What's your best experience with the VA?

SGT Ben Keen My case manager is great, but has 2x the people she is supposed to have. The OIF/OEF/OND clinic here in Phoenix is severely understaffed. We still don't have a neurosurgeon and my case manager burns the midnight oil (when she can look into just my problems) to find a way to get me my surgery. There are great people in the trenches. I think they are over-managed and mismanaged. If I were King....I'd cut back on the mid-level bosses and get more workers in the trenches. Just my .02

Well, for my experience, the VA has been a life saver.  There's nothing like the validation I felt when that packet came in the mail affirming that my benefits would kick in. At the time the PTSD had taken everything from me and I was broke, alone and homeless. It's like the VA reached out and scooped me up and said "Don't worry Soldier we'll take care of you." Don't get me wrong, it is not all peaches and cream. There's times when I scratch my head and say "huh?". I don't know how it all works, it just does.

SGT Keen,<div><br></div><div>After returning from an OEF deployment the VA offered a pain relief class for 10 day at a VA hospital in Tampa my command thought I should attend and I think it saved my life for the lessons I learned there.</div><div>V/R</div><div>1SG Haro</div>

Danny Clark, thanks for your comments, I have just transferred my care to the Palo Alto CA this week. I hope my care is as good as yours. I will keep you posted

SGT Ben Keen,

This is a great topic and one which is needed. While not a fan of the VBA (personnel who decide and process claims), I am a HUGE fan of the VHA (Medical side). My treatment has been prompt and extremely thorough. If an MRI, CAT SCAN, and X-Ray were needed, they were scheduled and completed. The personnel who work at the Veterans Clinics and Hospitals I have attended in Central Florida do everything in their power to treat Veterans well. Have I had delayed appointments, canceled appointments, and re-scheduled appointments, yes, but I had those with civilian medical professionals and even appointments at MTFs previously.

Overall, they VA Clinics and Hospitals receive an overwhelming vote of confidence from me.

Again great topic and very much needed.

SFC Joseph M. Finck USA (Ret)

I have stopped using the VA for any medical treatment. I went three times and each experience was worse that the previous trip. It took me 7 years to get my service connected disability claim approved and I am still appealing parts of the denied claims.

In June of 2012, I self refereed to The War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC) clinic in Palto Alto, CA. I was there for a week. They put me up in a " hotel" on base, I saw many specialists, got blood work, a CT Scan, and P.E.T. Scan of my head, and at the end of the week I talked with the head of the program. Everyone was very nice, and professional. When I go to the Seattle, or American Lake V.A. hospitals it's a nightmare!