What Would You Like to Ask or Say to the New VA Secretary Doug Collins?

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 15:56:05 -0500

If you had the opportunity to speak with the New VA Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Doug Collins what would you ask him or what would you like to say to him? Please keep professional.

Thank you,

COL (Ret) Mikel Burroughs
CEO
Victory for Veterans, Inc.

Response by MSG Stan Hutchison made Mar 4 at 2025 4:01 PM

MSG Stan Hutchison — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 16:01:21 -0500

I would ask him to expedite recognizing "assumption" claims for duty at Fort Mcclellan, AL as they do for Agent Orange in Vietnam, and the other assumptive covered in the Pact Act. Without those assumptive, it is almost impossible to justify a claim.

Response by Maj John Bell made Mar 4 at 2025 4:08 PM

Maj John Bell — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 16:08:10 -0500

"If you want any duck eggs their $6 a dozen, bring your own container" I don't leave the farm much.

Response by SFC Jo Ann Klawitter made Mar 4 at 2025 4:37 PM

SFC Jo Ann Klawitter — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 16:37:22 -0500

There is so much to say to that gentleman that it would take all day
They said they improved the VA but I don’t think so
Long wait times and people who don’t know what they’re talking about and you get transferred from Person to Person
The only nice people I found was Community Care and the hotline other than that everything else is too repetition and wait times are terrible and then you get hung up. I have to start the whole damn process all over again.

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Mar 4 at 2025 4:50 PM

Lt Col Charlie Brown — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 16:50:36 -0500

What can you do about long wait times at the VA, especially for mental health appointments?

Response by SPC Michael Terrell made Mar 4 at 2025 6:15 PM

SPC Michael Terrell — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 18:15:43 -0500

How do you get cataract surgery when you can't find anyone to spend a day at the VA hospital with you? Also, how can very low vision Veterans schedule appointments when they can't read the text on a cellphone?

Response by SPC Jeff Daley, PhD made Mar 4 at 2025 6:42 PM

SPC Jeff Daley, PhD — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 18:42:22 -0500

Congratulations on your recent appointment as the United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs. I, for one, am truly delighted to have your leadership guiding this vital department, and I am confident that your expertise and dedication will serve our nation’s veterans with the honor and distinction they deserve.

VA Health Care: Institutions and companies usually look at their top performers and take their SOPs and extend them to those not performing in excellence. Related to us, the CMS rates on a 5-star system with 5 being the highest score available, and SAIL is expressed as percentages or percentiles.

Rated 1. VA Southern Arizona Health Care System (Tucson, AZ) CMS rating is a 1, the lowest score possible. (We have many that score 1-3)

Rated 4. VA Carl T. Hayden Veterans' Medical Center (My VA, I had to call DC to get help)

Rated 5. VA San Diego Healthcare System (San Diego, CA) Highest score possible
Rated 5. VA Minneapolis VA Medical Center (Minneapolis, MN)

These are examples demonstrating the delta we have across the VA system.

QUESTION: Are there plans to improve the overall system to excellence?

I believe the money is already allocated, but given the operational difference, it is reasonable to suggest we have management problems.

Thanks for taking the time with us here on RP.

Response by LTC Orlando Illi made Mar 4 at 2025 9:04 PM

LTC Orlando Illi — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 21:04:56 -0500

Thank You for the Cancer care you provided for the last 5 years

Response by SGT Lorenzo Nieto made Mar 5 at 2025 6:30 AM

SGT Lorenzo Nieto — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 06:30:01 -0500

He would just have to walk away he’d be listening to my questions all day and night

Response by COL John McClellan made Mar 5 at 2025 8:44 AM

COL John McClellan — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 08:44:24 -0500

I would ask him to spend a few hours getting trained and then do a shift on the Veteran's hotline. After that, get out and spend time in as many VA Outpatient Clinics as he can.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 5 at 2025 9:15 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 09:15:09 -0500

How Can I have a 100% PTSD rating, while VA is ignoring the Head injury that caused at FT Gordon. It was investigated and given LOD status. Your department owes me 30+ years of Backpay.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 5 at 2025 2:46 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 14:46:53 -0500

Can you guarantee that no services will be modified without thorough cost benefit analysis and that policies to ensure continuity of services are in place before modifications reducing direct support services are enacted.

Response by SPC David Taylor made Mar 8 at 2025 3:47 PM

SPC David Taylor — Sat, 08 Mar 2025 15:47:22 -0500

I was wondering how the current notion of downsizing the amount of employees is going to help serve veterans who are already plagued with long wait times and no ability to get the answers that they need to get the proper care that they need?

Response by A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney made Mar 11 at 2025 6:58 PM

A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 18:58:38 -0400

I'd Like To Know IF Our VA In North Las Vegas, Nevada
Is Rated With Others In The United States, And If So What's Their Standing?.
~As I've Been Less Than Satisfied, And Not Exactly Thrilled With Them ~

Response by SFC Jo Ann Klawitter made Mar 11 at 2025 7:24 PM

SFC Jo Ann Klawitter — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 19:24:40 -0400

Why do they say they improve the VA when they have not?
When I call and want to talk to a real person, I have to wait a long time and during that process, I am being transferred from person to person because they don’t know the answer or they tell me it’s the wrong Department and then when I’m talking to another person I will get hung up on Who knows why

Response by SrA John Monette made Mar 12 at 2025 7:45 PM

SrA John Monette — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 19:45:20 -0400

I would ask him if he stands for the Constitution or for the president’s agenda. Does he really support the Veterans? If so, why is he allowing musk to run roughshod over his department?

Response by SGT Ruben Lozada made Mar 12 at 2025 8:22 PM

SGT Ruben Lozada — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 20:22:31 -0400

Good evening COL Mikel J. Burroughs. Excellent post. Thank you for sharing this Sir. I'm very sure that there are a lot individuals who would like to ask him a ton of questions.

Response by SGT Lorenzo Nieto made Mar 17 at 2025 6:42 AM

SGT Lorenzo Nieto — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 06:42:06 -0400

Ya why in the heck do I have to wait over a year to get an appointment with the dentist.

Response by A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney made Mar 17 at 2025 4:07 PM

A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 16:07:05 -0400

~~ WHY Do MOST Vets And VA Medical Centers NOT Know THIS: ~~~
And Even WITH This Information We Must FIGHT For This RIGHT ~~
I'm Going On 4 YEARS ~ For TRELEGY COPD Inhalers & A PORTABLE Oxygen Machine
~~~~~ From VABENEFITS.GOV ~~~~~~~
Sent: 11/25/2023 9:52:08 PM Pacific Standard Time ~
Subject: Is A Military Veteran Entitled To Care And Supplies, Through ANY Va Facility, Regardless Of Where He Resides?

YES, a military veteran can receive medical products from out-of-state VA facilities, even if they are not living there.
However, the veteran must be eligible for VA care without needing to enroll or be enrolled in VA health care 1. The eligibility for community care is dependent upon a veteran’s individual health care needs or circumstances 1. In most cases, veterans must receive approval from VA prior to obtaining care from a community provider 1. VA staff members generally make all eligibility determinations 1. Please note that VA is not authorized to ship medications or medical/surgical supply items outside of the U.S. or its territories 2. If you’re a veteran who lives overseas, you remain entitled to the benefits and services you earned through your military service. Most VA benefits are payable regardless of your place of residence or nationality 3. If you’re moving outside the U.S., you’ll need to sign up for the Foreign Medical Program. Through this program, VA will pay for certain needed health care services received in foreign countries to treat a service-connected disability or a disability that’s making a service-connected condition worse 4.
I hope this helps!