Is the VA overwhelmed by a long war or just looking out for its own interests?

SFC Stephen Hester — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 07:01:01 -0400

VA whistleblowers allege continued attacks, failures

VA officials say they're working to end retaliation against employees who report problems, but lawmakers are unconvinced

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 14 at 2015 7:29 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 07:29:31 -0400

While there are good and even great VA personnel there are also dogs. People who rise and shine dimly for our veterans and service members. They become complacent and many times condescending and rude. Our own version of Campus PD needs to check themselves and realize we are the veterans and they are our host, as it is. That and a few other things where they miss the mark.

Response by CPT Bruce Rodgers made Apr 14 at 2015 8:43 AM

CPT Bruce Rodgers — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:43:24 -0400

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Apr 14 at 2015 8:58 AM

MSG Brad Sand — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:58:04 -0400

What large numbers of veterans? We have a smaller veteran population now than we have had since the mid 1940s? The veteran population is shrinking every day?

The VA is only a clear example of the bigger problems in our Federal government.

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Apr 14 at 2015 9:08 AM

PO3 Steven Sherrill — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 09:08:46 -0400

If it was just an isolated incident of failure on the part of the VA, then the argument could be made that they are trying to change. I think it is rather more likely that they are simply having a harder time hiding their dirty laundry now that people are looking in their direction. As expensive as it is going to be, a complete overhaul of the VA is needed. Top to bottom changes. Gutting the whole thing, and rebuilding that is what the VA needs.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Apr 14 at 2015 10:00 AM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 10:00:44 -0400

The VA has issues since its inception. It's first director was STRANGLED by the PRESIDENT of the United States for incompetence.

Machines & Systems are not good at handling People. The VA is a machine. Veterans are People.

If someone can show me an example of System that does a god job of handling People, I'd jump for joy. Truly.

Response by SPC(P) Frank Gilliland made Apr 14 at 2015 12:17 PM

SPC(P) Frank Gilliland — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 12:17:13 -0400

Hi,

I'm trying to fund all 3000 vets in need on http://www.gofundme.com/vetcrisis Please Visit.

Thank you,

Response by SSG Trevor S. made Apr 14 at 2015 1:26 PM

SSG Trevor S. — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 13:26:00 -0400

Its obvious their priorities lay within politics rather than fulfilling promises made to service members. They are currently a disgrace.

Response by SPC David Hannaman made Apr 14 at 2015 2:44 PM

SPC David Hannaman — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 14:44:35 -0400

It's not just the VA, it's the entire healthcare system.

We as humans tend to look for a system to consistently solve problems. The problem with that mentality is that we're dealing with human lives. People feel pain differently and react to medication differently.

I think the VA has done a better job of tracking prescription and medical history than 90% of civilian hospital systems, but all of them forget the human component.

Being a Healthcare provider is a CALLING not a profession, the same as being in law enforcement, clergy, or teacher. The people who try and perform those jobs as a profession fail miserably and spectacularly.

Response by PO1 Glenn Boucher made Apr 14 at 2015 3:08 PM

PO1 Glenn Boucher — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 15:08:04 -0400

The VA is a pathetic excuse for people to receive grossly large salaries and benefits for doing nothing more than keeping a burdened system backlogged.
I could see back in the 1940's when everything was done on paper and had to be filled out in triplicate, yes you will have backlogs because most people are not speed demons typing and filing.
Today with technology in play we can have instantaneous submission of forms and they can instantly get to where they need to be.
How does it take 18 months or more for a claim to be decided upon? Why can an appeal take between 5 and 7 years, this I was recently told when I filed a claim challenge.
Can anyone honestly say why it takes between 3 and 6 months just to get your appointment to determine your medical condition being claimed?
Sadly though I do not see the VA making any huge changes because its a beast of an organization that doesn't feel it needs to change, it only feels the need to say something appropriate and show outrage at appropriate times.

Response by SFC Stephen Hester made Apr 15 at 2015 6:26 AM

SFC Stephen Hester — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 06:26:35 -0400

I've had good luck with the VA although I don't use it often. When I was going through my Comp and Pen process I encountered some rude staffers and policies/procedures that made no sense whatsoever but overall things went smoothly.

My worst experience with the VA was in a VA medical center before the war. I was on active duty and was treated like a second-class citizen. Sadly, some of the rudest staffers were people who readily identified themselves as veterans.

Everyone's experiences are different and no one's experience, either good or bad, should be discounted. There are good people in the VA as well as incompetent ones. I think the while at the patient level people are trying to do a good job the VA's administrators are woefully out of touch.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 15 at 2015 9:32 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 21:32:34 -0400

The VA lacked the vision and initiative to expand properly when greater numbers of disabled vets started showing up. It does not take a rocket scientist to see the trend growing.

A big problem with the VA is its culture. Often the executives feel like they have a kingdom and not all rules and regulations need to be followed. Managers don't follow rules and regulations either. What is the net result? An organization that does not follow rules and regulations are corrupt and these things happen: supervisor firing workers so she can hire a friend, asking a veteran questions that have no connection to the job during a hiring interview to screen him out, lying about wait times that killed some vets. EO reps refusing to help in a discrimination case, Internal Affairs that is too chicken shit to investigate properly.

Response by TSgt Tim (lj) Littlejohn made Apr 16 at 2015 5:22 PM

TSgt Tim (lj) Littlejohn — Thu, 16 Apr 2015 17:22:30 -0400

Stop the damn bonuses at the top. Incentives sure be given for those helped not turned away!