M served the US Army for 18 years, went to Iraq 5 times. Got injured, suffers from PTSD, has a messed up back, bad rash caused by the stuff he was working with, and several other medical conditions.
He went to med board 2.5 years ago, started his VA claim together with an experienced VA rep.
Here we are now, 2.5 years later, and all he got so far is one payment of $18.
He got a disability of 70%.
- He calls one day, they say his case is closed.
Ok, so where is all the money?
When will we get the back pay?
When will we get the paper stating it is closed, so we can finally file taxes? - He calls again. "Oh no, Sir, it is not closed! It is still pending! We are waiting for this and that paperwork!" -> which we sent in August 2013!!!
- He calls again, they say it's closed
- He calls again, they say it's pending
- He calls again, they say it's in St. Louis
- He calls again, they say they need this and that paper
- He calls again, they say "Oh no, Sir, we already have that paper!"
- .....
This goes on for way too long now! M was serving this country. He was risking his life! He deserves his monthly check! We've lived off of my savings for way too long! If I wouldn't have been there, M would be just another homeless veteran in the USA!
Is this how you treat your HEROES, dear USA???
I hope not! As soon as this stuff is done (FOR GOOD!) and we have our money, I will definitely write every single thing down and send it to all different TV stations and newspapers. I know we are not alone, and this has to be made public!
Being a Vet who has a rating of 10%, I think it is a shame what is going on.
ReplyDeleteI got mine 20 years ago and it took about eight months. I had VFW behind me from the beginning. I have copied all my medical and dental records before I got out.
I was reading that with number of Vets from the these two wars that are disabled with PTSD, the government is delaying payments because they can not afford it. It really sucks.
I would make it available now to the media in your area. It will highlight the struggle that is going on. Also, write your U.S. Congressman and when he/she has a local town hall meeting show up and ask him/her about it. I took a friend who has the same deal as M and we went to the Town Hall meeting and asked some questions. Within a couple of days, my friend got results (and money) as our Congressman was embarrassed in a public forum.
Patrick,
DeleteThank you so much for reading my blog and taking the time to comment!
We already wrote to congress - we got a whole batch of papers back, but no real news. He told us to hit him up again, if there is nothing happening until July. I don't know what to think about that...
I will definitely look up public appearance dates of our congressman! Thanks a lot for that advise!
Have a great day, and thank you, again!
Ohh yes, the famous 'run around' from the US military. I'm so sorry that the VA is giving you such a hassle. Your husband deserves every bit of compensation, and it's a shame he's not receiving it.
ReplyDeleteI pray it can be solved asap and that you are able to raise some awareness to this because you're right, you are not alone in this struggle!
God bless you!
Thank you so much for your comment, Laura!
DeletePayers are always appreciated :)
xoxo
We are just now starting to deal with this. My husband has been in for 18 years and is starting to have some issues, enough where they have talked about the med board. He is trying to get everything documented and it seems like he has appointment after appointment. We aren't even to the VA part yet, but we can't get a straight story about anything now. It's so frustrating and I know it's just going to get worse.
ReplyDeleteKara -
DeleteThank you for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment!
I am keeping you in my prayers and all my fingers crossed, that your husband's claim will go through fast and smooth.
I feel so helpless over here, and I am scared of the moment my savings will be all gone. M works for Lockheed Martin now, but since I don't have a working permit yet, we are on a tight budget anyways. I hope they will hurry up.
xoxo
Anni
We are having similar problems - my husband got injured in Afghanistan, so bad, he had to retire from active duty service, he got into a suicide bomber blowing up a building they were clearing, a part of the building collapsed on him, He was lucky enough though. I was by his side in the Military Hospital with our then about 6 Month old baby boy. Then rehab and whatnot.
ReplyDeleteHe can walk - that's more than we could initially hope for, so we really did have unbelievable luck.
Nonetheless we are having issues with the VA as well - they gave him a disability of only 20%, which is ridiculous - 10 % for each messed up foot, the PTSD that he had been suffering from for years all of a sudden had disappeared or some other medical miracle (it is still here, I can reassure you of that) and whatnot claims that just got denied and whatnot. We are gonna keep claiming stuff and we are gonna keep claiming, until they recognize a disability level that allows him to at least keep the insurance via the US Army - there is no way we can ever afford insurance for him, we tried several insurance companies, with his issues and problems that are already there, the rates are way too high. It is unbelievable what we had to go through and I tell you, the damn fact of having been blown up in combat and the time in hospital with him was the easy part compared to the whole VA issue.
Alicija,
DeleteThanks a lot for your comment!
10% is a JOKE! I see we are not alone... Something has to happen, fast!!!!
Hang in there!
xoxo
Anni
I never received mine, my ex husband only got his retirement and now as a civilian I'be been fighting SSDI for the last five years. America hates Americans in general not just Vets.
ReplyDeleteI guess you are right... ;(
DeleteIt's not fair. It stinks.
Thanks for your comment, chickee!
This is not good news. The VA has been jerking my husband's med board package around for the last 8 months. People whose packages went in after his are already completed and they are done. So, so frustrating! I haven't talked about it publicly, much, but it's becoming ridiculous, and now we will have to worry about the payment, too?!?! Thank the Lord we are both college educated (he is finishing his business degree this spring) and he has experience in his degree field. We won't be destitute, but it is infuriating none-the-less! I hope y'all get everything you deserve and start receiving payments in a timely manner.
ReplyDelete- Carmen
Check out my blog at www.awesomewomanproject.blogspot.com
I'm so sorry. I hear of this far too often, and it's ridiculous. Our veterans deserve much, much better than this. I hope everything gets worked out soon and that you can get some good press to help other veterans!
ReplyDeleteLovely blog! Following you on all the social media stuffs. :)
ReplyDeleteAnni, you are not alone! I am not experiencing this but I have heard this story before. I agree with others that it might be time to bring attention to this situation. As taxpayers, we need to know how our money is being mismanaged and how people who volunteered to protect us are being treated! Jamie from Jamie's Thots
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting us know what is really going on. I am so sorry for your experience.
ReplyDeleteIf he were dealing with the VA in Fayetteville, Ar. I don't think you would've had that much of a problem. My dad was a WWII vet, and he got his benefits the year he applied for them. He got timely appointments and I didn't have to make a lot of phone calls. When he went in for his quarterly check ups, we didn't have to wait a long time and they were very friendly and courteous to us. Is there any way you can start dealing with the one in Fayetteville, Ar.
ReplyDelete