Do you think the newly confirmed VA Inspector General will be up to the challenge?

CSM Charles Hayden — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 21:07:38 -0400

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Apr 20 at 2016 9:14 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 21:14:04 -0400

I realize this might diverge from the topic mentioned here, however, my wife and I had wanted to try to let other vets know of a very highly qualified group of principally VA qualified experienced attorneys we cannot recommend too highly for extremely complex claims who were of inordinate help to us. Look at https://vetadvocates.org try to get a member who's also a vet though all are as mentioned highly qualified hope the info is of use would be most eager for any feedback and or opinions of course by all means, just thought to mention it here, many thanks.

National Organization of Veterans' Advocates (NOVA)

The National Organization of Veterans’ Advocates, Inc. (NOVA) is a not-for-profit educational membership organization incorporated in the District of Columbia

Response by PO2 Peter Klein made Apr 20 at 2016 9:56 PM

PO2 Peter Klein — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 21:56:21 -0400

S/he better be!

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Apr 20 at 2016 10:08 PM

MCPO Roger Collins — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 22:08:40 -0400

Why are they replacing the current VA IG? He and his people are doing an admirable job. The issue is no one does anything with The IG Reports. If you get bad news, replace the messenger.

Response by SFC Wade W. made Apr 20 at 2016 11:59 PM

SFC Wade W. — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 23:59:24 -0400

I honestly don't know. I hope so. The job ahead is not going to be easy and I hope they are willing to work long hours.bits not a 9 to 5.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2016 12:37 AM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 00:37:38 -0400

One can only hope, though he need not come to Omaha. We have this thing down pat here, and I love this VA facility!!!

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2016 7:35 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 07:35:50 -0400

nope

Response by SP5 Mark Kuzinski made Apr 21 at 2016 8:25 AM

SP5 Mark Kuzinski — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 08:25:01 -0400

We can only hope CSM Charles Hayden, we can only hope.

Response by SFC Roberto Garza Jr. made Apr 21 at 2016 10:04 AM

SFC Roberto Garza Jr. — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 10:04:37 -0400

It takes more than the IG to make change, you need culture change at the VA. This starts at the top. You need accountability and you need to ensure the mindset is veterans first. Many employees at the VA are veterans and they have forgotten that. Refocus the people restablish the mission and put the people in place that will hold others accountable for their mistakes. IG can't do it alone but let's hope it's a step in the right direction.

Response by PO2 Ron Burling made Apr 21 at 2016 2:03 PM

PO2 Ron Burling — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 14:03:08 -0400

Maybe if he has the authority to conduct summary executions. The entire system is riddled with fraud, the year the 'secret waiting lists' first surfaced in Phoenix, VA Phoenix gave out around $8 million in bonuses. No one was fired, no one was prosecuted, so far as I have heard, the VA hasn't even tried to recover any of the money. It was recently disclosed the VA in Louisiana is still 'cooking the books and the people doing that continue to collect cash bonuses.

Since the previous VA IG described the situation as "systemic", with many administrators using the same methods to fraudulently collect undeserved cash bonuses, there is likely "an ongoing criminal conspiracy to defraud the government", yet, no one has been fired, demoted, or prosecuted. So long as the VA doesn't hold the crooks accountable and continues to reward them, all changes are purely cosmetic in my estimation.

Response by SSG Sean Thoman made Apr 21 at 2016 6:59 PM

SSG Sean Thoman — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 18:59:26 -0400

Seriously? I do not see that happening. When you start cutting into peoples programs and budgets, it gets ugly. Even at the Non-Profit organization where I work which helps Veterans over 60 that get thrown aside.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Apr 21 at 2016 11:54 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 23:54:36 -0400

I hate to say it but just another one to be thrown under the bus the next time the Spotlight shines on Deficiencies at the VA. This Crap has been going on since the Vietnam Vet's started coming home and nothing has changed. Until we start adequately funding the VA I don't see anything changing.

Response by CPL Timothy Lane made Apr 23 at 2016 9:20 AM

CPL Timothy Lane — Sat, 23 Apr 2016 09:20:05 -0400

The newest one should do something about Chief Kathy Austin,her Bosses and what Chief Austin Called her two Idiots. Mr Johnathon Winters and Mr Floyd aka Felix Willoughby. After Ten Years of the two Idiot's hiding my Military Medical Treatment Records and threatening to Erase Shred and Delete my Line of Duty Evidence Chief Kathy Austin sends Mr Winters to Ohio so he can see that I am not the black guy he hated from active duty. Chief Austin on September 20,2013 2013 told me she knows her two Idiots continue to Hide Records of at least Four other VETERANS. They have all lied to my U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator as well as Congressional Investigators and the President of the United States of America when I filed a request for an Executive Order to get the ILLEGALLY Hidden Record's. Even now as I have gotten two hundred Supporting documents The VA ST Louis Records Management Center Customer no Service Division Chief Continues to Hide Records of my self and at Four UNKNOWN Veterans.

Response by CPL Timothy Lane made Apr 23 at 2016 9:47 AM

CPL Timothy Lane — Sat, 23 Apr 2016 09:47:22 -0400

I asked VA St Louis Records Management Center Customer no Service Division Chief Kathy Austin for two Documents over a Fifteen Year period. Chief Kathy Austin of VA St Louis Records Management Center Customer no Service Division continues to allo her employees to hide military service Records ILLEGALLY