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In a special town hall event, VA Secretary Denis McDonough addressed questions from Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors.
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Health
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Caregiver
Responses: 201
When is the VA going shift its focus from Vietnam and older veterans to a more inclusive environment? This would potentially allow veterans of all eras and ages to help each other solve their issues together and pass valuable information and knowledge.
Also, what is the VA doing to help ensure veterans receiving the best care possible? Along that how are you Insuring patience are being taken care of properly by doctors ant not just being treated like a number to assist in funding facilities?
Why isn’t community care used more widely to assure surgical procedures are done correctly with the most recent techniques and materials?
I can’t speak for everybody, but I’m tired of being treated like a piece of meat.
Also, what is the VA doing to help ensure veterans receiving the best care possible? Along that how are you Insuring patience are being taken care of properly by doctors ant not just being treated like a number to assist in funding facilities?
Why isn’t community care used more widely to assure surgical procedures are done correctly with the most recent techniques and materials?
I can’t speak for everybody, but I’m tired of being treated like a piece of meat.
I tried for years (over 10) to get a disability rating from my time in the USMC. They said they could not find my medical records so I sent them the Micro phish (yes they are old) records I still had from when I got out. I got a letter saying they are unreadable because of age and no further work would be made on my claims.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Anytime you believe that you have a medical condition that was caused by your military service, VA encourages you to file a claim. You can file a claim online via VA.GOV or, in person at any regional office, or with an accredited representative. If you intend to file a claim for a condition that was previously denied, specifically called a supplemental claim, new and relevant evidence is required. You can also submit lay evidence to support your claim. Lay evidence is written testimony by you or someone who knows about your condition or related events. Anyone can provide lay evidence. This person doesn’t need to have any specific training or education. We’ll review lay evidence along with any other evidence you submit.
My question is regarding chapter 35 for a surviving spouse. My wife and I were both active duty Army when she was killed in the line of duty in 1987. I remained on active duty for 27 years without a break after that point. I applied for chapter 35 upon my retirement in 2014, and was awarded chapter 35 benefit in a letter stating eligibility was from 1987 to 2007. Since active duty members cannot use chapter 35, I was not able to utilize this benefit being on active duty spanning beyond that 20 year eligibility. I rebutted this decision many times and was not successful in obtaining my chapter 35 benefit. Why can a child suspend chapter 35 benefit while on active duty but a spouse cannot? I feel that I was robbed of my entire chapter 35 entitlement. CSM (R) Forsyth
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
The simple answer is the law does not provide a delimiting date extension or tolling for someone who is prevented from using chapter 35 benefits due to active duty service in the Regular component of the Armed Forces. The law only provides for a delimiting date tolling due to active duty service if the active duty service is pursuany to an order to active duty issued under section 688, 12301(a), 12301(d), 12301(g), 12302, or 12304 of title 10, or is involuntarily ordered to full-time National Guard duty under section 502(f) of title 32. These provisions can be found at 38 U.S.C. 3512(f).
CSM Robert Forsyth
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs then someone should make a motion to have the law amended because this is completely ridiculous and robs the entitlement from the individual.
Mister Secretary, what qualifies you to administer a national healthcare system for veterans besides being a former Chief of staff for a president?
Sir, I am in the Philippines and use the VA's Foreign Medical Program for service related disability issues and would like to know why it's been over 8 months (and still waiting) for a reimbursement.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
The goal is to adjudicate 90% of Foreign Medical Program (FMP) submissions within 45 days. VA is working on a technology solution that will allow electronic payment which will increase efficiency and speed for reimbursement. For questions about a specific claim, please contact the FMP Escalations team at our email address: [login to see] or send an Ask VA request and someone on the FMP Escalations team will assist you.
How can I get my health records evaluated for disability benefits without having to pay for it or waiting for years?
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Anytime you believe that you have a medical condition that was caused by your military service, VA encourages you to file a claim. You can file a claim online via VA.GOV or, in person at any regional office, or with an accredited representative. There’s no cost for the forms and no fees to apply for VA benefits. If you choose to use a Veterans Service Organization, known as a VSO, such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars or the American Legion, contact one of those offices nearest you and they will be happy to help. A list of accredited VSOs is here: https://www.va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/index.asp. Some lawyers help Veterans file claims but that is usually at some expense to the Veteran.
Why are you pushing separate/specialized LGBTQ services / departments / propaganda in our VA clinics and hospitals? Veterans shouldn't be politicized, nobody cares how people have sex, why are you flooding our Veteran services with this crap!?
CPT Mark Melchi
PO2 Caelin Blevans It's ok confused buttercup, looks like we're about to get back to normal, science based health care again, with NO SPECIAL TREATMENT/SEGREGATION! Again, all care is the same, under one flag, you are not special just because of how you have sex. If you want special Healthcare start you're own non science based hospital lol.
PO2 Caelin Blevans
CPT Mark Melchi I find it very wearying to argue with you and your ilk. At no point in our replies have I belittled or insulted you, nor reveled in the idea of a fellow veteran losing access to healthcare. The disdain you have for people that appear different is palpably self evident. I sleep better knowing people such as you with horrid beliefs are veterans and no longer have a command position. Were you to not just remove yourself from command but society as well.
CPT Mark Melchi
PO2 Caelin Blevans I sleep well knowing I don't command a woke, lost, anti commonsense generation of confused soldiers, who think they deserve special treatment. Again I could care less about how people have sex...it has no place in the military or VA to celebrate it. There's a reason so many LGB went RED this election, because people like you are giving them a bad name and most are sick of it too. Plenty of mental health options for you, I'm sorry you can't accept how you were born and need some self love. Hope you get the help you need. Can't wait to bring commonsense back to our VA and Military over the next 4yrs lol.
PO2 Caelin Blevans
CPT Mark Melchi this is a pointless conversation for me to have. My last reply should have tipped you off about that. Then again- people like you aren’t known for being very keen. I’m going to make the decision to disengage from you, since your stubbornness prevents you from being receptive to any narrative that differs from your projections. There is no need to cite medical science with you, polls, social research papers or anything else because unless it soothes your cognitive dissonance. You may reply that I won’t cite my research because I have none, but like I said- no amount of citations regardless of content or validity can make the blind see. As for the glorious and infallible paragon of virtue and patriotism you likely voted for, I say third time’s the charm.
I have applied for the care givers stipend for my wife I think 5 times now. I am SMC (T) and I meet the qualifications for the program due to Neurological Residuals for my Multiple TBI's. I have turned in all kinds of documentation for the program up to and including my decision by a VA law judge that states I need my wife as my caregiver or I would be in a memory care nursing home. It has taken them until this last rejection to actually let me know that I don't have 6 months of prior medical records and that is why they are denying me. Even though I had my doctor write a note literally stating that my wife has been my care giver the entire time I have been in his care which is over 2 years. They failed to do their jobs when I first got here and didn't give me a TBI worksheet which would have allowed me to start building my documentation about my TBI and getting access to the right doctors to treat me in the Multi Trauma Unit. My question is this why is this program so difficult and lacking in transparency that we have to go through years of denials when we meet the qualifications of the program.
CPL James Dauber
@Joseph Burks - Director of Communications, VA Caregiver Support Program,
@Mike Zeeb - VA Caregiver Support Program
@Mike Zeeb - VA Caregiver Support Program
Melissa Comeau
Thank you for your question. I am sorry to hear of your challenges with the Caregiver Support Program at VA. Please know the Red Cross Military and Veteran Caregiver Network serves caregivers of all eras, all relationships, across all locations. For more information please visit http://www.redcross.org/caregivers
Military and Veteran Caregiver Network
The Military Veteran Caregiver Network provides our nation’s pre- and post-9/11-era military and veteran caregivers with peer support.
Veterans Affairs Caregiver Support Program
Please reach out to your local team to seek more information about appeals and perhaps submitting a new application if things have changed with your medical condition. The local team program manager is equiped to provide feedback based on your specific situation. I'd also suggest reviewing the (PCAFC) program of comprehensive assistance for family caregivers. One would apply for the program and not just apply for a stipend. If approved, and depending on your medical situation, a stipend may be provided. https://www.caregiver.va.gov/support/New_CSC_Page.asp
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.
SGM Mikel Dawson
Oh yea, I feel the pain. Living in Denmark has been a "real" experience getting stuff done with the VA. I have made a couple posts here on my problems.
Sgt Connie Plate
If appointments can be done by telehealth, why can't OCONUS veterans have access to them?
Why do you have to get 200/110 BP to get a rating higher than 10% for Hypertension? According to physicians you would either die or have a stroke at that level.
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