Jump to content

Ask Your VA Claims Questions | Read Current Posts 
Read VA Disability Claims Articles
Search | View All Forums | Donate | Blogs | New Users | Rules 

  • tbirds-va-claims-struggle (1).png

  • 01-2024-stay-online-donate-banner.png

     

Long Wait For Consult With Eye Doctor

Rate this topic


Recommended Posts

  • HadIt.com Elder

Well, there is some language to the effect that if the VA cannot provide services, you can submit a claim for outside costs.

I'd be tempted to type a letter/form/statement for signature that has a check box for the day, or in the future(with date) when the service needed is available.

Then, if the services are not available in a "reasonable" period of time, fill out the VA form (number escapes me) for repayment, accompanied by the document showing that services were not available.

Don't know what will happen, but it's sure to cause some rumblings.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 17
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

I just can't figure out why the VA would hire someone like this to take care of our veterans. Georgia papa I wish you luck with the Dr. Also when you see her ask her if she also work at the Columbus Vamc .I will not go back to her, if I have to I will pay out of my pocket to get a good eye examine.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Wow you folks in GA put up with a lot of crap! While my PCP appt. are now taking up to like 30 days. I can usually get a specialist consult in about the same time except for audio appt. which can run 60 days or worse.

Hearing lose is like the number one problem in most vets! I have actually just had emergency ear surgery and was in after only 2 weeks because of the problem.

I am like John in a lot of ways though and use the VA MC after I check to see A) who the doctor is I am seeing and B) I check to see how they are rated on the web. The ENT I just saw is one of the top ones in the private sector! So I went to have him do the evaluation. While the actual surgery on my ear was preformed by the head resident the doctor was right there. Now if it had been my heart I would not even think about going VA a I have had a private cardio doc for years!

We as patients must do what we are comfortable doing and check out people (doctors) to use and make smart decisions. I have compared and checked doctors all my life. If I had VA as my only insurance I still would do it and if something seemed flat out sub premium care I would bring it up with the PA and demand another doc!

Stillhere

Edited by stillhere
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Here it is August 1st. I use the VA Augusta, GA and the Athens, GA CBOC for my VA care. I would assume from what I have read about your issues that 1) you need to be more pro-active in how you are treated at the VA or 2) you are one of the Vets that slip through the cracks, and the VA back peddles until they think you have accepted what they say. Typically, in my case, I contact the Patients Advocates office. If I do not get a response within 48 hours, I call the Directors office and ask for their fax number. I compose a factual letter, naming names, dates and times of how I was treated and what it will take to make it better. The motto at the VA in Augusta is "We do all we can for veterans". I cited this in a letter and stated that they have failed in their mission statement. Within 30 minutes of sending that fax I got a phone call, confirmed all of the information in my letter and was promised a follow up call in 24 hours. I got calls from the resident, the department head, and the senior patient advocate. The problem was taken care of within 2 more days, and I am happy with the results. My file must be somehow noted because now when I call to get an appointment, they are made for within 30 days. I always ask for appointments from between 10am and 2pm, and they make that happen too! Every once in a while, I will have to quietly mention that I will be calling the directors office, and it seems like magic happens. Let's remember, we have earned this medical care. It is not a freebie or charity.

One thing that I would like to tell anyone reading this thread is this. I made friends with a former VAMC employee that began there while Pres. Clinton was in office. She clearly told me that the VA has been a test area for what is now called the Affordable Care Act. With electronic record keeping, the exchange of medical information across different VISNs (regions in the US geographically), and sometimes not seeing the same doctor that you saw previously, limited "fee basis" medical care, etc.

I am not the service rep for my DAV unit and Legion post. I have no "power" but I can nudge a veteran in the right direction from time to time. GA PaPa, if I can help you, let me know.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

jc30655,

Thanks for the good info. I will try it next time I have a problem.

Georgiapapa...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is strange! When I need an e-exam I just go to my PCD, he signs a pre-printed form, I take it to Visors for the exam. I then take the prescription to VA and have my glasses in about two weeks.

I would really like to think that maybe one day we can have somewhat consistency in our VARO's ......

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Tell a friend

    Love HadIt.com’s VA Disability Community Vets helping Vets since 1997? Tell a friend!
  • Recent Achievements

  • Our picks

    • Caluza Triangle defines what is necessary for service connection
      Caluza Triangle – Caluza vs Brown defined what is necessary for service connection. See COVA– CALUZA V. BROWN–TOTAL RECALL

      This has to be MEDICALLY Documented in your records:

      Current Diagnosis.   (No diagnosis, no Service Connection.)

      In-Service Event or Aggravation.
      Nexus (link- cause and effect- connection) or Doctor’s Statement close to: “The Veteran’s (current diagnosis) is at least as likely due to x Event in military service”
      • 0 replies
    • Do the sct codes help or hurt my disability rating 
    • VA has gotten away with (mis) interpreting their  ambigious, , vague regulations, then enforcing them willy nilly never in Veterans favor.  

      They justify all this to congress by calling themselves a "pro claimant Veteran friendly organization" who grants the benefit of the doubt to Veterans.  

      This is not true, 

      Proof:  

          About 80-90 percent of Veterans are initially denied by VA, pushing us into a massive backlog of appeals, or worse, sending impoverished Veterans "to the homeless streets" because  when they cant work, they can not keep their home.  I was one of those Veterans who they denied for a bogus reason:  "Its been too long since military service".  This is bogus because its not one of the criteria for service connection, but simply made up by VA.  And, I was a homeless Vet, albeit a short time,  mostly due to the kindness of strangers and friends. 

          Hadit would not be necessary if, indeed, VA gave Veterans the benefit of the doubt, and processed our claims efficiently and paid us promptly.  The VA is broken. 

          A huge percentage (nearly 100 percent) of Veterans who do get 100 percent, do so only after lengthy appeals.  I have answered questions for thousands of Veterans, and can only name ONE person who got their benefits correct on the first Regional Office decision.  All of the rest of us pretty much had lengthy frustrating appeals, mostly having to appeal multiple multiple times like I did. 

          I wish I know how VA gets away with lying to congress about how "VA is a claimant friendly system, where the Veteran is given the benefit of the doubt".   Then how come so many Veterans are homeless, and how come 22 Veterans take their life each day?  Va likes to blame the Veterans, not their system.   
    • Welcome to hadit!  

          There are certain rules about community care reimbursement, and I have no idea if you met them or not.  Try reading this:

      https://www.va.gov/resources/getting-emergency-care-at-non-va-facilities/

         However, (and I have no idea of knowing whether or not you would likely succeed) Im unsure of why you seem to be so adamant against getting an increase in disability compensation.  

         When I buy stuff, say at Kroger, or pay bills, I have never had anyone say, "Wait!  Is this money from disability compensation, or did you earn it working at a regular job?"  Not once.  Thus, if you did get an increase, likely you would have no trouble paying this with the increase compensation.  

          However, there are many false rumors out there that suggest if you apply for an increase, the VA will reduce your benefits instead.  

      That rumor is false but I do hear people tell Veterans that a lot.  There are strict rules VA has to reduce you and, NOT ONE of those rules have anything to do with applying for an increase.  

      Yes, the VA can reduce your benefits, but generally only when your condition has "actually improved" under ordinary conditions of life.  

          Unless you contacted the VA within 72 hours of your medical treatment, you may not be eligible for reimbursement, or at least that is how I read the link, I posted above. Here are SOME of the rules the VA must comply with in order to reduce your compensation benefits:

      https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/38/3.344

       
    • Good question.   

          Maybe I can clear it up.  

          The spouse is eligible for DIC if you die of a SC condition OR any condition if you are P and T for 10 years or more.  (my paraphrase).  

      More here:

      Source:

      https://www.va.gov/disability/dependency-indemnity-compensation/

      NOTE:   TO PROVE CAUSE OF DEATH WILL LIKELY REQUIRE AN AUTOPSY.  This means if you die of a SC condtion, your spouse would need to do an autopsy to prove cause of death to be from a SC condtiond.    If you were P and T for 10 full years, then the cause of death may not matter so much. 
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Guidelines and Terms of Use