Chris, at the VAMC where I am located service connected have priority. In my office (AMVETS State Service Office) service connected have priority.
My largest group of complainers are those who served for less than six months. In my data base are several who were less than a month and they lead the pack of complaints. Effective September 8, 1980 the rule was amended, unless the veteran is service connected, the eligibility for VA Healthcare is minimum two years of active duty.
The current regualtion allows an exception for those returning from combat areas. Those returning veterans have two years of VA Helathcare from the date of separation from active duty. However they must complete their tour and separate honorably, not honorable conditions. Several have been released short, due to admin reasons and denied VA Healthcare.

I corrected the date to September 6, 1980, I had in error posted 1986

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DaveBarker,

i understand what you are saying. i wont post too much, i'll sound like a complainer!

quote:

Originally posted by ChrisStarz:
i understand what you are saying. i wont post too much, i'll sound like a complainer!

Chris, I encourage you to post. I was only giving you a fact about so many non service connected, with less than 90 days active duty people, who come in the VA and complain. The reasons are: they must wait to long, the person at the desk doesn't smile, nurse wasn't polite enough, doctor will not prescribe what they want for meds, etcetera.
We are here to assist. If you had 9 days, 9 months, or 9 years it makes no difference to me. I was answering your comment "the only thing i have seen is how many non-service connected people make it through the system, and how they demand, and get treated better than us service connecteds. i could go on, and if i do, with only one hand typing, i can wear out typing with my middle finger!"
That was why I responded. This is the place to complain!

ok, here it is! i was 30% diabetes and hypertension, i was happy with it. last june i had a major stroke, and spent a month in the hospital. then i tranferred to vamc. while in transit, my dad talked to a vso, and they filed for an increase, based on the disabilities causing the stroke. i even got a nice va card that says "service connected" and a pretty picture of me in my hospital bed with serious bed head (can i claim that? during my time there i had really great care given to me. at the first month i thought it was hell and hated it, but once my body was healing and therapy started, i was really glad and enjoyed being there, except for the enema thingy. i was able to connect with a couple patients who were 100%, and they gave great advice. i always treated the nurses good, and always thanked the cooks and volunteers. i always showed up to therapy on time, and never cancelled, even if there was a recreation event going on (bingo).

then we got some new patients in. one was over 500lbs and not va rated. his wife's insurance would not cover him, so they took him. another on was 400lbs, no va rated but runs a good business. both told me that they come here every year and get taken care. all they did was taking up beds, saying how good they have it,and never see them unless its to make moneywe had several others in the position. these fattys were demanding no salads and more cake and ice cream! after awhile dave, this got old quick. to make this short (wake up!)i always appreciated and thanked everyone and everything that they did and gave (brfore xmas)while these tools just demanded things and *****ed about how little.
though i was discharged a month earlier than planned, i was happy with the way i was treated. the vso is still working with me, and if i do get 100% i plan on giving back, even to those greedy bastards!
ok, thank you for letting me rant, it's time for bed, i hope you understand and hope others can relate. have a great day!

sorry for using the b word. i just did not want to make like all the other posts you get.

Rant accepted as a right of freedom!

I was station at Ft. Benn Ga. back in 1986-87, I was in a head on collison while in a training excerize involving two bradley infantry fighting vehicle that had a head on collison with one another at which time I was medic-vac to Martin Army Hospt. For the last year my memory has gone bad, I loss hearing etc.... But for some reason the gov. can't find none of my records, I requested my medical records and they don't show I was never in a accident if anyone have an idea how I can go about getting help please email me. I spent seven yrs. in the military but can't get help, I was doing a demontraion for 20/20 & 60min news before I got injured. email me at clennis@cs.com if anyone can help thanks.

quote:

But for some reason the gov. can't find none of my records

Go to a veterans service officer and ask them to order your complete file from NPRC. If you have ever filed a claim for VA service connected compensation, your service medical records would be with the VA Regional Office of jurisdiction.

Side note: if you were treated and released from a public hospital, or clinic, the records most likely will not be in your service medical records. If you did receive military treatment, you need to review the service medical records for the date of the accident. Sometimes the medical people only listed the treatment not the cause regarding accidents.

You can also find witnesses to your exposure to the asbestos and try to find others exposed as well and have them write buddy statements to get the process started. You can contact the doctors who treated you in the past and have them write statements too. Good luck.

quote:

Originally posted by 5770195:
I have been out of service for eight years. I have tried to locate my medical records from when I in. I have not been able to locate them. I was exposed to asbestos in the building that I worked in for over 2 years and I have been suffering from cancerous tumors growing on my body that is believed to be from the asbestos. I have contacted my veterans rep several times but she is a civilian that has never been in service and runs the veterans affairs office. I really need help because I had several surgeries in service that I have had to have continuation on in the civilian world and have not had any success with locating the records to back my story up. Does this happen frequently?????

I don't know if I have a question, but I do have something to say.
I'm former "WAF" Air Force (72-82). I worked in locations that always had machines going or were on the flightline. In 1975 I complained about hearing loss and tinnitus. I was tested and so was the work area. It was determined that the noise level in the work area was indeed damaging. We were all issued earplugs. I had another medical issue that involved my back. I won't go into that story because it's horrible. Let's just say I was not treated very well.
So here it is many years later. My job was eliminated and my health insurance is gone. So, I thought maybe I'd check out the VA. I spoke with a Vet counselor who was adamant about my filing a claim. I don't share his enthusiasm. He advised me to request my records, which I did. Big surprise: none of that medical history was there.
It would be reassuring to be able to access VA facilities if I need to and maybe get my prescriptions. But the very idea of having to re-create my medical history and setting foot inside a military medical facility for an evaluation gives me the creeps. Fortunately, I'm healthy.
In contrast, my 81-year-old Navy WWII/Korea veteran father uses the VA and reports being treated very well.

quote:

I spoke with a Vet counselor who was adamant about my filing a claim. I don't share his enthusiasm.

One thing for sure, if you don't file, you cannot win a claim. The longer you wait to file hearing loss claims the more difficult it is to prove the loss is due to your service. It does not have to appear on your service medical records, although that helps. There are other ways to show hearing loss due to service. Issue of ear plugs after the exposure, etcetera.
You need to file now. The worst can happen is you will remain in the same status you are already in now.
I filed an original claim, a couple of years ago, for a WWII vet for hearing loss and he was granted 100%.

You'll hear nightmare stories of the VA, you'll hear people singing it's praises.

I'm one somewhere in the middle -- near the praise side. I had a rotten last year on AD due to a neaderthal commander who thought he was God.

But from teh first time I stepped into my VAMC, I was treated with nothing but respect, understanding, and assistance. My first experience was with the Eligibility OFfice, where TWO, not just ONE of it's employees treated me with compassion and concern about first and foremost getting me medical care as soon as possible.

They were truthful with me, and told me that it is possible my claim for service connection would be denied, but that I could in the mean time get humanitarian assistance by the VA. Della, was my contact in that office, and she requested my records, and een noticed the discrepency in my TAFMS dates.. and got the appropriate forms to correct them. She even initiated my initial C&P.

I had no clue at that time about the process, or anything, I just knew I was in desperate need of help and had no where else to turn.

I've run into bone-heads, too, but for the most part, I feel truly fortunate that I have the VA -- otherwise I would have nothing, and be living on the streets, with no medical care.

It's worth the possible denial, to climb this hill... you can't lose, if you don't play -- this is true -- but you also can't win.

FYI
I was just on www.myhealth.va.gov searching for my VA records. They have a new program to get YOUR records on YOUR computer!! You will need to sign up for MyHealtheVet, but it's worth it if your not already.

Click on COMING SOON, go to IN-PERSON AUTHENTICATION and follow the directions. Fill out the VA Form and take it to your "friendly" VA Hospital.

I have mine ready and will go there in the morning. My VSO wants to see my records after I told him there are 5 letters from VA people on my PTSD claim, and one said I had it but its gone bye, bye.

PS: Check out Bo Derek in the Video, guys.

I just came back from the VA hospital, it took 5 minutes and my records are on my computer. ALL OF THEM.

You understand that at this time the only thing that is online is Rx refills. I double checked. No medical records are there yet. They are coming and I have done this. You need to go the Release of Information - no one at my VA new where to do it and I kept asking for months.

Here is the quote from the Portal:

"VA medical facilities currently use a manual process to allow VA patients access to paper copies of their medical records. Completing the In-Person Authentication process is the first step in providing on-line access to copies of key portions of VA medical records. Initially, once IPA has been completed, medication names will be available. In the future, other portions of your VA electronic medical record will become accessible on-line through your MHV account as part of your Personal Health Record. Notices will be posted to our website as each portion of the medical record becomes available on-line."

Dave_M,

Yesterday, I went to the VAMC here with the form filled out. They input my info into their computer and she opened my file, she told me it was available as of now. I asked about specific reports and she checked, they are on there.

According to the MyHealtheVet site this is a new program and you may not have it set up in your area, yet. Fill out the form and bring it in, as soon as the program is available you will have access.

GOOD LUCK

Thanks for the info Bob --I just now enrolled

quote:

Originally posted by Bob058:
Dave_M,

Yesterday, I went to the VAMC here with the form filled out. They input my info into their computer and she opened my file, she told me it was available as of now. I asked about specific reports and she checked, they are on there.

According to the MyHealtheVet site this is a new program and you may not have it set up in your area, yet. Fill out the form and bring it in, as soon as the program is available you will have access.

GOOD LUCK

I filled out the form a few months ago. I will check and see. Thanks.

I looked and only the Rx feature is available in Cincinnati. Are you in Richmond area - I know they have tested new features?

quote:

Originally posted by Bob058:
FYI
I was just on www.myhealth.va.gov searching for my VA records. They have a new program to get YOUR records on YOUR computer!! You will need to sign up for MyHealtheVet, but it's worth it if your not already.

Click on COMING SOON, go to IN-PERSON AUTHENTICATION and follow the directions. Fill out the VA Form and take it to your "friendly" VA Hospital.

I have mine ready and will go there in the morning. My VSO wants to see my records after I told him there are 5 letters from VA people on my PTSD claim, and one said I had it but its gone bye, bye.

PS: Check out Bo Derek in the Video, guys.

I just came back from the VA hospital, it took 5 minutes and my records are on my computer. ALL OF THEM.

Bob058,


FANTASTIC…!!! I just filled out the form and printed it out. Next time I go to Denver I will be giving this form to the right person at records room or transcription services. I can hardly wait… it’s not Christmas is it…? LOL…

ReaperDoc

What do you do when the VA "loses" your C file?

I did that form thing to the local VA a long time ago, but nothing but by meds are available, or I just don't know how to make it work.

quote:

Originally posted by Bob058:
Dave_M,

Yesterday, I went to the VAMC here with the form filled out. They input my info into their computer and she opened my file, she told me it was available as of now. I asked about specific reports and she checked, they are on there.

According to the MyHealtheVet site this is a new program and you may not have it set up in your area, yet. Fill out the form and bring it in, as soon as the program is available you will have access.

GOOD LUCK

Hmm, sounds like you must be working with the Houston TX RO.
I would not get too excited, my RO has "lost" most everything I have sent them, took my senator bugging them to find some of my records!

quote:

Originally posted by princessvaliant:
What do you do when the VA "loses" your C file?