Comments on: The VA

By: Byron

Byron — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:51:22 +0000

If you liked that one, you’ll love, “it’s as farked up as a wooden watch”

By: Pinch

Pinch — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:21:43 +0000

Thanks, Larry. I’m trying to make nice, but you are correct.

By: Larry Sheldon

Larry Sheldon — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:26:19 +0000

Correction noted, but I would point out that web weenies are supposed to desing to specs, be managed, and get sign-off on their work before it goes on line.

So the posting was not wrong before the correction.

By: Pinch

Pinch — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:59:08 +0000

Jim,

DAV is Disabled American Veterans.

Pinch

By: Jim Howard

Jim Howard — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:27:32 +0000

What’s the ‘DAV’?

By: Jim Howard

Jim Howard — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:24:50 +0000

Funny you should mention this. When I retired in 1994 I somehow scheduled a retirement physical with a local VA clinic, I think it was done in my outprocessing. They gave me a 10% disability for a knee injury I had on active duty.

Lately my knees have been acting up, so I decided to see if the VA would look at them.

The local VA clinic is mobbed at all times, but after two trips I was able to correctly fill out the right form, and got scheduled for an appointment for lab work yesterday and an appointment with Dr WangdoggleChun next week.

Even though the mob in the lobby is huge, it appears they process people fairly quickly considering. You are made to feel like a faceless number, because of the huge patient load they have.

The people who actually have to talk to the vets are clearly rode hard and put up wet, but they seemed willing to help me figure the system out.

By: 1IDVET

1IDVET — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:33:40 +0000

Pinch!
You poor bastard.
Sorry. I laughed my ass off because of your pain.
But, I feel your pain. Ironic that.
I went through the physical process at the Loma Linda VA Med Ctr, twice, in two years. They lost the paperwork from my first go round.
Make sure you get a copy of everything. They’ll lose that shit for sure.
They still haven’t gotten my claim straight. Took five years after appeal to get an answer to it and they didn’t answer all the issues.
VA sucks. Govt. health care is gonna be worse.

By: J. Carmichael

J. Carmichael — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:32:09 +0000

“was screwed up as a football bat” I am SO stealing that line!!!

The US Gummint has become a money pit! And even more so, the place where intelligence goes to die!

-JC

By: PD

PD — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:14:11 +0000

The gouge: DAV. Here’s the way it worked for me. At my TAP class was a guy from the DAV. He took a copy of my medical record, figured out my disability rating, did the VA paperwork, submitted the paperwork and coordinated with the VA as required on my behalf. They were my advocate and they are good at it. The first correspondence I had with the VA was a letter setting up a physical to verify what the DAV had submitted. As you discovered, the common man doesn’t stand a chance in getting anything done with the VA, pretty sad. I recommend not even trying, just go to the DAV. They are pros and know how to get through the gordian knot that is the VA. Bonus: they do it for free. When it was all over I became a life member. Also, as a Tomcat guy I thoroughly enjoy your sea stories and photos, keep up the excellent work.

By: Pinch

Pinch — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:30:45 +0000

Hope springs eternal, Jake….hope springs eternal.