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I want to first say I am not affiliated with the VA in any way; however, I do receive benefits from the VA due to injuries received while serving. As someone who went through quite a few years of military service, I’ve heard rumors and I want to dispel some myths and misinformation.
Here are a few:
1. Everyone is entitled to VA benefits automatically.
2. Anything over 40% and you get BX/PX and base access
3. Sleep apnea is automatic 50%
4. The VA is bad/slow/non-helpful - insert random insult here as portrayed by the mass media and the voices of the few outweighing the silence of the many.
Now, I'll go a bit into correcting some of the misconceptions and dispelling some rumors that are preached as truth while I was Active Duty and Reserves.
1. Everyone is entitled to VA benefits automatically
There are clauses and items that can get really in-depth on this, and I have seen conversations as well that had truths and myths in the responses. The truth is, if you produce a DD214 for time served and do the proper paperwork, you can get benefits. The real issue here is that people don't realize they need to do the paperwork and work to get the benefits. They just verify, then get you scheduled to get your rating. Don't be the guy/girl that doesn't do your part then complains you didn't receive assistance. If you need assistance, contact me and I’ll help you track down resources!
2. Anything over 40% and you get BX/PX and base access
There is absolutely no truth to this. I thought 40% was the magic number based off all my Sergeants telling me to reach that number. The reality is 100% is needed for those items, and with 100% comes a lot more benefits. I do not get 100% but have done some research on it. Some of the benefits are tax breaks, cheap license plates for vehicles, State and National park free access and many others. Also, various states have additional benefits for different levels of VA disability. The DV tags that you see requires 100%, so if you see a DV “disabled vet” tag, shake that man or woman’s hand and thank them for their service, because 100% means they’ve experienced pain day and night, and few are deserving.
3. Sleep Apnea is automatic 50%
I have sleep apnea and it’s not part of my rating, but there is no proof to this being an instant 50%. There are, however, a lot of documents stating that the percentage of Vets getting out in the last 10-15 years have seen the claims for this go up significantly.
4. The VA is bad/slow/non-helpful
I have been to 4 different VA hospitals for various treatments, including a surgery. I have received top-notch care and nothing but respect. I have given them respect and been extremely happy to receive the free – but earned – healthcare that has been provided. I have always gone in expecting it to take longer. It never has – it has always been fast and friendly.
Have I inspired conversation or provided you with useful information? What other questions do you have?
Here are a few:
1. Everyone is entitled to VA benefits automatically.
2. Anything over 40% and you get BX/PX and base access
3. Sleep apnea is automatic 50%
4. The VA is bad/slow/non-helpful - insert random insult here as portrayed by the mass media and the voices of the few outweighing the silence of the many.
Now, I'll go a bit into correcting some of the misconceptions and dispelling some rumors that are preached as truth while I was Active Duty and Reserves.
1. Everyone is entitled to VA benefits automatically
There are clauses and items that can get really in-depth on this, and I have seen conversations as well that had truths and myths in the responses. The truth is, if you produce a DD214 for time served and do the proper paperwork, you can get benefits. The real issue here is that people don't realize they need to do the paperwork and work to get the benefits. They just verify, then get you scheduled to get your rating. Don't be the guy/girl that doesn't do your part then complains you didn't receive assistance. If you need assistance, contact me and I’ll help you track down resources!
2. Anything over 40% and you get BX/PX and base access
There is absolutely no truth to this. I thought 40% was the magic number based off all my Sergeants telling me to reach that number. The reality is 100% is needed for those items, and with 100% comes a lot more benefits. I do not get 100% but have done some research on it. Some of the benefits are tax breaks, cheap license plates for vehicles, State and National park free access and many others. Also, various states have additional benefits for different levels of VA disability. The DV tags that you see requires 100%, so if you see a DV “disabled vet” tag, shake that man or woman’s hand and thank them for their service, because 100% means they’ve experienced pain day and night, and few are deserving.
3. Sleep Apnea is automatic 50%
I have sleep apnea and it’s not part of my rating, but there is no proof to this being an instant 50%. There are, however, a lot of documents stating that the percentage of Vets getting out in the last 10-15 years have seen the claims for this go up significantly.
4. The VA is bad/slow/non-helpful
I have been to 4 different VA hospitals for various treatments, including a surgery. I have received top-notch care and nothing but respect. I have given them respect and been extremely happy to receive the free – but earned – healthcare that has been provided. I have always gone in expecting it to take longer. It never has – it has always been fast and friendly.
Have I inspired conversation or provided you with useful information? What other questions do you have?
Posted in these groups: 
Command Post
Command Post
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 28
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I'm not saing the VA is a model of efficiency, but they are not the cause of all our troubles either. I had the NASTIEST opinion of the VA because I spent 3 years in the Phoenix system. I know I beat that horse to death so I'll move it along......
When I transferred to Tucson, it was like a huge burden was taken off of me. Just today, I got labs done (please join the 1 million veteran campaign btw), saw an ENT specialist, and had enough xrays to make my nose glow red. They also made me follow on appintments and I see my primary clinic tomorrow, get med refills, and another referral for neurosurgery. That much work would take Phoenix, well, that horse shall remain dead. We have been in units where the time just stood still and we have been in some that we would volunteer to deploy to get back to. The VA is alot like the big green machine. Directors come and go and policies change. Hang tough and remember that if you have to wait 30 days to see clinic X, you can get them to approve you to go on the economy now. Use that service! I promise that someone is crunching numbers and looking at that intel. Hopefully our future experiences can be ones that don't start with "No s!@#, there I was at the VA........"
When I transferred to Tucson, it was like a huge burden was taken off of me. Just today, I got labs done (please join the 1 million veteran campaign btw), saw an ENT specialist, and had enough xrays to make my nose glow red. They also made me follow on appintments and I see my primary clinic tomorrow, get med refills, and another referral for neurosurgery. That much work would take Phoenix, well, that horse shall remain dead. We have been in units where the time just stood still and we have been in some that we would volunteer to deploy to get back to. The VA is alot like the big green machine. Directors come and go and policies change. Hang tough and remember that if you have to wait 30 days to see clinic X, you can get them to approve you to go on the economy now. Use that service! I promise that someone is crunching numbers and looking at that intel. Hopefully our future experiences can be ones that don't start with "No s!@#, there I was at the VA........"
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I have never sought medical care from the VA. However, my experiences applying for OJT assistance (via GI Education bill) and guaranteed loan to purchase a home were pleasant. That was, of course, at least three decades ago.
Yes, some experience difficulties, some don't. Your experience and mine are anecdotal evidence, interesting, but proof of nothing. Just as a person who complains of great difficulty is proof of nothing. What we need to look at is a collection of data demonstrating averages and trends.
The preponderance of evidence seems to indicate that times have changed. The greatest agent of change seems to have been the unionization of government workers. Since this happened, they have become a powerful lobbying force with sufficient funds to finance political campaigns. Their tenure now seems determined by their political influence rather than their service.
Thus, while individual government employees may work assiduously to perform their duties to the best of the ability, the system does not support their efforts.
Yes, some experience difficulties, some don't. Your experience and mine are anecdotal evidence, interesting, but proof of nothing. Just as a person who complains of great difficulty is proof of nothing. What we need to look at is a collection of data demonstrating averages and trends.
The preponderance of evidence seems to indicate that times have changed. The greatest agent of change seems to have been the unionization of government workers. Since this happened, they have become a powerful lobbying force with sufficient funds to finance political campaigns. Their tenure now seems determined by their political influence rather than their service.
Thus, while individual government employees may work assiduously to perform their duties to the best of the ability, the system does not support their efforts.
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
The Education & Home departments are top notch. I've never had a problem dealing with either of those sections.
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CPT Jack Durish, Thanks for the substantive discussion on a day when it seems everyone else just wants to talk about race, guns, and political bullshit! For all of the horror stories we hear and read everyday about the VA, one would think that there is simply no way this bureaucracy is capable of meeting it's mission and caring for our nation's Veterans. Yet it has been my firsthand experience, as well as that of 48 of my Soldiers from the Company I commanded in Iraq with whom I am in regular contact with, that not only has the VA been there for us when we needed it for everything from mental health to prosthetic limbs to aftercare for severe burn injuries, the VA has actually provided us all with exceptional treatment, surgeries, and care. Nobody in my group (and we are dispersed across the country) has ever experienced any of the lengthy waits to get an appointment to be seen or to get a necessary surgery or treatment scheduled. In fact, the VA has actually exceeded our expectations by arranging appointments and surgeries at local hospitals and clinics if the wait to be seen by the VA specialist was too long or if the procedure was more effectively handled by a specialist in the community. The only annoying experience one of my former Soldiers encounters is when his body was still healing and adjusting to his prosthetic leg, he went through a period where he needed to replace it about every 3 months with a new one. And every 3 months, the VA would order an x-ray of his amputated leg, to "substantiate the validity of his claim." WTF? An x-ray of a leg that isn't there? Really? But, like I said, that's the only story out of hundreds of firsthand positive encounters.
Now, the Compensation & Pension process, that's been a mixed bag for us. Some got their benefits started almost immediately, with little hassle, others had to wait nearly 3 years in the backlog, it really was contingent upon which Regional Office you fell under and the competence of the personnel working at that office. Aside from that, I am quite satisfied with my experiences with the VA, and so are my Soldiers.
Now, the Compensation & Pension process, that's been a mixed bag for us. Some got their benefits started almost immediately, with little hassle, others had to wait nearly 3 years in the backlog, it really was contingent upon which Regional Office you fell under and the competence of the personnel working at that office. Aside from that, I am quite satisfied with my experiences with the VA, and so are my Soldiers.
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TSgt Trevor Vander
Thanks for recognizing the Capt but I actually wrote the article, Capt Durish was the first to respond though and hit has started the conversation shortly after it was published via Command Post:) I wrote it with the hopes of actually hearing from the majority of happy people with the VA, when I go and spend time there you can see the disgruntled from the happy while at the facility. I can tell you have family members that are one boht sides of the fence and it sometimes comes down to the facility and who is in charge of that facility how smoothly it is ran and how happy the patience are.
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MAJ (Join to see)
My apologies, TSgt Trevor Vander! I was replying via the mobile app and I could have swore it was his post. Nevertheless, great topic. Thanks for opening this conversation!
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