Injured soldier still denied benefits

A tale of a soldier injured in Iraq and unable to get benefits because 1) the DOD and the VA can't 'access the Defense Department's computer system to search service records', 2) somewhere his paperwork was lost. What makes this memorable is that the TV reporter managed to contact the soldier's sergeant who provided information, and presented it to the VA. At the end of the day, though, the VA still says it can't find the people that the TV found easily. [WTNH, Conn.]

Comments

[Buy Kamagra]

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[NJVET]

It is October 2008 and this stuff is still happening. Nobody is responsible and everybody is "working on it"
The companies that we owe money to don't have that claus in the contract and want their money.
Hang in there everybody and if you know of a Veteran that is going through this please keep in touch with them --even just a friendly phone call once a week is better than not hearing anything at all.
Semper Fi

[Tom Lyons (Tomcat)]

I know a individual that was enlisted in the army but was discharged on acct that she claimed to have a neck injury during a manuver. (exercise manuver. She is now discharged receiving 100% disability compliments of the army. The fact the army doesn't know about is that she had this neck injury before she enlisted. She even collected a settlement from the insurance company that she sued. We were divorced a year later. I'm also a veteran. 1961-1966 I'm still trying to fight for my claim just to get a rating. I just had a DRO in Phoenix on the 13th of Dec. This what really infuriates me. How not just my ex wife got away with it but I've know a few more that work the system and get everything they don't deserve. This is why it's so difficult for the legit veterans to gain slow momentum for there claims. It makes me want to just hurt somebody real bad more than the enemy. They even brag about it. What dept or channels can I go through to blow the whistle on these people? I don't even care about my claim that much because it isn't near as serious as the comrades from vietnam now and the young men coming back from combat in Iraq and Afganistan. Help me.

[Walt]

It is utter embarrassment to have to read this. The Bush regime loves the power of being able to go to war, but it doesn't make a plan on how to win it or even what 'winning it' actually means.

Apparently the lessons from Viet Nam are already long-forgotten.

I absolutely oppose the war because it is the wrong instrument for the problem the United States is faced with. I totally support the troops whose sincere patriotism is abused to rally them in a time of crisis. Now 'the homeland' abandons the men and women who risked everything for the good of their country. They who did not hold back when their lives were on the line come home, injured in body and soul, only to be nickle and dimed when the care they so richly deserve is being witheld from them.

It deserves pointing out that the Bush regime had given advance warning that this tragedy would happen by refusing to adequatley fund vital funds for medical care for veterans. The only surprise is that so few people have expressed outrage at this pre-announced crisis.

Do I really have to believe that absolutely nobody can be held accountable for this shameful lack of support for the people who answered the call of duty but are now left out in the cold? Remind me which values they went out there to defend?

President Bush, you do not deserve to serve the office that you occupy, you are a dismal failure as a commander in chief and you are unworthy of the loyalty of the people who have sworn to serve you.

[Matt Gregory]

This situation is absurd. "Support our troops" my ass! It's pathetic that people basically give their whole lives to our country, limbs and all, and we shit on them in thanks. That tells you a lot about this country and what its values really are.

[SEO Company]

This is just sad. I think our vets should get a whole lot more then what they get when they come home, let alone injured at war.

[john]

If there is one thing I love more than dogs and cats its an American Veteran.

I hope these bastards will pay you what you have coming, before they have to start paying these poor Iraq people for what we've dfone to their country.
Piss on Bush/Cheney.

[adin]

Oh, if anyone needs tips on dealing with the VA, contact me (adin at lustre dot us) and I'll be more than happy to help. (tips & contacts)

[adin]

As a fellow disabled veteran (currently 80%, soon to be 100%) who is in the midst of losing his house due to (at the least) the VA's ineptitude (and possibly malfeasance), I have been completely and thouroughly shocked at how inadequate the VA is.

ATM, I have one of my senators, my congressman, and the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) fighting to help me--and even their efforts haven't been able to cut through all the problems in the VA.

I know that many things with the VA just "aren't supposed to happen", but they are happening...sometimes to injured "active" soldiers, but mostly to injured guard/reserve soldiers. I know that we've collected 40+ (gotta ask my wife for her current tally) stories of other guard/reserve troops losing their houses, jobs, etc because of the time and struggle it takes to make it through the VA red tape.

I know that even though the VA has me rated at 80%, we're not currently receiving benefits -- they have spent 3+ months trying to figure out how to calculate my AF retirement and how it affects my benefits. I'm sure that it'll eventually make it through, especially since my personal case is fairly high profile, but until things get settled, it'll continue to be a struggle to make rent (now that we've pretty much lost our house) and pay for food.

While I have great family support, I'm more concerned for all those injured/disabled vets that have no advocates. I know that without an incredibly supportive wife as my advocate, I'd be one of those guys out on the streets, living under a bridge.

BTW, anyone that thinks I'm exaggerating my personal story or the stories that I've collected, reply to this with a contact method and I'll send you *all* the VA filings, legal paperwork, and congressional correspondence.

It's a damn shame and I can't believe that those in power "supporting the troops" have allowed the VA to collapse into such a sorry state -- unseen since the civil war.

Watch this space, because there may be a flurry of lawsuits or class-action lawsuits. The DAV is *NOT* happy ATM

[TexasVietVet]

I'm not the least bit surprised about a poor injured soldier denied benefits.
Let's look at this whole affair and try to figure out what's happening here.

First of all, the conservanazi republikans do not want veterans to get benefits. Most chickenhawks view VA benefits as WELFARE or ENTITLEMENTS. They oppose such payments. They have underfunded the VA and hope it will discourage veterans from seeking help.
The Walter Reed incident is just a tip of the iceberg. No one seems to remember the incident in Ft. Stewart a few years back. Who cares about that because it was Reservists and National Guard. The Army put those injured troops in casual barracks basically because they didn't really want to deal with them.

Let me tell you from personal experience: a military hospital is not a nice place. If the Army gives you a bad experience at a hospital, you do not want to go back.

Say what you will, but it is the culture of the bu$h regime. You sh!t on them while they are in the field at war, then sh!t on them when they get back.

bu$h supports troops. Yeah, and I'm the last King of Scotland.