Anyone Out There Desire To Change The Process?

[PayBack]

Hi,

I realize that you all must be laughing hysterically at this post. Thinking that this guy must be joking or extremely naive. Well, I'm not joking, just disgusted. As I browse the internet seeking assistance about veterans issues, I'm really appalled by the injustices that many of us face in our pursuit of benefits. I've decided that I'm going to dedicate a major portion of my time and limited resources to ensuring that this stops. There is NO reason that this process takes so long. Call it apathy or lethargy, take your pick. I call it an " American Tragedy". Our elected officials have the power to change this and with everbodies help, I think we can get them to change it. As long as THEY are creating more disabled veterans every day, they're accountable. We have so many compelling stories, and it's time we informed the world of this treatment. There is no logical reason that any claim can't be completed with 365 days (including appeals). I've been inside VA buildings, they must work smarter and perhaps harder (limiting breaks, internet browsing, chit chat etc...). If there goal were redefined for them and officials held accountable, perhaps we could affect positive outcome. Imposing real disciplinary action on neglectful officials would be a key component in affecting this change. Something as simple as three strikes and your gone. Do away with REMANDing? It wastes time. Simply overrule the previous findings. If a VA official has an original decision or a DRO has their rulings changed 3 times, they gotta go. This may make the actually read the evidence that's before them. We would simply want those involved in the process "Do the Right Thing". No more, No less. If you want to help let me know. I'm very serious. If I have to do it alone, I'll work it till I die. I heard the stories, but until it happened to me, it never hit home. I apologize to all for not taking up the fight sooner. I swear by all that is sacred to me that I will not rest until this issue is resolved. We have an election coming in 2008, if we organize and work smart, perhaps we could use this to our advantage and affect positive change by then. Media, print, internet, we'll need to pool the resources and get real EXPOSURE. I'm very serious, and I hope you are too.

GOD Bless

[Berta]

The Commission can be emailed or written to-

Also I have posted the address for the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs here many times-

also you all have state Senators and a Congressman-

If you have a VCAA violation issue and have been denied already without any VCAA rights--you have already been set up for the backlog at CAVC and BVA-

If this is the case- that your DTA rights under VCAA have been violated- write to:

Chairman Larry Craig

U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs

412 Russell Ave

Senate Office Building

Washington, D. C. 20510

Put Attention Backlog at BVA, CAVC-

Senator Craig wrote to my RO within 5 days upon receipt of my letter and I just got a nice letter from him---

My Congressman's office has a list of Buffalo claimants who are actively complaining-

your Congressmen and women and Senators are a click away via the VA web site-

The Commission: you wont get a reply- they are collecting the mail they have gotten from claimants and DO read it-

Also the IG-they will tell you they do not have jurisdiction over your complaint regarding your claim-

BUT they WILL contact the RO you complained about-

Department of Veterans Affairs

VA Office of Inspector General Hotline (53E)

P.O. Box 50410

Washington, D.C. 20091-0410

Sec Nicholson- dont bother writing to him-

I wrote a long letter in regards to three issues as soon as he got his new desk-

Blue Water vets and AO was the prime topic of my letter-

I said he had the power to change the Blue Water AO regs in a heartbeat-

This issue has nothing whatsoever to do with my claim-

what does his office do? they send my letter to my VARO --holding up my claim and Blue Water AO has nothing to do with it-

I am an advocate for Blue Water Navy vets-

I only told him of a claim I had in progress so he would know I am on both sides of fence-advocate and claimant-

Principi returned my emails with a personal message-this guy sends letters to the ROs-

and doesn't return emails-

EVeryone that is affected by the VA's lack of ability to perform the VA mission statement to the fullest should write, call, email and complain to anyone in the US of A who will listen.

I have been a PITA for years to the VA- only by being a pain in the A did I ever get anywhere-

By sitting back and talking about it as someone here said-is useless unless a plan of action and follow up action is developed.

I am investigating the Buffalo VARO and attempting to find out how many vets they have denied VCAA rights to- while in many cases it is apparent to me that vet reps and SOs stood idly by and let it happen.

As you all know there is a new idea at the VA regarding work performance-work criteria-

as it stands now the employee gets paid if they watch the hour hand on a clock all day or if they actually read and develop a claim-

Vet reps and Sos who shuffle paper are VERY worried that they will lose their jobs if we get rights to hire attorneys-

They also get paid regardless of the quality of claims advocacy they do-

Please support and email your Congressman today that you want the right to hire an attorney for your claim issues at the VA.Support the S 2694 that the Senate passed: (check this- I might have the bill wrong- it is at hadit in recent topics-)

You dont have to hire one- that will be your choice but if you DO get rights to hire an attorney-- you get

1. someone who can read

2. some who is motivated by a financial percentage to work your claim.

3. much less aggravation from the VA-who will be prohobited from getting away with DTA violations.

Even if you do not want an attorneyfor your claim- please give other veterans this right by asking your Congressman- a few clicks away to support this important legislation.

-

[mardev]

The Commission can be emailed or written to-

Also I have posted the address for the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs here many times-

also you all have state Senators and a Congressman-

If you have a VCAA violation issue and have been denied already without any VCAA rights--you have already been set up for the backlog at CAVC and BVA-

If this is the case- that your DTA rights under VCAA have been violated- write to:

Chairman Larry Craig

U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs

412 Russell Ave

Senate Office Building

Washington, D. C. 20510

Put Attention Backlog at BVA, CAVC-

Senator Craig wrote to my RO within 5 days upon receipt of my letter and I just got a nice letter from him---

My Congressman's office has a list of Buffalo claimants who are actively complaining-

your Congressmen and women and Senators are a click away via the VA web site-

The Commission: you wont get a reply- they are collecting the mail they have gotten from claimants and DO read it-

Also the IG-they will tell you they do not have jurisdiction over your complaint regarding your claim-

BUT they WILL contact the RO you complained about-

Department of Veterans Affairs

VA Office of Inspector General Hotline (53E)

P.O. Box 50410

Washington, D.C. 20091-0410

Sec Nicholson- dont bother writing to him-

I wrote a long letter in regards to three issues as soon as he got his new desk-

Blue Water vets and AO was the prime topic of my letter-

I said he had the power to change the Blue Water AO regs in a heartbeat-

This issue has nothing whatsoever to do with my claim-

what does his office do? they send my letter to my VARO --holding up my claim and Blue Water AO has nothing to do with it-

I am an advocate for Blue Water Navy vets-

I only told him of a claim I had in progress so he would know I am on both sides of fence-advocate and claimant-

Principi returned my emails with a personal message-this guy sends letters to the ROs-

and doesn't return emails-

EVeryone that is affected by the VA's lack of ability to perform the VA mission statement to the fullest should write, call, email and complain to anyone in the US of A who will listen.

I have been a PITA for years to the VA- only by being a pain in the A did I ever get anywhere-

By sitting back and talking about it as someone here said-is useless unless a plan of action and follow up action is developed.

I am investigating the Buffalo VARO and attempting to find out how many vets they have denied VCAA rights to- while in many cases it is apparent to me that vet reps and SOs stood idly by and let it happen.

As you all know there is a new idea at the VA regarding work performance-work criteria-

as it stands now the employee gets paid if they watch the hour hand on a clock all day or if they actually read and develop a claim-

Vet reps and Sos who shuffle paper are VERY worried that they will lose their jobs if we get rights to hire attorneys-

They also get paid regardless of the quality of claims advocacy they do-

Please support and email your Congressman today that you want the right to hire an attorney for your claim issues at the VA.Support the S 2694 that the Senate passed: (check this- I might have the bill wrong- it is at hadit in recent topics-)

You dont have to hire one- that will be your choice but if you DO get rights to hire an attorney-- you get

1. someone who can read

2. some who is motivated by a financial percentage to work your claim.

3. much less aggravation from the VA-who will be prohobited from getting away with DTA violations.

Even if you do not want an attorneyfor your claim- please give other veterans this right by asking your Congressman- a few clicks away to support this important legislation.

-

Ah.. another Buffalo RO happy customer! Apparently the rep who was handling my husband's claim file at the Buffalo VA was fired - and we all know how rare that is!

I am so frustrated - my husband won his BVA appeal in 2006 and was granted the reinstatement of his AO compensation, yet we have not seen any payment for over a year since the decision. During the appeal process, the VA paid him a pension and when he tried to stop it after finding out his newly awarded SS disability was more income than allowed, we had already been paid a substantial overpayment. Now the VA is using the US Treasury to offset my husband's disability payment. If we could only get the compensation payments we could clear up this debt and pay our monthly bills. The appeals decision is on the DVA website, yet they say that there is no proof that he was awarded the reinstatement -- suggestions??

[Berta]

I just replied to your Blue Water Question ---

Hope it wasnt a rep from the NYSDVA-

I just got a call from the Office of General Counsel- they are working on my 25 page complaint against 3 NYSDVA reps as well as the org's director.

I could write a book on Buffalo RO.

[timetowinarace]

I personally feel that we Vets can complain all we want, unless we get support from non-Vets, minimal changes will be made so that polititians can say they are looking out for Veterans everytime a new study on PTSD or TBI or whatever is implemented. Congressmen and Senators like to lick the flavor of the day while the rest of the icecream melts. They like to say they did this or that for Veterans as if early detection of PTSD or TBI does anything to get a proper rating. Senator Craig is a perfect example. Look at his voting record. He says one thing and votes the other way. Just like his restroom incident. He is my State Senator and I wrote a letter about him to the local paper that was printed. I only stated facts in that letter and he was so concerned about it he replied publicly in the paper. Of course he could not deny his record but only could say he had visited troops in Iraq and implemented an insurance program for them (something that cost the government nothing).

In another letter to the paper that was printed, I left politics out and simply explained the problems with the VA system using actuall verifiable facts and numbers. I explained that all of those people with yellow "we support our troops" stickers on cars could help. I invited anyone interested to contact me directly. No one did. Not one person. Not even a responce to the paper. The public is content to spend three bucks on a car magnet. They do not want to get involved.

Here is the proof. Everyone that has known me well over the years and the difficulties I have experienced with my health always asked if the VA was helping me yet. They were ligitamatly concerned for me. In that fifteen years, none of them asked why there was such a problem. They said it was "bulls**t" that I was having problems with the VA. But, no one wants the details. Now that I have my benifits, no one asks. They ask about how I am feeling but they are not concerned about Veterans issues. They, like the majority of the population, will say "that's bulls**t" when they hear of a sad Veteran story and that will be the end.

The paragraphs above are not a rant but the reason for my opinion. My opinion is that little will change unless the public is 100% behind us. The public sees a story here and a story there and then goes about thier day. My opinion is that Veterans will have to march on washington, and stay there, so that all of the public cannot go about thier day without seeing Veterans issues on local tv news, newspapers and hearing about it at work. We should stay untill there is a change. The puplic wants to be behind us right now, but will not unless we keep it in the forefront. I'm willing to go sleep in a sleeping bag in front of the capital for as long as it takes so that some Vets will not have to sleep in theirs because it is all they have for years.

I wish I could impliment this but it is not in my capability. I will be among the first to go if someone can make it happen.

We have been pecking away at Congress, the Senate, the President, and the Courts for years and that's what we get back, a peck of change here and a peck of change there. Then it's time to peck somemore because those pecks are outdated.

Just my opinion.

Time

[Josephine]

I personally feel that we Vets can complain all we want, unless we get support from non-Vets, minimal changes will be made so that polititians can say they are looking out for Veterans everytime a new study on PTSD or TBI or whatever is implemented. Congressmen and Senators like to lick the flavor of the day while the rest of the icecream melts. They like to say they did this or that for Veterans as if early detection of PTSD or TBI does anything to get a proper rating. Senator Craig is a perfect example. Look at his voting record. He says one thing and votes the other way. Just like his restroom incident. He is my State Senator and I wrote a letter about him to the local paper that was printed. I only stated facts in that letter and he was so concerned about it he replied publicly in the paper. Of course he could not deny his record but only could say he had visited troops in Iraq and implemented an insurance program for them (something that cost the government nothing).

In another letter to the paper that was printed, I left politics out and simply explained the problems with the VA system using actuall verifiable facts and numbers. I explained that all of those people with yellow "we support our troops" stickers on cars could help. I invited anyone interested to contact me directly. No one did. Not one person. Not even a responce to the paper. The public is content to spend three bucks on a car magnet. They do not want to get involved.

Here is the proof. Everyone that has known me well over the years and the difficulties I have experienced with my health always asked if the VA was helping me yet. They were ligitamatly concerned for me. In that fifteen years, none of them asked why there was such a problem. They said it was "bulls**t" that I was having problems with the VA. But, no one wants the details. Now that I have my benifits, no one asks. They ask about how I am feeling but they are not concerned about Veterans issues. They, like the majority of the population, will say "that's bulls**t" when they hear of a sad Veteran story and that will be the end.

The paragraphs above are not a rant but the reason for my opinion. My opinion is that little will change unless the public is 100% behind us. The public sees a story here and a story there and then goes about thier day. My opinion is that Veterans will have to march on washington, and stay there, so that all of the public cannot go about thier day without seeing Veterans issues on local tv news, newspapers and hearing about it at work. We should stay untill there is a change. The puplic wants to be behind us right now, but will not unless we keep it in the forefront. I'm willing to go sleep in a sleeping bag in front of the capital for as long as it takes so that some Vets will not have to sleep in theirs because it is all they have for years.

I wish I could impliment this but it is not in my capability. I will be among the first to go if someone can make it happen.

We have been pecking away at Congress, the Senate, the President, and the Courts for years and that's what we get back, a peck of change here and a peck of change there. Then it's time to peck somemore because those pecks are outdated.

Just my opinion.

Time

Time,

You are absolutely correct. Until veterans ban together and go to Washington, this will go on for years and there will be no end to it.

There are millions of veterans out there, until we are really seen, we will never be remembered.

Always,

Betty

[allan]

The DVA operates exactly as it is designed to by congress.

Obama may make some changes after he takes office, but the primary mission of VA will likely remain the same.

Has anyone ever heard of a rating specialist, DRO etc going to jail for illegally cheating disabled Veterans out of their benefits?

I've heard a few go to jail for cheating the government out of money, but not vets. This is what they get bonuses for.

May as well write satan and ask him to stop lying as to ask Congress to protect veterans from such acts.