Any Vets Here That Visit The VA Regular Like?

[Guest Swamprunner]

I dread walking past the lame photos of Obama and Biden when I enter the clinic or the hospital. You know, I used to be proud to look upon the photos of my Commander-In-Chief. Now, I have to avert my eyes. It just ruins my morning. It's sad, I know, but it REALLY bothers me to the point where I am offended by it. Yes, OFFENDED would be the correct word.

Even when Clinton was CinC, I didn't mind, because, after all, well let's just say I was tempted in a similar manner by a young lady once too, but she wasn't wearing a blue dress. In fact, she wasn't wearing....., crap, I'm getting off track. Anyhoo, It REALLY bothers me to walk past those two tools. But the Secretary of Veteran's Affairs is a GREAT guy from what I'm Hearing.

Any other Vets Bothered by this??!!

~swamp

Edited August 17, 2010 by Swamprunner

[Guest Buzz87]

no

[Daniel]

I like the Sec of VA.

[Links2k]

No

[tnhawk]

As a Vietnam vet, I went once, they sent me a bill, I haven't been back.

[Guest jackdm3]

Buzz, I know a little about the other guys, but not you. Where/when did you serve?

[Guest Glock23ForMe]

I wish we had those little icons below our avatar and info... For the LEO/HCP/Military ones...

[ncomarc]

No, I'm bothered that I've been ordered to see a doctor three times since I've been back. All the've done is talk to me and wasted half my day.

[DWARREN123]

Yep the VA charges me while an active duty post medical doesn't. I try to stay away from the VA.

[Guest jackdm3]

My absolute first job was the summer after my Junior year of H.S. as escort in the Memphis V.A. Imagine seeing misery for 5 days a week for 3 months! There were no happy patients there and we were strictly told not to accept orders to and from the HIV ward. That suited me just fine. Lots of jaundiced patients. And those that had constant pics done in the radiology had a certain scent to them. You'd push most patients down the halls without breathing their backdraft. Totally sad that my government worked in this fashion. This was Reagan's last year of '88. I wasn't aware of detesting any president at that age and I'd of been skeptical of any student that had already developed hardcore political beliefs at that point in life. Now THAT would have smelled bad.

[Guest SUNTZU]

Nancy Reagan got my uncle's VA benefits approved personally. Yes, there is a story behind it.

[Guest jackdm3]

I KNEW you were a made guy, somehow!

[Guest SUNTZU]

I KNEW you were a made guy, somehow!

LOL. No. **** the mob. My ancestors worked hard to make it in this country and to learn to speak English.

[Guest jackdm3]

"**** the mob."? You'll be visited shortly. Just stay put.

[Guest SUNTZU]

"**** the mob."? You'll be visited shortly. Just stay put.

I'll be here.

[Guest jackdm3]

If anybody's ready for a throwdown, it's you. If, IF, IF you make certain to wear that snazzy hat!

[Guest mustangdave]

Went once just after I retired...haven't been back. I do however realize there may come a day when I will have to use the VA's services...I just hope that things improve...but knowing the government and how they really treat VETS its doubtful...

[tnhawk]

After the service I saw at the VA Hospital, you'd probably have to die to get into a Veteran's Cemetery.

[Links2k]

I have been to VA twice. They made me feel like I was asking for something that I did not earn. I have good private insurance so I won't be going back.

[Guest Sgt. Joe]

As for the original question, the fact that the man resides in the White House bothers me, seeing his picture at the VA only reminds me of that but does not really bother me anymore than I already am. He does in fact reside in the White House and all of those who have get their pictures hung at the VA.

I used every insurance benefit I had and then a good amount of cash before I caved in and went to the VA for my neck injury. I use the satellite clinic off of Austin Peay rather than the Main downtown Memphis. I am totally humbled on the days that I have to go to the Main, it really messes with my head as I am still upright while so many there are not. I never look forward to going to the main clinic but do have to several times a year for MRI's X-rays and the like.

I did not switch when they opened the clinic in Jackson because 1. Everyone I talked to said it stunk bad, I saw that myself when I took a friend and the fools would not even let me use their restroom with my VA ID in hand! And the other reason was I like the Doc I have had and have no idea what a new one would be like. A very recent change in the rules means because of that decision I no longer get any travel pay to go to the clinic I have been going to all along. Oh well.....the Gobberment needs every penny these days I guess. Forget the fact that when I made the decision that was not the case and now the Jackson clinic is full and I no longer have the option to change.

I can not complain one bit about my actual care from the VA but the bureaucracy of it all indeed is a mess. They have been on a tear lately of trying to cut Vets off from benefits that they have already won, myself included. I spent the last year in appeals with them over benefits I had won only 20 months previous. I did prevail for now but they left themselves open to come back at any time and try it again.

I have tried to use what I have learned about how they work over the past 3 years to help some other Vets deal with them. And I have had some success with doing that which gives me great pleasure. They want to tell everyone NO about everything and count on most to simply give up and go away, sadly most do.

For those who do not simply give up it is a constant battle with them as the "Boards" have all the control over any benefits but do not want to take what the treating Doctors have to say as truth and the treating Doctors have nothing at all to do with what ever benefits one may be entitled to. It truly can be one messed up system and only seems to be getting worse.

They are very overwhelmed with all those that they are trying to serve. But one thing most folks dont realize is that a person can be discharged without ever completing basic training and yet if that person's income is low enough they STILL get care from the VA, this is what uses up most of their resources. Folks....... I have seen with my own eyes people pick up medications at the main Hosp. in Memphis only to sell them 10 feet outside the door to the pharmacy, it is a way of life for many and hurts us all in the long run.

As I said, while the VA is a right we all earn by serving I would have never turned to them for any care had it not been a last resort. And as far as the actual care givers I have no complaints, they do all they can to treat me with respect and give me the best care that they can. When was the last time anyone had a civilian Doctors appt. that lasted for an hour or more? VA appts with Primary Care Docs are scheduled for 50 minutes each, of course they are only scheduled every few months but one could see their Doc more often if they wanted or needed to.

But NO Bozo's picture hanging on the wall has no effect on me other than to remind me how much I dislike his policies and I believe if left to him alone to decide that he would shut the entire VA system down tomorrow.

[Guest Swamprunner]

Went once just after I retired...haven't been back. I do however realize there may come a day when I will have to use the VA's services...I just hope that things improve...but knowing the government and how they really treat VETS its doubtful...

Dave, things are waaaaay different nowdays. I'm service connected, and I used to avoid getting treatment because they USED to treat me like something stuck to their shoe. Since I have been going back, I get "thanks for serving", and great treatment. Just sayin'.....