War On The Va Challenge

[Speaking Out]

I pledge to track Indiana politicians on their actions for Veterans. I am challenging others on this board to pledge to do the same for their state. Any thoughts? We can keep each other aware of what the politicians are doing and what they are not doing and publish telephone numbers when an important issue is coming up and send a message to these people that WE will not be ignored anymore,nor will we be split by our conflicts we served in, and that the voting Veteran block will stand united to elect officials that are committed to keeping the promises made to Veterans. We are all a family and WE TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN.

[Speaking Out]

thats why being part of one party is ole hat, everyone needs to be an independant thinker, which allows you to vote anyway you choose.

I like the way you think SSGMike.

[timetowinarace]

All good suggestions thus far.

For me, I believe something needs done about claims being illegally denied. I'm tired of the Raters breaking US Law to deny claims. This is a huge reason for the backlog. They need to fullfill the Duty to Assist. They need to be held accountable when Laws are broken. Veterans are.

Regulations need changed, yes. But first force claims to be proccessed properly the first time. Force fewer appeals and remands by getting it done right the first time. Get veterans an income BEFORE they are homeless and starving. The Regs need changed but it will have little effect on us if they are not enforced any better than they are now. No more denials of schrapnel damage.

Veterans need to speak to Raters directly to file claims. Then they can say precisly what is needed for your claim. They can't say records don't exsist when they do. Then all a SO has to do is be there and make sure the Rater is not missing something. Keep them honest. Raters need to look a veteran in the eye and tell them thier schrapnel wounds were not from service. I bet that stops allot of bull. SO's as middlemen aren't helping most of us. Attorney's will only be somewhat better untill we can put Law breakers in jail.

Double the workforce at the VARO. Those Raters that can't get it right the first time can apply at McDonalds.

Enough for now. Regs need changed for TBI. It's just plain ridiculous to have a reg restricting comp to 10% for brain damage. What else needs to be said about that? No further explaination neccisary

Time

[Jazona]

I'd like to see a percentage BE a percentage! Not this "part of a whole" bullcrap. When you get 50%, it ought to be 50% of the total you can get for that disability! This "part of a whole" crap was devised just to screw people out of their compensation. That way, a string of 10% evaluations could eventually add up to 100%, not frustratingly close like it is now.

I'll go one further than what Time said, PROSECUTE RATERS WHEN THEY BREAK THE LAW!!! Send their butts to jail with stiff sentences. Take their homes and possessions away and put their families on the street. Give them a good look at what it feels like to not be able to feed their children. After that, I'd imagine that the system would be a tad fairer.

jaz