I am a veteran. I spent almost thirty years in service to the United States of America, willing to give my life, my health, and my service to my nation. I retired after having served on active duty, as a reservist, and in the National Guard. And while I was being recruited I was assured that the military takes care of its own. If I were to retire I would never have to worry about health care or destitution. I would be rewarded for my loyal service.
I retired with an honorable discharge, a stack of medals and ribbons, and a series of injuries mostly emanating from that service (from back issues, a torn knee ligament, broken noses, to exposure to burn pits and tuberculosis).
Today, I receive my health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs, or “V.A.”. So did my father. So does my brother. The three of us retired. And now, my mother does, also. She served in the Women's Army Corps, aka “The WACS.”
Now allow me to digress for a moment. What most Americans and many service members don't understand is that the V.A. has two 'divisions.' One is exclusively health care. The other is the bureaucracy that determines service members' disabilities, and their actual eligibility for these earned benefits. The system is archaic and incredibly bureaucratic. It takes many veterans years of applications, examinations, submissions, and appeals just to be recognized as even somewhat disabled. Many veterans could be technically labeled as 200% disabled (the max is 100%). But just getting the minimum for benefits (30%) can be an utter nightmare. I know a man who was severely injured and was medically discharged. He's in a wheelchair, but struggled to get even a 10% disability initially.
The health care side has had its moments of shame, also. We've all heard of secret wait lists where not a few veterans died while waiting for the most basis lifesaving care. It was not pretty. So far, though, they have done a decent job of caring for me. My hip replacement was well done. (I like to joke about being a cyborg now.) And my CPAP machine has helped me (as well as my long-suffering wife who endured years of my loud snoring) to sleep more comfortably and through the night for over five years.
Nevertheless, the greatest and most connective issue with both these sides of the V.A. is the apparent, though vehemently denied by V.A. employees, attitude that all us veterans are grifters, liars, thieves, and scam artists just waiting to con the system to get better disability pay and better benefits. I personally have gotten into heated discussions with V.A. employees who steadfastly claim there is no bias against the very people they are employed to care for.
BUT, if this were the case, why would every major veterans' organization in the nation train, direct, and have on hand thousands of Veterans Service officers whose only duty is to guide veterans through the quagmire and bureaucratic maze of applying for benefits we have all EARNED? This includes the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, and many others. Why are there so many lawyers who do the same thing for a fee? Why do many states have their own veterans affairs offices whose mission is to get their citizen veterans the benefits they deserve?
It took me nearly a decade to get a disability rating despite severe and nearly debilitating back pain, and a deviated septum from two broken noses, my knee injury, tinnitus, and exposure to TB. The last two aren't covered despite them being caused by service duty. I went to doctors, clinics, chiropractors, acupuncturists, and therapeutic massage, much of it paid out-of-pocket, to prove the injuries were real.
Then, I was to have an examination at the V.A and was told that I would be required to have a driver to drop me off and pick me after the appointment. So, I arranged to have my son drop me off. He would then pick me up after I called him. I went to check in and was told they would need the signature of the driver. I told them he had left to perform some errands (he had arranged my issues around them), and I would sign.
No, I was told. My son had to sign.
I was stunned. They would take the signature of someone with no military or V.A. ID, but refused to trust the soldier standing before them? I became irate once it dawned on me that they didn't trust one of the veterans they are SUPPOSED to help and support. BUT, they would trust the word of someone off the street they had no record of. I was even escorted to the clinic in the facility by armed security! Unbelievable! That is when it dawned on me that they actually DO believe we're all lying scum who can't be trusted. The very people who have sworn to give their lives for this country!
Now, I have been using my CPAP for five-and-a-half years. I clean and maintain it. And I have even ordered a part three years ago as per the instructions given to me when it was issued. After half-a-decade parts are wearing. I need new ones. So, I contacted the V.A. with a detailed list for replacement. I got a reply to send detailed shipping information. THEN, I got a message that my primary provider had to send the request, despite my having contacted the provider and being told everything was good!
So, again. I run into the clear and obvious belief that somehow, after nearly thirty years of service, an Honorable Discharge, and a record in the V.A. system showing that I have a CPAP provided by them, I'm STILL not trustworthy.
If only getting V.A. benefits and support were as easy as getting funding for welfare or immigrant day cares.
