and THIS is how they treat our veterans?!?!

[HarlansHollowFarms]

Quote:
I think the point is there are so few people who volunteer to go into harm's way for us that the exponentially fewer who are scamming the system shouldn't be the deciding factor in lowering benefits for all of the vets. There are far too many in private life who are scamming the system, we should be more worried about them than those who have served us in an honorable capacity. As far as I'm concerned our vets should be given as much help and security as we can give them, they deserve nothing less.

Unfortunately, I think what has happened in the private sector is effecting the vetrans benefits also. I worry about anyone who trys to get something for nothing, as this effects all of us. It only take one rotten apple to spoil the rest.
I will honor all who deserve it!

 

[Sunny the Hippie Chick]

My Grandpa was a vetran. He jumped out of airplanes. His back got real messed up. He even lost 3 inches to his height. Never saw a dime. But when my grandpa passed away. They gave money to his widow..

 

[seismic wonder2]

Quote:
YOU ARE SPOT ON!

Oh, by the way. (for the nay sayers out there)
I'm active duty, have been for 20 years and plan to stay on duty until they FORCE me out.

I'm just saying that there are Vets the NEED HELP and either can't or don't get it because the system is clogged with (relatively) healthy people milking the system.
Any REAL military person embraces the "HONOR-COURAGE-COMMITMENT" way of life will stand aside and DEMAND "TAKE MY BUDDY FIRST DOC, HE'S HURT WORSE THAN ME!" I'm healthy, I don't need help, Take the guy that's all messed up first give him MY 10% that I'll get for my injuries...

I get quite a bit for serving my country. One thing is called Tuition Assistance. It pays a portion of any college degrees I want to take. I get (almost) free medical and dental. When I choose to retire, that medical will cost around $475. A YEAR! I know people paying $600. a MONTH for medical insurance. I get to wear my uniform home to Alabama to visit my folks and wave to people, shake hands, people try to pay my tabs at restaurants(I refuse and ask them to donate to VFW or FRA). I have access to job hunting assistance, Family counseling, every form of help immaginable, and sadly, From time to time I get the ultimate privlage and honor to honor a fallen comerade at arms by dressing in my finest uniform and proudly rendering a final salute- folding the flag under which he/she served- and presenting it to their loved ones.

I've seen grown men break down a cry, I've seen a 96lb women pick up a 200lb sailor and carry him to safety, I've been helpless at my duty station as a chopper goes over the side with all on board lost, and yes, in fact I've seen useless, lazy, wastes of skin.

Don't presume to tell me I don't know what I'm talking about. You know NOTHING about me.

 

[klf73]

well, this relative went to the VA when he got out of the military, and left. He looks normal and standing in line among people missing limbs etc, he felt not so bad off. Even though parts of his body were reconstructed more than once, he lost 2 inches of height for all the parachuting(although he refuses to change his height on his license

) and has lost jobs due to his memory issues, physical limitations etc. He saw these other men and felt as though he didn't deserve it since he "looked fine". Many years later and not being able to get a job that pays enough to support him ($13/hr as an only income doesn't support a family here, he made $25/hr 17yrs ago before he went into the military)he finally admitted defeat and admits he has issues. He is proud and he darn well deserves the 100%, that would make his life so much easier and make it possible to contribute to his family.

 

[SarahFair]

 

[WingingIt]

I'm guessing this is probably happened to him: When you are medically discharged with either severe or several medical issues, they usually award a pretty high percentage rate for disability at that time, as it's pretty darn obvious you have a high rate. You are also usually getting therapy and treatment at that time due to the severity and number of issues you have. It's pretty standard practice that you have to come back in to be re-evaluated at some point. For the Army it's normally a year (at least, it has been for our friends and neighbors). They expect that your disability rating may have changed in that amount of time, some will be done with therapy, etc. I've NEVER heard of it being done at one month out, but I don't know his branch of service. I can't see why they'd think anything would change in that amount of time, but it should have SOMETHING noted in his files about re-evaluation. That's pretty goofy, IMO. (the one month thing, I mean)

If you don't continue your therapy and quit or if you don't go in for that re-evaluation either because you can't get there, you are working and think you don't need to because it's better now, you've moved and didn't find out about it in time because they don't have your new address....whatever the reason....they drop it down and 20% is what they usually drop it to. Personally, I think that's because military members who retire on a regular retirement often qualify for 20% for hearing loss, bad knees and backs, so I think it's thier 'go to' number. Then you are stuck having to prove it all over again to raise the percentage back up.

I'm not saying that's what happened with his case for sure, but it sounds like something along those lines. We tell everyone who gets out under ANY circumstances with any medical disability - be SURE you update them first thing any time you move. Then call back and make sure they got it right. You do not want to miss even one evaluation.

At this point, yes, I'd suggest getting help in navigating the system, because, again, he does NOT want to miss one step or appointment.

 

[vfem]

I'm going through the same issues with my brother-in-law... hurt in the military, can't work due to MAJOR pain in some damage to his neck. How do they treat him...? 7 years ago he could have a correctable surgery and gone on with his life, but instead they say the surgery is too expensive and they put him pain killers. He's addicted now 7 years later, HARD drugs as strong as heroine to cover the pain that he STILL feels. Now they say they should have done the surgery but now the doctors say its so far gone its too late. So, now 8 months into a law suit to get him his full disability (he only gets 70%) they say they can no longer be help responsible as he should have found his own way to get the surgery while he had time, then he would only be fighting for repayment of the surgery... its out of their hands now the damage is that bad. They are also saying that he caused his own disability because the condition deteriated at his own fault, he should not have been working on disability anyways. When he got on disability he was only allowed 30% for the first 3 years he had it... 30% was $150 a month. Who the heck would live on that and support their family at 32 years old!

Anyways, I really understand and I wish I had advice, but we're still fighting and the VA only seems to listen to us when the lawyer started calling. We even tried to move them to NC at one point but trying to get the paperwork done was impossible... they lost the papers twice in 2 years and we gave up on the move so we could help the family.

 

[PineappleMama]

Quote:
Wow. What's with the "vets"... if you served and survived, even piecemeal, then you are a veteran, period... no ifs, ands, buts, OR quotes... that's the basic black and white definition. If you can't even register that simple definition it's no wonder you can't comprehend the VA system.

If you are injured at your job... you get workman's comp... even if you don't like the government, the military, etc. you can at least look at it as a job... they pay you to do a job, you do the job, you get hurt, you get workman's comp... but with the military you can't quit if they give you an order that you don't like... you can't resign and find a less hazardous job. You jump out of the plane or you go to jail, period. You jump out of the plane and get hurt, then you get VA benefits... you don't jump out of the plane and you end up in prison for life. Either way tax dollars are paying your way. Me personally, I'd rather see a veteran be a respected member of society than treated like a criminal.

I don't support the wars we're in... I don't care for the people currently in office... but I do support the men and women who've been ordered by the morons in power to risk their lives. They have no choice in where they go or what they do. They signed on to protect our country, and even if they die for it, that's what they're out their doing. They deserve respect for the risk they take, just like cops, firefighters, etc. Do you also hate those protectors? Would you tell a cop who's been shot the same thing? Tell his wife, who doesn't even know if he'll live, to get off her butt and up her hours from 40 to 60? I would not, not ever.

 

[wolftracks]

My husband went over 20 years before he finally got 100% disability pay. For all those years he was at 10%, so when I met him 12 years ago he was receiving $106 a month. He was Special Forces in Viet Nam. He has 3 Purple Hearts, did mulitple tours and is the only one left from his unit. He came home with one friend who commited suicide. He has many many medals and honors. The depression is unbelievable, not to mention the physical pain. His last 10% check was for $163 and that one came just 3 months ago.

The increase is making it a lot easier for us, but it can never fix what is broken. What is done to those who fight for this country should be against the law. I'm madder about it than he is, but this Memorial Day was the FIRST time he ever participated in anything and I was so happy he had people around him that knew what he has been going through.

 

[lovesduckies]

Quote:
Yup...
and really...IF they are milking the system.. well..then..ooh well!
It sure beats all the others that do it.. and those people gave nothing to our country...
just saying..

i'd rather have them milking the system then a lazy drug addict with 5 kids who does nothing.