lpnmajor Loc: Arkansas

For all the talk about "fixing" the VA, not much has changed, and as usual - throwing more money at a problem didn't work. It is true that, in some States, the VA seems to work quite well, where in others it's abysmal. Here in AR.............it's beyond abysmal. I keep getting reports of another Veteran dying while waiting on the VA. The VA has closed all satellite clinics and stopped paying civilian clinics. The stated reason? Not enough money. Apparently increasing the VA's budget has had the opposite effect here.

I filed a VA claim in 2010, was told I'd hear back within 30 days, I finally received a reply..............in 2017, which stated it was denied................because the claim was not filed in a timely manner. I rarely lose my cool anymore, but I most definitely lost it when that e-mail arrived. How is such incompetence allowed to exist? Whenever there's a question, the same standard answer is dusted off - budgetary woes.

This is not about money, this is about supreme indifference and bureaucratic shenanigans. How long would the USA maintain the finest Military forces in the world, if it's active duty personnel were treated in the same careless manner as it's discharged Veterans? To be sure, the active military is capable of it's own foolishness, but not nearly on the same scale as the VA, which persists after many Congressional hearings, increased budgets and more Secretaries than I can count. This speaks to an institutional problem, a problem that cannot be "fixed".

Perhaps it's time to disconnect the VA from the civilian side of Government and have it administered by the Joint Chiefs. There'd be no more civil service unions/rules to contend with, and shenanigans would result in a court martial, rather than a resignation. The VA could still hire civilians.................as long as they were Veterans. After 17 years of war, the potential pool of eligible applicants is numbered in the millions. Veterans helping Veterans has always been the most consistently viable avenue for Veterans to receive timely and competent help, so it's time to endorse what we've known all along.............stop doing what doesn't work and start doing what does.

Squiddiddler Loc: Phoenix

i'm with you.

Mike Easterday

Here in Arizona, a few people try hard but thanks to good old CumStain McCain, nothing has changed or has gotten worse.

Squiddiddler Loc: Phoenix

This is Phoenix, when I asked for help filling out forms for hearing loss this is the answer I got...

Automatic reply: [EXTERNAL] Re: FW: Emailing Veterans
INBOX/Saved Mail
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Tiberg, Dale, VSOPHNX
Apr 11 (6 days ago)

to me
I am currently out of the office until April 25th, 2018 for our Annual Training Conference in Florida. I'll be responding to emails as soon as I can, thanks have a great day!

Mike Easterday

About what you expect. Sorry to hear about your mistreatment!

Red Onion Rip Loc: Oklahoma

Here in Oklahoma we have two volunteers veteran organizations that have VA trained people working two days per week assisting veterans to fill out their claim forms. One is called Veteran's Corner (open Mon-Thur) and the other is Dale Graham's Veteran's Foundation. I go to Dale Graham and he has gotten me 60% so far. They usually have anywhere between 100 and 130 every Tuesday and Thursday. They even have people coming in from out of state for help. All of the volunteers are veterans and have disabilities from 10% to 100%, but most are getting 100%. Dale Graham is set up in Norman, Oklahoma and Veteran's Corner is South of Norman, Oklahoma in a building they own. Dale is currently leasing space in a strip mall on the north side of Norman. They both have transport vans to transport veterans who need it to the VA hospital in Oklahoma City.

Here are the two websites:

www.dalekgrahamveteransfoundation.org

www.veteranscorner.net