Fell At The Vamc, Now Told To File With Varo? I Am Not A Veteran.

[TiredVeteran]

Sorry if this is the wrong forum. I am the wife of a veteran. Took my husband to the VA for his appointment, parked the van, and had a bad fall going in the door due to construction materials lying around. I can't remember much of that fall. First thing I recall was a midget trying to get me up. ok, it was not a midget, it was me being addled. The incident was on tape, the VA reviewed it and sent me what appears to be a tort claim or 1151, I get those confused. VA refused any help in paying my medical bills.

WHY are they always so adverserial? Have to make sure this doesn't impact my husband more than necessary, he sure doesn't need the stress. Also, how do I get their records on what happened that day? The letter states I do not need an attorney. I do need someone to help me with this though. I thought the Regional Offices were for veterans? If they are going to force me to go through

some type process, how do I get their tape protected from being erased?

Sorry to ask you all for help, but really don't know who to ask?

Debbie

[lotzaspotz]

I work in a casino, and we have surveillance everywhere; in cases when someone gets hurt on property, it takes an attorney to prevent those tapes from being taped over. Immediately get your attorney to get a legal directive to freeze that video before it disappears.

[georgiapapa]

Totally agree with lotzaspotz.

I would be concerned about the attorney using an FOIA request to obtain the evidence, especially the video tapes, in a timely manner. By the time the FOIA request is processed by the VA, the video tape may have been taped over. I am not an attorney, but it seems like the attorney would go to the U.S. District Court that has jurisdiction over the VAMC where the fall occurred and ask a federal judge to issue a TRO or other type of court order directing the VAMC to immediately turn over the video tape to the court where it will preserved and safeguarded until further directed by the court. JMO.

GP