Opinion or Facts on VA Benefits.

[smirkymonkey]

I am not trolling here. I am a longtime member who is just questioning. My brother, a high-ranking officer in the Airforce was driving me to the airport yesterday and we passed a homeless person with a sign (said he was a homeless vet). He said he would never give someone like that money because they were just lazy and not willing to work and I argued with him and said he had no idea as to what these people had been through and what kind of PTSD or mental illness they were going through and that he deserved compassion.

I told him that the government does fuck-all to help people like that and he disagreed. He said that the VA gives them so many benefits and so much money and that there is no reason that any of them should be on the street. I said that I thought that they did not have adequate mental health care. Anyway, we disagreed on how to treat that person (and no, he did not stop to give money).

Does anyone here have any perspective on how vets are taken care of once their life of service is over? I have to admit that I don't really know. It seems to me that we don't do enough for them, but my brother seems to think differently.

[smirkymonkey]

1. Kick.

Curious to know what people think.

[Wellstone ruled]

2. Where to start,

our Daughter works with homeless Vets in the Denver area. She has about 120 clients,mostly Vets. Fortunately she has a In at the VA in Denver through a family friend who is a Doctor on Staff at the facility. It is PTSD that is the major issue,that and Opioid abuse. So few Counselors and to many Vets needing help .

She has a decent rate of getting her clients into treatment but,again to many repeat because of lack of mental health follow up. And yes she does get the 3 am phone calls from suicidal patients,and her pay is crap because of the so called Privatizing of so many of the VA programs.

[smirkymonkey]

6. Thank you. I thought that there was a lack of care for VA mental health.

It is underfunded. I am so sorry for the lack of support and for her low pay. That should not be the case. These case workers should be well paid and the afflicted should get the best care available.

[Just a Weirdo]

10. She work at the old VA on hale pkwy

Or the new VA on Colfax?

[Wellstone ruled]

16. Her office is on Colfax.

Pretty much runs her patients into the new VA..

[Just a Weirdo]

17. Good!

[samnsara]

3. i know my mom went thru hell and high water to get bennies for my dad..and when she passed

.. I was trying to look at the VA stuff and ITS A MESS! The services are all handled by different parts of the VA and they dont communicate. I needed some medical papers for my lawyer regarding dads state of mind and I told the lawyer they could get the info from the VA and they just laughed! Theres some program somewhere that will pay for a live in caregiver but damned if I can find it. So if the vet has any kind of mental issue or learning deficit they wont be able to navigate the gawd awful tangled mess of paper work and red tape. I have a MA and I couldnt even do it.

[smirkymonkey]

8. I am so sorry for your predicament. That is not right and it should not be that difficult for

vets to get decent care. I think my brother is very biased and has an astounding lack of empathy. I love him, but he doesn't understand what these people go through.

[denbot]

27. You needed to look for a VA Records Office.

We have one at the Federal Building in West Los Angeles. They can take awhile. There are service specific record offices for the various branches. I got help from the Naval Records Office in D.C. There are ways of accessing records, but be prepared to wait.

What worked for me in the shortest time frame was finding the official records office of the branch of service you or the veteran in question. Sadly there was a major fire in a record storage area in 1973, so good luck.

[Basic LA]

4. They provide some medical coverage to all vets.

You have to show your DD214 discharge document to prove eligibility. If injured in the service, you can also receive modest disability pay. There are other benefits that VA hospitals offer. But it's no take-care-of-everything situation. Routine appointments are hard to get & there are long waits. Maybe other vets here can offer more info.

[Stinky The Clown]

18. That s theoretically true, but in practice, not.

I am technically eligible but make too much money. I can't even get a VA card, let alone benefits.

Those statements were true as of maybe 15 years ago. I haven't tried recently. I am incredibly fortunate that my life is such as to NOT need VA care. My attitude, even if I could get the card, would be to stand aside so those with greater need get theirs first.

Life isn't fair. I am no more deserving than anyone else. We all volunteered to serve. What pisses me off is more in principle. This country made a compact with me and the millions of other vets. We serve. They stand by us.

They have not.

Yes, I got my first house with my GI Bill mandated VA loan. I went to school on the GI Bill, back when it paid my tuition and enough to subsidize my living expenses - and I went to an expensive school.

I got an advanced degree on the same GI Bill.

But that which I might have needed desperately were I not so fortunate I can't get.

[smirkymonkey]

20. They should help you regardless of income.

I'm sorry, perhaps I am naive, but if you have served your country you should have special benefits. Including health care. They should take care of you for life.

[Stinky The Clown]

26. As I said, I am happy, willing even, to stand aside for those who need more than me.

But yes, my country broke its promise to me.

I got off active duty in the late 60s. There are still guys from that war who live on the street. Each of them represent a promise broken.

We can stand to hang our national heads in shame over this.

[doc03]

31. That is not true, I am a vet and get absolutely nothing. Veterans benefits

are based on different levels 1-6 or 8 don't recall off hand. Anyway if you were a POW you may be #1, if you
were in combat and were wounded you may be #2, served in combat area #3. Myself I served in the USA and
Germany so I am a #6 I think. But I receive SS and a company pension and being single I think my income
has to be under $35000 to receive any benefit.. For a married person I think your income has to be under $70000. If you get a full
disability I think you get $3000 or more a month.

[Sgent]

5. There are actually

fairly extensive resources available for homeless vets once they get into the system...

In my area the VA gets them housing assistance (skips the waiting list), medical stabalization, etc. There are some that choose not to get help, but in general its available for vets with honorable condition discharges.

[smirkymonkey]

21. How difficult is it to get into the system?

Are there barriers for those who are mentally ill and substance abusers? It is my understanding that many people who come back from combat have problems BECAUSE of their experiences in service. They should be taken care of.

[denbot]

28. Years ago when I joined all I needed was my SS#/Service#

L.A. V.A. They have taken care of my medical needs rather well. I mostly use private insurance, but I appreciate having the option of surgery at the VA.

[Caliman73]

7. The VA system has a great deal of potential.

I work with elders, many of whom are veterans. When they get into the VA system, many of them, depending on their service (I.E. War time vet, disability related to service, etc..) can have access to a wide array of benefits. Many of the people who have access to the VA, are satisfied with the services they receive.

The issue is around the number of vets and the backlog of applications. There is a significant wait for VA services. Another barrier is the the VA relies on people to have their discharge papers (DD 214). I doubt that the gentleman with the sign has his DD 214 ready to go to apply for VA benefits. Outreach agencies (including many county Vet Services offices) try to help Vets navigate the system, but it can be a daunting task and like you said, they are dealing with homelessness, mental health challenges, and substance abuse.

The attitude, as you have stated is another obstacle. Seeking assistance is seen as weakness and soldiers, sailors, and marines are taught to be self reliant, resilient, and tough. Admitting to problems goes against that mindset in some ways according to the military.

As I said, the VA has potential and does some very good work, but you are right that we certainly do not do enough for those who have served in the military.

[smirkymonkey]

9. It's very sad. I don't think people like my brother and his wife (also a high ranking officer)

understand what these people have to contend with. They are republicans and they just don't get it. It makes me really sad. I tried to educate him yesterday and tell him how some of these people are so damaged that they can not function without a great deal of help. I think and hope a little bit of what I said sunk in.

[Demonaut]

25. Why your SSN# is not tied to you DD214 is beyond me, the old service # was phased out years ago

and if those vets that used them (and are still alive) should have had their number tied to their SSN#

[FreeState]

11. I live in a very heavy military town/county

I tend to agree with both of your perspectives. Mental health needs to be increased... and being around the military all the time I do get a little irritated when they ask for more financial help - they are given the stars and the moon here (not trying to imply they don't deserve it, they do, it just excessive IMO).

[haele]

12. Officers can usually network their way through the VA system.

However, the average grunts walking in have to start at step one and work through whatever bureaucracy the local VA throws at them just to start getting services. It's easy to fall through the cracks if you've not the network or the VA doesn't have enough caseworkers available to kerp track of people who are eligible and have applied for assistance.
Lots of reservists and Guard members have not any real information on their benefits once they've been discharged. That plus the mental and substance abuse issues that often develop after discharge often keep Vets from getting the services they need. The real dirty secret is that a lot of Vets from the 2004 - 2009 campaigns were given less than honorable discharges instead of being treated for TBIs or PTSD when they started exhibiting symptoms of battle related injuries or developed substance abuse issues from pain meds while recovering from damage.
Your brother needs to spend some real time with lower enlisted Vets who only served 4 to 6 years instead of his REMF buddies. Or work with some of the homeless vet services rather than go to the O- club soirees.
The lower enlisted short termers are always last in line to get VA services...

Haele

[smirkymonkey]

23. I agree with you. I thought his attitude was coming from a privelged position.

As is the case with most republicans. They simply don't understand the plight of the average enlisted person. The usual republican lack of empathy. I kind of think what I said to him yesterday sunk in a bit. His children were in the car with us. I hope they listened to me.

His daughter pointed out a sign on a shop and said "Hey, that place is hiring. He can go get a job." And I said "Lilly, they would never hire someone who does not have a home or who looks like that. He does not have a place to go to get cleaned up or dressed. He is probably mentally ill and can't hold down a job. It's not as simple as just going out and getting a job."

She is a very intelligent and lovely child and I hope she took in what I said. They live in Burlington, VT which is a very liberal city so I have hope for them.

[McCamy Taylor]

13. VA has the biggest, best funded mental health care system of any health insurer in the country.

VA will hospitalize veterans that would be forced into outpatient treatment by other insurers. The VA will never tell a member's family "Sorry, if you want you loved one to get mental health care, you should call the cops and have them thrown into jail."

The VA will also pay for modifications on veterans homes so that they can stay more safely in their homes. It will provide home health nurse, PT, aids and homemakers every single day of the week in order to help veterans stay in their homes. There is always a social worker available. The co-payment for your $10 blood pressure medication is the same as the co--payment for your $2000 a month wonder drug--the VA does not discriminate against those who are sick. Veterans who fall into the "donut" hole on their Medicare can come to the VA.

Basically, the VA does not throw up the financial obstacles--high out of pocket, large deductibles---that keep many people from using their health insurance until it is too late. However, not all Americans embrace the idea of disease prevention. This is especially true of those with chemical dependency. On the plus side, when it gets too cold to sleep on the street, an alcoholic who is also a veteran can always go to the local VA and say "I want to detox" and get a nice warm bed and some Ativan and three meals a day to keep him going until the weather gets good and he can check out AMA and return to the streets and his bottle.

[smirkymonkey]

24. Thank you for your perspective.

I am glad to hear that there are services available for homeless and addicted vets. Still, I think the government should do more for them. They need to provide re-hab and halfway homes for these people to get them on their feet.

Jobs programs and housing assistance for those who are on the street. I know they do for those who aren't down and out, but they should do a better job of taking care of the vets who are suffering deeply from the effects of their wartime service.

[Victor_c3]

14. It really comes down to the ability of the vet to prove their service connected disability

First off, not all discharged from the military are created equal. You can get an “honorable”, “other than honorable”, “dishonorable” and probable some others that I can’t think of. Depending on your discharge type, a veteran may or may not be eligible for benefits from the VA. To further add to this, a veteran may have come back from a deployment, gotten into trouble because of their PTSD, and received an unfavorable discharge - making the ineligible for VA benefits.

On top of that, they have to prove that their psychiatric issue was caused by their military service. That process can take many months to complete. Once a veteran receives a “service connected disability rating” they are open to all sorts of treatment and benefits.

I personally am rated at 100% disabled with the additional moniker of “P&T” or “permanent and totall” for PTSD. I collect social security disability in addition to my VA disability and a third disability payment provided by a previous employer. You’d be shocked to know how much I receive a month from disability.

However, I was a decorated combat veteran. My awards and medals made it very easy to prove that I was in combat and that my combat experiences caused my PTSD. From my experience, I’m an exception among vets.

For many veterans it’s not so cut and dry. They struggle to prove “service connection” or to prove the full extent of their disability. I mostly agree that if a veteran is really disabled that they should be taken care of by the VA and not be on the street begging, but I’ve met plenty on guys who fell through the cracks.

[Sgent]

29. I know when my friend got out they

were almost looking for an excuse for PTSD. They tried give him a rating based on just his time in (23yr) and he claimed he was in the medical corp and wasn't in combat -- they asked him multiple times. It wasn't until they were doing their final paperwork when they realized he had a silver star and they gave him a 100% rating.

It doesn't / wouldn't make a huge difference to him because he had retirement and tricare, but he has had a full time job since leaving...

[smirkymonkey]

32. Thank you for sharing your experience.

I really appreciate it. And thank you for your service. I am glad you are being taken care of and it's right that you should be.

I am sorry for those who fall through the cracks. They should never be doubted. They have served their country and should be taken care of regardless of the origin of their disability. It is a thankless job and those who have served should be honored and not tossed aside.

[tulipsandroses]

15. As a psych nurse

I've discharged many homeless vets to homeless shelters. Too bad, your brother does not understand the complexities. Some have addiction issues. Some have mental health issues combined with addiction issues. Not enough resources period. Its a revolving door. Don't let the Vet be a woman either. Don't let me get started on why there seems to be less after care resources for women than men.

[smirkymonkey]

33. Thank you for your input. I thought my brother was very insensitive and I tried to

bring him around. I told him basically what you are saying. I feel especially sorry for female vets. I am so grateful for what you do. You are a godsend for these people. They need someone to care and understand them.

[Kaleva]

19. Overall, I'd have to say the care I get is excellent.

The only complaint I have is that it's over a 2 hour drive one way to the nearest VA hospital but since it's my choice to live in the boonies, I guess I can't really complain about that either.

There's an occasional wait for a test or procedure and a snaafu about scheduling but it's the kind of things that having served for over a decade on active duty prepared me for when snaafus, screw ups and cluster fucks was the normal plan of the day.

[Demonaut]

22. You can be a veteran but get little in benefits unless you put in 20 years

and those vets that are homeless are usually older and probably did not serve in a time of war.

I'm not homeless but I served in the cold war (not a real war) and I fit neatly in that window.

[MrScorpio]

30. Air Force retiree here... Your brother is an asshole.

[smirkymonkey]

34. Hey Mr. Scorpio.

He's actually a decent guy, but just a little short on compassion. I don't think he even believes what he believes. I think it's his training. He can actually be a very kind person in some ways. It's not all black and white with him. He's complicated. I love him anyway. He's wrong on this, but my liberal brother and I are working on him and I think we are having some influence.

[MrScorpio]

35. You have all my best hopes that you can turn him...

I have faith that you can.

[resisterdoc]

36. Compensation and Pension exams

I am a psychologist who does Veteran Compensation and Pension exams for PTSD and other mental health problems. I work through a private contractor. I document symptoms, diagnoses and disability levels. I have only been doing this 3 months. I knew very little about veterans when I started. Here are some observations:

1.Many veterans do not seek help for PTSD and use alcohol and other substances to self-medicate. This is very unfortunate.

2. The hyper masculine culture of the military makes it difficult for them to admit they need help and ask for it.

3. It used to be difficult to get compensation for mental health benefits. Even to get an evaluation could take years due to the back log. However, the VA has been trying to change this. I feel certain the changes started under the OBAMA administration because they went into effect in 2017. It would take a while to get things approved and funded. The back-up is gone in the area I work in Georgia. In fact, I have seen servicemen who are starting a discharge process before they become veteran.

4. There was a legal case that recently gave veterans medical compensation and treatment even if they were discharged under less than honorable circumstance. I don't know the details but I think this is a good thing.

5. The VA appears to hiring many mental health professionals right now. I suspect this is part of an initiative that started prior to this administration. I also think there is a shortage of psychiatrists and psychologists to work with veterans. It is hard to get a weekly appointment for therapy. Most veterans are seen monthly for therapy which is not enough. As far as medication, follow-up appointments are up to 6 months apart. I think the mental health professionals are very good. There are just no enough of them.

6. I can look at records from 8 to 10 years ago and see that the VA was much more stingy about giving disability benefits for mental health. That is just not true of the evaluations now. It is easier to qualify for service related PTSD and other mental health problems. We are encouraged to document things accurately by establishing good rapport and being empathic. Many veterans have left my exam having talked more about their experiences and symptoms than they have ever spoken to anyone prior.

7. I have only met a couple that I felt were trying to get more than they were probably deserved. Most were working and were under employed due to their symptoms. Or they somehow managed to perform well despite being unable to sleep at night and/or being very symptomatic while at home.

8. I can tell from records that the VA has broadened their definitions of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder due to changes in the DSM. This is an excellent and more compassionate way to understand the impact of traumatic experiences.

9. In the last 10 years, the VA has become to recognize Military sexual Trauma and give compensation for it. Unfortunately, sexual harassment and assault are not unusual experiences for women and some men in the service. I check for this in every exam. Trauma from these incidents are valid stressors for a PTSD diagnosis as long as other criteria are met.

10. In my area there is a lot of emphasis on making sure veterans who have suicidal ideations or are at high risk get connected to services or get emergency intervention.

11. The VA is moving from in house Compensation and Pension exams to contracting this out to independent providers. This is a good change because it makes the process less conflicted and helps with the perception that the VA is not trying to short veterans.

I hope this helps people understand the process. While I am not connected to the treatment of these veterans, I always encourage them to connect with their local VA for help or to continue to get treatment I also hand out the Veterans Crisis Line Number.

[smirkymonkey]

37. This is so interesting. Thank you so much for sharing your experience.

I appreciate it so much and I am sure we all do. Welcome to DU!

[The Polack MSgt]

38. Thanks for this info.

Welcome to DU Resisterdoc, with your background, you may be interested in a couple subgroups here (DU is pretty massive)

Take a look at the veterans' group - https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1179

There are also a couple mental health groups - https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1260

and - https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1151

If you spend a bit of time noodling around, you are sure to find like minded Democrats to talk to regarding just about any hobby or interest you can think of.

Peace

[maxrandb]

39. Here's my personal experience

So, I'm a retired Navy Mustang Officer. Did 30 years. My experience is that it has gotten much better over the past decade or so.

Thanks to Democratic initiatives, the services have dramatically improved how folks separating from the military are briefed. For example, when one of my good friends and mentors retired in 1998, he was basically handed some info on the VA, given his 214 and shown the door.

One thing the Clinton, and then later the Obama administration did was institute "mandatory" Transition Assistance Programs (TAP).

By the time I retired, we were required to send EVERY separating military member to a full 4 day TAP course.

This training covered everything from resume writing to life insurance to the TSP to VA medical and other benefits. Not only did we have about 1000 times more info than those that separated before, we actually had points of contact that we could go to with questions.

I actually had a team of VA medical folks go page by page through my medical records.

There are still major problems. For example, I was advised to make three copies of my entire medical and dental records. One for me, one for the VA, and one as a backup.

I don't know why, but the medical records in the Navy don't automatically transfer to the VA. They use different programs and software, so the only way to get your records into the VA system is to give them a copy that they can scan. This helps, but it doesn't allow them to be searchable. If you were treated for something on active duty, you have to actually take hard copies of your records and hope the new doc has time to actually read them.

I think things have gotten better, but it's the folks that separated before the mandatory Transition Assistance Programs that fall through the cracks.

BTW - I personally think that the Retrumplicans and conservatives plan VA programs to be so difficult to navigate PURPOSEFULLY

It enables them to claim they support the military while knowing that only a small percentage of those eligible will be able to access those benefits.

A perfect example is the Montgomery GI Bill. Until Democrat Jim Webb pushed to allow the dependents of vets to use the benefit, a great deal of it went unused.

[smirkymonkey]

40. Thank you for relating your experience!

Very helpful information!