Veterans Affairs screwed over by a system i supported by my taxes for disabled vets. Ripoff Washington District of Columbia
i was recently discharged from the u.s. army for a permanent injury (ruptured L4/5 disk). i now have problems walking or doing the things most people take for granted. after 15 years of service to the army and serving in two wars, the u.s army and dept. of veterans affairs saw fit to award me a whopping %10 disability! i saw others being discharged with fake knee and asthma complaints receiving %40 or more, then going out to the club on weekends and setting the floor on fire with their dance moves! while waiting in the va office one day, i heard an army e-8 (first sergeant) and e-9 (sergeant major) bragg how they were gonna get their retirement and claim disability even though nothing was wrong with them! when i go to the va doctor (i can do this as long as its related to my bad disk), they wont even discuss the proceedure to increase percentage/ benefits or file an appeal. instead they want to give me potent pain killers and keep me drugged.
for any young person thinking about joining the army... don't. neither the army nor the department responsible for the benefits promised will do the right/ fair thing. i wished i could stop my tax dollars from funding the army and the va!
Tommy
jesup, Georgia
U.S.A.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Cory
San Antonio,Texas,
U.S.A.
I'll Try Again
#4Consumer Suggestion
Wed, October 26, 2005
In my experience, the DAV is a great organization and has helped me several times in just such a situation. Look them up and contact them. They'll do all the paperwork at no charge. Don't know about those others. Here we are at 2000 and if you believe that figure, you'll believe anything. God bless our troops and those navy guys too. Semper Fi.
P
South Carolina,South Carolina,
U.S.A.
Do it now
#4Consumer Comment
Wed, October 26, 2005
Get you a VA rep. someone like the American Legion, there are many. When I was trying to get my rating I got nothing, then I heard about this counselor at the VA office who is with the American Legion and let me say he worked for me and got me what I deserve.
Daniel
Venice,California,
U.S.A.
Be patient with the VA
#4UPDATE Employee
Wed, October 26, 2005
Tommy, you need to remember who you are dealing with. VA is a big slow bureacracy but if you keep after them you will get what you deserve.
First of all you need to act fast. There is a deadline to appeal the rating decision. If the deadline has passed you can re-file the claim but this causes more delay.
Secondly, consider having a VSO (Veteran's Service Organization) represent you. These are non-profit groups who know their way around the system and act on your behalf in dealing with VA. The most well-known are are VFW and American Legion but there are at least a dozen others. Each of them has representatives at your VA Regional Office.
If you are a do-it-yourselfer then you need to read carefully the summary of your Case and rating decision to see why they came up with only 10%. This is a very low rating for a ruptured disc that you incurred while on active duty. There is probably a simple explanation. For example, since you were seperated recently it is possible that at the time your claim was rated, your SMR's were not yet available to the office processing your claim. They are only allowed a certain amount of time to wait for "medical evidence" and then they have to make a decision, ready or not.
Be patient, make copies of everything you submit, and keep everything they send you.
Unfortunately, there are some employees at VA who seem like stereotypical government paper-pushers with a bad attitude, but I promise that behind the scenes are very smart and conscientious rating officers who take seriously both the role of VA and their own jobs.
To sum it up, you need to take action, educate yourself, and pursue what you deserve. If you don't think you can handle it, sign up with a VSO and let them bat for you.
PS: Don't worry about those guys who think they are successfully ripping off the system. VA always gets even, just....very....slowlyyyyy...;-)