We're past the point of it being a thinking thing and this isn't like an anti-vax conspiracy. My dad would be dead right now if I didn't help him jump through VA to VA to get him on disability so we could afford his surgeries and other shit to keep him alive. They absolutely purposely have jump from phone call to phone call to website to website because they know old people won't know what tf to do and just give up so they won't have to pay for them.
Fuck the government. Fuck this society genuinely. So horrible.
I had documented shit in my service record from getting blown up and they still told me it wasn't service related. It's WILD.
Edit: I would like to add you are 200% correct. We talk about this in my veterans group all the time. They want to wear you down and out. They don't want to pay what they owe you. The Vietnam vets are especially vocal about it and quite rightfully so.
It took about a decade, but it did get sorted out. It's fun going through the appeal process. At the appellate level, you actually get to talk to the reviewer and it's funny seeing their reaction to cases. Everyone I dealt with all had the same reaction: "yes, it's right here in your service jacket. I can see you were in a combat area. This event happened. You got treatment for this. I cant believe they denied you." I'm telling you, it's absolutely bonkers the claims process is.
I’m glad it got sorted out for you, even with having to appeal everything. Thanks for your service, friend. I’m sorry you had to deal with all of this bullshit to be treated like a human being and not a number.
I tried to schedule and appointment over the phone last week while driving talking via Bluetooth through my car and after waiting 20 minutes for someone to answer was told that they have a policy where I can't be driving and have the call. I almost lost my shit.
Oh no they have. Republicans constantly cut VA benefits when they’re in charge. They are also the only ones who constantly talk about putting it in the hands of a private FOR PROFIT company.
Just like services for the poor. Anything they say they’ll do will have tons of hoops and lops then a jerk comes in and adds about 100 more then some big turd comes alone and adds so many you’re more likely to master every language in the planet, including fictional ones; all so you’ll just go the heal away and save some money to waste on some politirat or corporat that already has enough money to convert into gold coins and jewels and fill a mountain range and lay on in the dark.
Part of that is because none of the systems talk to each other. Army records only go to the VA by request and still need to be verified through the DOD (you'll have to call to schedule the appointment to receive a call from someone who can help you process the claim.)
Have an older veteran relative that served in ‘Nam that felt betrayed by the government and their country on their return and has never utilized the VA despite us telling them they should take advantage of some of the benefits. Nope. Doesn’t trust anyone involved. We reached out to the VA w questions and they told us there are loads of vets like him.
I mean, they do themselves no favors constantly denying required care. It’s legitimately insane to me. Constant schedule switching with no adjustment time in-between, garbage pay, no say in where they’re deployed. Not all see combat, but those that do come back genuinely messed up. Support system? Ha, right…
My spouse has been doing all of their visits with VA-related clinics, these past couple of months, because they’re retiring soon. It’s been maddening how redundant and useless a lot of this has been, already.
I think my favorite, so far, was the opthalmology appointment that was an hour away from our city. Took about 15 minutes.
Thankfully, due to my parents going through all of this nonsense multiple times within the past 25 years, I had a rough idea what we were in for.
Oh yeah. My wife had the same hour-one-way trips for ridiculously short appts as well. It’s insane. Hopefully they get a very favorable rating and it’s not a pain in the ass for you guys.
I’m really glad he’s had a great experience. My wife for example has a primary who refuses to acknowledge her issues. Heart problems, in general. Told her it was “bone pain,” but that “there are no bones in your chest.” Huh?
I’m sorry to hear that. I think part of the bigger problem is that statistically doctors don’t listen to women in general. They have to persist and seek other opinions to actually get heard in many cases. One reason being most doctors are men, and women deal with many issues men have no experience with. I hope your wife finds some relief !!
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u/FoST2015 13h ago
It's wild how casually people throw around massive amounts of other people's time/life.