VA head compares wait times at Disneyland to wait times at VA hospitals

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• But gun laws will save one life!!

  Right???

• Now this prick is saying something about he is trying to improve the quality of service and wait times really don't figure in to it..that is unless you die waiting...I would really like to introduce his face to a brick.

• Trump's quote is ominous

  • What quote? Trump has said since day one he wants to strengthen our military and replace the dipshits running the VA health system so veteran health care gets improved.

    • I just think "I'll take care of them." Sounds like something don Corleone would say

• What a true douche bag!!!!. Put his ass in a waiting line to see a doctor and to get medical attention. Then listen to his candy ass whine.

• How many people die every year waiting in line at Disney?

• My only question is why isn't this asshole on his way to Disney for a new job.

  • My exact question. He was brought in as the promised fixer, and instead he tries to downplay and belittle the issue. He shows how little this admin knows, understands or cares.

    • And that is why he should be fired. Had he shown understanding and care of the REAL issues at hand and how it is the wait time that has caused problems, even if he had said something stupid it wouldn't be a problem.

• I was a caregiver for a disabled vet once and dealing with the VA has always been a clusterfvck. They do provide decent benefits but you typically have to jump through multiple flaming hoops to figure out what you're qualified for and the bureaucracy almost never ends.

  The vet I took care of lost both of his eyes, part of his frontal lobe and skull in 'Nam and despite it being documented on his DD214, he had to "prove" he was actually blind every year. His wife recounted to me how, before I met them, one year they asked him to prove it and she said go ahead Jim, take out your (prosthetic) eyes. He did and the rep said, "Okay, okay, never mind!"

  • LOL!! That's a great story!
    He should have done that every year!
    I'm surprised I don't have to go through the requalification process every year, unless they reserve that treatment for 100% disabled veterans, since they get the most money and the most medical care.
    I was listening to Todd Schnitt on the radio this afternoon, and he was having Vets call in and tell their story. One guy called in, and told about his dental experience. He had 4 teeth that were so badly infected that they all had to come out at the same time, immediately. He was told this in December, and the VA finally got around to it in May! Then he told about his spinal surgery. His spine is so badly crushed that he has become paralyzed 4 times for brief periods. He has been waiting since 1978 for the surgery!
    Then, there's me. I was diagnosed back in April with a 5mm kidney stone. My doctor sent the info to Tampa to get me an appointment for treatment. I just got a call on Friday that my appointment is in the middle of June!
    Yea, just like waiting in line at Disney!

    • My stepdad has to requal every year. He's 100% due to a TBI and the induced epilepsy. They auto downgrade him every year and he has to fight to get his 100% back.

      • I think that is the key. They make them requal when they're at 100% because there are benefits they don't get unless they are 100%.
        First, if you're 100%, you get full medical coverage for your spouse, and they hate doing that.
        Second, you get dental coverage, and they really hate that! You can't get the VA to give you an antibiotic for a tooth infection unless you're 100%, in fact, they don't care if all your teeth fall out, you can't get any help unless you're 100%.
        I have met Vets that aren't rated 100%, even though they're qualified. But, they get 100% pay, just not all the benefits. I guess it's all part of Barky's austerity measures. After all, he needs to save money to send to HAMAS, so he'll save it on our backs, or teeth, as it were.

      • This vet was technically 100+% disabled. He was an alcoholic for several years(Later deemed to be due to PTSD once the term started being used after Vietnam) after his discharge he developed epilepsy after he quit drinking, suffered a heart attack before he was 40, survived skin cancer and for awhile diabetes, which eventually led to him passing last year. All were determined to be service related.

        I had epilepsy when I was young. It helped me deal with that part of his condition because I knew what needed to be done. At the same time, it was kind of surreal the first time he had a seizure. I had never seen someone else have one and remember thinking "This is what I looked like when I had one? No small wonder my mother used to stress keeping up with my medication."

        I have a friend who served in the Air Force for over twenty years and he's mentioned more than once what a PITA it was just trying to receive basic care because he has to travel so far to the nearest VA clinic.

        • If your buddy lives more than 40 miles from the nearest VA clinic or hospital tell him to call the Choice Card program at 1-866-606-8198.

          Since the VA shut down all the local clinics in rural areas I have to drive 150 miles to the nearest VA facility. The goomahs in Washington started the Choice card program for vets like me so I can go to my local clinic for basic care. It is simple if you friend is already in the VA system, all it takes is a call to get registered. He can then go to his local clinic or doctor to find out if they can see him under the Tri-Care choice card system for vets. I can explain a lot of things about the system but I am not going to post my email here for all to see.

          HEY! Mr. Administrator! Is there a way for you to get Dave K and me together so I can try to help him and his friend? Or any other veterans who are having trouble getting healthcare because they live so far from a VA clinic or hospital?

        • I you both want me to send the other your email address email me at ihatethemedainfo@gmail.com and I'll pass them on.

        • I appreciate it sir but as I mentioned, I've managed to help my friend about as much as I can remotely as it is. At the very least, He's better off then he was a few years ago.

          I'm pretty handy when it comes to finding things on the ole WWW. When my friend's vet husband died last year, I had to show her that she would qualify for Dependent Indemnity Compensation. (DIC) It took a few months but she was finally approved a few months ago so she at least is back to having a stable income in the wake of everything.

          If we're going to be taxed, it should go to the people that either sacrificed or worked their ass off to earn it. JMO.

        • Whiskeyriver, I'm pretty familiar with the system for someone that never actually served but I appreciate it the offer.

          We're remote friends, he lives in Iowa. I managed to point him to different programs over time and it's helped him but he's got physical issues that make it harder for him to make the commute. He's not 100% disabled but he's in his 60s, his wife has her own health issues (Terminal cancer) so it makes it difficult for him.

          Many people are so used to just getting up and going but when it's physically difficult, it's not that easy.

          With all the "money" being tossed around my the government, it just makes me POed to see vets struggle. I remember reading that the VA still relies on paper records and that's part of the problem. Ridiculous when you consider we're well into the computer age/extensive digital records.

          My father served in the Army Air Corps during WWII, my uncle was in the Navy in the Pacific at the same time. Two of my brothers served in "Nam, my nephew during "Iraqi Freedom" and it pisses me off that it is so difficult for vets to find the benefits they have *earned*.

        • AHA! You just hit on one of the big issues. Paper records are preferred, because it's so easy to "lose" them, and make you start all over again!
          When I was applying for my VA disability rating, they sent my records from Florida to Mississippi for review. They said it was because they were swamped in Florida, but I believe it was an excuse to prolong the process. Fortunately for me, I am on good terms with my congressman, and he has staff in his office that work strictly on VA issues! It also helps that he's on the Veterans Affairs Committee. Once I got them on the case, it only took about 60 days to complete the application.
          What makes me nuts is that my auto insurance company (USAA) is also stuck on paper records. When it came time to settle up with my underinsured/uninsured coverage for an accident (I was rear ended in Feb 2014) they wanted 5 years of medical records. I gave them to my lawyer on CD, and he was going to email them to the insurance co, but they insisted on paper records, so he sent them, (40 lbs worth) and they "lost" them, so he had to resend them. I'm still waiting for my settlement.

        • OOPS! I goofed. My accident was in 2015, and I'm still waiting for the settlement.

        • Yep. In this day and age, it's fvcking ridiculous.