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

Burn pits of Vietnam vets.
Filing for disability benefits.

I think dental should be included for Veterans, regardless of whatever disability percentage they are awarded. At least a cleaning!

07/29/2022: WILDER: PRESCRIPTION WRAP-AROUND SUNGLASSES: 03/31/2022

Mr. Secretary, Denis (if I may be so bold);

The "they" have still not answered the basic question. From where is that edict originated (blind, near blind)? As they have lied to me and the Congressman (with different clauses cited). As stated, they need to get their lies in order. At least lie to ALL citing the same false clause.

AND, why, exactly, are they (glasses) not "medically indicated"?

AND, they speak of light penetrating from the periphery (driving safety issue, as "I" stated)?

AND, why was I never asked since I say "I NEED" prescription, wrap-around sun-glasses to drive in the sunlight in southern California; HOW AM I DRIVING NOW? I have an answer if ever I am asked that question. I told Dr. Lavin the answer; although she, nor anyone, never asked.

AND, I have been granted my request that my record is cleared; Dr. Lavin agreed in writing. HOWEVER, still awaiting a formal, written, hand signed, apology, on VA letterhead due to the Disruptive Behavioral (Lavin) write-up for standing my ground and refusing to knuckle-under to being first ignored, multiple times (5 at least) and then by and with threats by the VA offices in San Diego.

AND, why have I never heard again from those tasked with the inquiry noted to me as "Acknowledgement-SF07517330"

Does it always take this long for an APPOINTED member of a Presidential cabinet to get an answer from a government entity on a single, simple, issue, such as this, that YOU head? No wonder nothing much is accomplished in the VA system.

Respectfully ...

AND
why are Veterans limited to the amount of travel they are paid for when going to the VA. It would seem the more you go, the more you need the funds ..................... NOT LESS

Mental health - being away from normal home and family can alter mental state. Combine that with potential risks can create significant stress and changes in normal behavior.

A complete lack of community.
All of us go through basic training and by design, it chews us up and spits us out with a completely different mindset of self, a realization that each of us a but a spoke that holds the wheel together. We learn to work together as a unit and there isn't an excuse for not getting the job done.
When we enter into the civilian world again, it's overwhelming because we never quite fit into the world we left again. People don't understand us and we can't quite grasp the sense of them any longer.
People can gripe all they want about VA Healthcare, but when one walks through the doors of a facility, one realizes that one is among brethren and a sense of comfort sets in as people start talking to each other as they wait for their appointment. It isn't perfect, it's a system and it has its faults like every other system.
As for the system itself, all of us have to answer the same questions; are you this or are you that, but it's never about what's done to us and we are required to prove that.
It's a sad state of affairs when the most important piece of advice you have to give to someone is to keep your own copy of everything right down to leave documents because you are going to have to prove every single point of your service and there is a good chance your record may be scrubbed of every snafu that occurred.
Treating one as nothing but a commodity to be used and abused and then set aside leaves a sense of desperation. Desperate people do desperate things.

Racism, particularly in the Southwest (VA Employees and Patients)
Neglect/Insignificance as an employee and patient
Having an insensitive civilian address Veteran concerns

Pain medication!!!
I have been to the VA and get some of my medications from them; however, they refuse to offer anything for pain. I have chronic back pain and have to get Oxycontin from my private doctor.
With the exception of spinal fusion, I have done everything, minor surgery, shots, implants, Battle Field Acupuncture and medical marijuana with no results. I have been taking oxy for over 3 years and it does relieve my pain and it is paid for by my insurance. I can't imagine what veterans without insurance do for chronic back pain.
I have been reading a book titled "CHASING THE SCREAM". It is about the prohibition of certain medications. Sounds absurd but it suggest making all medications legal and by lifting those prohibitions actually reduces abuses and over time reduces the need for those meds such as heroin.

Heroin abusers are often infected by dirty needles and poor quality heroin. Over time their veins deteriorate as well as there bodies. Research has shown that clean needles and Heroin does not cause these issues and overall cleans up drug areas and puts illegal drug suppliers out of business.
In any event, the only logical reason the VA does not supply pain killers because they don't trust their patients for fear they will either sell the medication or abuse it. Consequently, the very thing the VA is trying to prevent, their policies are actually creating.

SN Robert Vance Even at 100%, dental care is hard to get through the VA. I can't even imagine the mess they would have if they swung the dental gate open to all because it's a mess now. Other than that, the VA takes very good care of me. My only other gripe is they have let the insanity of the "woke folks" into the system.

The largest issue I believe facing the veteran community is TAP Program. TAP needs to be revamped. The revamping process should have feedback and input from veterans. When I was transitioning, there was so much information that I couldn't keep up. I ended up going back through TAP a second time because I felt so unprepared and lost at the end of TAP than at the beginning. In my opinion, this is the most important thing that needs focus. A veteran's success when applying for benefits, jobs, or anything else out in the civilian world depends on the training and information they are given at TAP. Imagine, someone spends 5, 15, 20 years in the military and they only get 5 days of transition training. At the end of those five days they are expected to know how to navigate the VA disability benefit system, VA education benefit system, VA health system, civilian world etc. Instead of 5 days, it should be more like 2 weeks. There were people in my group that were going into the office at the end of the day. During TAP week, that's all these individuals should be focused on. They've done their jobs for the past X years, now it's time to set them up for success. There are countless veterans that I meet that tell me they weren't allowed to go to TAP for the full 5 days, they only attend 2 or 3 days because they were also expected to put in hours at work. It saddens me to hear people say they don't know how to apply for benefits because they weren't given the proper information when they were transitioning.

Many Vets that are not 100% disabled are not offered dental. The mouth is the first organ in the digestive system. Many illnesses and diseases are caused by defects in the mouth. It would stand to reason that it should be considered a vital organ and treated as such.