trump-budget-va-boosts-benefits-trims

So... cutting a good program to support a program that barely works, downright fails many vets, is a slow, bulky behemoth of red tape that takes forever to initiate and, if, by some miracle, it's approved, is for such short duration that should something really need extended care, it is broken up and each time a "renewal" is needed, it feeds back into the original approval process such that it can take a month or more. For instance, someone needing a specific kind of therapy that is not available at the nearest VA Hospital may spend 3-6 month or more trying to get Veterans Choice approved, then it is only approved for 8 visits at a time when the therapy needs to be long term, perhaps a year or longer. At the end of 8 visits, the therapy provider has to give an update to the prescribing dr. and the vet has to hound said overworked dr. to file for Veterans Choice again to renew. It then goes to the VC administration side, who take 2-3 weeks to process everything, then the call the vet for his or her preferences then calls the therapist and schedules another round of 8 visits... meanwhile, the vet has been unable to continue therapy which has caused setbacks or at the very least delayed the healing the therapy was initiated for to begin with! What a crock to trade good for bad!

SGT Bryan O'Reilly thanks for the read/share much needed and well received. Good points of interest.

I am one of the 100% Struck by a concrete reinforced Vanagon while doing security detail with the British. I fought medical retirement. Let them cut me up like a goose. Refused pain meds so I could continue to do my job. After the botched final surgery. The dr could not even look me in my eye he was that embarrassed, I finally gave up and took the medical. Years of treatment and red tape and in 2014 I was finally deemed Permanently and completely disabled. I earn 3100mo 1200 is rent the rest is disbursed among family bills and to maintain my lavish lifestyle. I believe I earned it and resent that they would put me in the gutter to fight with vermin and deadbeats over table scraps. I will fight this as best as I am able.That, I know how to do. Proficiently. Someone asked me today why I felt I should be entitled to receive a pension. Shouldn't the honor of service be enough? I thought about this and realized that a big part of our job is our pride. Pride in knowing we protect when others won't. Pride in our appearance and pride in our action. And that means maintaining a quality of life in which we may take pride and instill that pride in others.After we retire we still represent our services I have never stopped and I never will. You are goddamned right, I deserve it.