ptsd How Many More Years Will Congress & Vet Orgs Take Being Ignored By Va

[allan]

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http://www.health.mil/Press/Release.aspx?ID=554

How many more years will congress & Vet Orgs take being ignored by VA

bureaucrats

-----Original Message-----

From: Thomas Bandzul [mailto:thomas221@yahoo.com]

Sent: Sunday, March 01, 2009 2:04 PM

To: 'Robert P. Walsh'; 'Colonel Dan'

Subject: RE: Dan Cedusky has submitted a comment on Health.mil and would

like you to know about it

Counselor,

You're comments are spot on. If you tried to devise a scheme with the

intent of denying claims, hiding the truth, discouraging applications,

covering up facts used to help promote the truth and flat out lied to the

public, this would be an accurate depiction of the VA today. Yet this is

not a system because even the worst designed structure for benefits

adjudication has a balance of rules. Old adage has something to do with "if

it's not in balance, it will fall". Some may argue the VA has rules but I

would offer, they are not being followed.

The VA is a failure in meeting the needs of veterans. If allowed to

continue on the present course, the failure will be a catastrophe. In the

last eight years the damage done by the VA to the American public, city

governments, and state agencies, as well as veterans, is horrific and in

many instance, criminal. Why local governments haven't voice their

collective, angry opposition defies explanation. The same question needs to

be asked of the 45 charter VSO's and the 22 non-charter with congressional

recognition. The largest of the VSO's are more worried about their dues

paying population than the people they are charter to help, which is much

the way the VA is structured.

Had it not been for the small and underfunded efforts of groups like VCS,

Veterans and Military Families for Progress, NOVA, NVLSP, IAVA, One Freedom,

VVA and is some small measure, the DAV, the appalling nature of the

treatment veterans would be worse. Some may think it couldn't get much

shoddier but I believe it could and might, if a constant vigil isn't

maintained over this congress. The pledges of the past administration never

came to fruition and the promises of this administration, while magnanimous,

have yet to be delivered on.

Regards,

Thomas

Thomas E. Bandzul

General Counsel, Empowering Veterans

6316 Blackburn Ford Drive

Fairfax Station, VA. 22039

Office - 703-503-7969

Cell - 703-474-4264

Fax - 703-825-1157

-----Original Message-----

From: Robert P. Walsh [mailto:rpwalsh@sbcglobal.net]

Sent: Sunday, March 01, 2009 1:33 PM

To: Colonel Dan

Cc: Bandzul, Thomas

Subject: FW: Dan Cedusky has submitted a comment on Health.mil and would

like you to know about it

Dan:

What we encounter with "Project Salute" as we travel the country and

interact with veterans and their families is just what you would expect.

Homeless vets and others who have "dropped out". Their efforts to obtain VA

compensation benefits and health care were wrongfully denied on the first

few attempts, and they are unable or unwilling to navigate the horrific VA

system. Or they accepted as correct the VA decision denying them benefits.

Why can an attorney win a VA benefits case in 6 months for a WW II combat

vet who has been denied repeatedly for 60 years? Because the VSO's have

failed miserably to meet their obligations to these families. And they have

tolerated the delay and incompetence by the VBA. We are all to blame, as we

tolerate this insult to our veterans.

The old VA benefits system was designed so that the initial medical

examination for vets applying for benefits was the same as the exam given

when they were accepted into service. The conditions identified by the VA

doctor were then rated. How far we have strayed from this honest approach.

The modern system, in place since Vietnam, is to play "hide the ball" and

place the burden upon the back of the disabled veteran to make a claim for

each condition. What garbage. It is this practice that has resulted in

most of the wrongfully denied claims, or the long delay in getting all of

the service related conditions claimed and rated. What Ken Carpenter calls

the "gotcha" claims processing system of the VA.

The general medical examination protocol in the VA C & P system is never

used. At least I have never found an example of it being used in any of the

files I have reviewed. Only the narrow and specific exams are ever ordered

to be given by the VARO.

Of course, any veteran who does offer specific medical information about his

condition is admonished and told that he or she is a lay person. A

professional medical opinion is required, that he or she is not competent to

comment on this medical matter.

The opinion of the treating physician of the veteran is also given no

deference, unlike the Social Security Administration, which has a treating

physician rule. Why does the VA refuse to adopt this evidentiary standard?

Because they have a system in which registered nurses and general

practitioners with minimal contact with the patient are allowed to provide

opinions to overrule those of board certified specialists provided by

veterans.

It is truly a shameful and incompetent system, if it can be called a system.

Maybe "scheme" is a better word, as the obvious intent of the VBA process is

to deny veterans and their families their benefits.

Robert P. Walsh

Two West Michigan Avenue

Suite 301

Battle Creek, Michigan 49017

Telephone (269) 962-9693

Telecopier (269) 962-9592

E-mail: rpwalsh@sbcglobal.net

-----Original Message-----

From: NoReply@health.mil [mailto:NoReply@health.mil]

Sent: Sunday, March 01, 2009 12:18 PM

To: colonel-dan@sbcglobal.net; rpwalsh@sbcglobal.net

Cc: comments@whitehouse.gov

Subject: Dan Cedusky has submitted a comment on Health.mil and would like

you to know about it

---------------------------------------------------

The following comment was submitted on Health.mil. It may take up to 1

business day for the comment to be reviewed and posted. To view the related

article go to:

http://www.health.mil/Press/Release.aspx?ID=554

---------------------------------------------------

Why even 100 days? You have the patient in front of you. Too many people in

the decision process?

Far too many veterans with PTSD in Jail today, that fell thru the cracks,

general discharges, personality disorders, etc.. almost criminal they way

many have been treated..or NOT treated. How many claims does the VA have

that are 10 years+ old...absolutely criminal. How many homeless veterans

have claims pending? for how long?

"Keep on, Keepin' on"

Dan Cedusky, Champaign IL "Colonel Dan"

See my web site at:

http://www.angelfire.com/il2/VeteranIssues/