Posted on Jun 12, 2022
SN Debbie Blackburn
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I was denied mental health services by the VA due to my having a power wheelchair for my service connected disability. I felt like that was discrimination based on disability. Why was that allowed?
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Responses: 9
SGM Erik Marquez
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SN Debbie Blackburn Ma'am we need more info to help. From your brief statement, it is not clear what actually happened or was said., From this end, "Why was I denied mental health services by the VA due to my having a power wheelchair for my service-connected disability?"
makes as much sense as "Why was I denied mental health services by the VA due to my having a banana for breakfast last week?"
How did the VA phrase the denial of services? What does the wheelchair have to do with it? What is the connection between the wheelchair and your request for services the VA office is making?
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CPT Lawrence Cable
CPT Lawrence Cable
>1 y
That would be my question also. My experience with VA has been that you go though mental health screening almost every time you show up.
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MSgt Electrical Power Production
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>1 y
I’m a little confused with this one. Didn’t make a lot of sense.
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MSG Intermediate Care Technician
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Confused here. What specifically does your being in a power chair have to do with being denied mental health services? Until such time as more specifics are shared, there is no way anyone can properly answer this.
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Lt Col Jim Coe
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We need a lot more information to provide helpful responses. My wife uses a powerchair to get around. We have not had an access problem at civilian or military medical facilities. Your RP profile needs to be completed for us to help. For example it makes a big difference if you retired or not. Also are you covered by Medicare or Medicaid? Help us help you.
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Why was I denied mental health services by the VA due to my having a power wheelchair for my service-connected disability?
SSgt Christophe Murphy
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There seems to be some gaps in the information provided. You were denied mental health services for the sole reason of having a powered wheelchair? Was there an issue with accessibility for the chair? Is there a larger issue with paperwork or eligibility to VA services?
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CPT Senior Instructor
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Can you elaborate some more on this. I believe this may not be enough for discussion.
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SPC Arthur Lowder
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VA MENTAL HEALTH PEOPPLES SHOULD NOT HAVE A POWER WHEELCHAIR
THE CHAIR MAKE YOU SANE.
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PV2 Farley Dickey
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Perhaps your wheelchair could be used as a weapon. Women can't have bras with underwires, so... ..
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PV2 Ellen Wentzel
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This is typical to my experiences with the VA. I have even had a meeting with the director at my VA and every department head about their lack of competence there. It is so frustrating to explain to so many people before anyone understands what you are trying to say even if you put it in the most simplest of terms. It seems the buck get passed quite lot. Most every time, one has to get many involved before you can get an answer, simple or not. I could tell you story after story and some of my stories are 20+ years old. As my husband says, "Some are just there keeping a seat warm and collecting a paycheck." You just have to persevere as I have done to avoid having a total mental breakdown.
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SN Debbie Blackburn
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I was denied inpatient services by the VA in Sioux Falls, South Dakota because I am in a power wheelchair after almost successfully attempting suicide.
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SSgt Christophe Murphy
SSgt Christophe Murphy
>1 y
Was there a justification provided? Was there an issue with the chair accessing the facility? Do they have a policy not allowing inpatient personnel from using powered chairs? Did they offer a non powered option if the issue was with the power chair? Have you taken this up with patient advocacy?
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CPT Topher Murphy
CPT Topher Murphy
>1 y
Sounds like it was because you wouldn’t part with the wheelchair for the admission It could be used as a way of self harm
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