Navy Spook

I love the Philippines and Filipino people. I went to high school at Subic Bay, I have a filipina wife, and I am buying a house and moving to Baguio to retire. Filipino's, on average, suffer from dire poverty. After Mt. Pinatubo necessitated the evacuation of Clark and Subic it wasn't 48 hours before locals were on the bases taking all the metals and building materials out of the walls. Anything they thought they could sell was removed. Jet fuel tanks were tapped (and left running) and you could purchase JP-4 & JP-5 out in town. Every tank on the base was tapped and sampled. The Philippine government waited weeks to send in enough troops to contain the situation. I am under no illusions that the US absolutely did pollute the bases. I know it to be a fact. But the degree of US responsibility in the aftermath of the natural disaster and ensuing rampant looting is much, much less than the original post would suggest.

I lived in the Philippines as a dependent from 1972 to 1975. It is beautiful and I liked the people, but it is a third-world country. You can't expect top-notch medical care if you decide to retire there. People live there because it is cheap. Cheap, cheap, CHEAP! There is no reason not to fly yearly back to the states for care with all the money you're saving on everything else. Heck, I'll bet you could even pick up a free Space-A flight to Alaska, Hawaii, or Guam without any huge delays or hardships. If you are in need of easy access to quality healthcare then don't move to the PI. It is really that simple. And any place where children run naked in the streets and road-side ditches are used as latrines you can pretty well guess that there is rampant poverty and therefore crime & corruption will likely be a problem.

If you are getting paid for the period "Sept 94 to Dec 94" that is your retro period. If you are confused you need to write exactly what your award letter says. You can't interpret it for us and then ask for information about your interpretation. Let us know what it says and we will interpret it.

If a child or spouse is injured or catches a disease while accompanying overseas what is the process for determination and compensation? I can't find anything on Google, but I probably haven't worded my query properly. Anyone know of where to ask this question or the proper agency to speak to? Thanks.

I went from Dallas to the Las Vegas area two years ago. Health-care is problematic because there is no central campus, BUT a VAMC is being built on the far North-East side of town. I think it's supposed to open in 2012 (you can check the VA website.) As it is now you sometimes have to go into seedy parts of town and be surrounded by a dozen or so hobos that get angry if you don't give them money to wash your car's windows with sewer water. Inside is okay because they have guards, although they can act a little power crazy at times. My C-file is still at VARO Waco, but I haven't had reason to relocate it and I haven't had a claim if 15 years or so. If you transfer your files expect it to add months to your claim, at least that was my experience 15-20 years ago. I think to get the best advice you need to speak to the rep in Texas and the rep you are considering in Nevada and then weigh their responses against each other and make a decision. Every claim is different and if I told you what happened 2 years ago is probably going to be changed in some manner today.

Wouldn't that more properly be stated that an individual can only represent (as an agent) one non-related veteran? I mean I thought you were always allowed to assist family members at any level, and I thought you could assist a non-related veteran "forever", but no other non-related veterans after the first one. Don't chew me up here, I'm asking not telling.

I went to my VAMC (North Texas Dallas) records release area and asked for all my medical records so I could prepare a new claim. I was informed there would be some 10,000 pages so they would mail them to me. I declined that and asked if I could get it in a digital format of some kind. The guy at the desk said, "No, we don't have the capability to do that." Has anyone come across a VAOGC determination or other ruling or regulation that allows the veteran access to their records in a digital format? Also, slightly related, I can get my X-Rays and Scans on a disk, but there is a handmade sign at the radiology window that says they will charge $15.00 for each request. I'm pretty sure they aren't allowed to charge a fee unless it is a duplicate request that has been provided previously. Thanks.

Berta, I am 51 and have no Medicare. I am retired, but since I am outside my TriCare zone I would be responsible for 20% of the bill, which I cannot afford. Yes, it is related to my SC, but the connection is not currently recognized by the VA. I would have to prove the connection to my SC and I'm just not up to making that battle. I thought perhaps my 100% rating would make a temp housebound rating possible or some other benefit. Thanks, Stephen

I am a resident of Nevada but am in Texas for a short period for civil court proceedings. I am rated 100% P&T without IU. On 13 April 2010 I slipped at an odd angle and broke both bones in my left leg above the ankle. I went to Dallas VAMC, had X-rays was placed in a "splint" given a pair of crutches and told to go to an ortho clinic on Thursday 15 April. The Ortho clinic gave me a CT scan and told me to return on 23 April for surgery. I told anyone that would listen at the VAMC that I didn't have anyone to assist me here in Texas, yet they expect me to keep my leg elevated above my heart while shopping for food, preparing food, and using the bathroom.. They gave me stern warnings not to leave bed, but when I told them I had no assistance their ears stopped working. Issue 1) What, if anything do I request to assist me? Who do I need to ask? Is there an expedited way to do something? I really need a wheelchair at least, anything else? Is there compensation or some status I should apply for? Issue 2) My leg is turning black from the bruising. It goes from my knee to the base of my big toe. (no fever, open wound or bad smell, I am pretty certain it is just a developing bruise). I am concerned that waiting from 13 APRIL until 23 APRIL for surgery that I am at risk for deep vein thrombosis or something similar. Is it usual for so many days to pass before surgery? Are there any signs I should be looking for? I've already called the VAMC and their response was that if I was concerned about it go to the VAMC and have them look at it. (of course the ortho clinic is only open two days a week ...) Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I am a resident of Nevada but am in Texas for a short period for civil court proceedings. I am rated 100% P&T without IU. On 13 April 2010 I slipped at an odd angle and broke both bones in my left leg above the ankle. I went to Dallas VAMC, had X-rays was placed in a "splint" given a pair of crutches and told to go to an ortho clinic on Thursday 15 April. The Ortho clinic gave me a CT scan and told me to return on 23 April for surgery. I told anyone that would listen at the VAMC that I didn't have anyone to assist me here in Texas, yet they expect me to keep my leg elevated above my heart while shopping for food, preparing food, and using the bathroom.. They gave me stern warnings not to leave bed, but when I told them I had no assistance their ears stopped working. Issue 1) What do I need to request for assistance? who do I need to ask? Is there an expedited way to do something? I really need a wheelchair at least. Issue 2) My leg is turning black from the bruising. It goes from my knee to the base of my big toe. (no fever, open wound or bad smell, I am pretty certain it is just a developing bruise). I am concerned that waiting from 13 APRIL until 23 APRIL for surgery that I am at risk for deep vein thrombosis or something similar. Is it usual for so many days to pass before surgery? Are there any signs I should be looking for? I've already called the VAMC and their response was that if I was concerned about it go to the VAMC and have them look at it. (of course the ortho clinic is only open two days a week ...) Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

PEB/MEB is a pain in the butt, but depending on your conditions you might well be better off going that route. I would want a (qualified) lawyer to handle my case. I didn't use one and I know I got messed over, but I had less than 20 years and wanted to stay in. OR... You can go PEB/MEB and see what they offer you, and just go with the process (no lawyer). They could offer you 60-75% retirement, but if they don't you will never get less than full credit for your 22 years. Yes, you will collect the retirement amount they offer you from the PEB and VA compensation (concurrent receipt). There is an offset to account for the taxable and non-taxable portions and everyone is different, but you will be much better off financially with the bean-counters' offset than you would be without concurrent receipt. (this isn't the same offset as the full deduction from retirement pay of VA compensation. No matter what you do, with 22 years AD you get concurrent receipt.) Good luck to you.

That's well and good, but it's not really something I can forward to my congressman or get retirees to rally around, is it? You need to create a point paper explaining why and how. Then that can be discussed and hashed out until you have something that contains a persuasive argument that people that don't directly benefit from its enactment can get behind. CRSC didn't come about until it was pointed out that Audie Murphy wouldn't have been eligible for CRDP.

Ah, I see. When they took my severance pay back they didn't "take a certain amount", they stopped all VA compensation until the entire amount was recouped. So I thought you weren't getting ANY VA compensation for the rest of your life. I go asystole three to four times a year myself. I wasn't trying to be funny. I was trying to mention all the possibilities that occurred to me that would explain your paying back the government for the rest of your life.