What Myths Have You Heard About VA?

Some of the things I've heard.
The VA is always slow with claims
Veterans can’t receive benefits for conditions that aren’t listed in the VA’s rating system
VA care is subpar and not as good as civilian care
You have to be 100% disabled to get VA benefits.
If you receive compensation, it’s taxable.
You can’t get VA benefits if you weren’t injured in combat
You have to have a combat injury to get a disability rating.

I make too much money is a fact, according to the VA. I am in some category that says civilians and POW’s get care before I do….but thank you for your service. Medicare is fine and I have no regrets in not attempting to get registered with the VA a couple years ago.

"I can get disability pay from the VA due to military being disabled."
That is a half truth only.
I served 21 years and I receive a military pension. Later, I was told by other vets to contact the VA about getting disability for Agent Orange and asbestos in my lungs due to working in ship engine rooms that had a lot of asbestos there.
I was given a 40% disability rating and was told I would get disability pay, which I am receiving now.
However, my military pension monthly amount was reduced by the exact amount that the VA disability is paying me. So, in essence, I am not actually getting any additional income. It's just a shell game. I hope that law can be changed.

I’m not to pleased with the VA right now I transfered from Michigan to Florida I feel like I went back in time, had to leave Michigan because of health issues, I go to a cardiologist who just plane sucks, lost records she based my issues on the type of medication I take.i deal with truthfully if I could afford it I go to the outside.

I make too much money is not a myth. I was denied benefits for this exact reason even though I served during the Vietnam War era when people were going to Canada to avoid the draft. I enlisted! Very disappointed in this one!

I went to the ER at Hunter Holmes (butcher shop) Va. Hosp. I could barely walk. They sent my to the hospital front desk a quarter mile away. They sent me back to the emergency room that now had a receptionist. and admitted me. The doctor was oriental and communicated with an interpreter. They found over 2000 unlicensed doctors working at VA hospitals. I could write a book. The sad reality of all those suicides every day of vets that need a little help.

“I can’t work if I’m 100% disabled.” Inaccurate. A veteran cannot work if they are rated 100% Individually Unemployable (IU) not Permanently and Totally (PT) disabled. Just can’t do anything substantial like construction work.

Has anybody ever gotten a second opinion re. any medical diagnosis or treatment plan?

The VA will not prescribe any non-protocol medications like Ivermectin or Hydroxychloroquine even for non-VA pharmacy fills.

The biggest myth I heard on our local news outfit stated that the VA is making strides in approvals as now it takes two weeks to a month for the board approvals! I’ve been awaiting roughly 4 years for a decision on the military associated PTSD that the VA has diagnosed me with! I’m sorry, but I am rapidly losing faith in our VA! It seems that death proceeds most VA approvals!