How frustrating is it to you veterans to be told you do not exist or you are not in the system? As the mom of a veteran, it went through me like a knife to be questioned as to whether he had ever served even as I held his DD214 in my hand. He has been denied his medical benefits and now is being dropped at school because his GI Bill hasnt been sent out.

I am so proud of our men and women in uniform. I am so proud of our vets. I am so ashamed of our VA system. They sure didnt hesitate to mail out those bonus checks to THEMSELVES.

I'm sorry to hear that.

Thank you. It literally took going to the media and the Pentagon before he was recognized as a veteran. Now I'm having to go through it all again because of his GI Bill. Thankfully, our Congressman has also stepped in on his behalf.

Another example of the total disregard for our Vets. The whole VA is in need of a complete house cleaning.

Replace the dead wood with Vets!

There are Moderators who would take offense to some of these statement about the VA. I had difficulties in the past, but there are those who haven't and really support them to the hilt. Contact Dave Barker and note your problems. In all seriousness, he probably can give you good advice.

I guess I misunderstood. I thought this was where we could speak honestly about a serious situation, the veterans. When I became part of the PTSD thread during the time we were going through the medical for my son's TBI, I heard a lot of disparaging things about the VA. If this is run by the VA then I did misunderstand but I do not apologize.

No this is not run by the VA, and your welcome to voice your opinions. Dont expect everyone to agree with them, and we don't apologize either.

Shockey

Thank you, Shockey. I respect every one's opinion, even when it differs from mine.

Lunch is on me today. I'm buying!

quote:

Originally posted by scpd3045:
Lunch is on me today. I'm buying!

At the VA Cafeteria right?

Justmom........ remember this, the military is a huge machine and SNAFU's will happen. If you are like me then you too are a magnet for the "if it is going to happen, it is going to happen to me" gang.
Good luck and just remember there is mega tons of paperwork being shuffled around and some is going to get lost, misplaced or rerouted but it does all work out in the end, just not in the timely manner inwhich we wish it to.

The VA is not perfect and at times it is hard when you are first discharged. The VA has OIF/OEF coordinators to help with these problems at the major medical centers. The Veterans organizations like the DAV, AMVETS, VFW, The Legion and other exist to help veterans navigate the system. All VA Medical Centers have people to help, both employees and Service Officers.

I have had good and bad experiences with the VA in my 32 years in the system. The good one tend to be because a VA employee choose to make it good. The bad ones because someone was just doing their job. Our VAMC has a lot of Veterans on the Staff and a lot of family members of Veterans. They can only help within the context of the laws and regulations, and like all people tend to stop helping when people are confrontational with them.

We are here to help. You just have to realize that most of us have worked through the system, and are content (not saying happy) with the results and the health care from the VA.

quote:

Originally posted by scpd3045:
Lunch is on me today. I'm buying!

quote:

At the VA Cafeteria right?

I'll have the mystery meat.

The two I have eaten at - Cincinnati and Richmond had good fried Chicken. Cincinnati also has pizza. Just never when I am eating there.

If any Veteran has not been paid their Education Benefits for this semester, they need to be directed here: http://www.gibill.va.gov/advpayqa.htm

This is an advance of the payments of their benefits because VA knows alot of our veterans are having trouble paying their rent/buying food/feeding their families and paying their tuition because of the hugh backlog at VA Education Services in processing education benefits claims.

Thanks to everyone. He's been out nearly four years. When the school started complaining about where his money is, he applied for the emergeny stipend and is once again (not in the system). That seems to be all we have heard for nearly four years with getting registered, dealing with his TBI and now school. I wish they would SNAFU their bonus checks but apparently those are OVERPAID from what the investigation is showing.

Well my husband has been working (fighting) with the VA for 2 years now. He is a Retired Vietnam Marine with disabilities. He is trying to get VA disa. benefits, (not health insurance, we have TriCare), a fricken hearing aid with no luck. He knows 2 other Marines who have 50% disa. with the VA and they have NEVER NEVER SEEN WAR!!!!!! He is on SS Disa and draws a retirement check from DFAS. 23 Years in the Marines. So tell me, what is wrong with the VA today??????

TriCare did do something that is great.....

http://forums.military.com/eve...632001#7060010632001

Exactly, Marine Wife, I am with you. I don't want to judge others but it ticks me off that my son lives with combat injuries and can't get the education money he deserves because of "backlog" and "not in the system" yet again. He isn't alone either and I understand that.
Thank your husband for his service and you as well, I was an Air Force wife before I was an Army mom.

Monica, thank your son for me and my husband. And thank your husband too. I am an AF brat as well, dad did 26 years. I have no children.

If it wasn't for TriCare, Dennis would not have his new hearing aids. All I can say is keep working (fighting) with the Va. I just can't believe how long it is taking for them to get Dennis his hearing aid, but now, we don't care anymore. The Disa. part, well, we have enough exemptions on our IRS and plus the SS Disa. is non taxable up to a certain amount. So it is not like he is trying to get more money, he will get the same amount, just no tax for the rest of his life, and he deserves every penny.

Hi, Marine Wife, we were just told his GI money got mailed out yesterday...after our Congressman got involved.
Did you send me a friend request? I accepted (won't use the name in case).
My husband is now the ex husband and as been for close to ten years. But he still served his country.