#10 DAV

[VETOVET]

Please, welcome new VET2VET podcast episode:

https://youtu.be/waV5t0HPtbM

Today we are joined by Thomas Wendel, DAV National area supervisor for West Cost Region.
Thomas E. Wendel served in the U. S. Marine Corps from 1983 until 1997.
Since 1999, Tom has worked assisting veterans in processing various entitlement claims on the local, state and federal levels; first in Clare County as a county service officer and then when he came to work for the Disabled American Veterans in 2000. In 2008 he was promoted to the position of supervisor of the DAV Service Office in Detroit and later he was promoted to the position of supervisor of the DAV National area for West Cost Region.
DAV is America’s largest, most effective veterans service organizations dedicated to the needs of those injured, ill or wounded in service. We have more than 1,300 Chapters in communities nationwide to help make sure veterans from all generations and their families get the benefits and support they deserve. Today, nearly 1.3 million veterans belong to DAV, and we encourage you to add your voice to the cause. Our programs and free services help all veterans get the health, disability and financial benefits they earned. Take advantage of our benefits claims assistance, medical transportation and employment resources. Your local DAV Chapter is a great way to connect with fellow veterans in your area.

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Edited June 17, 2016 by VETOVET

[Andyman73]

I did think it interesting, that on their website, they did not list the phone for my local chapter...which is only 5 or so miles from my house! And when I called their regional office, they didn't have the local rep call me back, someone from the main office(70 miles away)did.  Even the rep at my VAMC(only 18 miles away) is closer, and didn't call me back either.

I guess you have to be a dues paying member to get their honest help.

[Victor Ray]

5 hours ago, Andyman73 said:

I also revoked the DAV's POA, just recently.

I had a few claims denied back in Jan/Feb of this year. However, the DAV recommended a decision in November of 2015, before these claims were even at the RO's office!

When I called them, and waited the 4-6 weeks for their return call, the guy on the phone told me that all my claims were denied...so, that tells me the decision the DAV recommended was to deny all my current claims.

So, in my personal experience, all the DAV did for me was stand in front of me and block my every move.

They should be ashamed of themselves.

Hi Andyman,

i figured out that DAV is DVA. This is the dirty branch (IMO) of the Department of Veterans Affairs who basically gets veterans as little compensation as possible, to keep costs down. There are hundreds of thousands of phony claims processed continuously, and have to be weeded out, but DAV enters the venture with assuming you are a phony, unless you have a face or abdomen missing. I understand their concern, but the records speak for themselves and need no defense, so they should aggressively move on it! There is much more money involved than we know about. Bonuses that are more than we ever made in a year, but the payout must be kept low to veterans. I think you made a wise choice. Good luck.,PS....read this story too. 1 week to resolve a "CUE" and I am 45 years and waiting.

[Victor Ray]

39 minutes ago, Andyman73 said:

I did think it interesting, that on their website, they did not list the phone for my local chapter...which is only 5 or so miles from my house! And when I called their regional office, they didn't have the local rep call me back, someone from the main office(70 miles away)did.  Even the rep at my VAMC(only 18 miles away) is closer, and didn't call me back either.

I guess you have to be a dues paying member to get their honest help.

There is no wonder we are in a mess. The VA keeps hiring and it takes twice as long. Figure that out. Some are great and some just take up space. I would call them at least once a day, every day, and ask what has been done today, and call the 1-800-827-1000 everyday, if you can get through. Good luck.

Victor Ray

[Buck52]

 I don't mean to put anyone down at the DAV  some are good people but there few and far between   this is just my experience with them.

Andyman

In case you didn't know?

you might want to look on ebenny's and check to see if they still have DAV as your Rep?

From what was said here on hadit a few years ago or so    it is hard to have your POA Revoked ..and you need to get confirmation that it is.

Even when you submit the to the VA and request you want the DAV Rep Revoked from your POA..they ignore the request.

However  if a Veterans seeks an Accredited VA Attorney  then the Attorney becomes the veterans POA  especially so at the BVA.

& new Rep and the DAV is OUT.

....Buck

Spoiler

 

 

[Andyman73]

Thanks, Buck, I keep forgetting to check ebennies to see if they've been removed.

Victor Ray,

Is there no end to what lengths people or groups will go to, to take advantage of, or even screw over, the Vets of this country???

Bet they got that claim fixed because it was the one mentioned in that article.

Semper Fi

[Victor Ray]

3 hours ago, broncovet said:

This "Vet 2 Vet" could very well be very good, helpful people, and our comments may be misdirected.  Of course, there is always a continium on levels of competency in every endeavor.  

The DAV has at least 2 strikes with me:

1.  When they said, years ago, "Vietnmam" vets are not "real" Vets, and did not recognize us, they contributed to the problem they were supposed to be chartered to solve.  

2.  When they took a stand against Vets having an attorney a few years ago, this was unnecessarily limiting Vets choices.  They may have backed off one or both these positions as DAV now helps some priveledged Vets get NVLSP attorneys.  

3.  I also dont like the head honchos earning 350 grand a year.  250 of that should go to helping Vets.  Whoops, that is 3.  Lets call the last strike a foul ball.  

The DAV needs reformed almost as much as the VA.  Again, however, these vet 2 vet guys may just be great.  

They struck out with me and thousands of others, but they don't know it yet. Some do get awards fairly quick, and are happy to get anything at all, so they praise DAV. But when justice is covered up, and we get lies instead, then it's corrupt. I filed in 1983 because I still had lots of issues still, from Vietnam Hospitalization and afterwards, but it was swept under the rug as my skin disease was not service connected, and AO did no harm. 

I finally got slapped in the face after 45 years with 50% and $500 in back pay, after a decision and 2 reconsiderations. That's 500 dollars, not thousand, but either way it's unacceptable. This borders on criminal malpractice or maybe it is, because treatment was denied, which I am sure fueled  the deterioration. H*ll, in the service I couldn't get decent treatment, because they did not know what AOExposure was. It wasn't in our knowledge yet, but they knew I was very ill, but retained me as I was worsening, and did nothing.

i believe you are right. The salaries are outrageous. Many would do their job for 1/3 what they get for doing little to nothing. Good Luck Broncovet!

Victor