VA medical

[Hhardrockminer]

Hey my Friends,

I'm wondering about the care given at our VA hospitals and clinics?

Just wondering, if anybody has or had any med work done and views on their care.

I just was speaking with a rep and he told me of a KW vet who had worked last yr. to pay for his health ins. and now planned to use VA but was told he wasn't eligible as he made to much money last year?? sounded really FU but I figured some of you smarter people than me know more about this stuff than I.

Any help or info would be greatly appreciated.

RIDE SAFE and RIDE FREE!! SALTE to all who do and did wear a uniform, GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

Thanks again, Ken

[Keystone]

Hey my Friends,

I'm wondering about the care given at our VA hospitals and clinics?

Just wondering, if anybody has or had any med work done and views on their care.

I'm a 100% Service Connected Veteran. Use the VA for all of my medical needs. I receive the best care there is. They have done some high tech joint replacements on me to include a bilateral TMJ replacement. I have nothing but good things to say about the VA.

[Hhardrockminer]

Hey Keystone, Thanks for the info.

I grew up in Mpls. and get back now and then but not much to go back for any more but still LOVE the beauty there.

RIDE SAFE and RIDE FREE!!

Ken

[Ezjerry]

I started using VA about 20 years ago and at that they did have a income amount. But I have not heard of a income amount in years.

The VA has treated me like I was some sort of God, in another words out standing. I have had no complaints ever.

[Triglide1950]

I am also a service connected veteran 80%, and have utilized the Mpls, VAMC since 98. I've had nothing but great care there. I also was a County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO). A service member not service connected for an injury or illness that occurred while on active duty will have to do what's called a means test for application to the VA. Your are correct that to high of an income will prevent them from enrollment. I recommend that the individual you refered to should see a CVSO or a veterans advocate regarding enrollment. He/she may have a disability like hearing loss due to weapons exposure whereby they can file a claim with the VA and become service connected and then enrolled in the VA. Hope this helps. SGM Retired.

[FuzzyWuzHe]

As a disabled vet (no not mental), I've used the VA for 20+ years. Great care, I sometimes get frustrated with the red tape, but, patience gets me through that, sort of, who am I kidding, I'm not real patient.

[Peter A.]

I do not have any service connected health issues (thank goodness), but when I went

to them (years ago) I was told the same thing......retired Federal Employee, you make

to much $. Thank you for your service.

P.S. I DID collect on the GI Bill for education.

[Downtown Cowtown]

I go a doc from Nigeria, hes a witch doctor, not a real one, so is his nurse. All they can say is no, no your back is the back of a twenty year old, that's from a middle east doc, funny, treatment from physical therapy nurse spotted my bad 3 disc in like 20 seconds, not a white man on the horizon, and English sure aint anyone's first language, all foreigners,

it aint racism its reality where im at.

Wanna go to pain management, no, its a waste, do you no good, same for podiatrist, no cure, you don't need to go for nephropathy in your feet. Hey doc ill go to the civie doc for my back, surgery or the shot, all they want is your money he say, you don't need surgery or shot, you OK, yeah cant get outta bed hardly, but im jus fine. Take it all with a grain of salt, feel like im in a foreign country going to the VA, only Americans are the victims, im mean the patients.

they did me some good, but not much, more work on me this month, if i survive i let ya know how happy i am about it. Those of you that love them are to be envied, hell i take my kid with me to interpret what the witch doctor says, 4k in VA hearing aids an i still cant understand him. Id go else wheres but medical stuff is all about the same, miserable, i was in the medics for over three years, VA looks like a Chinese fire drill and i tell them that, an they jus shrug.

Have a nice nite.

[Hhardrockminer]

Hey my Friends,

Thanks for the responses and I do have appt. set up so time will tell.

A friend was told after wanting to file for Agent O related issues it would take about 3 yrs. before he's hear anything. Stage 4 won't wait that long for him to hear back.

RIDE SAFE and RIDE FREE!!

Ken

[Peter A.]

Now that is really the pits - just how far back was Agent Orange used.......it's been YEARS

and they can't expedite a case like this! SAD, VERY SAD!

Our military deserves FAR BETTER!

[desertclassic]

Hey my Friends,

Thanks for the responses and I do have appt. set up so time will tell.

A friend was told after wanting to file for Agent O related issues it would take about 3 yrs. before he's hear anything. Stage 4 won't wait that long for him to hear back.

RIDE SAFE and RIDE FREE!!

Ken

I sure hope this doesn’t happen. If your friend has medical evidence, he needs to present it at the time he files the claim. I would never advise someone to file a claim without having representation. There are a lot of organizations that will be a rep without compensation. The thing that takes time is producing the evidence from the person that is filing, have as much info as possible when the claim is filed. I am a 100% agent orange heart guy. Jim

[Pappy49]

I retired in '90 with a 10% disability for my back. I have been using the VA for some things ever since. With Tricare (CHAMPUS in the early days) and now Medicare with Tricare as my secondary it was feasible to use civilian docs rather than make a 70 mile round trip every time I needed to be seen. I use them for my physicals, hearing, glasses and more now. Only complaint I have ever had was my primary care doctor's answer to every question is "quit smoking".

I have been reevaluated twice. Bumped me up to 30% the first time and 40% the last time. I appealed the last one and am now at 60%. Stories of reevaluation taking 90 - 180 days. Both times and the appeal were resolved in about 60 days.

[Teufelhunde]

I retired in '90 with a 10% disability for my back. I have been using the VA for some things ever since. With Tricare (CHAMPUS in the early days) and now Medicare with Tricare as my secondary it was feasible to use civilian docs rather than make a 70 mile round trip every time I needed to be seen. I use them for my physicals, hearing, glasses and more now. Only complaint I have ever had was my primary care doctor's answer to every question is "quit smoking".

I have been reevaluated twice. Bumped me up to 30% the first time and 40% the last time. I appealed the last one and am now at 60%. Stories of reevaluation taking 90 - 180 days. Both times and the appeal were resolved in about 60 days.

Glad to hear you get things taken care of quickly.....and, oh yeah, quit smoking..........

Lon