Bush Administration Proposes Cut in Veteran Benefits

[barefootlady]

It seems that our President has given his blessing, no he specifically gave his approval, to cut benefits to veterans, increase the out of pocket cost some veterans pay for their meds, cut benefits/services, especially out-patient services at several facilities nationwide, and charge this new generation of veterans about $250.00 per stay in facilitles. This was a blurp I heard on CNN earlier this AM.

I did not get all of the blurp but when I heard this my blood pressure started going up. How dare he place the lives of our young people in harms way with his oil war, show disrespect to the veterans who have served in past times,and say "here's your bill" to the newer veterans. I may not have every fact straight but I have enough to have to pray extra hard this AM for this man. When, O Lord, are we going to see an end to this pretender?

[SmilingBluEyes]

The numbers of disabled vets is GOING UP TOO as well as COSTS to TREAT them, Kevin, so it only makes sense, spending dollars MUST GO UP just to KEEP UP with these increases. But are current increases enough to care for all our vets properly? That is the question. It seems, Obviously not. Frankly, stories like the one told firsthand by the vet here concern me! *NOT ONE VETERAN* ought be able to tell such a tale. **NOT ONE**. :angryfire

Any proposals to cut any benefits to veterans is a slap in the face to today's military men/women, as well------All of this being proposed by the administration of a man who professes his deep appreciation for these same people who have lost so much in their service abroad through years of involvement in overseas conflicts and wars

Ah, but, I guess they are not much use once they have fought and become severely disabled physically or emotionally/psychologically---- and now medically dependent ----they are not much use to our government, are they. You are lucky, Kevin; you can move on and build a new career despite the disability you have. I am glad for you, honestly. But don't discount the experiences of others not so fortunate. Cause they are many. What of them???

[MedicalMT1]

Kevin, you stated in a previous post..."However if tomorrow I develop appendicitis I can go to the VA". How simple you make that sound. June 2003,I went to the VA with a c/c of vomiting, high temp, severe abd pain RLQ, as a prior medic I had an idea what was going on here. CT scan revealed infected appendix(who can argue with a CT scan). I was admitted and the surgeon decided to put me on I.V. antibiotics and if my white count went down they werent going to operate. White count went down and they sent me home. July 2004, devoloped abd pain after eating, no other symptoms as before, 6p.m. experienced severe shooting pain across lower abd area, my sister called 911, off to the hospital. Cat scan revealed "the appendix is not identified". Surgeon comes in and says we need to go to the O.R. immediately. Dx: ruptured appendix with a perotineal abcess". Surgeon asked me if I had a problem with my apprendix before and I informed him about my visit to the VA the year previous. He was disgusted and told me they should have taken my appendix out then, I agreed.

The VA created "Fee Basis" for veterans who have to have "not preauthorized care" aka, vets that have to have emergency surgeries etc etc. I did not create this law they did. Therefore yes, veterans experiencing emergency care are entitled.

In reference to your knee problem, I am very curious as to how you sustained this problem. The reason I am asking is because I know a veteran (worked with him on 2 assignments) who is also getting disability. He had bilateral knee surgery and a right ankle repair, which occured on active duty, "service related"...let me tell you what happened....he busted his knees playing basketball, and his ankle playing softball!!!!!!!!! while on active duty. His statements, not mine. Isnt that wonderful?

By the way, I have a dx of post traumatic stress disorder, shouldnt I be getting disability?

[SmilingBluEyes]

And don't get me started on Gulf War Syndromes....yes I know people affected personally who have been told in the past it was "all in their heads". Some fine care.

[kmchugh]

Kevin, you stated in a previous post..."However if tomorrow I develop appendicitis I can go to the VA". How simple you make that sound.

Because it is simple. I can go to the VA. If there is an opening that would allow me to have my surgery there, I could. If however, there is no opening, I would be sent for treatment to a local hospital. Since the condition was not service related, the VA might not pay for the surgery. Again, the VA does not exist to provide free medical care for life for all veterans. It exists to provide care for veterans with service connected disabilities. If, after the provision of such care, there is space available for veterans needing care for non-service related conditions, they will provide it. However, they are under no obligation to provide such care.

As to the care you received in the VA, it sounds as if the condition WAS treated by the VA. Then, when the condition flared up again, you chose not to return to the VA for treatment. Whether or not the initial treatment provided by the VA was competent is irrelevant. Treatment was provided. You chose not to return for follow up care. As I wrote before, I could and have written bucketfuls here about substandard care offered by the VA.

The VA created "Fee Basis" for veterans who have to have "not preauthorized care" aka, vets that have to have emergency surgeries etc etc. I did not create this law they did. Therefore yes, veterans experiencing emergency care are entitled.

Ah, but you are missing two important parts of "fee basis." One, receipt of fee basis care assumes there is space available for the veteran. Two, "fee basis" means that the veteran will pay for the care received.

In reference to your knee problem, I am very curious as to how you sustained this problem. The reason I am asking is because I know a veteran (worked with him on 2 assignments) who is also getting disability. He had bilateral knee surgery and a right ankle repair, which occured on active duty, "service related"...let me tell you what happened....he busted his knees playing basketball, and his ankle playing softball!!!!!!!!! while on active duty. His statements, not mine. Isnt that wonderful?

Obviously you are fishing. I don't really care for your insinuation here, but I will answer your question. Before I do, however, you should understand that how a condition for anyone else became service connected is absolutely NO BUSINESS OF YOURS WHATSOEVER. The fact is that the injuries were incurred while on active duty.

In my case, the knee condition is due to a series of injuries, beginning with a bad fall from the lateral drift apparatus at the US Army Airborne School, at Fort Benning, GA. The last injury was incurred in Saudi Arabia after being deployed for operation Desert Shield.

By the way, I have a dx of post traumatic stress disorder, shouldnt I be getting disability?

Unlike you, I won't insult you by insinuating that you might not deserve a disability rating for your PTSD. That's between you and the VA. However, if the condition does become rated as a service connected condition, then you deserve free treatment for that condition for life.

Kevin McHugh

[James Huffman]

Charity care turned me down, so I called my senators office. They are a great help but the VA treat you like dirt. They talk to you like you are abother to them. The clerk at Fee basis office told me the other day "I will be so glad when your case is over". They dont like it now because heat is on them due to Senators office being involved.

You have found out one of the best uses for your hard-working senators and members of congress. :chuckle

I encourage people to give these people something to occupy their hours. When you have a problem in dealing with any federal agency, call your senators and member of congress as Maria did.

Of course, they won't take care of it personally, but a staff member will call the agency you're having problems with: "Hello? I'm John Doe, with Sen. Smith's office. We have a constituent who's having a problem with your agency," and very, very likely, it will be taken care of. Of course, the agency won't like it that you have made these calls, but too bad. Call them anyway.

If you're not sure who your senators are (there are 2 of them) and member of congress (1 of those) call your local public library. They will ask for your address, and they can tell you who to call, and probably give you the phone number, too. It works.

Jim Huffman, RN

[hypnotic_nurse]

You have found out one of the best uses for your hard-working senators and members of congress. :chuckle

I encourage people to give these people something to occupy their hours. When you have a problem in dealing with any federal agency, call your senators and member of congress as Maria did.

It works.

Jim Huffman, RN

Not in Oklahoma; unfortunately the one time my dad needed help, they all declined, even though a simple phone call was all that was needed. And a special "boo" to Nickles, who (at least at that time) had the rudest staff in the universe.

[webblarsk]

It is so sad how our Veterans are treated. For all they do and have done for our country! I am a Republican, but lately haven't agreed with much our President has done!

[kmchugh]

The numbers of disabled vets is GOING UP TOO as well as COSTS to TREAT them, Kevin, so it only makes sense, spending dollars MUST GO UP just to KEEP UP with these increases. But are current increases enough to care for all our vets properly? That is the question. It seems, Obviously not. Frankly, stories like the one told firsthand by the vet here concern me! *NOT ONE VETERAN* ought be able to tell such a tale. **NOT ONE**. :angryfire

But Deb, you are missing a couple of points, here. If you are correct, and the numbers of disabled veterans is going up, then it only makes sense that the ability of the VA to provide care to veterans for non-service connected conditions would be further limited. The story "told firsthand by the vet" was incomplete, as later clarification from the same vet proved. She went to the VA, and was treated. She did not care for the treatment, which I have said time and again is understandable. A month later, she had a recurrence of the problem, and chose to go to a non-VA facility. Probably a wise choice, but the veteran in question could have returned to the VA for treatment. And above all else, the condition for which the veteran sought treatment was NOT service connected. Are you suggesting that the VA should provide full medical care for ALL veterans? Then funding for the VA will have to increase by several orders of magnitude, don't you think?

Any proposals to cut any benefits to veterans is a slap in the face to today's military men/women, as well------All of this being proposed by the administration of a man who professes his deep appreciation for these same people who have lost so much in their service abroad through years of involvement in overseas conflicts and wars

Again, nothing is being cut! As I have said repeatedly, there is not one benefit that I or any other veteran had that we no longer have. There has been a reduction of the ability of the VA to provide care for non-service related conditions, but the actual benefits owed to veterans have not been cut.

Ah, but, I guess they are not much use once they have fought and become severely disabled physically or emotionally/psychologically---- and now medically dependent ----they are not much use to our government, are they. You are lucky, Kevin; you can move on and build a new career despite the disability you have. I am glad for you, honestly. But don't discount the experiences of others not so fortunate. Cause they are many. What of them???

Deb, I am not unusual for a veteran! I took advantage of the programs available to me, but no more. I do not expect treatment or payment for treatment from the VA for my medical conditions that are not a result of my military service. No promises were ever made to me or any vet that such treatment would be available for the rest of my life. What I was promised was treatment at VA facilities for those conditions that arose as a direct result of my military service.

Kevin

(Edited to correct gender reference)

[Tony35NYC]

SHAME, SHAME, SHAME on president Bush and all those old fogies in Washington. But then again, when you're rich and full of yourself, as most of these politicians are, you have no reason to be ashamed about anything.

[Katmease]

SHAME, SHAME, SHAME on president Bush and all those old fogies in Washington. But then again, when you're rich and full of yourself, as most of these politicians are, you have no reason to be ashamed about anything.

Good grief, what has President Bush done to be ashamed of? Kevin has repeatedly tried to explain things & no one wants to comprehend, they just want to keep looking at it their way & to keep complaining.

[LydiaNN]

Good grief, what has President Bush done to be ashamed of? Kevin has repeatedly tried to explain things & no one wants to comprehend, they just want to keep looking at it their way & to keep complaining.

As opposed to the way you choose to look at it, which must be right? Everyone understands what Kevin is saying. What we are saying is that we owe our veterans more. It is a difference of opinion, not an inability to understand.

[Katmease]

As opposed to the way you choose to look at it, which must be right? Everyone understands what Kevin is saying. What we are saying is that we owe our veterans more. It is a difference of opinion, not an inability to understand.

I never said my way of looking at it must be right; again, some of you are just never happy. Kevin is addressing that the benefits he was promised are still there & not cut & yet others are still argueing that they are. He's not living in a pie in the sky world that all is perfect, he's stated that there is room for improvement.