Major Group Failure

[Tim Cake]

Don't let this situation worry you, manno. You're up for med board. The rest of those grunts around you, zeros or not, don't mean a thing. Focus on yourself and work with the VA. As it appears you have nothing to hide anyway so let those unprofessional fools play their trite little power games. The best way to piss off those types is to virtually ignore them. As stated earlier, make sure you keep a record of all this. And don't forget to hand carry all your paperwork whenever possible. Keep the originals yourself whenever possible and let the pencil pushers have the copies.

Most of all, keep your chin up- don't let the bastards get you down!

Sludge is right -- keep the originals of all records. Both the ARMY and the VA have been known to conveniently lose records!

 

[Barberian]

Anyone can let me know about the VA groups and if they can call my Commander if I say anything in a group.

The counselors are required to report any thing you say that might lead them to believe you are breaking a law or regulation, or are a danger to yourself or others. Other than that anything you say is SUPPOSED to stay in session. This should have been covered in a pre-brief to the counseling session.

Use the group for what it is. Learn what you can, share what you feel safe to do so. It all helps in the long run even if you don't notice it right there and then.

 

[Jimmy1]

Hey Barberian, what's with the old Hagrid thing. All you need to do is add another 100 lbs. lol

 

[Anglesachse]

Hagrid is way to bushy.

It is obviously more a Dumbledor look. The hat and straight Beard give it away.

 

[andy3438211]

Well the VA is a joke they passed me around to a bunch of doctors before they told me I could not use the VA till after the Med Board but they still care. I am sick of all that BS crap they say they care but when you ask for help its a totally different story. Thanks for the encouragement guys. Not sure where I can turn at this point.

 

[Tim Cake]

Well the VA is a joke they passed me around to a bunch of doctors before they told me I could not use the VA till after the Med Board but they still care. I am sick of all that BS crap they say they care but when you ask for help its a totally different story. Thanks for the encouragement guys. Not sure where I can turn at this point.

Contact the DAV, American Legion, VFW for help.

 

[Sarg]

Andy, understand the "tude" but the long and short of it is you're going to have to cool your jets a bit. Definitely not a VA lover but if your going to get anything out of them. you're going to have to tone it down a bit. Right now, the VHA is inundated with returning troops. If you work within their system, many times you can get an outside Dr. for a lot of the physical problems and possibly outpatient psyche treatment.

If you plan of filing for a compensation claim and you come on with that attitude, it'll add years to how long it takes get it done. Been there, done that and someone stole my t-shirt. The claims system is in meltdown and emphasis is on getting decisions out the door, right or wrong, it's off their desk. You want wrong, mouth off to them.

Not wilting your garden or anything, just speaking from stinging experience.

Sarg

 

[tho9900]

I ditto Tim... one of the service orgs will help you for free and not ask you to join... they were invaluable in my getting in and claims.. At the VAMC in Houston, huge 2000 bed hosp, the whole downstairs which used to be mostly primary care etc is mostly reserved for returning OIF/OEF Vets with a special section for female vets of each conflict.

Get help from one of the ones Tim listed, you get told to go move this 100 pound box its damn hard to drag by yourself, and frustrating.... you get a few more guys to lend a hand and you are kicking back listening to music and chilling in no time.. best analogy I can give..

just my opinion is all..

Good luck to ya!!!!

 

[Sludge]

Contact the DAV, American Legion, VFW for help.

Or Lutheran Family Services. Trust me, it is not a "church thing" Their veteran service program is the best I have found yet, and is free or really, really cheap depending on which aspects you chose to use.

 

[tho9900]

thats not a bad idea.. I think something not VA affiliated with people who really care might be a good thing to bolster what I get.

 

[JarHed]

In general the service orgs are good. But I've hit the same burecratic bullshit as the VA has with somethings. It's just all a crap shoot. You've gotta' be a bull dog if you want any possibility of getting what you need not to speak of what you deserve.

 

[Sludge]

In general the service orgs are good. But I've hit the same burecratic bullshit as the VA has with somethings. It's just all a crap shoot. You've gotta' be a bull dog if you want any possibility of getting what you need not to speak of what you deserve.

Exactly. The LFSV here is awesome, but the one I used in San Diego was shit.