2023 Veterans Town Hall with Secretary Denis McDonough

First off let's be honest. There are a lot of claims. A great deal of those claims are "not well developed " which is VA speak meaning there is not enough info to support the claim. A lot of that is because going on sick call was seen as being weak and in a military culture that is simply not acceptable therefore issues you have and file a claim on lacks supporting evidence to allow for the award of the claim. You have a constant flow of a large number of claims and few people to process. Additions such as the Pact Act add further work loads. Plus the VA can be quite sloppy and not give a damn which happens way too often. You see that reflected in the number of Veteran suicides. We had one here this year where they basically told the vet to piss off and he went to is car and took his life. .

PFC Lisa McDonald - You seem to be rambling. The VA is not forcing you to label yourself. One has to self identify and request changes to medical records.

VA recognizes that the process of increasing a VA disability rating can be complex and time-consuming for several reasons. First, the legal requirements for VA's duty to assist in the development of a claim, as outlined in 38 CFR §3.103, can contribute to the duration of the process, as it involves careful collection and examination of all pertinent information to ensure that Veterans receive accurate decisions on their claims. Second, VA receives a high volume of claims, which can lead to extended processing times in some cases. VA continuously strives to improve the claims process to reduce wait times and increase efficiency, acknowledging the importance of timely resolution for Veterans. Lastly, if a claim is initially denied, the appeal process can involve multiple steps, including gathering new evidence, providing additional documentation, attending hearings, and potentially attending additional medical evaluations, each of which can add to the timeline.

I feel like it is the work culture at the VA. If they refer you to community care, it is like an admission that they failed. Yes, they already failed by not having an appointment to give you but giving you a CC referal is like admission that they failed. They just don't want to admit they failed. They would rather give you a ghost appointment that they have no intention of actually seeing you, then cancel it 10 day's before the date. Then they send you a letter telling you to call them and start over by scheduling another appointment 2 months out. Each time this cycle delays your care by 2 or 3 months. It is criminal.

Personally, I don't think that they fear looking like they failed rather they just don't care. The VA is absolutely horrible to work with.

When my VA didn't have anyone to coil a spleenic artery aneurysm they sent me to Community Care at the worst hospital in the county. That hospital had a less than 2 star review for aortic aneurysm repair and a 62% return rate for surgeries. Why would I go there??? I went to Cleveland Clinic on my own and am still paying for it...but I'm alive.

SSgt Jeffrey Szczubelek - Thank you for the “thumbs up”. Non-judgemental information about abortion follows: The American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG) is a Michigan-based group of over 7,000 baby doctors. They recently published a number of fact sheets on maternal medical care which state that women who have had an abortion can experience adverse physical complications: infection, damage to nearby organs, perforation of the uterus, undiagnosed tubal pregnancy, infertility and an increased risk of breast cancer. Risk of a preterm birth in a future pregnancy increases by 35% after one abortion and by almost 90% after two abortions. Medical complications in later life from preterm births include cardiovascular disease and stroke. The final AAPLOG fact sheet states that, “Numerous studies show women suffer from worse mental health outcomes after an abortion.” These adverse outcomes include a significant increase in risk of depression, anxiety, PTSD, substance abuse and suicidal behavior. “A study from Finland found a 7X higher suicide rate after abortion compared to when women gave birth.” An elective abortion purposefully ends the life of an unborn child. Most women who choose this procedure do so for socioeconomic reasons or are coerced. AAPLOG points out that elective abortion is not life-saving medical care and that 93% of practicing OB/GYNs do not perform elective abortions. These OB/GYNS do offer miscarriage management and lifesaving medical care to pregnant women using procedures and treatments that are not prohibited by any abortion restrictions. AAPLOG also states that studies from a diverse range of countries suggest that abortion is actually associated with higher maternal mortality rates. “The Turnaway study…actually showed that by 5 years later, 96% of women were glad they had not had an abortion.”

CW3 Glen Keller - I didn’t give you a thumbs up someone else did. If I did, it was completely on accident. As far as your non-judgmental information. You are a joke. You use all citations from pro-life groups that agree with your point of view. Those groups pick and choose the studies that go along with their beliefs. Get over yourself not everyone has the same beliefs as you. If you ever get pregnant, and don’t want an abortion, no one should force you to do it. but women should have a choice,

VA has determined that providing access to abortion services is necessary to protect the lives and health of Veterans. Pregnant Veterans and VA beneficiaries deserve to have access to world-class, life-saving reproductive care when they need it most — including access to abortion counseling and abortions when needed.