ASK VA your questions, TODAY

[broncovet]

VA has a special where we can ask questions TODAY, at 3:00 to "people that matter?"  Someone should ask why we can not ask them questions EVERY day, why today only? (This is a big problem with VA..the 800 number often does not give specific answers).  We should have people in VA who "solve Vets problems" like Allison Hickey did a few years ago. 

You can ask questions to the following people: Dayna Cooper, Director, Home & Community Based Programs, VHA Geriatric Services Lisa Pape, Deputy Chief PCS Officer, VHA Caregiver Support LtCol Brad Lanto, Director, Field Operations, VHA Mental Health and Suicide Prevention RDML Ann Duff, Director, VA Office of Survivor Assistance The Honorable Cheryl Mason, Chairman of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals Charmain Bogue, Executive Director of VA Education Service at VBA Lori Gerhard, Director, Office of Interagency Innovation, U.S. Administration for Community Living (HHS) SGT Bryce Carpenter, Ph.D., Manager, Veterans Legacy Program, National Cemetery Administration (NCA) SGT Jordan Ketner, Lead Outreach Specialist, Veterans Benefits Administration, Benefits Assistance Service Jessica Schiefer, VHA Communications Officer, Vet Centers PO2 Joe Lattimer, Office of Outreach and Stakeholder Engagement, VB MAJ Eva Weatherley, Training Consultant, Veterans Benefits Administration, Compensation Service Caitlin Thompson, VP, Community Partnerships at Cohen Veterans Network Deirdre Armstrong, Director, Community Partnerships, Bob Woodruff Foundation Melissa Comeau, Director, American Red Cross Military and Veteran Caregiver Network Alexandra Drane, Co-Founder & CEO at ARCHANGELS Dr. Jennifer Olsen, DrPH Executive Director Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving Maj Bonnie Carroll, President and Founder, TAPS COL Brynt Parmeter, Senior Director Military Programs at Walmart Coleton Whitaker, Program Manager at Elizabeth Dole Foundation Jeanette Gilles, Deputy Director of Community Integration at Americas Warrior Partnership Kristy Kaufmann, Co-Founder & Executive Director at Code of Support Foundation JOIN US

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Edited July 21, 2020 by broncovet (see edit history)

[Buck52]

Yeah

I wish they would give us a good reason as to why we can't view the VBMS? WHEN ITS OUR MEDICAL RECORDS WE BE LOOKING AT.

[Vync]

@Buck52 I agree! We should have access to VBMS and all scanned documentation.

It stinks when they give you a one year appeal window, so you request your claims folder so you can make an educated response. If it takes more than a year to receive the folder, you're just out of luck.

[pacmanx1]

Why can't VA eliminate the Call Centers and The Evidence Intake Centers?  There is a VA regional Office in every state or just about every state. Years ago when a veteran called the 1-800 number, it would connect the veteran to his/her own VA Regional Office . The Call Centers and The Evidence Intake Centers only complicated things. So why can't VA revert back to the old way system where a veteran could call the 1 800 number and get his/her local VA Regional Office where they could give a more accurate response?

 

 

[Buck52]

Anyone call this # yesterday? if so what was the results?

I was going to call but had to take wife to Dr at 2:30pm

Was just curious if any of you guys called in?

[Vync]

On 7/21/2020 at 11:04 AM, pacmanx1 said:

Why can't VA eliminate the Call Centers and The Evidence Intake Centers?  There is a VA regional Office in every state or just about every state. Years ago when a veteran called the 1-800 number, it would connect the veteran to his/her own VA Regional Office . The Call Centers and The Evidence Intake Centers only complicated things. So why can't VA revert back to the old way system where a veteran could call the 1 800 number and get his/her local VA Regional Office where they could give a more accurate response?

Before they centralized the call centers and evidence intake centers, some VARO's did their job more effectively or handled different workloads than others.

I can say that since the change, I noticed I no longer have to wait on hold for an hour to talk to someone. After talking to a number of VA employees since the changes occurred, call centers were not officially consolidated to a single facility. Employees at each VARO log into a central call system and answer the next caller in queue.

Unless they change their internal rules and regulations, I don't think that we will be able to get more quality information from each call. I had a WH VA Hotline complaint about a claim that was jacked up by the VA. The request was sent to my VARO, but the mistake was actually made by the VARO in New Orleans.

 

[Vync]

6 hours ago, Buck52 said:

Anyone call this # yesterday? if so what was the results?

I was going to call but had to take wife to Dr at 2:30pm

Was just curious if any of you guys called in?

I believe the event was hosted online via rally point. I wanted join, but got stuck working.

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/vetxl-families-together-q-a-with-va-and-community-partners-to-provide-information-and-responses-from-experts-on-veteran-family-resources

As of now, there were 373 post responses in their topic.

[Scottymedic]

Assuming I missed the opportunity.   My questions would have been about plans to improve VA.gov

1.  The site can be buggy at times and report incorrect or outdated information.   Any plan  to allow Veterans a way to easily report bugs on the site?   For example: a check box in each claim or appeal to report a bug.  

2.  I'm sure Veterans are constantly logging in for updates.  This must have an impact on the performance of the site.  What is the time table to provide email or text alerts when there is an update?  Could id.me be used as a provider for this service? 

3. Decision letters are a major security risk in my view especially with the social security number listed.    What is the time table to get the decisions  up on VA.gov?

4. What it the time table to get C-File and VBMS files on VA.gov?

5.  What congressional and budget requirements are needed to develop VA.gov?

[broncovet]

Go ahead and ask your question(s) Scotty, even tho this is over.  Pick the person from the list you think may have some influence over your issue. 

This is a long standing complaint of mine with VA:  Who can we call when we need a problem fixed??  We used to be able to "ask Allison Hickey", but apparently no one has stepped in to fill that void. 

I truly beleive would could solve some issues at the VA, but they are not interested "one iota" in our views or complaints.  They just ask the VSO's, who are often in la la land and dont really represent Vets best interests.  Example:

A few years ago, the major VSO's "rallied against" allowing Veterans to hire an attorney.  They argued we didnt need them, we had VSO's.

Of course, that fails to address "what happens" when your VSO fails you and your VSO can not or will not help Veterans.  We dont need VSO's to "protect us" on how we spend our money.  The VA fiduciary program already "protects" Veterans from themselves, and that program is a fustercluck.