AnonyMousVet

This past Monday I had to drop by the local prosthetics shop to have some work done on my leg. To make a long story short, the whole bottom assembly had to be replaced. My prosthetist has loaned out the parts until VA can get me in on an appointment in the clinic. No problem, I think.... I called VA prosthetics department to set up an appointment like I've done for the past twenty years. No go. Gotta get a referral from the PCP. I don't have nor ever have had a PCP. So now I get to navigate a whole new set of roadblocks? Something tells me this is going to be another nightmare waiting game. It could literally take six to nine months to get a new leg? Well, it only took them almost 7 years to get my claim approved.....

How would one go about about using the FOIA to receive copies of the contracts signed by QTC and the VA? I would love to see what kind of language is in them?

A newspaper reporter here in Memphis is looking for OEF/OIF combat veterans who live in the area to tell their story about the problems they have had or are currently having with the Veteran's Administration claims process and/or treatment. We could all talk for days to her about this subject This, of course, is an opportunity to shed more light on what we veterans have to go through to get our earned benefits. If you live in the area and interested in telling your story, please send me a private message. AnonymousVet

Service connected for Hepatitis C. Rating 0% as expected! Service connected for Major Depression Disorder. Rating 0% as expected. Increase to 50% PTSD from 30% for period of time prior to February 20, 2008 retroactive back to April 16th, 2002. Case was closed on November 19th, 2008! 6 years, 7 months, 8 days 208,569,600 seconds <LI>3,476,160 minutes <LI>57,936 hours <LI>344 weeks

Service connected for Hepatitis C. Rating 0% as expected! Service connected for Major Depression Disorder. Rating 0% as expected. Increase to 50% PTSD from 30% for period of time prior to February 20, 2008 retroactive back to April 16th, 2002. Case was closed on November 19th, 2008! 6 years, 7 months, 8 days 208,569,600 seconds <LI>3,476,160 minutes <LI>57,936 hours <LI>344 weeks

Which other place are you talking about? Apparently I kicked off a sh*t storm with over at another site.

Yeah. Something really drastic has changed the Jackson VARO over the past few days... I'm not to sure wtf is going on. It's just really weird.

Wonder of wonders! I called the VARO in Jackson, MS this morning and talked to the most pleasant lady I've found yet on the other end of any call to the VA. I gave her the claim number and after answering various security questions she informed me that my claim had been completed as of November 4th, 2008. She also told me that it could take up to 14 days to close it. Until it is closed, there will be no letters sent or money deposited or updated percentage in the computers. If what I have been told is BS, I won't be to terribly disappointed. What do you all think of what I have been told? Anybody now what all is involved in closing a claim? I need to find links to the procedures manuals! What a long strange trip it's been. I just hope it's finally over.......

Skunk: WTF, over? Jackson VARO trip will be coming soon for me. Do you live in or around N. MS, or between Southaven and Jackson?

VARO Jackson, MS TNX

This is not the time of year where I behave my best. I'm sure that all who have PTSD have their time of the year and hopefully understand what I am saying. I have been brutal in some of my postings. I personally would not want to be in the shoes of the VA folks who have to deal with the amount of claims coming in. I'm sure no consideration was given to their needs when our current leaders decide to send this generation of warriors across the globe. For the most part, 99% of them do their jobs to the best of their ability. On the rare occasion like this one, when I have a "moment of clarity", when I see the rational understanding person I used to be, is when I wish I could just put a gun to to my head and end it, because I know the PTSD and MDD will soon be back to ravish my mind and body. If it wasn't for a loving, understanding wife and a beautiful little boy to go home to every night, I do believe I would have shot myself years ago. My apologies to all whom I have offended.

Would it be just better for me to drive to Jackson, MS and show up in person to ask questions?

I use the services of Mr. Gregory Keenum in Boonesville, MS. Good guy. If it wasn't for him handling the case, I would have already taken a ball bat to the VARO in Jackson...... Last night I hand delivered a letter personally to Roger Wicker at the Desoto County rally. I am literally begging and pleading now after seventy-eight months to bring closure to a case the BVA has ruled on in my favor. Just finish it so I can put this behind me. I swear to God we should just all be out in the damned streets protesting the VA. Make it public, make it loud. Find me 100 volunteers! I swear to God we should march, hobble, crawl, or roll our way into a VARO facility and start raising hell! Anybody in Mississippi interested in meeting in Jackson, MS? We need to organize, we need to lead. All of us older vets need to put pressure in the system so the younger vets won't have to put up with this. 700 billion for Wall Street, not shit for the vets. We fight, the civilians enjoy the good life. Is there no help for the widow's son?

Skunk: I said the hell with it. I called Senator Wicker's office over in Tupelo. The gentleman who took the call was amazed that the claim had taken so long to get approved, and that it was taking even longerer to get paid. He took my information and will contact somebody inside the VARO down there. He knows about the waste of time with IRIS and 1-800 numbers. Senator Wicker sits on the Veterans Affairs committee and from what I understand, he isn't impressed with the VA handling claims, and even less with Jackson VARO. Hopefully Mr. Wicker's office will be able to bring closure to this fiasco.

Skunk: I got so fed up with VARO in Jackson that I hired an attorney in Corinth, MS to handle the claim. He's been really effective. I had my video conference in Jackson, MS and was not impressed with the facility at all. The VBA judge experience was positive and VBA remanded claim back to VARO. VARO was ordered to their damned job and I was finally rated 30% PTSD this year. We disagreed and it went back to BVA who agreed that I should have a 50% PTSD rating, MDD rated seperately, SC for Hep C. So now the c-file is back at Jackson VARO (I hope) and has been sitting there since August 28th (I hope). This has been going on for 78 months.... I have been thinking about paying them a visit, but I know that would go bad. Three years ago I was in the Memphis VAMC for a clinic in the prosthetics department. I needed a new leg. Prosthetics sent me to orthotics. Orthotics sent me back to prosthetics. They bounced me back to orthotics. Nobody had a record of my appointment except me, so I produced it and directed the orthotics dept to confernece call prosthetics and we'd get it straight. They thought I was nuts. Some bitch doctor comes out of the back and flat out asks me what MY problem was. By this time I was coming unglued and this weally set me off. I, in front of 40+ people, in the waiting room of a VAMC, dropped my pants and pulled off my leg. I showed her the blisters, irritation and sores caused by a worn out prosthesis. I explained to her I couldn't hardly walk and would soon not be able to walk. I further explained to her that if I can't walk, I can't work. If I can't work, I don't get paid. If I don't get paid, I can't pay my bills. If I can't pay my bills, I lose what little I have. If I lose everything I have, I'll lose my freedon when I decide to take it out on those responsible. Bitch wanted to get attitude, I gave it right back. She signed off on a new leg in three minutes. I walked her to fax machine and directed her to fax it to the prosthics shop in Memphis. I thanked her for her inquiry and her personal attention in this matter and dismissed her. I got several hand shakes, attaboys, etc. from the folks in the waiting room. By this time I was so worked up and about to rip the windpipe out somebody's neck, so I left. To this day when I go to VAMC Memphis, I get a shadow from security. This leads me to suspect the VA has face recognition software tied into security. At the mood I'm in, a visit to Jackson VARO would be counterproductive. Everything has to be a fight with the VA.