63SIERRA

The next thing they need to go after is VAMC directors and staff responsible for orchestrating and allowing Data manipulation to take place in order to deny patients care. ALso doctors who are caught intentionally abusing veterans by knowingly denying care and treatment to save money and ASSIST in manipulating data should be prosecuted and lose thier license.

Im praying that an employee at this VA comes forward and blows the whistle. After informing this person that I begged for 3 years to get an MRI, I was informed that this person at one time worked " upstairs" and was being forced to engage in data manipulation. This person could not do it, and requested transfer, and was moved. Some good people are being forced to do bad things at the VAMCs. I told this person abt this forum, . Im not going to say any more because I dont want to jeopardize thier job. Those of you who believe in prayer, plz pray that this person has courage to come forward, if it is the right time, and will be effective.

I already knew what my problem was, because an outside doctor told me with just xrays, but the VA denied, denied, denied, and refused an MRI. Finally after bitvh, moan, and complain long enough I got the MRI. Things have gotten worse, and they STILL try to deny. The radiologist wont speak to me, the patient advocate plays stupid, the director of the hospital is ducking me, and I dont thing the chief of staff speaks english. Other than all that, my VA is one fine medical institution

let me ask this.. If you were running a business out of your neighbors garage as a subcontractor. Do you think you would have to yield to his wishes? Even though you know your customer isnt getting a fair deal, if you push too much, you will get evicted. The 38 cfr isnt a lawsuit where offerings are made, and deals are supposed to be made, its all in black and white, very detailed directives. I smell a rat for sure.

Also, you can get a copy of xrays and MRI on a CD, which you can actually view on your home computer,. you have to open a file on the disc called RSVS. it is the one in capital letter. It opens an execution file, and lets you view and enhance the MRI images. then you can print, copy, do whatever you want. You can also burn a disc from the original copy on your home computer . If you want the VA to make a copy, go to release of records, get a request, then go to cashier, pay 7.77 and they will make and give or mail you a copy. If you want to learn to read your MRI, theres you tube videos explaining the basics. I think by the time im done, I will be a half assed doctor and a half assed lawyer but I wont be lied to anymore.

Heres a more detailed description of how the scam works. You go to your primary complaining of increased back pain, and let them know that you have had accidents that have likely aggravated your back injury, ect. Doctor orders xray just as an appeasement, and says everything is A OK. You go pick up your rx of painkillers and go home. months later you go complain again and request further diagnostic tests such as an MRI. You are then informed that you do not meet the criteria for an MRI. Well why dont you meet the criteria, well you dont meet the criteria, because the xray you initially recieved was pencilwhipped into a abomination of facts . . The medical notes will likely say something like "theres a little arthritis" or " theres VERY MILD degeneration of the disk area. Ok now your are stuck in a pickle. You are denied care and further testing, based on the initial lie you were told. You suffer possibly needlessly because there likely are procedures and treatments available, which you are being systematically denied. Now things have come to a boil. The VA is getting a flashlight shined up thier rectum, because of the massive amount of narcotic pain killers they have been prescribing, in lieu of more comprehensive, more appropriate, more effective, more expensive treatment options. So in the end, the veterans are getting cut off the pain meds, AND denied treatment. It is just sickening. its like the old saying...... heads they win , tales we lose.

Great post Buck, if I could add to it, I would like to tell veterans to take a HARD look at your current problem list, the codes associated with your problems and see if the accurately reflect what you have. It seems the VA has a tendency to minimize and downplay the injuries and ilnesses. WHY because if a veteran is just listed with a very generic code such as " back pain" which is more of a symptom than a diagnosed injury or disease, and they really have spinal injury, nerve damage, radiocopathy, ect, it limits the care options for the veteran, and I firmly believe it is tied in with the Compensation side of the VA. If you know that your problem list codes dont match what you have, confront your primary care team, ask them why it dfoesnt match? It can all affect you in ways you would not think. Heres one example. Ok you go file for SS. You go before the judge, and she reads the VA med records and notes. Your primary doctor has your back condition, listed as " back pain" . What you really have though is spinal stenosis, Degenerative Disk Disease, spondylolysis theses , ect. The judge is going to go by WHAT IS WRITTEN IN YOUR MEDICAL RECORDS. you can talk until your blue in the face, telling about your pain, the pain meds your on, the fact that you cant touch your toes, you use a heating pad, you cant stand very long , you cant sit very long, you cant walk far, you cant , you cant , you cant. WELL YOU KNOW WHAT? THE JUDGE DOES NOT CARE!!! Judges by nature are very data oriented. They go by what they can read. So if your doctor is sticking it to you, to deny care, and save the VA money, by manipulating the data, you will lose your SS claim, you will get lowballed on or lose your VA disability claims, and you will be denied care. Your health problems can and will likely become worse, because you are being denied treatment based on a lie. ASK ME HOW i KNOW THESE THINGS. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, download all of your vamc medical records, read all of the notes, read all of the active problem lists, compare them with what you know you have.

you explain things very well, thanks for visiting this forum regularly.

A woman can bear 2 children in 19 months and I cant even get a SOC.?? Just imagining here, I would imagine, that when the evidence is so strong, it is not any easy task writing a SOC to rebutt the vets claims, so it gets shuffled to the bottom of the pile, and time starts going by. Before you know it, 2 kids have been born, and the VA is still working on the " creative writing " needed to bullshit thier way our of approving the claim. That is likely why, in the initial denials they are so scant in thier reasons and basis for denials.

heres my angle and I may be wrong, or not. Once denied I promptly filed a NOD. This started the clock running towards getting an appeal date. Appellate review (BVA) is a LEGAL mechanism. As long as it is at the RO it is not. Before the RO punts it to the BVA, im trying to get a DRO hearing . If things dont go well at the DRO hearing, im going to disagree, and try to keep my appeal request afloat. Im trying to not let this go as an EITHER OR.. In other words, im not choosing either the DRO or the BVA appeals route, im trying to keep both options open. If I get a DRO who as half of a brain, and is at least half vet friendly it should be clear as crystal, that im correct in the service connections ive filed for. If I am incorrect in this thinking, plz point out the regulation or cfr that states a vet must choose between either a DRO review, or Appeals action. Secondly, the DRO review officer is supposed to let me know EXACTLY what evidence is needed to win a claim, that they cant grant, so its a great tool I would think, but cannot speak from experience as Ive yet to get a DRO date or SOC, after my initial NOD that is now in its 19th month . They will need to shitz or get off the pot soon, I think A hearing or SOC should have been provided by now, or very soon.

CP exams by people outside of the vets immediate care circle are the sham of shams. The vets Primary should be in the loop on all exams, sitting in the room, next to the vet, if an expert in a specific area is needed. I can just imagine how many vets files arent even read before the CP examiners record thier opinions.

good points, thanks

ROOT, keep very close tabs on your kidneys. Kidney cancer is high amongst desert storm vets. They told me I had a 5 cm cyst in 2005,, well in 2011 it turned out to be a cancerous tumor. The cancer was spreading fast, it was already in my renal vein and had much more time gone by, I wouldnt be here today, because it tends to spread to the lungs, and bones, then you can kiss your ass goodby. My entire kidney was removed, my adrenal gland, some of my renal vein, and in hoping its all gone.

According to the answers you provide to the examiner, you will likely be told to follow up on the issues with your PCP. Make sure you run down EVERY contention that is discussed. The VA seems to be more interested in collecting the data, than treating the veteran or obtaining proper diagnosis.

great news... trying to reduce to scare a vet is one of VA s common tactics. the sad part is, your husband likely should have been recieving the 100 percent for a long time.

some drugs are so strange, they seem to go into a very primal part of the brain and create or release very morbid and raw thoughts and emotions. That tramadol made me dream very disturbing things that made no sense. it all stopped after I quit taking them. Rather than continuing going thru that, I think I would take my chances on a few nervous breakdowns, and see if I could get the demon by the horns. If not, then back to the clouds.

the drug companies own our govt, they dont like anything they cant patent and sell for outrageous profits.

leave him alone. he may be able to function on heavy pain meds, but be a slug without it. too many variables.

theres plenty of honest , competent, hard working americans looking for work.

The nurses and doctors in my primary team have spoken with me by phone after verifying my name , date of birth and last 4 ?? So have reps from the RO / so I guess its a we will call you, dont call us situation

when I had surgery I met my surgeon, when I had diet, I met my dietician, when I had cancer, I met my cancerologist, what is the big problem with meeting Radiologist? they are like the secret agents of the VAMC. Nobody ever sees them. like ninjas.

he asked my name and last 4, which I gave him, and he told me I had to go talk to my primary. Well my primary is the one who sent me a letter saying no further treatment is needed, but they are basing that on an incorrect MRI reading. I would gladly meet face to face with the Radioligist, but wasant given that option. I have 3 previous documentations that contradict what this doctor is saying, so I want to make them update everything so I can get proper care and comp.

I dare you to send a copy of that pic to Hinden with the tag... PEACE MAN ,,,,, haha Alittle " company" and a peace pipe full of green ganja is likely just what his arse needs.

I had a .25 once, was a little Italian job, 7 shot I believe. only one use for a .25 . close up and personal use. Like barrel to the ear.. ha

there is also data manipulation taking place at VAMCs you may see a whistleblower come forward very soon in Texas