Thursday, May 30, 2013

Post No.8 -Moving Forward

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

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Post No.7 - He's standin' in the rain, standin' in the rain

Reporting for Roll Call 1605 Hrs - 5-21-13
Hi LT:
Well, our cherry troop is standin' in the rain, standin' in the rain...so to speak, waiting for the next step in the process.
Okay, so he's ready to proceed...how does he initiate the process of filing his claim? Now what does he need to do it?
Need to have some specifics here. I'm asking because I don't know. Since you have first hand experience with the process, enlighten us on how he needs to do that. You mentioned that you had recently helped a young veteran get his claim officially filed, and that it took almost a year to do it. Can you explain why it took so long to do it? The details of what you went through with him should be instructive for our cherry troop, as he prepares his claim.
CENTURION

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Post No 6 - May We Shift to How To Mode?

Reporting for Roll Call 21:20 Hrs - 5-15-13
Hi LT:
If we're going to help anyone to understand how to file a claim for the benefits they've earned and deserve, may we shift to a how to mode?
Yes, we know the VA claim processing system is a mess. No question about it...and both you and I have a collection of annectdotes about specific cases on how screwed up the system is (as do a lot of other veterans too). So...so far we had brought our cherry/troop through to get his VA card, along with his DD214. His next step is....?
He needs to know that if his claim is going to be filed. Let's help him along here.
CENTURION 

ROLL CALL!

ROLL CALL!  It has come to the attention of many Veteran Advocates recently in America that the VA (Veterans Administration) is dealing with over one million backlogged claims.  Also, it has been brought to my attention that the VA is experiencing the "7 Year Burn" beginning this year.  That simply defined means that the Veterans who have returned from service in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars seven years ago are now realizing they are in trouble.  With destroyed marriages, wrecked relationships with family and friends, drowning their pain with booze and drugs, and lost jobs and getting in trouble with the law, they are finally accepting the fact that the Black Snake (PTSD) is coiled within their souls, and they can't sleep at night because they are Dancing with the Devil's Daughter. They want help.  The VA can not handle over a million filed claims right now from the Korean War and Vietnam War Veterans, so how in the world are they going to do so with the millions about ready to enter their doors with the "7 Year Burn"?  I have set up a web site that I list here to help any and all Veterans get their claims filed with the VA.  You have to know how to do this!  It is not a simple process.  And, it is to the advantage of the whole VA system if Veterans get mad, or frustrated at the process, and turn away, go home, and settle for a life curled up with the Black Snake and Dancing with the Devil's Daughter.  PLEASE help me help our fellow Veterans.  Tell any and all about this site.  And spread the word.  Thanx!  LT Bobby Ross

Monday, May 13, 2013

Post No.5 - Moving Forward With Claim Filing

Reporting for Roll Call 14:40Hrs 5-13-13
Hi LT:
Re: Your comments your last post. All of them give good background info, but I think it would be useful at this point to move forward with the Claim Filing process: That is, let's focus on the specific step by step things that need to be done just to get a claim filed. From a cherry/Troop's perspective it's the most immediate thing of concern. So, with DD214 and VA Card in hand, can you tell us what should be the next move?
We're not talking about the big picture here, just about getting the process started.
Re: Geting an Advocate. That's all well and good, and having one should certainly help maneuver through that mine field of VA rules and regulations, etc. But who has a clue about how and where to find one, especially one with the expertise and knowledge to guide you effectively?
Re: On the subject of Disability in general. There are obviously two aspects related to that. The first  concerns -physical- wounds.That's a relatively cut a dried deal because such wounds are self-evident. In the past there was a specific % of disability rating based upon any given body part involved. State of the art in prosthetic technologies these days, while not quite up to the 6Million Dollar Man level, will probably impact on determining the level of disability allowed in the future. The Wounded Warrior program is a good example of that. And we know of a number of these who, because of technological advancess in prosthetics, have been able to remain in active service, rather than just being discharged for medical reasons. Overall, I think that is a good thing. Good for the Service member, and good for the Service. A win-win deal.
But with those invisible wounds, such as PTSD, various head injuries and related traumas,b that's a totally different case. Unfortunately, because the impacts of such "wounds" are invisible( for the most part), and not necessarily immediate, figuring out an appropriate level of disability formula for these, the VA's system has never really managed to effectively do it, so, becaus of that, they stall, they delay, they crochet all sorts of bureaucratic hurdles, while they try to figure it out.
Well, let's leave all these "big picture" matters aside for now, and concentrate on getting that cherry/troop's claim filed into the box that will start his disability claim's journey through the process.With your first hand experience we should be able to "field strip" it down for him so he can see what tits parts are, and how they relate to each other.
CENTURION

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Post #5 Enough questions for the moment! 5/11/13 12:04PM

You're blasting me with questions, Captain.  So, I've started a brand new post to get me back on at least one track, and not two or more.  Of course your Captain bars entitle you to wear two tracks to my one Lieutenant bar, even if it is silver like yours'.  We've come a bit of a ways in just two weeks on this ROLL CALL.  It's taken a bit of 'action' on the part of Dan Da Man and you, The Captain, and me, of course, the LT.  At this point, it think it is important to take an inventory.  We have established in this medium which is not a BLOG or a 'social media' site.  This is a unique site consisting of a dialogue between you, The CENTURION, and me, The Fisherman.  The 'mission' of this escapade is to enlighten, provide and teach those Veterans who for the first time are entering the Veterans Administration for your Veteran benefits.  

There is a 'game' to be played if one is to do this correctly.  Some refer to it as 'playing the system'.  Both of those 'slangs' are a 'bang' on what it really is that one needs to do to be successful with their medical benefits, and all other benefits offered the American Veteran for serving his or her country.  So instead of looking at it like you are going to be standing in a long line to a soup kitchen to get yourself a bowl of lukewarm gruel as a 'handout' from society, I would turn that around that you are 'filling out the paperwork' to be accepted to Stanford University, or Harvard University.  There is no way that standing in a soup kitchen line is requiring you to know how to 'play the game' or 'work the system'.  But getting into the VA's system, or getting accepted to Harvard or Stanford requires a discipline and proficiency of their requirements in order to prevail, or in the case of Harvard, Stanford and the VA, be accepted.

Frankly, I have already established three rules for ROLL CALL.  I am about to inaugurate the Rule #4.  If one of my grandkids wanted to go to Harvard, or Stanford, and it was up to me to advise them on just how to succeed, and be accepted, I would hire an 'advocate'.  In other words, I'd seek out a professional who could guide me through every process the institution is requiring, make sure I knew and understood the process, and be aware of all the 'i's' I need to dot, and all the 't's' I need to cross in order to be considered a 'real' applicant.  

So, Rule #4 here on ROLL CALL is:  Get an advocate.

Now, let's get away from Stanford and Harvard, and get back to the VA.  There are a million rules and regulations steering the VA System.  It is the biggest socialized medical facility in the world.  And, it is an American treasure.  I have been solely involved with it as my only medical service since June, 1966.  BUT, there are problems, too.  And with problems come complacency and 'burn out'.  Millions upon millions of American fighting men and women have been served by the VA since the first two, the Lamb Boys, fell at a little bridge in Concord, Massachusetts.  A shot that was heard around the world.  So, believe me, I'm not 'down' on the VA, and I'm not down on Universities like Stanford and Harvard having strict admission standards.

So, stick with me here and do feel free to read and re-read all of these posts on ROLL CALL.  And, if you have specific questions, do feel free to email me or Bill, and we will address them here.

LT

Friday, May 10, 2013

Post No 4 - Getting VA Card and DD214

Reporting for Roll Call :14:45Hrs 5-9-13
Hi LT:
Re: Your comments my Post No. 3...it sounds like your own personal experience is coloring your view point on this issue. Which is understandable. But I think we need to keep in mind that not all VA facilities are uniformally either positive or negative. Some are...others are not. There just isn't a common standard of quality. It's like chickenpox.
Re: Volunteer Services. The few times I've ever interfaced with them I never encountered any disdain from them. From what you're saying, again, it's the luck of the draw. As to getting that VA Card, when I walked in and asked where to get it, that info desk directed me to something called - Member Services - and gave me clear directions on its location, and how to get to it. Arriving at that office, found myself third in line. The young woman handling the process was very competent. I was in and out of there in something less than 20 minutes. I have since gone there a couple of times to verify the status of my card. Each time, it was the same thing....basically bim bam and thank you ma'm. So, for the VA Card deal, looks like how easy the process is to get it depends a lot on the facility you go to. Some will be great...others won't. Question: What's the alternative you suggest? And what's involved with it?
Re: DD214....Not assuming. Where do you get it? Perhaps a better question might be: Who issues it, and when do you get it?
Re:Okay, after clarifying both of these issues, what's the next step in the process for a cherry/trooper?
TO SUMMARIZE:
a) You may or may not get an encouraging word from a VA info desk manned by volunteers,and, who may or may not know where to direct you to get that VA Card.
b) Don't let that be a "deal breaker"...just smile a lot, play dumb, and keep repeating your question about where to get it. Sooner or later someone who knows about it will take you by your hot little hand...and lead you to where you need to go to get that Card.
CENTURION

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Post No. 3 - Moving Forward With The Process

Reporting for Roll Call :15:45Hrs - 5-8-13
Hi LT:
LTs+Brains= Oxymoron? Hah!
Well, as our Laotian friends used to say. MaiPenLie(it makes no nevermind).
Have gone over your comment Re: Getting Started.  To summarize:
a) Before anything else, get one of those VA cards...but preferrably through the VA's web site, rather than in person at the nearest facility because the reception desk for that is manned by "volunteers", mostly older vets/relics from WWII, Korea, and/or Nam...who are not always ready with a "smiley face" to greet an incoming cherry-troop. As you put it this is one of the "booby traps" the VA installs to block the entrances to its facilities.
Frankly, given the choice of having to armwrestle with the VA web site, or facing down an old war horse in person, I'm more inclined to go for the latter. At least, it's another human...even if he/she might not be the most welcoming. Personal choice, I suppose. In any case, no matter how treated at this receiving point, the thing to do is to follow Rule #1.
b)Okay, Re: DDForm214. isn't that a veteran's discharge paper? He should have gotten that from the Service he was in, and, hopefully, made lots of copies of it, to have at hand, as needed.
 
So, now, our cherry/troop has gotten a VA Card, and has his DDForm214...one way or the other. What happens next? What's the next step for filing his disability claim?
 
Moving on to a sidebar subject : A Veteran's difficulty accessing his own medical file. You commented that it is not uncommon for the VA to be difficult about that. Why should that be? Unless, of course, it relates to a disability claim situation which the VA, for whatever reason, believes the medical info therein, might support such a claim. Hmmm...sounds like this can lead to a very iffy swamp patch full of not so friendly alligators. Let's leave it aside for the moment.
 
Well, so much for today.
Centurion

Monday, May 6, 2013

Follow UP

Reporting for Roll Call 16:05 Hrs 5-6-13
Hi LT:
Came across a news item concerning a couple of USAF veterans who have been unable to obtain their medical files from the VA.
Questions:
1) Is this a common occurrence?
2) Why should a veteran not be able to view his own medical files?
3) What does it take to overcome such a blockage?
As you know, even after all these years, my old Centurion/Troop Commander mindset still remains, so, whenever I come across something like this, I tend to go into a Papa Grizzly mode of...nobody can screw around with my troops...but me!
Centurion

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Post No.2 - About How To Start Filing A Claim

Reporting for Roll Call -21:00 Hrs - 5-5-13:
Hi LT:
Since you have first hand experience with filing a disability claim, I'd like to pick your brains, as they say (LTs have brains?!!!), to see how someone has to maneuver through the minefield of that process. Since I never had to deal with that, it will be helpful to gain a better understanding of what's involved. Here goes:
a) Since we're dealing with a bureaucracy, obviously we have to start with a form of some kind. What is it, and where do you get it?
b) What are some of the tricky aspects when you fill out that form?
c) What supporting documentation do you need to go with it?
d) Having done all that, where, or to whom is that form turned in?
That's about it for starters. If you can give me some specific answers for these questions, that will be helpful. Keep in mind, I haven't a clue about how the process is supposed to work, just doing what amounts to some forensic dissection here, to get a better understanding of it all.
CENTURION

Friday, May 3, 2013

Reporting For Roll Call


Hi LT:
In response to your question about Rule #1:

When I said I got up, left, and never came back...I was referring to that particular VA Center at the time. Had nothing to do with the VA in general. And, since I was neither retired military, nor had a verifiable service-connected disability, didn't see much point in wasting any more of my time and effort with it. Furthermore, at that time, unless you were in one of those categories, you really didn't have much of a claim for any of their services.

As you may recall it wasn't until in the late 80s early 90s sometime, when they finally decided to have all veterans sign up for a VA card. Remember? Which I did...and have used on an annual basis...to get a free flu shot. As for the rest, again, unless you are in one of those two mentioned categories, with that card, you can seek medical attention, even hospitalization, but on a very low priority basis, and if you have private insurance and/or Medicare, who pays for what and how...is still a muddle.

According to the VA here in SF, Congress was supposedly working on a formula to get around the prohibition of one department shifting funds to another department, so that veterans with Medicare, could use it to re-imburse the VA,just like any other provider....that was some 10 years ago...and Congress, of course, has yet to do anything about it. According to the last thing I got:
a) I can go to the VA here, pay a flat "fee" of $50 bucks, and see as many doctors, specialists as can be crammed into that visit as necessary.
b) If I'm admitted to hospital...I'd have a flat fee of $750 bucks, regardles of my length of stay. So, from an out of pocket expense perspective, veterans like me, basically have a $50 "co-pay" deal per visit. Not very attractive. But if we do manage to get taken in for hospitalization...$750 bucks as the max "co-pay" cost...beats the hell out of anything private insurance offers...even Obama Care!

To summarize...for me...the VA is simply a fail-safe deal...should I ever find myself in a situation where I have no other means to cover any medical needs. But since I'm paying for Medicare anyway (..they take it out of my Soc. Sec), see no point in using VA except in minor way as I do now.
And just from a personal perspective...VA facilities are clutttered up enough already with guys who are really hurting and qualify for its attention, that, and at my "age", I sure as hell have no desire to arm wrestle with any kind of bureaucratic crappola in whatever time is left in the joy of my declining years! (of course if Congress ever gets off its ass and fixes things like this Medicare deal...that might be a different story).

By the way, the only way anyone gets a "free" flag is if they die in a VA hospital. Otherwise...zilch. But we're covered. My mother did...and I still have the one they gave for her. Guess we'll use it for me...how's that for a two-fer deal!
Centurion