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.

 

[paulstrgn]

Buck SSDI needs to be changed for those disabled vets who cannot work because of their SC disabilities but did not pay enough into SS. It is not the vets fault, they put their life on the line for our country and now we treat them as second class citizens. Vets deserve much more than they get, none of them should be homeless because they cannot make enough to pay rent. All vets deserve better!!!!

I know the early retirement is not much but I am glad you get it. I love it that you still have your truck which is 18 years old. I am curious about how the lease works out for you, I have always been of the mind set of always owning the vehicle. But I have considered leasing a vehicle in the future.

[Buck52]

paul quoted

''Buck SSDI needs to be changed for those disabled vets who cannot work because of their SC disabilities but did not pay enough into SS. It is not the vets fault,''

I agree totally.

As for as leasing a new vehicle . and turning it back in after 36 months with less than 36000 miles   you get to pick your vehicle . this year we choose the 2019 Toyota Sienna XLE family van.

Use to we would buy a new vehicle and make payments for 60 months(so the payments was not so high) anyway after 60 months the vehicle usually is loaded up with high mileage and need maintenance more often  things start to beak down after 60 months and the high cost of vehicle repairs is very expensive today.

so we usually just trade the vehicle in on another used certified with low mileage or just get a new one this year the salesman mention to us why we should lease  and it made sense  leasing a new vehicle you don't have repairs  its under factory warranty  or you can buy an extra maint protection plan at an option..also they change the oil filter every 5 000 mile for free.during the lease, .the only bad thing about leasing is you got to keep the mileage under 36000 miles during the 3 years...so if we take a long trip we fly(My son works for American Airlines)  so we get cheap cheap stand by tickets to anywhere we want to go or can afford to go)... 

the only thing  we use the lease car for is just in town drives  like to  Dr visits the grocery stores or to visit friends or go to BINGO ...LOL

I drive my old truck to the VA about 52 miles one way (travel pay helps)  this Truck I have I purchase it New in 2002 and its never ever gave me any problems , I Change the oil/filters and do regular check up maint on it every 5000 miles  my secret is  I never let anyone drive it.

I have put 3 sets of Michlens on it  and while it was still under warranty I had the timing belt replaced and have replaced the Battery 3 times  that's about all I've done to it  other than flush the radiator out and added new coolant fluids ever 4 years...I Love My Truck. current milage 175000 miles and still good for another 175000.....

  I am the only driver ..it still as the original upholstery excellent condition  .A/C and heater still works fine  it drives smooth and every thing works great on it   I have no reason to want to get rid of it  its the best dang truck I ever owned  ITS A 2002 SR5 V-8 4.7 Lt Tundra.

Usually I am a Ford F-250 Super Duty man or a Chevy Silverado 1/2 ton man,   but for the last 18 years I been a Toyota Man...LoL

Oh I forgot  I had to replace the Carrier Bearing on the driveshaft  but that is fairly easy to do if you have a 1/2 in i air Impack Wranch to get that yolk nut off . the bearing its self is not expensive.

 

[retiredat44]

1 hour ago, Buck52 said:

Yes paul the system is flawed but that's the way it is intended to be we get baloney and the congress critters get T-Bones.

As for as getting a little on the side   with SSDI some veteran don't qualify for that (not enough work credits paid into) if they could not work due to their sc disability .

so they can't pay into the SSDI System to meet the qualifications to be eligible   this is just one other reason ,why the VA Needs to Increase the compensation pay.

Lucky for me I took early retirement at age 62 (68)now the monthly retirement check is not that big about 1000. extra a month   ...that will help with grocery's and maybe a medium car payment (450.00 month)if needed...I hang on to my cars  my truck is 18 years old and still runs like a new one  but we usually trade our family cars every 3 years.

this year we are trying the lease program.

But we still strive to make ends meet.

We leased a couple times, then ended up buying the car.. it's a balloon payment at the end... upside down.. which is stupid mathematically...

I can no longer work  on cars so the car has to be pretty new so  it isn't falling apart... have a Camry Hybrid,, wife works part time and drives it 99% of the time.

 

[Buck52]

yeah the lease program has its flaws too  but at least no unexpected repairs  or maint cost during the lease.

I won't buy the lease car after the lease runs out  I just get another one  that Balloon payment  is like paying double for Vehicle  the dealer gets the lease car back and it being under 36000 miles they certify it and re sell for a huge profit.  this is why they don't allow you to go over 36000 miles during the lease.

pay 20.000 on the lease for 36 months then pay another 20.000 to buy it out right===  no thank you.

[paulstrgn]

1 hour ago, retiredat44 said:

I can no longer work  on cars so the car has to be pretty new

I haven't been able to work on cars, it is because they are too complicated. Now give me a Model A (was actually my first car -- no I did not buy it new) or a 1957 T-Bird I can work on those. But these newer ones you need to hook to a computer to figure out what is wrong. Plus I don't know if I can find most of the items in a car anymore...lol

[GBArmy]

I'm not real big on leasing, but there is one big advantage. IF you should die leave a wife that is totally clueless about car maintenance  or repairs, most have it included in the lease. She has a friend  that I truly believe that doesn't understand cars need oil changes. She never does and after 3 or 4 years she wonders why the engine is shot. Unbelievable. So, my wife doesn't drive much anyway, so that's what I told her to do.I'm like retiredat44, my trucks just keep on giving (until the salt from the road treatments in the winter eats away the frame .)