This is definitely progress. Three years ago while in Galveston, TX for 2 days before I embarked on a cruise, I went to the small VA Out-patient Clinic because I had re-injured my knee getting off of the plane. I was denied care because they were unable to find me in the system due to the fact that I was not enrolled at the VA in Houston. I had been living in Mexico for two years prior to that time and had not lived in the US in 13 years. In addition, I had been awarded serice-connected disability upon receiving a medical discharge from the Navy in 1987 and had been receiving compensation at the 100% rate since 1989. To say they were unable to find me in the system because I wasn't registered at the VA in Houston is totally ludicrous. I ended up having to go to a private acute care clinic at a cost of $80 for an exam, which I had to pay for out of my pocket. Does anyone know how to forward this information to GEN Shinseki?
I'm all for the e-record. This would have saved me the difficulties of obtaining DOD military medical records which turned out to be 4 full jackets and having to pay for the records duplication and forwarding same to the VA for three disability compensation application reviews. In the early 1980s my record was not thicker than 20 sheets. From 1983 on, it multipled quicker than rabbits.
