Reporting for ROLL CALL - 15;56Hrs. 5-29-13
Hi LT:
Well another Memorial Day has passed for us. Good as usual. Of course, it had its not so uplifting moments...like having to listen to some of our career politicos' blather on about how much they have done, and are doing veterans, etc., etc., etc. Like the Church Lady might say...isn't that special!
So, can somebody explain to me why there's a million or more backlog of disability claims at the VA..if these "honorables" have done, and are doing so much for Veterans? Well...it is what it is...but I prefer to move forward from here.
Re: Before returning to our cherry troop, however, let's clear up a difference in perspectives we argued about on the way to lunch on Memorial Day. That is, a lot of older veterans from earlier times have never filed fo "disability". That's not because any of them are shy about doing so, or having some kind of macho attitude about not needing-no-stinking-help-from-no-goddam-VA, etc.It's very simple...they don't have any disability, service connected or otherwise. Just because they served, and just because they were lucky enough to come out of any combat experience with neither physical nor emotional dings, they don't see that as any kind of basis for claiming disability or anything else. They have, and do, apply for whatever other "benefits" their service entitles them to however, but none of these have anything to do with "disability". That's the clarification I wanted to make.
Re: Having a VA card. As I mentioned, when they announced all veterans needed to get one, i did. Went directly to Member Services (my DD214 was in a file folder in an old footlocker, in storage, back in Missouri, at the time), walked in, and within a few minutes sat in front of a sweet young clerk lady.Even without a DD214 in my hand...no problem. Gave her my name, rank and serial nujmbers(enl & comm), dates of services, etc. Within minutes, she had all the verification needed, had me stand up against the backdrop on the wall, facing one of those mugshot-type cameras, a quick flash, and five minutes later I walked out with my VA card in hand, classified as Category C. The category for all those who are not either retirees, or with a service-connected disability of some sort. What this means is...yes we can use the VA for medical services, but on a tail=end charlie priority basis. Fair enough. I use it once a year...for a free flu shot. And the reason I don't use it for more than that is because I have.. MEDICARE.
Now, there are hundreds of thousands of veterans just like me with MEDICARE...which is paid for out of our Social Security "benefit"(taken right off the top from that benefit...a no "opt out" deal, of course). But we can't use it at the VA...because of the Congressional prohibitions against the transfer of funds from one Federal program to another(even though Congress does it every day of the week). The VA can bill any other insurance provider, but not Medicare. Supposedly Congress was going to fix that problem, so veterans could use it with the VA, just like any other medical service provider, but they've been screwing around with that for the past 10 years...and there's still no resolution. in sight. So...since I'm forced to pay for Medicare anyway...no sense leaving that on the table...it takes care of any HMO bills. The co-pay it would cost me at the VA, would simply add to any medical expenses....and those rates are adjusted annually, always upwards, naturally. Yes, the quality of medical care and services would probably be much better at the VA...but until the Medicare issue is resolved...the economics of it just don't work. C'est la vie!
Re: Moving forward...we left our cherry troop out in the rain, with his DD214 in hand, and perhaps he's also gone ahead and gotten his VA card besides. Obviously his next move must be to get connected with a primary care physician of some kind. How does he do that? Does he pick from a directory at that facility...or is the process much like getting a Public Defender (you get whatever is assigned by the Court).?
Well enough for today, give me some specifics in answer to these questions,I'm trying to report on how the step by step process works here which, hopefully, will shed some light on why there's such a claim backlog.
CENTURION
Yes, it is always good to see you and do our annual Memorial Day observance. So, now back to it. Allow me to cut to the chase. All WWII, Korean War and Vietnam War Veterans reading this are probably water under the bridge as far as signing up at 'your' VA for 'your' benefits. Those who have have. Those who have not are probably water under that old bridge. What I'm aiming at here are the new Cherry Troops who have participated in all the 'wars' since we 'lost' Vietnam to the Commies. If by chance there are women reading this, I welcome you. We have lost more gals in the wars after Vietnam than all the other wars combined that our nation has fought. So you female Veterans need to 'adjust your fire' that when I use the 'male' designation, I am also including the 'she' earmarking. And, defining 'Cherry Troop' to mean any of you who does not have a VA card, or has never put in a claim. The first step to this whole process is to get your VA card. Here in California, we have an organization called "CalVet". It is an offshoot of the VA, but it works outside the VA walls. Every State has its own organization like this, all with different names. These guys often times work out to be great advocates. And, the 'drinking clubs' are American Legion, VFW, DAV's etc and they also offer advocate services. Plus, there is me. I'm a top notch Veteran Advocate because I'm a "Lone Wolf" and have no other outfit's sheep in my coral. The fear I have of not having an advocate and doing this first step, getting your VA card, by yourself is that you will run into some JERK that will fill your head with crap and make you quit. Don't quit! That's the first ROLL CALL Rule! Getting a VA card is sometimes and easy matter, other times it can be difficult. Get it! Once you do, then the 2nd Step is to set up an appointment with your primary care doctor. Once again, your advocate can walk you through this. OR, you can call the VA 800 number and listen to all the bull shit recordings telling you to dial 911 if you are on the ledge of a tall building about to jump, or press #1 to speak English, and get to the 'on hold' part to talk to your Advice Nurse. Once you touch base with that 'human' they can set up the appointment with your primary care doctor. So, there it is. I'm going to put this one to a halt and see what comes next out of your insights, Bill. In the meantime, now we have ROLL CALL Step #1 and Step #2, so hopefully Dan Da Man will list those here.
ReplyDelete