What do you think are the largest issues facing the Veteran community?

Having a VA nurse talk to me like I am a child made this Veteran want to change her mind about getting care at the VA. I believe Veterans deserve respect, dignity, empathy, and compassion at the VA. Yes, there are superb VA and that is great but why are some better than others? Too many patients? Too little medical staff? Lack of training? Rude patients? During our military service, we were in charge of others, took care of expensive equipment, carried out missions, followed orders and now some of us get treated like a child at the VA. What are other Veterans encountering when they go to the VA? Shame? Embarrassment? Anger? Fear? Confused? Some Vets just quit going to the VA. Why bother? How do you get a hurt soul to come out of their safety zone, especially after they tried once or twice but got hurt again?

Not having enough resources and guidance on filing for benefits. It took me many years of navigating the VA to finally get my benefits I earned. It was long and exhausting. I have talked to several veterans who deff qualify for VA benefits just give up because navigating the VA and the VA websites is horrible. There needs to be more straightforward ways that guide veterans through the process of applying and put together a well developed case for the VA. Another issue I am seeing elderly veterans run into is accessing MyHealthvet and VA.gov Some of our older generation are not tech savvy and when they are told the need to create a profile on sites like myhealthvet the are completely lost. With all the different type's of log in and really not being able to use a computer to order medications or request a DR visit the end up getting stuck going around and around through the VA phone service. Something I think the VA should do is send out veterans a list with the main number and extensions to different departments. I say this because when I call the VA you are met with some rude phone operators that don't even let you finish speaking before they transfer you to the department you need. And if no one answers you have to go through the entire process of getting transferred again. When the person on the line should let you finish speaking for one and not only transfer your call but give you the extension so if you have to call back you can dial that extension and not have to go through the call center. One of the big issues I face is dealing with the rude phone operators at Augusta VA who do as I have stated aboe. But over all I think their should be better resources and help for elderly veterans to navigate the VA as well as detailed guidance on the steps to file a claim for newer vets. I have seen so many veterans miss out on earned benefits due to being overwhelmed blindly navigating the VA.

I think one of the biggest issues veterans face today is a lack of knowledge on what services are actually available to us and how to obtain those benefits. It’s interesting how much organization and structure was pushed while in the armed services but once you get out a veteran is truly lost and when you call for help to a V. A. the hold times are unbelievable and the CSR is usually rude and lacks patience. That adds a secondary issue lack of respect for veterans.

Access to Dental care; VA dental care is overwhelmed, highly limited and not always available.

My biggest issue with VA med care is every time I get a new/different DR, they want to start from the beginning to treat my issues, rather than continue where the last DR left off.
The amount of red tape we have to jump through isn't as much of a problem now as it was 10 years ago, so that's good.
I am Thankful for the care I receive at the VA.

I really don't feel like veterans without full service disability get the best healthcare especially in the dental area it is completely ignored.

Homelessness, transitioning to civilian, mental health support

I have two issue that need to be addressed. One......give veterans a better way to access their doctor or speciality group they need. Ever tried to call your VA when you need to be seen? Virtually impossible. Email them and that takes days for a response. You usually have to end up going to the ER for a non life threatening issue.. Then when you're finally seen and they feel you need to be referred to Communitmay Care , that literally takes weeks before Community Care issues their approval. Two..... Why don't ALL veterans receive free dental care? Why is this only for service connected disability veterans. Do they not know how expensive dental care is, especially to baby boomers living on only social security.

In my opinion the biggest hurdle for Veterans is the VA itself. I have been waiting on a decision on an appeal starting back in 2013 and I am still waiting, even after it went all the way up the chain to Washington to a judge to be kicked back down to the regional level for review again. I have had new presumptive claims that have been denied and appealed that have not even started the process of being looked at.
Our local VA clinic is so short staffed they farm out even the most routine appointments, or they send your information to scheduling for it to set for weeks on end before they make a move on it.

Getting through the process and red tape involved in application for disability.