Posted on Nov 11, 2021
2021 Veterans Day Q&A with U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Denis McDonough
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Over the past few weeks, the VA worked to answer more than 400 questions below on: Inflation, Burn Pits, Mental Health Services, Disability Claims, Medical Marijuana, Caregivers and Survivors, Community Care, Billing, Post-9/11 GI Bill, LGBTQ+, Electronic Healthcare Record, COVID-19, Dental, and Homeless Veterans.
On Veterans Day, Secretary McDonough directly responded to 9 RallyPoint member questions below. These responses are pinned below in green boxes.
On Veterans Day, Secretary McDonough directly responded to 9 RallyPoint member questions below. These responses are pinned below in green boxes.
Veterans Affairs (VA)
Health
Mental Health
Disability
GI Bill
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 404
What is happening with the money owed to veterans that have received emergency room care and have not been reimbursed? I sent in paperwork ages ago upon request and have heard nothing.
Hello sir I think it’s about time they remove the Obama clause that makes it mandatory for Veterans to pay a deductible to see doctors now. That is not what Lincoln had in mind when we fought or served for our country. By us paying a deductible it’s no different than having to buy insurance through your job. Once again the veterans were pushed aside .
SGT Mary O'Halloran
I don't pay a deductible. Not all veterans do. Whether or not you do depends on many factors, such as your level of service connected disability, when you served, and your ability to pay. It has been this way for a very long time.
I am a man who was sexually assaulted by a fellow sailor but was afraid to come forward during that era (1989 - 1994). I have since filed an MST claim in 2019 but have been repeatedly denied. Now in the 'Me too" era of victims finally getting help for the trauma from past assaults, is the VA going to start acknowledging these assaults and approving MST claims when the assaults were not initially reported while the victim was still in service?
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
VA is taking great strides to ensure that all MST related claims are processed correctly. All rating decisions that address an MST related disability must only be worked or reviewed by a Rating Veterans Service Representative or Decision Review Officer who has completed all required MST training and has been designated by a Regional Office as an MST claims processor.
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ChampVA is supposed to provide coverage for disbled veteran’s families. Many providers will not accept it because of glacially slow payments and lack of familiarity with the program. Getting family members registered for the program is a slow, complex and frustrating process causing serious financial problems for veterans who must pay up front for services at a retail rate only to be reimbursed months later at a lower contract rate. Both of these issues are easily solvable by following the example of the Medicare program which contracts with insurance companies to administer the program. Why doesn’t the VA follow this example?
I submitted a Supplemental claim for disability compensation on July 29th 2021 and the claim has not been updated since July 29th 2021. I would like to ask that the claims be updated weekly or at least monthly.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
The claim status information on va.gov is automatically updated as key changes occur or actions are completed during the claims process. Although the overall status of the claim may not reflect a change, there are multiple steps that are being completed to prepare the claim to move to the next stage of processing. Claims take differing amounts of time depending on the issues claimed and the actions that are needed to make a decision. We are working to ensure a timely and accurate decision for all claims received. Veterans are welcomed to call the Veterans Benefits Administration at [login to see] , Monday-Friday, between the hours of 8:00 AM ET and 9:00 PM ET, for further information on the status of a pending claim.
Question 1
Hines VA in Illinois is my hospital. The hospital has determined that I need chiropractic care for extreme back / neck pain. The hospital community care initially authorized two visits a week and have now reduced it to 6 visits in 6 months. This has not been enough to keep the pain at bay. My chiropractor and VA doctor want the adjustments to be weekly. Community care said 6 visits in 6 months is all that is currently authorized per policy without exception. My question is can this be increased to at least 52 for the year?
Question 2
The Hines Oral Surgery had told me that I would have corrective surgery for a hole in my sinus, service connected, but have since taken me of the surgery schedule and no longer want to do the surgery. Hines Oral surgery is no longer returning my calls. My dentist and civilian oral surgeon still believes the surgery is necessary. This has been going on for almost 4 years. Community care said oral surgery outside of the VA is not authorized. My question is will oral surgery be authorized through community care to get this resolved since the VA is now refusing?
Hines VA in Illinois is my hospital. The hospital has determined that I need chiropractic care for extreme back / neck pain. The hospital community care initially authorized two visits a week and have now reduced it to 6 visits in 6 months. This has not been enough to keep the pain at bay. My chiropractor and VA doctor want the adjustments to be weekly. Community care said 6 visits in 6 months is all that is currently authorized per policy without exception. My question is can this be increased to at least 52 for the year?
Question 2
The Hines Oral Surgery had told me that I would have corrective surgery for a hole in my sinus, service connected, but have since taken me of the surgery schedule and no longer want to do the surgery. Hines Oral surgery is no longer returning my calls. My dentist and civilian oral surgeon still believes the surgery is necessary. This has been going on for almost 4 years. Community care said oral surgery outside of the VA is not authorized. My question is will oral surgery be authorized through community care to get this resolved since the VA is now refusing?
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Generally, there is no evidence to support medical necessity of chiropractic visits at 1x/week frequency as part of chronic pain care. In a chronic pain management phase of care, if the improvement after a chiro visit does not last at least several weeks to months we would consider that as a treatment failure. That is the basis for the chiro chronic pain Standard Episodes Of Care frequency of up to 8 visits in 6 months, or about 1 visit every 3.25 weeks, with the expectation that outcomes are assessed and the plan is reconsidered at the end of 6 month period.
Honorable McDonough, why does it take so long to get Thailand veterans approved for Herbicides/Agent Orange? I launched and recovered aircraft from the end of the runways. I lived in a hooch 75-100 feet from the perimeter fence for a year. Both areas were sprayed to kill the areas for security reasons. .
Other than your extensive political career, what connections do you have to American Veterans that empowers you to seek to guide the agency built to serve their needs?
When will the VA adjust its stand poibt tp provide medical marijuana for service members with qualifying conditions?
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
As an agency of the U.S. Government, VA is governed by federal laws, not state laws. VA and all VA staff, including contractors, as well as outside providers acting on VA's behalf, may only prescribe medications that have been approved by the FDA for medical use. At present, marijuana and most products containing delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), or other cannabinoids are not approved by the FDA for this purpose. For these reasons, VA providers may not prescribe or recommend medical marijuana, nor complete paperwork/forms required for Veteran patients to participate in state-approved marijuana programs. In addition, VA pharmacies may not fill prescriptions for these drugs, nor will VA pay for such prescriptions from any source. Federal law would have to be changed and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would have to approve medical marijuana before VA providers would be able to prescribe or recommend medical marijuana or complete paperwork/forms for Veteran patients to participate in state-approved marijuana programs.
Are we ever going to see dental coverage for something other than service connected for those under 100%
SPC Paul Watson
Yes, I've lost a filling, am 93% disabled and can't work. I'm getting an infection. Doesn't my health count?
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
VA would like all Veterans to have access to good oral health care; however, VA is limited to providing dental benefits to those Veterans who meet specific eligibility criteria as defined by statute. In order to provide dental care to a larger group of Veterans, statutes defining eligibility would need to change. VA does not have the authority to write policy that is not in accordance with statute. VA continues to explore options presented by members of the house, senate, Veteran Service Organizations, and stakeholders in the community, to expand eligibility and access to dental care for Veterans. Veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system and who are not eligible for VA Dental Care can enroll in the Veterans Affairs Dental Insurance Program to purchase discounted dental insurance.
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