If you could enact one change at the VA that would go into effect nationwide, what would it be?

SPC Daniel Brown - Absolutely not. Service begins when you sign at MEPS and if you dont graduate basic, you are still considered having served.

i did not know that, then i would need to change my thinking Thank You MAJOR.

All veterans or just all VA-receiving veterans?

SGT Joseph Gunderson -
About 99% SURE ~!~ ALL VETS
Contact Benefits.Gov They Have A Sh*t Load Of Info..

I would love to see doctor retention improved. I've been using the VA for 15 years and doing my yearly appointments. Only once have I seen a doctor two years in a row. At the Denver VA I had a different doctor every few months. This wastes so much time because they have to read your entire medical history at your first appointment with them.

The problem is that young doctors usually have a boatload of debt, and the private sector offers more opportunities to earn money to pay off that debt quickly.

I can sympathize. I am in Central Arkansas and had that situation for a while. Those guys finally retired. !y PC now is a young attractive female who knows her stuff but more importantly CARES. I look forward to my visits with her.

MSG Stan Hutchison -
NOPE ~ I Erased It ~ I'm Tired Of The Fa-King VA.
They Damned Near Killed Me ~ THEN Medicated Me For A Mental Health Condition
I Did NOT Have ~~ I Was A Fruit-Cake For About A Decade. A Mental Basket Case,
CAUSED By The Fa-King MEDICATIONS I Did NOT Need., ~ Far More To It, But I'm STILL So Pizzed Off About It ~~ THE END ~Sumbitchez-!

[~1938997: SPC Daniel Brown
Here's My GUESS, Based In Years Of Experience Having To Deal With These SOB's;
They Never Admit To Any Errors ~ To Do So Is An Admission Of Guilt ~
Easier To lie To Us And Put Us The Position Of PROVING Them Wrong.
They'll Stall And Be Uncooperative, Pass The Buck Around While Hoping We'll Just Give Up And Stop Bothering Them With Our Problems ~ I've Been Fighting These SOB'S For Over 3 YEARS To Get A Portable Oxygen Machine, Which I've Qualified For THREE Time And AM Entitled To. Having COPD I've Been Stuck In The House Without One For Many Years. ~
And Can Only Travel To And From Medical Appointments, And Must Be Placed In A Van Which Accommodates Wheel Chairs. ~~ And THIS Is One Of The MINOR Issues~!~

I think this is an issue government-wide. If one is going to work for the federal government--or really any level of government--there should be grave consequences for substandard performance or violations of law/procedures.

SGT Joseph Gunderson -
OH ~~ And That's Another Issue... All VA's Health Care Is NOT The Same.. .Each Individual VA Medical Facility Has "XX" Number Of Dollars To Spend On Medical Equipment And Medications, Etc. ~ THEY Individually Decide On What WLL Be Available And What Will NOT Be Available ~~ Hang On ~ At THAT Facility But We Vets Are NOT Assigned To Any Of Them, Therefore Are ENTITLED To Medication And Equipment From ANY VA Facility~ World Wide & Unrestricted...I Note This Because The SOB's Will Argue With You BECAUSE They've Been TOLD XXX ~ But Never READ The Actual Document In Print,
~~~~~~ ~~~ COPY ~ PRINT~ SAVE To Your Permanent Files~~~~~~~~
" MY QUESTION":
Is A Military Veteran Entitled To Care And Supplies,
Through ANY VA Facility, Regardless Of Where He Resides"?
"THERE REPLY":
YES, a military veteran can receive medical products from out-of-state VA facilities, even if they are not living there. (Balance REF: Mostly For Over Seas Vets:)
However, the veteran must be eligible for VA care without needing to enroll or be enrolled in VA health care 1. The eligibility for community care is dependent upon a veteran’s individual health care needs or circumstances 1. In most cases, veterans must receive approval from VA prior to obtaining care from a community provider 1. VA staff members generally make all eligibility determinations 1. Please note that VA is not authorized to ship medications or medical/surgical supply items outside of the U.S. or its territories 2. If you’re a veteran who lives overseas, you remain entitled to the benefits and services you earned through your military service. Most VA benefits are payable regardless of your place of residence or nationality 3. If you’re moving outside the U.S., you’ll need to sign up for the Foreign Medical Program. Through this program, VA will pay for certain needed health care services received in foreign countries to treat a service-connected disability or a disability that’s making a service-connected condition worse.
I hope this helps

SGT Joseph Gunderson -
And P.S : ~~ If You Have ANY Issue With Your Local VA Which Can Not Be Settled Locally.: Give These Folks A Call, In DC ~ They'll; Get On The Case Almost Before Your Phone Hits The Cradle And You're Disconnected From Their Line.
~~VA Hotline Customer Service Representative at:
[login to see] .
Washington, D.C.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ They Move Things ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~ MORE INFO AT ~ Benefits.Gov ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~