Pentagon Says They Made Error

[Berta]

I mentioned yesterday that a disabled veteran from Iraq- Jordan Fox-

had expected a $10,000 enlistment bonus and the DOD sent him a letter asking him for $3,000 of it back.

He had been injured in Iraq just before his commitment was up-and the DOD said he owed them this money-as he did not fulfill his military service period DUE TO getting injured in Iraq.

One person can move a mountain-sometimes-this vet was pretty vocal about the "bill" he got from the gov-for the $3000.

Fox News this AM said an official from the Pentagon was notifying PFC Fox that they had made an error and apparently are informing all the other servicemen and women who were asked to repay part of their bonuses back because they were injured in service and could not fulfill their service commitment-that the bills were an error (yeah right)

I dont have any verification on this at all-and Fox News did not say who gave them this info from the Pentagon-

But things are getting so bad in the media for the way or servicemen and women and veterans are treated-I guess the Gov didnt want this to become big news-

Edited November 21, 2007 by Berta

[Berta]

This all concerns me a lot- exactly what kind of help can a serviceman or woman get even before they are discharged- with traumatic injuries-

I understand that they can file their VA claims before they leave the mil- but I need to get some facts on how that actually goes-and who helps them and where do they get this help-

Judy-who does the United We Roll show at Stardust Radio- asked me to do a show on how this all works for them-

her show is Fabulous and directed to inservice military as well as everyone else concerned for them.

I believe there is Transition info at the VA web site on this but will have to check-

The GI bill info there is very confusing so that too needs to be explained-

I told the Dole/Shalala committee that our newly returning men and women needed to be provided with info as to the many VA web sites that can help them-such as hadit (I said it was the best site of course for claims help) -with their claims- and they need info as to how they can get a Service Officer and also how to access tha VA website itself- because there is a lot of good info there-too-

Also they need to stay in touch with their units.No one can possibly understand what they are going through as they transition to civilian life better than their unit buddies and others in the veterans electronic community.

(I am spitting mad that the VA told that one veteran on CNN that his scrapnel injuries were NOT from service-

how can the VA think they can get away with this crap?)

[yoggie2]

I mentioned yesterday that a disabled veteran from Iraq- Jordan Fox-

had expected a $10,000 enlistment bonus and the DOD sent him a letter asking him for $3,000 of it back.

He had been injured in Iraq just before his commitment was up-and the DOD said he owed them this money-as he did not fulfill his military service period DUE TO getting injured in Iraq.

One person can move a mountain-sometimes-this vet was pretty vocal about the "bill" he got from the gov-for the $3000.

Fox News this AM said an official from the Pentagon was notifying PFC Fox that they had made an error and apparently are informing all the other servicemen and women who were asked to repay part of their bonuses back because they were injured in service and could not fulfill their service commitment-that the bills were an error (yeah right)

I dont have any verification on this at all-and Fox News did not say who gave them this info from the Pentagon-

But things are getting so bad in the media for the way or servicemen and women and veterans are treated-I guess the Gov didnt want this to become big news-

Good luck for him, if it didn't play out like this they'd made him pay it back. Away an error when its brought to over a millions peoples attention

gets attention that the Government doesn't want, even if he hurt him self burning poop over there. What he is doing is a big deal sending those care packages even though most off them don't make it further than supply...........RC

[Pete53]

Take a look at this. Its not easy either. If you have High SPeed Internet watch the Video. Yes this is a local Dallas story.

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/myfox/pages/Home/D....1.1&sflg=1

Edited November 23, 2007 by Pete53

[Pete53]

Transcript: Vets Allege Substandard Care at North Texas VA Hospitals

Last Edited: Wednesday, 21 Nov 2007, 11:10 AM CST

Created: Wednesday, 21 Nov 2007, 11:10 AM CST

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In return for their sacrifices, the men and women who serve in the U.S. Military are promised quality medical care until they die. But some North Texas vets believe the federal government isn’t keeping that promise.

Marissa Evans has a tough time talking about her father. Hugh Turner was a U.S. Marine and Airman. Evans just buried him in September but says her father’s troubles started years ago. Pictures Evans took of her father show an abnormal growth in his abdomen. “It just kept growing and growing,” Evans told Fox 4. “The VA would tell him to do sit ups and exercises.”

Evans says her father needed surgery. But hospital records show the VA considered the surgery to be “elective” and in February 2007 scheduled Turner’s surgery six months later. Evans says all she could do is wait and watch as her father experienced vomiting, weight loss, and extreme discomfort.

Two days after his surgery in August, the VA released Turner. Within days, he was rushed to another hospital where records show he had a bowel obstruction and an infection. He died another 25 days later. "He really fought it,” Evans says. “He couldn't hang on any more.”

Sam Dillard was an MP in the Marines during the Cuban missile crisis in the 1960’s. Dillard was treated for a plantars wart on his foot. The VA removed it but Dillard says the wound wouldn't heal. After 8-months he switched hospitals and learned he had developed cancer.

Dillard now has a prosthetic leg. He sued the VA, claiming negligence but the VA claimed it was a diabetic foot ulcer, not cancer. The VA denied wrongdoing but settled Dillard’s case for $80,000. “The care I got at the VA is ‘don’t care,” says Dillard.

Gene Brown served twenty years in the U.S. Air Force. Gene’s wife, Alice says her husband went to the VA for outpatient shoulder surgery. He now has brain damage, according to their lawsuit filed against the VA. “They had him strapped down and he was screaming, ‘there is blood, blood, get me out,” Alice Brown told Fox 4.

“These people where supposed to be taking care of him.” Alice says her husband suffered memory loss and didn’t know who he was or who she was and his conditioned only worsened. The Brown’s are suing the government for negligence.

The VA denies any wrong doing, claiming Brown suffered a stroke which complicated surgery. Brown now has a tough time getting around and doesn’t remember much of his past. He looked forward to spending his retirement on the road but his travel trailer now sits in the driveway, for sale.

H.M. Abbott says he will never forget the words he heard at the VA Hospital in Bonham.

“Shortly after we arrived, the doctor came in and said, ‘we lost him,” says Abbott. Abbott's 54-year old son, Ronald served in the Army. He went to the VA complaining of chest pain. The Abbott’s lawsuit claims he was discharged from the hospital with a diagnosis of “skeletal pain” from “unaccustomed activity.” Ronald returned hours later with "shortness of breath."

But again, he was discharged from the VA Hospital with pain medication. When his wife brought him in for a 3rd time, Ronald was “dead on arrival.” The Abbotts claimed negligence. The VA denied wrongdoing but settled the case for $400,000.

"They have been through hell,” says Amy Witherite, attorney for the Brown, Abbott, and Dillard families. “They've been through hell so we didn't have to go there.” Witherite has sued the VA more than a dozen times for substandard medical care of veterans. “Delay, delay...and then when you finally get in to see the doctor you get a poor work up because they are only allocated 10 minutes,” Witherite says.

The VA treated Fox 4 the same way. Fox 4 requested interviews for six weeks. Finally the VA agreed to an interview after Fox 4 provided the required patient release forms from specific families. But Dr. Clark Gregg, Chief of Staff for VA’s North Texas Healthcare System, allowed little more than 10 minutes for the interview.

"I think the quality of care in this VA is excellent," Dr. Gregg told Fox 4. “I would be proud to have my care here at this VA and we are striving every day to make sure our patients are getting the highest quality of care that we can."

In 2005 the Office of Inspector General’s report named the Dallas VA Hospital as the worst in the country. In 2006 congressional testimony alleged “significant deficits” in the Dallas VA’s quality assurance program. And a 2007 Office of Inspector General report accused the Dallas VA and ten other VA hospitals of falsely reporting veterans received timely doctor appointments.

Dr. Gregg says the Dallas VA Hospital continues to improve with new leadership in place. “We always have a lot of work to do,” says Dr. Gregg. “It is never a perfect system but we are certainly making great progress."

Last year the federal government paid out $67Million in medical malpractice claims against VA Hospitals, nationwide. This year that figure is expected to top $69Million. Amy Witherite says Texas vets are not able to receive much in damages because of lawsuit reform limits.

“These end up being nuisance cases that they throw a little money at to make them go away,” says Witherite. “For the most part, these guys who have served their country and gone thru hell and high water for all of us are completely devalued, first by the system and then by any lawsuit recovery that says they are just not worth that much.”

Marissa Evans has not yet sued the VA over her father’s death. The VA says it is still reviewing Hugh Turner’s case. Evans says she did hear from the VA recently when someone called to schedule a post-surgery appointment. “I said, ‘well, it’s too late. He passed away on the 19th.”

[yoggie2]

Take a look at this. Its not easy either. If you have High SPeed Internet watch the Video. Yes this is a local Dallas story.

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/myfox/pages/Home/D....1.1&sflg=1

Oh God, glad I don't go to that VA they kill ya and "problem gone." Jesus they are chopping people to death. VA paid out 69 million this year for hush money that is nothing for the damage these people are doing you would own the hospital. In they real world I could see that much going to the people at the VA hospital in Dallas Texas. RC

Edited November 23, 2007 by yoggie2

[otey2171]

I settled with the VA for the wrongful death of my father this year.