VA issues…

I never used the VA after I got out. We had just got back from deployment and I was supposed to get follow on treatment from the local VA. Never went once. It’s horrible here, I’m good friends with a guy that works there. Enough stories to keep me away.

Your braver than me J.

Oh it chaps my ass something fierce but it also does not surprise me. I have used the VA system but it is also the very same reason that I still pay for my own personal, PRIVATE health insurance. Although, a word of caution here, if your condition is service related, you can and most likely will be denied payment by a private company in many instances and at that point, you either pay out of your pocket or attempt to go through the VA.

The VA is something that should have been handed over to the private sector a long, long time ago. What surprises me most is that gubment actually still thinks they can put the whole country on a health care plan and make it work. Give it 10 years and this will look like a walk in the park.

Totally off the VA subject but just yesterday in my area, my state representative, who happens to be “the most conservative legislator” in the state was re-elected. Even though he was indicted by a grand jury on two counts of perjury and two counts of providing false statements a couple of months ago. The grand jury was and still is investigating political corruption and their roots are running deep – been all over the news to the point that you cannot miss it and yet, the voters voted him back in. He happens to be a “Republican” and as far as I can tell, it seems that all that is turning up to testify before the grand jury are “Republicans”.

So, when the voters put someone like that back in office they get what they deserve. “We” got what we deserved when Obama went back into office. What transpired down here yesterday literally makes me sick to my stomach. But it also goes to show that stupidity and apathy run rampant on both sides of the aisle.

Little VA horror story for ya:
IED on my last tour put three needle sized pieces of shrapnel in my neck on the right side. Lucky does not begin to describe it but the Army doc’s wanted to let other things heal before they took those things out. Well, the day never came, even though I repeatedly asked and asked – my right arm would go numb some times and I would get an all of a sudden shooting pain among other things.

I retired, went to VA because I started experiencing moments when I could not even move my right arm. My hand worked but I could not lift my arm to save my life and the numbness and shooting pain were getting worse. I was prescribed pain medicine, muscle relaxers, and physical therapy. I went to one therapy session (all that was scheduled) shown some exercises I could not do and given papers showing other exercises to do on my own at home. I spent six months trying to get back in to see the Dr. Finally, after a call to my congressman, I got an appointment. This time, different Dr. – nothing different, continue meds and continue PT – but in response to congressman’s aide the Dr. says “…patient appears to be attempting to capitalize on disability…”

It took me another three months before I could find a private Dr. that would even see me. For some reason when I would explain why I needed an appointment, they would refuse to see me, which I assume is because of the service related nature of my condition. First thing the Dr. did was order an x-ray (no MRI because of the metal) and I was in the hospital for surgery the next morning. One of the pieces of metal was in an area that the Dr. said could be impacting the nerves in my right arm but another had moved and was in an area where it was more than likely against my artery – that was the reason I was in the hospital so quick.

After surgery, the Dr. said that I had one piece of metal literally pointy end against the artery and the other was in a position where it pressed on the nerve and that it had actually abraded the nerve. The third was taken out but was not “close” to anything major. In his opinion, best case scenario, I was about to lose all function in my right arm and worst case scenario a mere sneeze or slight blow to the neck was going to kill me.

The best part. The Dr. and the hospital attempted to get payment from the VA because of the nature of the situation. However, the VA refused to pay because I had not gotten proper authorization to seek outside medical care. So, I paid a reduced rate which came to a grand total of $48,000.

All I can say is “God Bless America”

I forgot to add that I don’t have my hopes pinned to republicans. I have voted all across the board. Like I’ve said in the past, after this administration I don’t see how I could ever vote for a Democrat again though.