VSO states they work for the VA not for ME

[GeekySquid]

So, as some know I have been having a little war with the VA and my VSO, the American Legion, about getting my DBQ's.

So today I went to the VSO's office in the VARO building during their "walk in" hours since I could not get them to give me an appointment.

On the door was as sign saying the office was closed for the week for training and left the 800 number for Washington DC office.

I knock on the door anyway. Two ladies answer.

Tell them what I want and that I need them to do it today.

They invite me into the office.

I hand them a typed sheet with the Dates and Dr's of my C&P's and a list of documents for each one that I need.

The first lady says she doesn't know why I am there. The second lady says she will help me. The first lady says show me how we do this.

Okay

I tell them again what I want and the 2nd lady says why do you want to file a NOD, I tell her. She says you don't need these files to file an appeal.......The VA already has them. I tell her I need to know exactly what the DBQ says and what the letters to and from VA says. I also need the code sheets as they existed at each point for each approved and denied C&P.

She tells me no i don't and if I insist on filing a NOD I should just file an HLR.. I told her no, that would not work for this and the HLR results are not typically veteran friendly.

She then spends 20 minutes more telling me that I need to listen to her because veterans don't know what they want and don't know anything about the VA and how to win their claim.

She then says "We work for the VA not for you, and the VA knows what it is doing".

this of course makes me mad and I say to her " I am asking you to get me these files. nothing more. I have heard your opinion and all you need to do is get me copies of these files." She then starts in again trying to convince me not to file.

I get more insistent and tell her that i heard her but I expect her to do exactly as I requested, nothing more.

She then says "Well you don't need those files so let me file the NOD" I tell her NO. Resoundingly empathically NO>

She then tells me I know how to file a NOD. She then remembers I am filing a CUE and says "you shouldn't file a CUE because you will never win and then the VA will be mad at you"......

Just f'ing wow.

Then I tell her once again to do what I asked her to do and to stop trying to dissuade me from what I want. I tell her she is wasting her time and mine and that all I want is her to get those documents.

She then yells to the other woman to get "Bill".  Man comes in and says "those are VA files you don't get to have them".

I tell him he is wrong and ask who he is. He refuses to answer. I look at woman 2 and say Please tell me your full name so I have a record. She wants to know why. I tell her point blank, that the next time I speak to AL in DC I am going to reference her and what she has said and not done. I then look at "Bill" and ask his name. He tells me 'you don't need to know that". I tell him I do because saying "Bill from AL means nothing to anyone". He snaps back 'I don't work for AL I work for VFW".

I ask him why he is sticking his nose into an AL situation? He gets mad and leaves.

She writes down her name, at least I think it is her name, date and time .

Then says all she is going to do is fill out a FOIA.  At this point I decide to let her do that and get a copy to submit with my complaint to the AL.

 She then asks me what I want. Types that I want my C-file and the files on the attached sheet, prints it, shoves it at me and says to Sign it. I tell her no it is not accurate and ask for a pen and write explicitly what  I want.

She literally tries to argue with me.

I tell her to stop arguing and write the FOIA the way I tell her.

She writes it wrong in her own phrasing and i made her redo it.

Then I made her add Time is of the essence on the form.

When she handed it to me. I initialed before and after the typing and drew a line threw the blank space.

She gasped and asked why I did that. I said "its blank space and anyone could add words to that blank space. She then started to say, and got half way through saying

'I needed to put more stuff...." and then shut up as she realized she was admitting to falsifying a FOIA over my signature.

 

I am not sure which is worse, having the people with my POA try and screw me over or having the VA which is supposed to be on my side try and Screw me over.

 

[Miken2c74]

My VSO is also DAV (Pittsburgh) my second interaction with them over the phone call with pissed me off so bad. The rep on the other end of the phone was rude, and I am not talking about regular rude nasty rude. I kept my cool I didn't curse even though it was right on the tip of my tongue. I am an old Army Non Com, that level unprofessional-ism and incompetency it drives me absolutely insane. So any paperwork I want the VA to have I send it directly to VA and CC DAV. 

[ShrekTheTank]

this one definitely takes the cake

 

[GeekySquid]

1 hour ago, Vync said:

And I thought I had some bad VSOs...

My turn in the barrel

1 hour ago, shrekthetank1 said:

this one definitely takes the cake

mud pie

[jbasser]

Folks, you need to read your VSO's organizations by laws. Some do actually state that and it is sad. If your stuck with a VSO, you could be in for the long haul. It is a tough decision, Do I use a Free VSO or do I employ a Certified Claims agent. If you have already have a decision in hand, I know what I would do. 

 

[paulstrgn]

That is why i got rid of my VSO (I know there are good ones) but this group was there for a social club and not there to assist, plus they did not know anything. I signed up with them when the regional VSO made a circuit ride the next Friday (I was there at 7 am to see them). He was knowledgeable and said unfortunately this location is not n the ball. After I had signed up I tried contacting them a few times and mostly got voice mail and email was only responded to a few times. I decided they were just too busy for me and I was better off going it alone. So far I think I made the right choice, with this sight and the help of google I have been able to file all my claims and get mostly good outcomes. So in my opinion unless you are at the stage of needing a lawyer I think one can do it on their own. JMO

[robert51]

i tried to get a VSO here in the philippines found the VFW the guy stalled and stalled except for the POA sheet then after 6 weeks i said  hey we should meet i want to apply for this disability ... and he said back it takes a long time and if your in a hurry maybe you can find someone else

Edited August 10, 2019 by robert51