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In a special town hall event, VA Secretary Denis McDonough addressed questions from Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors.
Responses: 201
Why is it that the VA still doesn't give transgender individuals the ability to have surgeries it has been approved for over 4 years and still we are not able to get our gender corrective surgery. I have spoken to many people at the VA about this and that have not been told when it will be in place or even when to expect it to happen.
MSgt Michael Campbell
Such surgery is elective, the reason for the surgery is not service connected. Such surgery is something you want; not something you need. I don't understand why this is even being discussed or considered. We have veterans with combat disabilities being denied treatment and some living on the street that must be taken care.
I am rehabilitating after a stroke in Martinez,Ca. Why is our food so horrible. Nobody likes it. There is so much food waste because the patients don’t eat all or any of their food. Sincerely
Troy Hood
Troy Hood
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
VA always strives to provide quality meals that follow our Whole Health model with the health of our Veterans in mind. Our meals are made fresh daily right before serving. If the menu is not to the Veteran’s taste, we offer a large variety of options daily such as hamburgers, quesadillas, chef salads, and sandwiches. When we do have a Veteran who is unsatisfied with their meal, we offer to provide an option they would prefer and have their preferences added to their profile. This way, we avoid giving options the Veteran dislikes, thus avoiding waste. Thank you for this feedback; our goal is to provide healthy, delicious meals to our Veterans during their stay with us.
I am a retired veteran living in Australia. There are many bi-lateral agreements between the two nations, can the US VA negotiate an agreement with the Australian DVA to support the US veterans living in Australia?
30 years, Air Guard. On state orders I supported mission, people on fed. Orders. My shop, my weekenders passed an Air Force ORI. Come close to being killed couple times. I supported the mission, units, people. The VA, when contacted, “you ain’t sh!t”. Why are my 30 years unacceptable for any support? Patriot Angels, same answer. Would be nice to get a call. [login to see] .
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Thank you for sharing your concerns and experience. Eligibility for most VA benefits is based upon discharge from active military service under other than dishonorable conditions. Active service means full-time service, other than active duty for training, as a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Space Force or as a commissioned officer of the Public Health Service, Environmental Science Services Administration, or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or its predecessor, the Coast and Geodetic Survey. Since we do not have the specific benefit you were seeking, we encourage you to contact our national call center at [login to see] or your local VA regional office to address your concerns.
This question is for RDML Ann Duff. As a Veteran's widow I am told I have all the benefits my husband had, But, with the exclusion of property taxes. As long as I stay in the house we brought together I have the tax write off. But if I move I no longer have the benefit of the tax write off. So I am stuck in a house I can no longer maneuver. I have already fell down the steps and broke my ankle and can no longer live in this house. I need to downsize and find a one level house but can’t afford to move with the high cost of property taxes. I would appreciate the reason for this exclusion or if there is a way around it. Thank you.
Sgt Connie Plate
Property taxes and exemptions are mandated through your State government. Ask your representatives for answers and assistance. If you live in Florida, sell your house and purchase another house within 2 years, you may benefit from a carryover of your homestead exemption and lower tax burden on a less valuable property.
RDML Ann Duff
Erica, Thanks for asking a survivor question. Property taxes fall under the purview of individual states and different states have different rules about property taxes. The VA is not involved with this type of decision. If you are receiving Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) you may be entitled to a VA loan in your own right -- perhaps this can help when you are ready to move.
It has been well over a decade since the va adjusted mileage reimbursement rates for qualifying vets...no adjustments for cola or increased energy costs. The GSA mileage reimbursement rate for all government employees, including va employees, is approx 50% more than the rate veterans are reimbursed for their out of pocket mileage reimbursement rate. The government transportation office estimates that the average cost per mile to operate a vehicle is in fact at the gsa rate and IRS deduction rate. How is it veteran centric to take money out of the pockets by NOT paying the fair reimbursement rate?
SGM Mikel Dawson
You're lucky you got that. Living OCONUS, under the FMP, we no longer get paid travel/milage. We are second rate Vets.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
VA does not have statutory authority to raise the travel mileage rate above 41.5 cents per mile without congressional action. Under 38 U.S.C. Section 111, the VA Secretary has the authority to pay one of two rates. One is the mileage reimbursement rate of 41.5 cents set by statute, and the other is the statute for the rate for the use of privately owned vehicles by Government employees, on official business when a government vehicle is available, which is currently 21 cents per mile. VA pays the higher rate of these two options.
Dear Sir, please help me with my VA Claim, I have been going to the VA ever since 2007, I only went because my buddy (Charlie F Korte) talked me into filling a service connected claim. He passed away in 2008 after fighting with the VA for over two years because of small lung cancer. Anyway I’m trying to get my PCP to help with DBQ’s per VHA Directive 1134, ever time I file a claim for PTSD, lower back pain, and diabetes. I get rejected, I just recently found out about Nexus letters and DBQ. I was under the impression that the VA looked at my VA health records. I even had a visual conference with a judge who said to reinstate my PTSD claim.
I would love to hear back from you for guidance on what I should do next, I served in the Marine Corps from 1970 to 1973.
Thank You
John Jake Gonzales
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I would love to hear back from you for guidance on what I should do next, I served in the Marine Corps from 1970 to 1973.
Thank You
John Jake Gonzales
[login to see]
[login to see]
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Thank you for sharing your concerns and experience. Every claim is different - depending on what evidence VA may need to gather, a Veteran's claim may take more or less time, depending on the circumstances. While VA can't speak to your specific claim situation in this forum due to privacy issues, we encourage you to contact our national call center at [login to see] or your local VA regional office to address your concerns.
My question for Secretary McDonough is 2 fold. Why is the VA not trying to stop the privatization of our VA? Why are overseas Veterans treated like 2nd class citizens?
Sgt Connie Plate
Privatization has proven not to be the answer, but instead the beginning of decline for social services, such as the VA. Just look at what it's done to our jails and schools. It is a slippery slope as well. What will be privatized next? Our police? Our military? A healthy country needs a healthy balance of capatilism and socialism, with areas where capatilism is best and areas where socialism is best. Generally speakiong, too much of any one thing is not good for us.
So quite awhile back the US Department of Education shut down Corinthian Colleges and all its affiliates including Heald which I had attended. A lot of students if not all of them got their student loans cancelled etc. due to the incident and the school being accused of fake business practices. I however, had used my Post 9/11 GI Bill to attend the school and therefore had no loans to cancel. Would there be a way to get that bill credit back in order to attend a different school to fulfill a degree?
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Under Public Law 115-48, section 109, which added 38 U.S.C. 3699, a student may be eligible for restoration of entitlement if the student was enrolled in the program of education at the school when the school closure occurred.
Although the institution that the inquirer attended, Corinthian Colleges, closed in 2015 prior to enactment of PL 115-48, section 109, that section also containg a special application provision to cover students enrolled in Corinthian Colleges. This provision says students, such as those enrolled at Corinthian College, may be eligible for entitlement restoration if the student: 1) was enrolled at the time of the school’s closure; 2) was unable to complete such course or program as a result of the school’s closure; and 3) was not able transfer any credit from the closed school to a new school.
For more information including how to apply for restoration of entitlement please visit our Restoration of Benefits webpage at: https://www.benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/Restoration.asp#:~:text=If%20you%20apply%20for%20and%20are%20found%20eligible,GI%20Bill%20benefits%2C%20your%20entitlement%20is%20restored%20immediately.
Although the institution that the inquirer attended, Corinthian Colleges, closed in 2015 prior to enactment of PL 115-48, section 109, that section also containg a special application provision to cover students enrolled in Corinthian Colleges. This provision says students, such as those enrolled at Corinthian College, may be eligible for entitlement restoration if the student: 1) was enrolled at the time of the school’s closure; 2) was unable to complete such course or program as a result of the school’s closure; and 3) was not able transfer any credit from the closed school to a new school.
For more information including how to apply for restoration of entitlement please visit our Restoration of Benefits webpage at: https://www.benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/Restoration.asp#:~:text=If%20you%20apply%20for%20and%20are%20found%20eligible,GI%20Bill%20benefits%2C%20your%20entitlement%20is%20restored%20immediately.
Apply for and manage the VA benefits and services you’ve earned as a Veteran, Servicemember, or family member—like health care, disability, education, and more.
There have been multiple times where my medical providers at the Boise VA have either laughed at my concern I had, totally ignored a concern, interrupted my description of a concern and then gave me the bums rush out of the office before I could bring up that concern I originally tried to bring up. The last time I told my medical provider that my high blood pressure was waking me up after 2 to 4 hours of sleep. He said, "I don't have anything to say about that" and left it at that. My blood pressure at those time times is usually 154/75. Is this kind of so-called medical care the usual for the VA? I thought I would add a few more details to the fun and games I had to deal with in the VA. I was on a medicine called Lisinopril for high blood pressure. Within 30 days of starting, I started to have coughing fits all day long. Also, rectal bleeding every time I had a bowel movement. So much so I almost started to use Depends to soak up the blood. I did stop using whitey tightys due to the heavy blood stains. I told my so-called provider at that time, and he just looked at me and said nothing. I ended up taking myself off the medicine, withing days coughing and bleeding stopped. The same provider, when I asked about what was going on with my ankles which are swollen and have blisters. He just laughed and said "Looks like you have some damage there" then ignored my question. The so-called Doctor I tried to talk about another concern which is painful itchy lumps all over my torso. He got this Oh S---- look on his face and interrupted my description of my symptoms and then got me sidetracked and then rushed me out his office as quick as he could. My last visit just a couple weeks ago, my so-called provider asked me how long I had the swelling and blisters in my ankles. I told him about 10 to 15 years, he said nothing about them after that. Over the years I have had 3 different so-called medical providers and have been treated the same by all 3, piss poor. If I could afford a different medical provider, I would use them in a heartbeat and never see the VA again.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Thank you for providing this feedback. We apologize that you had a poor experience. The Boise VA aims to provide world class care to Veterans every day. We will take this opportunity and remind staff about VA’s customer service standards. We would like to learn more about your specific experience so we can improve and provide you the best care possible. Please feel free to contact the Boise VA Medical Center Patient Advocate office at [login to see] to communicate your experience and concerns, so they can be quickly addressed. If you are physically at the Boise VAMC, the Patient Advocate office is in building 85, offices 127 and 127A and their hours are 8:00am – 4:00pm MT. In addition, you are welcome to contact the patient advocates via secure message on My HealtheVet or schedule a virtual appointment with the patient advocate using this link. Schedule And View VA Appointments Online | Veterans Affairs. You can also contact your primary care team by calling [login to see] and follow the prompts.
Again, thank you for communicating your concerns. Your feedback allows VA to improve our care for Veterans.
Again, thank you for communicating your concerns. Your feedback allows VA to improve our care for Veterans.
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