Help from the VA?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,427
Likes: 2
From: Smack Dab in the Middle of Louisiana
"it is a don't ask, don't tell" system. They are there to provide service to the Veteran, and also to save the government money, it is a two sided sword for the workers at the VA.
With that said, If ever you are dealing with the VA, they always have that pink slip of paper in the letters of decision, fill it out and disagree with there decision. Until you both come to agreement.
We are talking about entitlement by written letter of the law, you gave your health for this country, it is written that the country shall take care of you.
They work on the precipitation of the ratio of odds, if they turn you down, more than likely you will walk away and they will not hear from you again. If you refute their decision, then they likely will reevaluate your claim. Even so make sure it is in your favor, and always make sure you have your documentation to back up your claim.
I say these things as I am a 100% DAV, and have been dealing with the VA since May of 1975.
ps: SodFather is correct in his statement
************************************************** ******************************
"President Lincoln: “With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.”
With the words, “To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan,” President Lincoln affirmed the government’s obligation to care for those injured during the war and to provide for the families of those who perished on the battlefield.
Today, a pair of metal plaques bearing those words flank the entrance to the Washington, D.C. headquarters of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). VA is the federal agency responsible for serving the needs of veterans by providing health care, disability compensation and rehabilitation, education assistance, home loans, burial in a national cemetery, and other benefits and services.
Lincoln’s immortal words became the VA motto in 1959, when the plaques were installed, and can be traced to Sumner G. Whittier, administrator of what was then called the Veterans Administration. A document on VA medical history prepared for the congressional Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and titled, “To care for him who shall have borne the battle,” details how the words became VA’s motto. “He (Whittier) worked no employee longer or harder than himself to make his personal credo the mission of the agency. What was that credo? Simply the words of Abraham Lincoln, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan. To indicate the mission of his agency’s employees, Mr. Whittier had plaques installed on either side of the main entrance.”
President Lincoln’s words have stood the test of time, and stand today as a solemn reminder of VA’s commitment to care for those injured in our nation’s defense and the families of those killed in its service.
With that said, If ever you are dealing with the VA, they always have that pink slip of paper in the letters of decision, fill it out and disagree with there decision. Until you both come to agreement.
We are talking about entitlement by written letter of the law, you gave your health for this country, it is written that the country shall take care of you.
They work on the precipitation of the ratio of odds, if they turn you down, more than likely you will walk away and they will not hear from you again. If you refute their decision, then they likely will reevaluate your claim. Even so make sure it is in your favor, and always make sure you have your documentation to back up your claim.
I say these things as I am a 100% DAV, and have been dealing with the VA since May of 1975.
ps: SodFather is correct in his statement
************************************************** ******************************
"President Lincoln: “With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.”
With the words, “To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan,” President Lincoln affirmed the government’s obligation to care for those injured during the war and to provide for the families of those who perished on the battlefield.
Today, a pair of metal plaques bearing those words flank the entrance to the Washington, D.C. headquarters of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). VA is the federal agency responsible for serving the needs of veterans by providing health care, disability compensation and rehabilitation, education assistance, home loans, burial in a national cemetery, and other benefits and services.
Lincoln’s immortal words became the VA motto in 1959, when the plaques were installed, and can be traced to Sumner G. Whittier, administrator of what was then called the Veterans Administration. A document on VA medical history prepared for the congressional Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and titled, “To care for him who shall have borne the battle,” details how the words became VA’s motto. “He (Whittier) worked no employee longer or harder than himself to make his personal credo the mission of the agency. What was that credo? Simply the words of Abraham Lincoln, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan. To indicate the mission of his agency’s employees, Mr. Whittier had plaques installed on either side of the main entrance.”
President Lincoln’s words have stood the test of time, and stand today as a solemn reminder of VA’s commitment to care for those injured in our nation’s defense and the families of those killed in its service.
Last edited by SteveO-ll; Sep 26, 2012 at 12:29 PM.
Thank you for your service and good luck with the VA. Wish I had some tips to offer you.
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MODERATOR
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,108
Likes: 1,964
From: New England
My father-in-law, a decorated vet (Bronze Star, Silver Star, Distinguished Fly Cross) including three tours in Vietnam with 23 years of active duty service died suddenly leaving his widow with little support except for the VA-promised benefits.
We spent over two years jumping through the VA's hoops...2, 3, and sometimes 4 times trying to obtain the benefits due her. The benefits were finally "approved", a special checking account was set up, and all the paperwork completed. But we could never get anyone at the VA to "release" the funds. Even weekly calls to the VA resulted in nothing.
In the mean time, my wife and I depleted our checking, savings, and retirement funds to support her. The first 18 months cost us $2000 a month to have a nurse stay with her while we were at work. The last six months of her life was spent in a nursing home at the rate of $6000 a month. Yes, I still have all the bills and cancelled checks if you'd like to see them.
My mother-in-law died three months ago. Within in 10 days of her death, we got a letter from the VA stating they weren't going to pay us a dime because she was dead and no longer needed the funding. The retroactive monies promised us were being denied as well.
Frankly, we would have been ahead of the game if we had not applied to the VA at all due to all the time, medical, and legal fees we incurred.
IMHO, in this case, the VA was simply waiting for her to die so the could deny benefits. Well, it worked...she's dead and they didn't help when promised to do so.
Explain to me how you think some guy is sitting in a corner office somewhere in Kansas City waiting for your Mother in Law to die so they can deny benefits?
The VA has it's flaws, we all know that.
Being proactive is a must with the VA. We all know their care is not standardized across the US.
I have had 180 degree different treatment out here in CA than when I lived back east.
With your story, as with anyone's, there are two sides to it. Sometimes you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar.
The VA has it's flaws, we all know that.
Being proactive is a must with the VA. We all know their care is not standardized across the US.
I have had 180 degree different treatment out here in CA than when I lived back east.
With your story, as with anyone's, there are two sides to it. Sometimes you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 4,806
Likes: 12
From: In a house down by the river
100% through DAV, three years of denial before I finally prevailed. Pine Trees' story is just one of thousands and a blight on the purpose of the VA, which is to serve those who have served. I don't know, and have never heard of any issues like the OPs', as relates to Motorcycles, but I think, nothing ventured nothing gained. Do not. under any cicumstances accept a no, always appeal, always. Along with the others here I thank tou for your service and sacrifice and offer a hardy welcome home sir. Never forget, never surrender, Dennis, USRA 1967-1970.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 915
Likes: 29
From: SE FL & Black Hills SD
Thanks for your service brother..
While I can't really contribute here, and I'm sorry to hear some of the negative things.
But I am going to say at least I have been treated well by the VA.. (USMC 69-71)
An education I wouldn't have.
Several mortgages
And I signed up for medical stuff in 2000... They have been great so far. I currently report to the West Palm VA Hospital for whatever I need and they have been nothing short of GREAT. That place is wired right, almost like this can't be a government instition! ... I don't know if it's true (but I believe it), that facility services 100,000 veterans a day!
While I can't really contribute here, and I'm sorry to hear some of the negative things.
But I am going to say at least I have been treated well by the VA.. (USMC 69-71)
An education I wouldn't have.
Several mortgages
And I signed up for medical stuff in 2000... They have been great so far. I currently report to the West Palm VA Hospital for whatever I need and they have been nothing short of GREAT. That place is wired right, almost like this can't be a government instition! ... I don't know if it's true (but I believe it), that facility services 100,000 veterans a day!
MODERATOR
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,108
Likes: 1,964
From: New England
So what's the basis of my assertion the VA just stalled?
(1) see statement in first paragraph for two of them
(2) even our US Congressman could not figure out the reason for the delay but did uncover the missing file in an Indiana VA office.
(3) we know the VA did a medical evaluation of her condition and determined her "remaining years" - shortly thereafter, her file was sent to Indiana (it sat there for 4 months before they "found" it)
We made sure all t's were crossed and i's were dotted on our part. The VA had no other requirements for us to meet. The VA simply would not release the funds.
Now I'm not very educated but it was simply for me to figure what they were trying to do...just wait long enough and she'll die and no benefits would actually be paid. They were right!
No disrespect but as you have probably gathered by now, the VA is a VERY sore spot with me.
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