F22F35Avi

I may try that...I spoke with my rep at the VA and if I remember correctly, it still happens to be that the closest place is DC, but I'm not 100% sure on that... southern maryland is close to nothing. Except water and woods....and a Navy base.

I am in Southern Maryland 5 days a week, and spend most weekends in Newport News, Va...at my home, with my wife. So the Hampton VA hospital is closest to my Home Home, but my MD home the closest place is DC, which is an hour and a half or so away... I have an appt this monday...and I will be missing work...

I havent REALLY started going to the VA for my issue, since the hospital is so far. I went to a private practice twice and it was expensive since I needed another MRI. My old one was a couple years old. I have talked with my VA rep and there is no closer place....so being reimbursed for travel hasnt happened because I havent gone yet. I dont want to keep paying hundreds of dollars for specialists, MRI's, X-rays, pain prescriptions, etc... Im service connected for my lower back, mid back, knees, shoulder, neck, GERD, hearing,...I think thats it. Guess I'll ask work what they can do for me.

Hey ya'll! I should have looked for a place like this a long time ago...well I will get right to the point. Is there any coverage, rules, or regulations governing work absence to go to a VA appointment? I hate nickel and diming my time off to go to appointments, but I need to get on the ball with this stuff. I am in the process of appealing one of my claims and I need to make appointments to go to the Dr to be re-evaluated, and also because of the riduculous pain in my back, which is the claim I am appealing. The closest VA hospital is almost 2 hours from me, so a quick trip there in the morning doesn't cut it. I work 2:30pm until 11pm, and getting up at 7 to get to DC by 9, if I'm lucky, then sitting and waiting... then being seen... then getting back to work by 2:30 doesnt happen. And I'm using up all my times off work for this...Are there any rules that cover us in any way for these appointments from missing work? Thanks!!!!