Posted on Mar 4, 2025
What Would You Like to Ask or Say to the New VA Secretary Doug Collins?
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If you had the opportunity to speak with the New VA Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Doug Collins what would you ask him or what would you like to say to him? Please keep professional.
Thank you,
COL (Ret) Mikel Burroughs
CEO
Victory for Veterans, Inc.
Thank you,
COL (Ret) Mikel Burroughs
CEO
Victory for Veterans, Inc.
Posted in these groups: 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Edited 6 mo ago
Posted 10 mo ago
Responses: 48
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He would just have to walk away he’d be listening to my questions all day and night
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
In My Case, While Being Of Age For Medicare,
Plus A Decade Or More, I May Be Able To Sue The VA For "Elder Abuse".
And I Have Proof ~ I've Been Carbon Dated To Be "6 Years Older Than Dirt".
Plus A Decade Or More, I May Be Able To Sue The VA For "Elder Abuse".
And I Have Proof ~ I've Been Carbon Dated To Be "6 Years Older Than Dirt".
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Secretary Collins, will the Camp Lejeune contaminated water study ever be completed for US Marines?
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
I'd Hate To Think This Could Happen, But We Know It Has,
Using Both Our Military & Civilians For Guinea Pigs, To Test Chemical Agents And
Trace Their Affects For Use In Combat. This Information Was Released To The Public Due To The Freedom Of Information Act.
Using Both Our Military & Civilians For Guinea Pigs, To Test Chemical Agents And
Trace Their Affects For Use In Combat. This Information Was Released To The Public Due To The Freedom Of Information Act.
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Quite denying so many claims, we come to you cause we are broken, mentally, physically.
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Remember your job is to take care of those of us who served. Remember that and don’t let politics interfere sway the responsibility you have to us.
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
And By Doing As They Do, It Would Be EASY To Believe "They Work On Commissions",
The More WE Get Screwed, The More THEY Get Paid.
The More WE Get Screwed, The More THEY Get Paid.
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I have listened to interviews with Secretary Collins from the House Committee on Veterans Affairs and the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs.
The committee questions asked of Secretary Collins were mainly focused on creating talking points for the media. They had nothing to do with addressing legacy problems and finding solutions for our veterans and the VA.
We don't need more money or people. We must adhere to the existing policies. The VA also needs people who perform the tasks for which they are paid. Not more people who do not do the job they are paid to do.
I always use examples that I have dealt with using the VA. Here is one example of a problem.
I am experiencing an issue with the Physical therapy referral from an outside provider, Harold Simmons Cancer Center.
The surgeon removed a portion of my colon. The surgeon referred me for 12 weeks, three times per week, for physical therapy rehab.
.
When the physical therapy clinic received the authorization from CC, it was limited to 15 treatments.
I called community care and asked why only 15. I was initially told "TriWest" would only approve 15 treatments.
I called TriWest, and they do not authorize treatments. My local community care does it.
I called back to CC, and the representative said she misspoke. She should have said TriWest would only pay for 15, and if I needed more at the end of 15, the surgeon would have to make a new referral after the 15 treatments were completed.
Doing it this way would be unnecessary and create an additional workload for everyone who is already over-tasked.
I asked what rule they were following, and she said they follow The VA's Standardized Episode of Care (SEOC). I then checked with SEOC and TriWest (about only paying for 15).
The local community care is not following SEOC or TriWest. What I found added more confusion, and I'm unsure where to go from here.
---------------- SEOC policy ---------------
The VA's Standardized Episode of Care (SEOC) for physical therapy doesn't specify a set number of treatments. The VA's goal is to deliver the number of treatments recommended in the referral authorization to every veteran.
--------------- TriWest policy -------------
TriWest generally covers medically necessary rehabilitation therapies, such as physical therapy, but the specific number of treatments covered can vary.
----------------------
As a veteran with a presumptive condition - stage 3 colon cancer, I want to focus on rehab and not ask the Surgeon, PMR, and CC to re-do a consult. The extra time and delays causes unnecessary stress.
http://www.onlyusa.us/cc_1.htm
The committee questions asked of Secretary Collins were mainly focused on creating talking points for the media. They had nothing to do with addressing legacy problems and finding solutions for our veterans and the VA.
We don't need more money or people. We must adhere to the existing policies. The VA also needs people who perform the tasks for which they are paid. Not more people who do not do the job they are paid to do.
I always use examples that I have dealt with using the VA. Here is one example of a problem.
I am experiencing an issue with the Physical therapy referral from an outside provider, Harold Simmons Cancer Center.
The surgeon removed a portion of my colon. The surgeon referred me for 12 weeks, three times per week, for physical therapy rehab.
.
When the physical therapy clinic received the authorization from CC, it was limited to 15 treatments.
I called community care and asked why only 15. I was initially told "TriWest" would only approve 15 treatments.
I called TriWest, and they do not authorize treatments. My local community care does it.
I called back to CC, and the representative said she misspoke. She should have said TriWest would only pay for 15, and if I needed more at the end of 15, the surgeon would have to make a new referral after the 15 treatments were completed.
Doing it this way would be unnecessary and create an additional workload for everyone who is already over-tasked.
I asked what rule they were following, and she said they follow The VA's Standardized Episode of Care (SEOC). I then checked with SEOC and TriWest (about only paying for 15).
The local community care is not following SEOC or TriWest. What I found added more confusion, and I'm unsure where to go from here.
---------------- SEOC policy ---------------
The VA's Standardized Episode of Care (SEOC) for physical therapy doesn't specify a set number of treatments. The VA's goal is to deliver the number of treatments recommended in the referral authorization to every veteran.
--------------- TriWest policy -------------
TriWest generally covers medically necessary rehabilitation therapies, such as physical therapy, but the specific number of treatments covered can vary.
----------------------
As a veteran with a presumptive condition - stage 3 colon cancer, I want to focus on rehab and not ask the Surgeon, PMR, and CC to re-do a consult. The extra time and delays causes unnecessary stress.
http://www.onlyusa.us/cc_1.htm
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I would love to tell him that if the VA is truly committed to veterans mental health, then they need to free to share within the confines of a counseling session without fear of reprisal from the Disruptive Behavior Committee.
If a man, or woman, blurts out an expletive over something that happened to them, why is it deemed necessary to report them, a report that then follows them for life?
I've submitted several studies that concur that the use of an occasional expletive during a counseling session, may be just the word needed to describe the situation.
I also talked with the assistant chair of the Disruptive Behavior Committee, and they agreed!
For my troubles, I was banned from Secure Messaging for one year, just receiving a letter restoring my privileges.
That said, they still aren't restored, and I can't contact my providers. I've also talked with the VA, and they don't have a policy in place to remove these stains from a veterans records.
I have reminded the VA, and my congressman, that it's I'll conceived to train men to kill first, then expect them to act like saints or altar boys.
I didn't do this because I get reported to the Disruptive Behavior Committee a lot, I do it because I'm also a mental health care professional that worries about the power the VA wields in being able to place into any veterans file anything they want, and there's nothing you can do about it.
If a man, or woman, blurts out an expletive over something that happened to them, why is it deemed necessary to report them, a report that then follows them for life?
I've submitted several studies that concur that the use of an occasional expletive during a counseling session, may be just the word needed to describe the situation.
I also talked with the assistant chair of the Disruptive Behavior Committee, and they agreed!
For my troubles, I was banned from Secure Messaging for one year, just receiving a letter restoring my privileges.
That said, they still aren't restored, and I can't contact my providers. I've also talked with the VA, and they don't have a policy in place to remove these stains from a veterans records.
I have reminded the VA, and my congressman, that it's I'll conceived to train men to kill first, then expect them to act like saints or altar boys.
I didn't do this because I get reported to the Disruptive Behavior Committee a lot, I do it because I'm also a mental health care professional that worries about the power the VA wields in being able to place into any veterans file anything they want, and there's nothing you can do about it.
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SrA Cecelia Eareckson
Patient Record Flags are entirely arbitrary, and extremely damaging to all aspects of patient care. I showed up at a meeting with an attorney, and they shut the meeting down. I had to get MassHealth to get insulin Six years later, in a whole other VISN, it was revived.
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SGT Daniel Myers
In my experience with the VA, their clinicians say whatever they want in your files and you can't get it out. Despite president Trumps edit to help veterans get items removed from their files that are inaccurate, false, etc., the VA simply refuses to cooperate with the veteran feeling they're the end all-be all in and have the final say in all of this. I recently got a survey about some health care I received from my local VA. When it started getting into mental health questions, which had nothing to do with my visit, I shut the survey and contacted the survey people at the email they provided. I expressed my concerns to them about veteran mental health, clinicians who believe they're gods, and the Disruptive Behavior Committee. Their suggestion was to contact the Patient Advocate. I told them I couldn't, as the Patient Advocate, the PATIENT ADVOCATE, WHO'S SUPPOSED TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF VETERANS, is also a member of the Disruptive Behavior Committee! My congressman's office reached out to me and asked if I needed a congressional inquiry made to which I asked that they get involved. We'll see...
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SrA Cecelia Eareckson
SGT Daniel Myers - That is at least partly standard protocol for medical records. Nothing is ever expunged. (Insert snark.). The patient is left to make a written statement, and ask for it to be entered in the record.
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SGT Daniel Myers
I apologize for the time it has taken for me to return a response. At my VA, you're NOT allowed to have anything entered on the record in your defense. Currently, my congressman is once again challenging the VA on several issues I have brought up and we'll just wait and see where this goes...probably nowhere, but hey
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I'd Like To Know IF Our VA In North Las Vegas, Nevada
Is Rated With Others In The United States, And If So What's Their Standing?.
~As I've Been Less Than Satisfied, And Not Exactly Thrilled With Them ~
Is Rated With Others In The United States, And If So What's Their Standing?.
~As I've Been Less Than Satisfied, And Not Exactly Thrilled With Them ~
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
LTC ORLANDO ILLi
~The Absolute REVERSE Was My Experience;
Due To Multiple Screw-Ups, Including, But Not Limited To:
MIS-Diagnose, WRONG Diagnose And WRONG Medications For NON-Existent Illness,
The SOB'S Almost Killed Me, LITTERALLY. But Along With Emergency Surgery + A MONTH In The Hospital And Several More Months Trying To Recover, I Escaped The Hands Of Tragedy And SURVIVED Anyway.~ But I'm Fairly Sure The Flu Inoculations Were Okay And So Far I Haven't Had A Cold Yet This Year.
~The Absolute REVERSE Was My Experience;
Due To Multiple Screw-Ups, Including, But Not Limited To:
MIS-Diagnose, WRONG Diagnose And WRONG Medications For NON-Existent Illness,
The SOB'S Almost Killed Me, LITTERALLY. But Along With Emergency Surgery + A MONTH In The Hospital And Several More Months Trying To Recover, I Escaped The Hands Of Tragedy And SURVIVED Anyway.~ But I'm Fairly Sure The Flu Inoculations Were Okay And So Far I Haven't Had A Cold Yet This Year.
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
SrA John Monette -
I Believe Many Of Us, Myself Included, Are Venting About Some Of The Lousy Quality Of Care We've Already Had At Our VA Facilities; And In My Case, I Thank The Gods For My 65th Birthday Having Rolled Around And Medicare Kicking In.
I Believe Many Of Us, Myself Included, Are Venting About Some Of The Lousy Quality Of Care We've Already Had At Our VA Facilities; And In My Case, I Thank The Gods For My 65th Birthday Having Rolled Around And Medicare Kicking In.
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If trannys get gender affirming care for non service connected mental illness, why can I get laser surgery iron my eyes or say my teeth capped for cosmetic value?
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
From My Experience With Our VA Out Here In VEGAS,
They're Seasoning Seems To Be: "Cuz We Don't Wanna Do It".
You'll Love This One Because It IS 100% Gods Truth.
Ref My Need Of A Portable Oxygen Machine & Leaving A Message For My Now FOMER Primary At The VA, SIX Times With No Response, Over About 1 - 2 Weeks, I Made A SEVENTH Call And Received An IMMEDIATE Call Back, As I Reamed His-ass Out For NOT Returning my Previous 6 Requests. ~~ And HEEE WASS Pizzed.! And Said (About Making ONE Call To Place The Order My Portable Oxygen Equipment): "I'm Not Going To Make That Call Because (READY?) "I Don't Have The Time" ~ "It's Inconvenient For Me" ~
But MY PERSONAL FAVORITE: "If I Do It For You, I'll Have To Do It For Everyone"..
Care To Take A Guess Where THIS Discussion Went? "AWE Yes" ~~ And I Finally Bought One On Monthly Payments, Arrived Yesterday ~ Wednesday 06/18/2025 ~
But I'll STILL Ride Those SOB'S, If For Nothing Else Than Revenge & Just For Fun Too !! ~ This Has Taken Over 4 YEARS So Far ~~ To Get ONE Piece Of Medically Required Equipment ~~ Even IKEA Could Have Done Better By Shipping It In Parts And MY Constructing It.
They're Seasoning Seems To Be: "Cuz We Don't Wanna Do It".
You'll Love This One Because It IS 100% Gods Truth.
Ref My Need Of A Portable Oxygen Machine & Leaving A Message For My Now FOMER Primary At The VA, SIX Times With No Response, Over About 1 - 2 Weeks, I Made A SEVENTH Call And Received An IMMEDIATE Call Back, As I Reamed His-ass Out For NOT Returning my Previous 6 Requests. ~~ And HEEE WASS Pizzed.! And Said (About Making ONE Call To Place The Order My Portable Oxygen Equipment): "I'm Not Going To Make That Call Because (READY?) "I Don't Have The Time" ~ "It's Inconvenient For Me" ~
But MY PERSONAL FAVORITE: "If I Do It For You, I'll Have To Do It For Everyone"..
Care To Take A Guess Where THIS Discussion Went? "AWE Yes" ~~ And I Finally Bought One On Monthly Payments, Arrived Yesterday ~ Wednesday 06/18/2025 ~
But I'll STILL Ride Those SOB'S, If For Nothing Else Than Revenge & Just For Fun Too !! ~ This Has Taken Over 4 YEARS So Far ~~ To Get ONE Piece Of Medically Required Equipment ~~ Even IKEA Could Have Done Better By Shipping It In Parts And MY Constructing It.
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