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

     

The VAMC Runaraound

Rate this topic


Recommended Posts

  • Content Curator/HadIt.com Elder

Anyone else experience this type of runaround from the VAMC?

  1. Secure message sent to PCP via myhealth.va.gov with a request for specific treatment previously received from former PCP doctor who no longer works there
  2. Nurse responds the next day stating message was forwarded to the doctor.
  3. A week goes by with no response.
  4. Called the PCP clinic and was told I needed to come in and be seen. Next appointment is eight weeks out.
  5. Told I could come as a walk-in, but likely would sit all day and be seen last.
  6. Came in as walk-in at 7 am. Waited all day. Was seen at 3:45 pm.
  7. Doc said they needed to refer me to a specialist because they "don't do that".
  8. Asked why they were not able to tell me this via secure messaging. They said I needed to come in and get seen first.
  9. Appointment with specialist scheduled six weeks later
  10. Saw specialist (resident) and they said they "don't do that", but PCP clinic does. Explained PCP said they "don't do that" either. Resident talks to attending and told to go back to PCP to get request handled.
  11. Talked with Patient Advocate and explained runaround. Was told they would send an internal email to my PCP and the clinic boss.
  12. A week goes by and no response from PCP clinic.
  13. Called the PCP clinic and was told I needed to come in and be seen. Next appointment is eight weeks out or I can come as a walk-in. Let them know I would be calling Patient Advocate again.
  14. Talked with Patient Advocate and explained no response from PCP and still getting runaround. Asked to speak with someone in charge and advised it is best to let the system work. Explained system has failed to work for last couple of months. They send another email.
  15. Asked Patient Advocate about the facilities Standard of Care and the Patient's Bill of Rights. Asked to speak with someone in charge. Was told I could speak with the Chief of Staff, but they were in a meeting. Next open time slot for them is six days later, but I cannot make it due to work commitments.
  16. Another week goes by and still no response from anybody.

This is not the first time something like this has happened.

Should I go through the runaround again?

Should I contact the Chief of Staff, Director, elected official, or the media?

Thanks

"If it's stupid but works, then it isn't stupid."
- From Murphy's Laws of Combat

Disclaimer: I am not a legal expert, so use at own risk and/or consult a qualified professional representative. Please refer to existing VA laws, regulations, and policies for the most up to date information.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 months later...
  • Replies 2
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

This has happened to me over the last year at the Boise VA Med Center.  I won't mention names, but here's what happened.

Developed sores on my arms and legs, extremely itchy!!  Figured I'd use over the counter medicine to try to cure it.

Saw my Psychiatrist (as I do every three months) for medicine.  He noticed the sores and said "you look like some of the people that use meth".  Gee, thanks Doc.

A couple of months later, I saw my team NP.  She determined it was psoriasis and gave me some meds.  She told me to call back if no improvement.  This was around April 2016.  Called back and the nurse took a note.  I can see the note in E-Benefits (MyHeathyVet). Never heard from her. Told my anxiety and agoraphobia therapist about it.  No help.

Decided "forget them" and went to a civilian dermatologist, who had a completely different diagnosis.

Pretty much the only thing I can count on from the VA is a physical and that my meds will continue to be lowered.  I'm thinking that if Doc lowers my meds once more, I'll seek civilian treatment.  I don't need a Doc that belittles me and doesn't meet my needs.

My suggestion to you would be to document it and try to elevate it.  Then seek treatment outside of the VA.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • HadIt.com Elder

Its weird a NP to prescribe meds in a field he/she never studied? or I would question his/her credentials? ..I would have ask for a referral to the correct/proper clinic with trained personal.

 If I DON'T UNDERSTAND SOMETHING I QUESTION IT RIGHT THEN.

I am not an Attorney or VSO, any advice I provide is not to be construed as legal advice, therefore not to be held out for liable BUCK!!!

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

    • spazbototto earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Paul Gretza earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Troy Spurlock went up a rank
      Community Regular
    • KMac1181 earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • jERRYMCK earned a badge
      Week One Done
  • Our picks

    • These decisions have made a big impact on how VA disability claims are handled, giving veterans more chances to get benefits and clearing up important issues.

      Service Connection

      Frost v. Shulkin (2017)
      This case established that for secondary service connection claims, the primary service-connected disability does not need to be service-connected or diagnosed at the time the secondary condition is incurred 1. This allows veterans to potentially receive secondary service connection for conditions that developed before their primary condition was officially service-connected. 

      Saunders v. Wilkie (2018)
      The Federal Circuit ruled that pain alone, without an accompanying diagnosed condition, can constitute a disability for VA compensation purposes if it results in functional impairment 1. This overturned previous precedent that required an underlying pathology for pain to be considered a disability.

      Effective Dates

      Martinez v. McDonough (2023)
      This case dealt with the denial of an earlier effective date for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) 2. It addressed issues around the validity of appeal withdrawals and the consideration of cognitive impairment in such decisions.

      Rating Issues

      Continue Reading on HadIt.com
      • 0 replies
    • I met with a VSO today at my VA Hospital who was very knowledgeable and very helpful.  We decided I should submit a few new claims which we did.  He told me that he didn't need copies of my military records that showed my sick call notations related to any of the claims.  He said that the VA now has entire military medical record on file and would find the record(s) in their own file.  It seemed odd to me as my service dates back to  1981 and spans 34 years through my retirement in 2015.  It sure seemed to make more sense for me to give him copies of my military medical record pages that document the injuries as I'd already had them with me.  He didn't want my copies.  Anyone have any information on this.  Much thanks in advance.  
      • 4 replies
    • 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.   
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Guidelines and Terms of Use