Crist.esq

Without a doubt there are lots of people who are hardworking. Absolutely without a doubt. I've seen them in action. But for each one of those, there is another person who is asleep at the reception desk... refuses to answer my questions... or just doesn't care anymore. Even those people are most likely good people - but the culture of the VA is so sour it is hard for the good people to rise up.

Very good point, Pete. This may have set the tone for the "culture" of VA docs that we see today.

Hi Berta! Thank you for your responses. That was very illuminating and helpful. One point I want to respond to: Unfortunately, I have very little faith that the director of a VAMC will do much, if anything, to assist a vet in this circumstance. Perhaps that has changed since the recent VA scandals - we can only hope. You hit it on the head when you said that there is a conflict of interest between C&P Docs and the Veteran they are supposed to be serving. The DVA has an affirmative duty to assist the vet - the C&P Docs are the agents who should be carrying out that duty... In any event - I get a feeling that there is a presumption of incompetence when considering these situations. The VA and the courts seem to assume that VA personnel are incompetent rather than actually malicious... I'm not sure I agree with that all the time.

Hey John, thank you for your responses. You bring up a very important point. I'm concerned about both good legal advice and bad legal advice - both are illegal.

Hello everyone! I am attempting to do some research on a topic that I think is far more pernicious and harmful to us than the entire recent VA scandal. I am a vet and I have represented several vets who have had several similar complaints to my own. Doctors and other VA medical staff have given out legal advice, discouraged disability claims, and are generally acting inappropriately (and arguably, illegally). I am trying to determine if this is a widespread enough issue to warrant further investigation. Specifically: Have you had a VA Doc give you legal advice? By this, I have heard reports of VA Doctors and medical staff say things along the lines of "You shouldn't add <insert new disability> to your claim because it will take longer to get your decision!" or "You already have 50%, if you get <another disability> rated at 30%, it will not increase your total disability rating!" This is, arguably, illegal conduct (unauthorized practice of law) or at the very least, harmful to us vets. So please tell me if you have had a VA medical personnel tell you what to do or what not to do with your claim or give you any other advice that you believe may be legal advice. Discourage your claim? Have you had VA medical center personnel discourage you from making a claim, appealing your claim, or anything else that is discouraging? Perhaps something along the lines of "You already have a 50% disability rating... why do you need more?" Lie to you? I have heard stories of doctors directly stating lies or misinformation ranging from: "You cannot sue the government." to: "You're at 50%, if you get another disability rated at 30% it will not increase your total rating..." Please tell me your stories! Thank you in advance.