing so I have to wait even longer now. I retired in July of 2013, and I finally got my initial appointment scheduled for January 2015. Frustrated doesn't come close to how I feel about the VA.
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The VA certainly is "trying". There are a lot of good people there, but a lot of bad systems and extraordinary levels of judicial abuse by people promulgating policies and regulations who should be shot, drawn and quartered for the abuse they force upon those who need help - not abuse.
The VA needs to start putting people in management who have a clue, not senior officers who know which country club to hang out in. The amount of money wasted is enormous - bring in financial professionals who know how to make things happen - use veterans who have become successful to design working programs, eliminate the union -sorry folks, union personnel can be part of the problem (try and get an incompetent fired), and eliminate extraneous offices. Stop hiring political appointees to flesh out the senior staff, and use people who are professional. The VA has a lot of great people - use them, don't abuse them.
Stop all non-essential legal actions against military getting close to ETS - do NOT start or push them down the very expensive road of the downward spiral.
Stop all legal action against vets regarding pension and compensation. Bring in a competent board to review why the heck we have put in for it, and stop playing stupid games regarding specific language, specific events, and ridiculous forms that have no bearing on anything but are required to be able to put in for disability.
Stop the medical folks in the policy division from killing us prematurely with faulty concepts and ignoring the underlying law. Pretend we are on the same side. Understand what an MOS does - if you are in the artillery your hearing loss is very probably caused by making loud noises. Tanks, aircraft, ships, engine rooms, infantry-we all get to experience that every day. Not sure if loud TAC NCO's count, but we can look into that.
Hold people doing wrong accountable.
Do an economic study to determine how wrong your premises are with respect to"saving taxpayer money". Did you look at cost drag in the GNP, loss of productivity and economic multipliers because veterans are so frustrated, angry, and hurt? How much are food stamps, medicaid, homeless costs, ad infinitum? How many families have been destroyed? How many of us have or had children who have problems because of exposures - which you should just stop lying about anyway.
And finally, the Secretary should listen to the NGO's outside of the beltway who are at the forefront of making a difference. We do not have enough time or money to waste continuing to try to get you to listen. Finally, look at us who struggle, then look in the mirror. What are you doing to make a difference in your own way? Use us, don't abuse us. We know what we are doing - and doing it a lot better and cheaper.
The VA needs to start putting people in management who have a clue, not senior officers who know which country club to hang out in. The amount of money wasted is enormous - bring in financial professionals who know how to make things happen - use veterans who have become successful to design working programs, eliminate the union -sorry folks, union personnel can be part of the problem (try and get an incompetent fired), and eliminate extraneous offices. Stop hiring political appointees to flesh out the senior staff, and use people who are professional. The VA has a lot of great people - use them, don't abuse them.
Stop all non-essential legal actions against military getting close to ETS - do NOT start or push them down the very expensive road of the downward spiral.
Stop all legal action against vets regarding pension and compensation. Bring in a competent board to review why the heck we have put in for it, and stop playing stupid games regarding specific language, specific events, and ridiculous forms that have no bearing on anything but are required to be able to put in for disability.
Stop the medical folks in the policy division from killing us prematurely with faulty concepts and ignoring the underlying law. Pretend we are on the same side. Understand what an MOS does - if you are in the artillery your hearing loss is very probably caused by making loud noises. Tanks, aircraft, ships, engine rooms, infantry-we all get to experience that every day. Not sure if loud TAC NCO's count, but we can look into that.
Hold people doing wrong accountable.
Do an economic study to determine how wrong your premises are with respect to"saving taxpayer money". Did you look at cost drag in the GNP, loss of productivity and economic multipliers because veterans are so frustrated, angry, and hurt? How much are food stamps, medicaid, homeless costs, ad infinitum? How many families have been destroyed? How many of us have or had children who have problems because of exposures - which you should just stop lying about anyway.
And finally, the Secretary should listen to the NGO's outside of the beltway who are at the forefront of making a difference. We do not have enough time or money to waste continuing to try to get you to listen. Finally, look at us who struggle, then look in the mirror. What are you doing to make a difference in your own way? Use us, don't abuse us. We know what we are doing - and doing it a lot better and cheaper.
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I want to thank you for your honesty and transparency and I want you to know that you are a voice for many that would not take the time to expound on the issues. My prayers are with you and thank you for keeping many of us informed. It is vital that we are an advocate for those that come to us with their concerns.
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SSgt (Join to see)
SGT Mike Mardis I met a guy who is a veteran and around 65 and he told me many of the same stories that you. Now, it is time to get this done for you and your family. My first suggestion is contact your senator and or representative. I got my disability in one month. Continue to be persistent because I believe many would like for you to just give up. You may be abused but it can be a cat and mouse game. Be aware of the fact you have to keep your cool so they do not sick the Police on you.
I was intimidate by the police once and filed a complaint. The supervisor apologized. I was sleeping in my car and I was not the only one.
I was intimidate by the police once and filed a complaint. The supervisor apologized. I was sleeping in my car and I was not the only one.
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SGT Mike Mardis
Thank you for the advice. I'm not exactly proud of what my "disability" is and am prone to neglect the help so as not to have to deal with it.
When I finally found the patient advocate to get the ball rolling, she was pressing me to be seen immediately (that day, which was impressive) but I got an overwhelming feeling of being put in a room I wasn't interested in for an undetermined amount of time, if you know what I mean.
I guess the rating I got gives legitimacy to what "I have". I'm just not comfortable with it. And as you made reference to, they don't make you feel warm dizzied either.
When I finally found the patient advocate to get the ball rolling, she was pressing me to be seen immediately (that day, which was impressive) but I got an overwhelming feeling of being put in a room I wasn't interested in for an undetermined amount of time, if you know what I mean.
I guess the rating I got gives legitimacy to what "I have". I'm just not comfortable with it. And as you made reference to, they don't make you feel warm dizzied either.
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CH (CPT) Heather Davis
We all love you, and remember that you are a vial part of our family network. You have been chosen to go through this process. Go through it, and report on what happened, many are on this very site to understand about the process. Many veterans have moral injury, and are dealing with loss of identity and struggling to understand the changes in their personality. Many veterans have problems with depression and internal stress causing them to withdrawal changing their sense of self.
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Short of criminal prosecution for many of the people responsible for denying treatment and causing the loss of life, it won't be enough. Firing people who were likely guilty of criminal actions that resulted in the loss of life will not be enough if those same people can still work in the same industry.
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SSgt (Join to see)
Cpl Ray Fernandez Unfortunately Nepotism gets rewarded as we have seen so many times already.
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Cpl Ray Fernandez
The new VA secretary stated this week that he has a list of 1000 people he wants to fire, but made no mention of any criminal investigations into the deaths of veterans resulting from the VA hospitals.
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SSgt (Join to see)
I wouldn't mind the negligent and abusive to be fired and I even have a couple suggestions on that....
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SGT Steve Vincent
So, I just got back from the ER at the Phoenix VA. I have a slipped disc or something in my lower back, that was damaged when I was injured during an ambush. I go in there, barely able to walk under my own power, and talk to the lady at the front desk. She got my name and told me to have a seat. I was escorted to a room after a few minutes, and then sat there for about 15 minutes, noticing all the things that were just wrong. Needle wrappers on the floor, used alcohol wipes next to the garbage can, and what looked like blood drops all over the floor next to the gurney. The dr comes in, asks me what is hurting, so I tell her I'm in a ridiculous amount of pain, and I heard/felt something pop in my back. She then tells me they will give me a shot of toradol and morphine and then send me up for an x-ray. So they put me in a wheelchair and send me upstairs. I get the x-rays, and come back down to the room to wait for another half hour. The dr comes back in and tells me she put in some scrips for some painkillers and muscle relaxers, tells me to call my PCM Monday, and then leaves. I am now home, still in pain, and wondering how this happened. The amazing thing is, they never even asked me for some identification to verify I was who I said I was, before they gave me a whole bunch of painkillers and stuff. Â I still have no clue if I'm going to wind up getting injured even worse, before i finally get in for an MRI to find out what is actually wrong. They quite literally didn't even examine me. Almost like going to the TMC for something, only instead of giving me some ibuprofen, they gave me hardcore narcotics. And then people wonder why there are so many vets with serious drug dependency problems...Â
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We the People are sympathetic to veterans (a few of us are veterans ourselves). Sadly, our government is not so much. Money that should have gone into providing services for veterans has been diverted into bonuses for bureaucrats. Vacant military facilities that could provide shelter for homeless veterans is occupied by illegal aliens who are being courted as a new constituency. Medical service providers who could help increase the availability for all Americans, including veterans, are being chased back to their home countries by the ravages of a government-managed healthcare system.
Last week, We the People took a bite out of these crimes. However, it will take a lot more time to undo the damage already done and We the People have to remain vigilant to insure that our government replaces good intentions with real results.
Last week, We the People took a bite out of these crimes. However, it will take a lot more time to undo the damage already done and We the People have to remain vigilant to insure that our government replaces good intentions with real results.
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SSgt (Join to see), I don't know how the state health care systems work or even how well they work, but here in Oregon the Oregon Health Plan (OHP) covers vets who may or may not have the VA healthcare. As for housing, well there is the rub. Klamath Falls has a VA worker who works with homeless vets trying to find them stable and affordable housing. The only reason I know these things is that over the past few months they have offered to help me and my wife find housing to get us out of the situation we are currently in.
My advice to veterans would be to check with their local community outpatient facilities and see if they offer these same services and if not do they know who can these homeless veterans can contact to get this type of help. State help may not be the greatest but it is better than nothing. They may also want to check with the VFW, American Legion, and the DAV in their areas to see about similar services. Hope this helps.
My advice to veterans would be to check with their local community outpatient facilities and see if they offer these same services and if not do they know who can these homeless veterans can contact to get this type of help. State help may not be the greatest but it is better than nothing. They may also want to check with the VFW, American Legion, and the DAV in their areas to see about similar services. Hope this helps.
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I'm afraid a national approach has to be made from the community level to look out for and aid veterans and the rest of the homeless populations.
The issue is definitely nothing new and since the government is focused on levying taxes to pay bills and foreign aid, it will take the communities of America to open their eyes and provide for their common men, women and children that are in such dire conditions.
Looking to Big Brother to help will only keep us looking for help.
The issue is definitely nothing new and since the government is focused on levying taxes to pay bills and foreign aid, it will take the communities of America to open their eyes and provide for their common men, women and children that are in such dire conditions.
Looking to Big Brother to help will only keep us looking for help.
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SSgt (Join to see)
SSG (Join to see) I used to live on Kolpingstrasse in Landstuhl close to BahnhofStrasse. I agree totally.
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