Is the VBA guilty of bullying veterans?

[jamescripps2]

I was rated for PN at 50% right upper extremity and 40% in the other three limbs for years. On the 27th of August 2015, after a four year battle, I was awarded loss of use of R/ upper extremity as due to PN to include carpal tunnel and ulnar involvement.  Loss of use, 50% of R/lower extremity due to PN to include complete loss of the peroneal  nerve. The rating for the PN of the upper and lower extremities remains the same @ 40%. I was granted the automobile grant with adaptive equipment and the special adaptive home grant. My SMC is at the M rate with 1k and an S award.

I was given the decision by one of the Service Officers who works for the Tennessee Department of Veterans Services. I just happened to run into the guy and he informed me that I had won my claim. I told him that I was unaware of the claim being granted. He brought it up on his computer and made me a copy of the August 27, 2015 decision. It has been more than a month since the decision and I have not received the official brown envelop. I also can't get the VBA to sign off on the form 21-4502. I did get a letter from prosthetics and was given an appointment w  for the adaptive equipment, which has been ordered. The SAH agent also called and paid a visit to assess my home for improvements or to build a new home. Still no big brown envelope.

Yesterday, I paid a visit to Senator Corker's office and voiced my complaint. What good is a Vehicle grant if you can't get the va to sign the form and return it. In my opinion, as a group, the VBA commits the worst case of bullying in America. Either they are inept or they bully the very veterans whom they are committed to serve!

[Chuck75]

I don't know that I'd call it "Bullying". Perhaps fraud and attempted fraud is more accurate.

I'd like to see the "sovereign immunity" defense used by the VA be waived by Congress to remove any doubts or questions of responsibility.

[broncovet]

Nobody likes delays, except VA, because they profit from delays.  At a minimum, VA gets an interest free loan from the Veteran, and often the Veteran dies or gives up on his claim, so the Va profits even more.  The delays will continue as long as VA continues to profit from them.  Can you imagine a contractor working on your home that the longer it takes him to do the job, the more he gets paid?   If you get mad and sue him, and win, he still gets an intrest free loan, no matter what.  Veterans are the only group where interest is exempt.   That is, of course for the interest we have to pay VA, then we pay or we can lose our home.  

[jamescripps2]

Its sort of a catch 22. I am highly appreciative for what I do get from the VA. Without the VA benefits I would for sure be in a world of hurt. In the process over the last ten years of trying to claim those benefits really took a toll on myself and my family. It should not have been that way. I now have my earned benefits but neither I or any veteran that I know of trust the VA in any circumstance. In private enterprise if you have no satisfied customers you don't survive. The VA has no satisfied customers that I know of, not even the ones who eventually win their claims. The lack of accountability of individual VA employees has created a monster of an organization that is hostile to the veteran that it is meant to serve.

[Fat]

Congrats on the award.

Hope you settle your situation.