OT and Long - A heads-Up For Vets - OT

[randroid]

Gents,

I had an experience today I think some of you will find refreshing and even more of you will find astonishing; For the first time in 49 years of dealing with the Veteran’s Administration, today I had a pleasant experience with them. A little background first.

Last July I began having sharp pains in my shins while walking, which I attributed to severe dehydration because that’s what it felt like, but after a month of pounding Gatorade and bananas, etc., my shins kept hurting when I walked and my feet began going numb. Okay, time to see a doctor, something I despise doing. Turns out the arteries in the top of my legs were clogged to the point that medicines would no longer help and if I didn’t have surgery I’d be down with a stroke or heart attack within four months, but I have no monetary access to that sort of surgery. The doctor told me to try the VA, then opened the door for me and wished my luck.

I hate the VA and have never met another ‘Nam-era vet who didn’t, but I decided to give it a try because dealing with them would be more positive than death, if only slightly.

My Dad, a career Night-Fighter pilot for the USMC, went MIA in 1960, and the VA’s first reaction was to suspend any benefits (like a paycheck) for his widow and his three sons, then they invalidated half of his military life insurance. After I got out of the Navy I spent five-and-a-half years in college, and at the end of every term or semester I’d get a bill from the VA demanding that I repay them the money they’d sent me for school because I hadn’t gone to school. It took a letter from the Dean of the school each time verifying that I, indeed, was a student in good standing, and after I won my MBA they froze my diploma and school records until I repaid them. Screw them, I went prospecting instead, but that’s another story. I’ve tried dealing with them several times since and have found them to be the same officious, self-serving horse’s patooties they always been.

Today Lynn and I drove to Cheyenne and hand-delivered my application for assistance, also carrying with me a notepad on which I was going to write the name of every VA employee and what they said when they denied any help (so I’d have something to give to my Congressman) and what caught me off-guard is that I never had to write a word.

Upon submitting my papers they immediately set me up with several doctors and technicians who did tests and asked questions and drew blood, then gave me some prescriptions to tide me through until they could get me in touch with their cardio-vascular specialist in Denver, probably a couple weeks at most, then their physician in FT. Collins (only ten miles away) will take over and start calling the shots. They also said not to worry about a stroke or heart attack because amputation was much more likely and they could fix my arteries long before that was necessary.

When all was said and done I asked a doctor what had happened to the old VA, and he said they didn’t exist anymore. Besides, he offered, I’d served my Country in combat and it was their turn to serve me.

Had this not happened to me I doubt I would believe it was possible for such a transformation to take place, but perhaps two new wars have drawn too much attention to their ineptitude and they were finally forced to change.

Any Vets out there who have avoided the VA because of past experiences might want to take another look at them. They’re finally interested in the vets they were created to help in the first place.

Just a pleasant heads-up.

-Randy

[Dennis Hemingway]

Randy, I've had good experiences with the VA Hospital in Loma Linda, right now I'm waiting for a surgery date to do a rotor router job on the arteries in my neck.

They said that it will be after the first of the year for my surgery.

Dennis:cool:

[Guest P15-D24]

My dad is a WWII and Korea vet (You get drafted twice when you are a nurse) doesn't have much good to say about the VA either. Hopefully this will be an ongoing and permanent change in the right direction.

[Niel Hoback]

Two years ago I spent a week at the VA hospital in Nashville Tenn. I have nothing but good to say about them. The people could not have been nicer or more helpful.

I am not a veteran, so they had no reason to try to keep me happy. I was just there to donate "T" cells to my brother, who is a veteran with leukemia.

[Norm's Coupe]

Glad to hear you had success getting your benefits from the VA. I checked into getting VA health benefits last year to save money on health insurance costs. Was told unless it was an emergency I could not get them without paying a monthly insurance fee, which was about the same as I'm paying for private coverage. Also, if they got too many military retirees and/or disabled vets they would cancel my coverage. Says about the same thing on their website. In your case it was a medical emergency because you said, and proved you could not afford the needed surgery. As for Dennis, he's retired military, so that qualifies him.

So........even though I also served during the Vietnam era, unless I want to pay for their insurance program, I'm out in the cold and so are most of us.

It's funny you made this post tonight. Was just talking with my barber this afternoon while getting a haircut about the same thing. He mentioned he was going to check into the VA medical benefits. He's retired (over 65) but still working. Told him what they told me and mentioned their web site. So....he also said screw that if they can cancel your coverage at anytime with just a short notice.

I didn't just look at their website to get the info at the time. I also called and talked to several different people on the phone.

[Don Coatney]

I was recently in touch with an old High School friend who I have not seen in 45 years. He did not know I was a Vietnam Vet nor did I know he was. He told me that as a precautionary measure he has applied for agent orange benefits for himself and his two daughters. He recommended that I (and all Vietnam Vets) do the same. I have not yet done so but this posting somewhat spurred me to proceed. Here is a link.

http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/benefits/herbicide/AOno3.htm

[Dennis Hemingway]

As for Dennis' date=' he's retired military, so that qualifies him.[/quote']

Norm, I am a Viet Nam Vet. I'm a retired goverment worker not retired military.

Dennis:D

[Frank Elder]

Don't you have to be an actual combat vet, or haved served during war to get medical bennies?

I served in the peace time navy and don't qualify for any benefits from the VA hospital. That is fine with me because I was never injured while I served, if I was I would be Receiving a monthly stipend from the navy. I am sure that then benefits would be there.

Fly Navy!

[Norm's Coupe]

Don't you have to be an actual combat vet, or haved served during war to get medical bennies?

I served in the peace time navy and don't qualify for any benefits from the VA hospital. That is fine with me because I was never injured while I served, if I was I would be Receiving a monthly stipend from the navy. I am sure that then benefits would be there.

Fly Navy!

Frankie,

You did not have to serve in actual combat during a war. Anyone in any branch of the military during any war (regardless if in a combat zone) is considered a veteran of that war, and qualifies for all the same benefits of those in combat. If I remember right for Vietnam veterans it's anyone who served from about 1963 to the end of the war that is considered a Vietnam war veteran. They all also automatically received the National Defense Service Ribbon for serving during that period. As mentioned, that includes benefits from the VA. However, the priority for those benefits go like this. First, combat/and or military related injuries. Second, retired military and civilian employees (with 20 or more years service). Third to veteran's of foreign wars (including those not in actual combat). Fourth, all other vets of peacetime service (less than 20 years).

Retired military and civilian employees (20 years service or more) can also go to any local base doctor or hospital for benefits, or to any VA hospital. They even get PX and commissary privileges. If they live too far away from a base or hospital for service, they can go to a private doctor and the government picks up the tab.