Posted on Nov 11, 2021
2021 Veterans Day Q&A with U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Denis McDonough
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Over the past few weeks, the VA worked to answer more than 400 questions below on: Inflation, Burn Pits, Mental Health Services, Disability Claims, Medical Marijuana, Caregivers and Survivors, Community Care, Billing, Post-9/11 GI Bill, LGBTQ+, Electronic Healthcare Record, COVID-19, Dental, and Homeless Veterans.
On Veterans Day, Secretary McDonough directly responded to 9 RallyPoint member questions below. These responses are pinned below in green boxes.
On Veterans Day, Secretary McDonough directly responded to 9 RallyPoint member questions below. These responses are pinned below in green boxes.
Veterans Affairs (VA)
Health
Mental Health
Disability
GI Bill
Posted 3 y ago
Responses: 404
Mr. Secretary:
I have 2 appeals that I withdrew. When you go to Va.gov, it’s shows no appeals. That is correct, but when check the status of a claim, it still shows up. This dates back to July 2021 when appeals were withdrawn. Just would like to see it closed on status side.
Thank you
I have 2 appeals that I withdrew. When you go to Va.gov, it’s shows no appeals. That is correct, but when check the status of a claim, it still shows up. This dates back to July 2021 when appeals were withdrawn. Just would like to see it closed on status side.
Thank you
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Please bring this to the attention of the Board. This can be done by your VSO, Representative or yourself by emailing [login to see]
Mr. Secretary, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to answer a few question from us, Veterans. I actually have two questions, 1. Why is the gap between the 100% rating and 90 - 80 percent rating with dependents over $1k? It seems too large of gap when the other other gaps are between $250 - $400.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
VA disability rates are determined by Congress. The rating percent represents the average impairment in earning capacity resulting from such conditions in civil occupations.
Why not offer vets the option for euthanasia for when the VA willfully does not want to help a vet medically and they lose their family and health and quality of life. Let vets have a dignified way of exiting this world.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Euthanasia is illegal in all 50 states. While medical aid in dying or physician assisted dying is legal in 10 US jurisdictions, it is prohibited under Federal law, precluding VA employee or VA funding support for these interventions. For seriously ill Veterans and those approaching end of life, VA has significantly grown its palliative and hospice care programs, with interdisciplinary teams at every VA Medical Center, to promote quality of life and improve comfort. Additionally, VA has partnered with the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization to establish the We Honor Veterans program which has engaged more than 4,000 community hospice agencies in improving care for Veterans at end of life.
Why is it so difficult for veterans to get the healthcare they require in a reasonable time? I have personally tried to get appointments, only to have them repeatedly set for 3 to 4 months out, and then have them canceled the day prior. Those individuals on Medicare / Medicaid receive better healthcare options than those of us injured defending our country.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
We are sorry to hear you are not getting your appointments fulfilled. Poor service is not acceptable and does not meet my expectations or the standards we've set. Our mission is to ensure you receive the highest quality care when you need it. That includes being able to successfully secure an appointment when that care is needed – not three or four months later unless of course, that is when you and your provider discussed and agreed that is the date when you should be seen. If we're not able to see you within MISSION Act time standards, you should be offered an opportunity to be seen by a provider in the community.
Why is my request for VA travel pay to a VA facility being denied for lack of proof if my visit is documented on Myhealthevet. I am unable to get ahold of the individual responsible as his mailbox is full on his telephone extension. Must I always get my congressman involved to resolution to my problems with the VA?
Why are claims for hearing loss and/tinnitis denied based on the job a person held in service? If going to the range many times for weapons quals, regardless of job then the claim should not be denied just because of a job that was not always exposed to excessive noise.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Unfortunately, we are unable to answer questions specific to your individual claim in this forum due to privacy issues. Please contact our national call center for claim specific assistance at [login to see] for the status of your claim and so we may provide individual assistance.
Dental problems can cause other health problems, but most are not eligible for dental care because we may have only served a limited time and have no service connected disability. I, like many, lost my existing health plan when Obamacare was instituted. Being on a very limited income, I could not afford a new plan and sought help from the VA where I now get all my health care needs, save dental care.
Some problems caused by poor dental conditions include:
Cardiovascular Disease. Having poor oral health puts a person at risk for heart disease. ...
Dementia. Poor oral health can affect the brain. ...
Respiratory Infections. ...
Diabetes. ...
Pregnancy Complications. ...
Infertility. ...
Erectile Dysfunction. ...
Cancer.
And more!
All of these problems are covered through the VA, but not the underlying causes. People such as myself cannot afford dental care so we suffer, and get treated for problems that may have been prevented through proper healthcare. Any way this can be addressed?
Some problems caused by poor dental conditions include:
Cardiovascular Disease. Having poor oral health puts a person at risk for heart disease. ...
Dementia. Poor oral health can affect the brain. ...
Respiratory Infections. ...
Diabetes. ...
Pregnancy Complications. ...
Infertility. ...
Erectile Dysfunction. ...
Cancer.
And more!
All of these problems are covered through the VA, but not the underlying causes. People such as myself cannot afford dental care so we suffer, and get treated for problems that may have been prevented through proper healthcare. Any way this can be addressed?
CPL Richard Murray
Has anyone ever heard of preventive maintenance? This is, of course, the concept that regular maintenance, and /or timely repairs, is much cheaper than waiting for a catastrophic breakdown. I am all for saving money, to include all taxpayer money. Skipping what may seem as mundane treatments can, and will, lead to much more expensive treatments.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
VA would like all Veterans to have access to good oral health care; however, VA is limited to providing dental benefits to those Veterans who meet specific eligibility criteria as defined by statute. In order to provide dental care to a larger group of Veterans, statutes defining eligibility would need to change. VA does not have the authority to write policy that is not in accordance with statute. VA continues to explore options presented by members of the house, senate, Veteran Service Organizations, and stakeholders in the community, to expand eligibility and access to dental care for Veterans. Veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system and who are not eligible for VA Dental Care can enroll in the Veterans Affairs Dental Insurance Program to purchase discounted dental insurance.
Why is the VA still giving shit care to Veterans?
I have zero faith in an appointed politician who really never makes a difference. This is nothing more than lip service and dog and pony shows from a government full of politicians who uses veterans to further their own careers.
I have zero faith in an appointed politician who really never makes a difference. This is nothing more than lip service and dog and pony shows from a government full of politicians who uses veterans to further their own careers.
Hello, I'm a disabled veteran from Desert Storm. Back in November of 2016, I applied for Champ VA insurance for my wife. I was told, if she had this insurance, she would be able to use the Houston VA hospital facility and its doctors. We applied, but for some reason she never received her Champ VA insurance card. I finally found out what had happened. We fixed the problem, and it shows on the card that her effective date was 10/24/2017. As it turns out, the Houston VA hospital stopped taking new family patient under the Champ VA program in April of that year, so when we went to the hospital, she was turned down to receive care. The reasoning was that there were to many family members coming to the hospital to receive care. But, she was clearly eligible, but they still denied her. My question is why? As far as I can see, she should be grandfathered in. It was no fault of mine that she didn't receive her insurance card in the mail in time before they changed the rule and stopped accepting new patients. All we were trying to to was get her into see the wonderful doctors that I am assigned to, Dr. Ansari in the women's clinic and Dr. Miller in the mental health clinic. Can anything be done please to allow her to use this awesome hospital and the wonderful doctors in it?
Thank you for your time in this matter and I'm so hoping to hear from you!
Laurie Doelle
Thank you for your time in this matter and I'm so hoping to hear from you!
Laurie Doelle
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
The CHAMPVA In-house Treatment Initiative (CITI) is a voluntary program that allows treatment of beneficiaries of the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veteran Affairs (CHAMPVA) at Veterans Affairs medical centers (VAMCs) that have elected to participate in CITI. The CITI program is designed to provide CHAMPVA beneficiaries with access to care in a VA facility after the facility has met the needs of their Veteran population. In some areas, Veterans' needs utilize the full capacity of the VA medical facility. Each participating VA medical facility determines what kind of services may be provided on a space available basis. The VA facility would be able to better speak to allowing/not allowing the spouse to be treated at their facility.
I would like to have backlog cleared with all these new people being hired, but it is same as always, denied unless you keep working the system, I am becoming to weak to work on this, guess you will find me under a bridge because cant work, keep getting denied even with lay statements, and have nothing to offer anyone for payment...thank you all veterans and let's start actually take care of them.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
To assist with the backlog, VA is hiring and training 2,000 new employees to assist in claims processing, leveraging authority to transfer CARES funding to VBA and utilize the American Rescue Plan to fund overtime to ensure timely claims processing. VA is also deploying Fiscal Year 2022 budget resources for general Compensation and Pension claims processing. If you are in crisis and need to speak with a crisis responder, please call [login to see] and Press 1.
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