Veterans/Retirees: Do you feel that your local VA gives you the best care anywhere? Or just the opposite?

I actually have no idea how to even access the VA system for care......I called once, after I received my rating, and was told to go to the base.....the base said you're retired and washed their hands of me......so I use TriCare and get seen down town....glad i'm retired so I had something to fall back on other then them. However to be fair I really am uneducated as to what I can be seen for, if anything, there seems to be a large void in information unless you are at the extreme end of the scale....just my two cents.

I do feel I receive good care, but I am in good health and I am seen every six months for preventative care. However, when I retired I had a 40% disability rating. I was dropped to a 30% disability rating because of schedule conflict in which I missed one appointment. Also, I have learnt that medications cost more at the VA to offset those Veterans that receive their VA medications free of charge based on their service-connected disabilities.

I have had VERY few good experiences with the VA and have been to the VA In Wash State, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia. All have placed themselves before me, I have been ignored, Told to shut up, threatened with incarceration, accused of being a drug addict ( never in my life have I done drugs) and even called a child molester. A 30 day prescription of percocet lasts me 4-5 months.I have sat in the ER for 4 hours while having a heart attack and a stroke, 10 urine samples were lost and I carried a UTI that went into a kidney infection for two months to where I was urinating blood and only received meds after I dropped a dime to Senate. I was placed on Gabapentin which has given me diabetes and I recieved the run around trying to get spine surgery and both hips replaced. Some may have good experiences but I have yet to see any.

No, I think I get the least amount of treatment possible yet, was ordered to give the highest level of sacrifice.

I have had both experiences. I have received the best care in specialty clinics. But, I find the primary care system to be less than adequate. This has been true in two different facilities, one large and one small.

I have had EXCELLENT service at my local VA hospital. I think that what some veterans fail to realize is that the personnel that work at the VA hospital are humans just like all of us. They can make an occasional mistake, or maybe you have to wait just a little longer than you would like for an appointment. I know there are extreme cases that need to be looked at more closely. Overall though, the VA had made tremendous strides to right the wrongs of the past. Hooah!

SPC Margaret Higgins I use the VA Clinic in Oceanside, CA and the Hospital in San Diego, CA. I've received nothing but great professional and timely serivce to-date. No complaints!

SPC Margaret Higgins The care I have received has been outstanding. I have been seen at the main VA Hospital in Orlando as well as three of the Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) and the care has been better than I expected. the challenge now, if obtaining an appointment. Even with the "Priority 1" status it can be a challenge to see my primary care and in fact, my last appointment another physician saw me. Being a creature of habit and not trusting easily, that threw me off a bit. The care was still great, but the staff needs help so they can provide that great care to us at a faster pace and rate.

My VA hospital rocks in Leavenworth, KS.

There are some things that they are really great at. Audiology comes to mind. Our VA will see any vets, not just those who are service connected for hearing loss. If they need them, they are issued high tech hearing aids...

Our Psychiatrists are pretty top notch too...