ks1k

Special K

I just stumbled on this thread. I do not frequent this forum often (enough). I agree with the poster that suggested Pain Management. There are so many things that can be done to manage pain. You may have to try a number of them before finding one that will work for you. What works for one person does not necessarily work for others. I have been service connected for low back pain for 20 years or so. I tried many different prescribed and non prescribed methods. The opiates and other pain killers scare the crap our of me. I got hooked on opiates while on active duty. Never again. The thing that has worked best for me is acupuncture. I have had the same VA acupuncturist in Connecticut for many years now and dread the thought of the day when he retires. I now live in Central Florida in the winter and the VA has no acupuncturists that I know of. I have had to deal with Fee Basis to get the necessary and proven treatment. The Fee Basis people are very difficult to deal with and I have had to involve the VAMC Director and my Congress person to get acupuncture treatment approved via fee basis and see a local acupuncturist. The Fee Basis problem became a bit easier when the Pain Management department became involved last year. Try everything that you can and hopefully something will work for you.

Regulatory or Procedural Review is a term that the VARO uses to keep us confused. It is used when the claim is farmed out to another RO be worked. Wouldn't it be easier if they just called it what it is?

You are, of course, correct Chuck. I went round and round with the supervisor of the travel section in Gainesville FL over the way they figure mileage. The short of it was that I had an appointment at their Dermatology Clinic on the other side of Gainesville, in a different zip code, and he insisted that I could only be paid to the VAMC. I pointed out to him that their FAQs stated (1) zip code to zip code, (2) Rand McNally, or (3) Mapquest -- whichever was the most advantageous to the veteran. His reply was that "that is not how we do it." End of story as far as he was concerned. That seems to be the way many travel sections work. Just do what is easiest for them. Not thinking or common sense required.

I have found the best way to get an answer is to go to the RO and ask them. I just went to the Hartford (Newington) CT RO last week and they answered my question.

However, when you go to the second appointment the computer tells the travel person that you have already been paid from the first appointment and they process a one-way payment. Is it right? No way. Furthermore the procedure that they printed out for me clearly says that one of the conditions where multiple payments may be appropriate is when "appointments are scheduled at separate facilities." Another case of doing what is easiest for them and not what is best for the veteran.

Actually, that would make sense. However, that is not the way the travel folks do it. Also, the quote I gave where they say that multiple payments are appropriate when appointments are scheduled at separate facilities. I just want them to do what is right. If they choose to pay one way to one appointment and round trip to the other and their directives say otherwise then I want them to do what their directive says. The sensible thing would be what you suggest. The sensible thing is not done. Sigh.

Here we go again. The travel folks have told me that when I have two appointments on the same day at two different VAMCs I get travel pay round trip to one and one way to the other. I have the choice on which I get one-way pay and which I get round-trip pay to. I actually had this happen last year. I was unaware of the policy (cannot find reference to it anywhere) and claimed the travel to the nearest VAMC first and when I put in the claim at the second VAMC I was told about this policy. Last week when I went to an appointment the travel clerk kindly told me that I should only ask for one-way pay as I had another appointment at another VAMC later in the day. I asked her to pay me round trip as the second appointment had been canceled. So, my questions are: (1) where is this policy written? (2) is this consistent at all VAMCs (3) has anyone else experienced this? I have reviewed 38 USC 111, 38 CFR part 70 and the Travel FAQs with no answers. I asked the travel clerk at the Newington VAMC travel section about their policy and asked for a reference. She gave me the following, with no indication of where it was from: " Generally, a Veteran should only be reimbursed for his/her travel to a VA facility for one (round) trip any given day regardless of number to time of medical care appointments (it is incumbent upon the facility to ensure that appointments are arranged in a manner that avoids undue inconvenience); however there may be circumstances where multiple payments are warranted. Should a veteran have an appointment and then is later recalled by VA due to the results of an examination, lab test etc., appointments are scheduled at separate facilities, or emergency services are required then multiple payments are appropriate." The last sentence seems to be in direct conflict with what is in practice. It clearly says that multiple payments are appropriate when appointments are scheduled at separate facilities. Many times when dealing with the folks in the various VA travel sections it appears that they do what is easiest for them and not what is best for the Veteran.

NO

Thanks, it is always good to have a reminder.

I just read in the latest DAV magazine, on page 20 that: "The Department of Veterans Affairs wants to make Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA) video hearings more common and move away from offering veterans the option of face-to-face field or central office hearings. Legislation to make the video BVA hearings mandatory has been introduced in Congress but has been opposed by the DAV." If the VA wants to force veterans to have video hearings, then they should have video conferences. They don't even need Legislation to do that. I think that the VA talk about belt tightening and budget constraints are just talk and window dressing.

Berta, I have watched your trials and tribulations with the VA for years now. I wish you the best. Your determination make me continue with my battles with the VA bureaucrats. Best wishes. Dave sends

y'all might want to add this VHA Directive to your extensive index: http://www1.va.gov/v...asp?pub_ID=1728 Title is "HEALTH BENEFIT APPEALS PROCESSING"

This is what you are referring to? http://www.lovell.fhcc.va.gov/features/ToVeteransICARE.asp

Well, I do not take an opiates or controlled substances. Therefore I will politely refuse to sign anything like this.