Post 8 ROLL CALL Phase II

Reporting for ROLL CALL  9/1/13 9:16AM

Hey Captain!

There are @ one million backlogged claims at the VA at this time.  And, more to come.  Many more.  Today the news is that the President is going to ask Congress for its permission for us to invade Syria, Iran's ally and Russia's and Chinese 'friend'.  Congress may or may not give its blessing to this and if it does not, the President can launch an attack regardless.  So, another way on the horizon, we are 'out' of Iraq only leaving a few hundred thousand 'white collar' soldiers, we are pulling out of Afghanistan and stockpiling Troops in South Korea.  More VA claims on the horizon.

The answer to your question about 'what happens' when a claim is filed at the VA, my only answer is:  Who knows?  Certainly not anyone working at the VA.  Last year those responsible for handling claims got bonuses.  Big bonuses.  Why?  Because they are doing a fantastic job of back up the claims.  "Lie and deny until you die!"  This is the motto of the VA.  And, it works.  Remember, it is more economically sound for the VA (government) not to pay its soldiers than to do so for wounds incurred in war.  So, if the VA can make a soldier quit in his quest to receive compensation for the scars of war he bears, then so be it to the VA's advantage.

Here we come to the spot where I need to explain 'how to play the game'.  And, that's just what it is.  A game.  Up to this point, the game has started when the Cherry Troop goes to the VA to get his VA card.  Now we are at the point in the game where the claim has been filed.  The pressure is on, now, at the VA to process these claims faster.  Congress is on them.  And so is the general population.  So, dragging its feet is no longer an 'unseen' act.  But, the claim takes time to process.  And those processing those claims take their time in doing so.  

Billions of dollars have been spent to 'update' the records systems at the VA converting 'paper files' to 'computer files'.  And, do you know what?  It's not working.  This morning Facebook emailed me a request for me to give them my telephone number to further secure my position with them.  I did so.  When I hit 'send' to Facebook, I then when to my Yahoo account and there on the top of my mailbox was an email from Facebook telling me that they had received my telephone number.  If Facebook can do that in that time period, why can't the VA?

I'm not saying the VA should approve a Veteran's claim in a matter of 24 hours.  Each claim has its own merits.  And, there are responsibilities to adhere to, so a claim has to be taken in one at a time.  There are no easy answers here.  The wheels spin and turn at the VA churning out a 'yeah' or a 'nay' on each claim, one at a time.  Could the process be made more efficient?  Only the VA really knows how to answer that question.  It is what it is.  Backlogged!

LT

out

Post 7 ROLL CALL Phase II

Reporting to ROLL CALL Phase II  8/24/13  1:58PM

Hey Captain!

One needs to go back to ROLL CALL Phase I and see the 'RULES TO FOLLOW' and "STEPS TO TAKE"  in order to be caught up on and up to date on where we are now.  Getting a Veteran Advocate is "Rule 4".  Not to beat a dead horse, but I think the ride is over on this subject of getting an Advocate.  And, actually, if you are reading this, then I'm your Advocate.  And a pretty damn good one, too, I might add.

There are a lot of 'Wanna-Be's' out there.  These are the sorry characters who say they served in combat in Vietnam, and they did not.  Other problems stem from the simple fact that it takes 9 Support Troops to keep the one combat Troop on the battlefield.  These are cooks, truck drivers, doctors, mail room, etc.  One of the problems with the Vietnam War was it was long.  Now, we have Iraq and Afghanistan that both have run a long course, as well.  So, when these Support Troops in Vietnam had 'down time', they were bored.  So, lots of them got into smoking pot and shooting heroin.  When they DEROSed or "Date Eligible for Return from Overseas" came home, they often times had a $2 dollar a day habit in the 'Nam, but when they hit the streets of the Good Ole US of A, they had a $200 dollar a day habit because of the 'cut' in the 'junk'.  So, many of these so-called heroes 'totaled out' and dropped out and became Junkies and/or a bottle of Crown a day alcoholics and by the time they reached 45 or 50, they were a total mess.

So, some one came up to them and said, "You need to go to the VA and tell them you were a combat Troop and they will give you free Junk."  And, so, if you go to any VA hospital in the nation, lining the walls are these guys in their 'uniforms'.  And those uniforms are all the same:  dirty clothes, long dirty beards and a Harley Davidson vests.  They play the 'scam' of telling their primary care doctor that they are in great pain and drink a bottle of Crown each day, so the doctor 'has' to give the Scammer oxycodone instead of Vicodin.  This is because Vicodin and booze destroys the liver.  Jack Daniels and oxycodone does not.  And, now, today, oxycodone is one of the major illegal drugs being bought on the street for $25 bucks a pop.

So, there's just one example of the 'Scam'.  It goes deeper than that.  But the VA has now reached a point where they are investigating each claim to the maximum to weed out the fakes from the real Troopers.  And, that's one of the main reasons there are nearly one million backlogged claims at the VA today.

And PTSD is hard to prove, either from the Trooper's viewpoint, or the 'shrink's.  So, it is somewhat 'protocol' at the first meeting the Cherry Troop has in the VA's Mental Hygiene Clinic when his/her shrink asks, "Are you here for the money?"  That question in itself can lead to a good percentage of the Cherry Troops turning about face and quitting.  And, remember, Rule 1 is "Do not quit!"

It is my feeling as a long time student of the Black Snake's that anyone who served in combat has PTSD.  Some cases are more severe than others.  But, as an Advocate, I strongly advise the Cherry Troop to make a claim for PTSD the first chance he can get.  And, this is 'playing the game' and this is "for the money' but more importantly, it is for your health being your most important concern.  More to come on this.

LT

Post 6 ROLL CALL Phase II

Reporting for ROLL CALL  8/21/13  8:16AM

Hey Captain!

Per your questions, getting a Veteran Advocate is almost past tense at this point.  You are a Veteran Advocate and any one reading this can take your advice here and your thoughts as 'advocacy'.  Same goes for me.  In California, we have CalVet which is an outreach segment of the VA that is State oriented.  Every State has such a service to its Veterans.  Then there are the Veteran 'drinking clubs' like the American Legion, VFW, DAV, AMVETS, etc.  They have advocates, too.  And actually, inside the VA itself is a Veteran Advocate.  The long and short of it is that the Cherry Troop needs a Veteran Advocate first thing to give him advice and guidance.  

And now I'm going to 'cut it to the chase'.  Many Veterans who make their first meeting with their 'shrink' at the VA's Mental Hygiene Clinic are met by a doctor who asks him first off, "Are you here for the money?"  This often times causes the Cherry Troop to respond with 'anger'.  Fact of the matter, that's exactly what the VA system wants.  And if the anger means that the Cherry Troop tells that 'shrink' to "Go To Hell!" and then walks out the door, that's what the VA wants, too.  Truth of the matter is there are a lot of so-called combat Veterans that are 'playing the game' and cause great iniquity within the system.  These 'fakes' burden the system because if one of them does succeed in getting a large claim, and he is found out, then this brings 'heat' to the whole VA procedure.  One needs to look at this YouTube presentation to get what I am saying:

http://www.upworthy.com/whats-the-worst-thing-you-could-say-to-a-congresswoman-who-lost-her-legs-in-battle-found-it?g=2

After watching this video, then you will see more clearly why the VA today is backlogged with nearly a million claims.  

LT

Post 5 ROLL CALL Phase 2

Reporting to ROLL CALL  8/16/13  8:32AM

OK, Captain!

Per your comments and questions on Post 4, I'm going to put this one out 'short & sweet'.   When the Cherry Troop or the older Veteran seeks an advocate, he/she needs to select him based on his own needs.  Like finding a wife for a man, or a husband for a woman, this choice is a personal one, and a very important one.  So, do it carefully.  I know there are millions of Veterans who do not use the VA as their medical caregiver.  That is their choice, too.  Many of these millions consider the VA to be a 'hand out' or they think of we who use it as 'government tit suckers'.  Once again, that's their choice to think as they may.  But, here's the bottom line:  Every Veteran has 'earned' his VA benefits.  The government is not 'giving' them to them.  They fought for them if they were in combat.  And, it is my belief that if they did experience any combat in any form, they have the Black Snake coiled within their soul upon their return to 'home'.  As such, they need to get with the "shrink" at the mental health section of the VA and get their war time experiences down on paper.  If they choose not to do so, then again, that is their choice.  

Now, I'm a Veteran Advocate.  My advice is for any Veteran who has experienced combat to file for a claim due to PTSD.  Filing that claim is as easy as filling in a credit card application.  And that's the pure and simple of it.  FILE!  DO IT!

LT

POST 4 on ROLL CALL Phase #2

Reporting for ROLL CALL  9:08AM  8/10/13

Hey Captain!

OK, you've asked 4 specific questions and I think the best way to answer the first 3 is to say you've answered them by asking them.  With that said, I'm going to get to the brief 'cut to the chase' phase on this.  We've gone down the whole road on ROLL CALL in Phase 1.  The reader at this point should have his VA card, be signed in at the VA, has seen his primary care doctor, his mental hygiene doctor and has had a total 'discharge' physical.  

Many factors enter the picture at this point in the Cherry Troop's decision making process.  Assuming the Cherry Troop is young, in his 20's, then he/she has life out of the military in front of him.  He might want to take advantage of many 'outside' benefits that are offered to him.  College, job, home loan, business loan, etc.  These outside benefits are available with detailed descriptions from the VA offices, or their web site.  I encourage the Cherry Troop to look into all these 'opportunities' and to take advantage of any and all.  Remember, you have 'earned' them.  They are not gifts from Uncle Sam.  Like getting your pay check at the end of the week for the week you have worked, you have 'earned' your pay.

Now, back to the VA hospital.  If in fact you have physical injuries, then those have already been listed with your primary care doctor.  There are logarithms in place at the VA for percentages for each and every physical injury.  After having them all listed by your primary care doctor, you ask him to file your claim.  He will then instruct you as to who to do that with, and give you specifics.  The most important part is to have these physical injuries logged into  your medical records.  And the filing of the claim is a matter of fact process.  Simple.  Do it!

Now, the next step is to determine if in fact you have a non-physical wound from your service to your nation in whatever particular military branch you were in and got your honorable discharge.  My feeling is that if the Cherry Troop served in combat, he has a non-physical wound.  That is PTSD.  Many of the Troops returning from service today have been deployed for many tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Some back to back.  Some 18 months.  The simple fact is that if that Cherry Troop has served in combat, he is either going to decide to file a claim for PTSD or he isn't.  My advice is that he do so.  And the sooner the better.

Many of our fighting men and women in all the Rich Man Wars after the end of World War II have been brainwashed to believe that to claim they have been wounded by PTSD is being a coward or a 'loser'.   At this point, I think it is most important to put that kind of crap out of your mind and choose to file for PTSD wounds.  So we need to hit this point with that decision.  Will you file a claim for PTSD or won't you.

LT

out

Reporting for Roll Call - 20:10 Hrs 8-9-13 Hi LT: have you been posting anything since your No.3.on the site? Don't see anything else there. Here's what I'm recapping to make sure I'm up to date: 1) The VA uses the Claim Adjuster process to determine claims value level. This means, anyone who files such a claim has to realize their in an "adversarial" relationship from that moment on. So, your insistence that a veteran have an advocate to help navigate through that process is critical. 2)There seems to be a gap in knowledge or understanding of the VA's rules and regs even among its own personnel. Example: Date of diagnosis vs. date of claim. Looks like the thing to do is to file a claim as close to the date of diagnosis as possible, if you want the maximum possible award. 3)Okay, assuming Cherry Troop has done everything laid out to date, what are the specific steps involved with filing his claim? CENTURION

Post 3 ROLL CALL Phase II

Reporting for ROLL CALL 7/31/13 8:56AM

Hey Captain!

Per your 1):  You are somewhat close to the 'arbitrary VA formulas' as to making a claim.  If you have ten physical wounds, and you have symptoms of PTSD and you were exposed to any toxins, you have a dozen points to deal with.  If there are any problems at this point of your needs to cover your 6, then re-read ROLL CALL Phase I from top to bottom.  You need to follow all the steps and apply all the rules to get to this point with me.  You need to get a thorough physical covering all bases and finish it off with a thorough mental evaluation from a VA 'shrink'.  Get is all down on paper!

Per your 2):  It is not relevant that the VA and the services are in cahoots with each other as to the departing Cherry Troop.  It is the Cherry Troops responsibility to get his VA card and start the process of 'playing the game'.

Per your 3):  The Advocate is a 'guide' for the Cherry Troop's mission of getting from Point A to Point Z.  Depending on who the Advocate is, his 'leverage" is conditional.  The Cherry Troop needs to 'trust' his Advocate.  There are @ one million backlogged claims at the VA today.  Don't you think "arbitrary administrative/bureaucratic" might be the explanation?  

Making a claim at the VA for the wounds the Cherry Troop has received in serving his country is 'his/her' responsibility.  If the wound is a serious physical one, such as loss of limb or sight, then the process is conditional and pretty much 'cut & dry'.  If however, there are other wounds, then it is the responsibly of the Cherry Troop to get them talked out and on paper with his primary care doctor and 'shrink'.  Just doing this can start initiating the 'claim' because it brings into focus the wounds.  

I call PTSD "The Black Snake".  If the Cherry Troop has been subjected to any form of combat, the the Black Snake is apparent. If the Cherry Troop was subjected to any sort of 'abuse' in his service, then the Black Snake is tangible.  It is so very important for the Cherry Troop to get to ROLL CALL's first phase immediately after discharge because he can remember the 'stressors' better then than 20 years downy the road.  And the 'stressors' are so very important in 'playing the game'.

LT

POST 2 on ROLL CALL Phase II

Reporting to ROLL CALL 7/27/13 1:52PM

Hey Captain!

OK, we are on to Phase II here on ROLL CALL.  You asked:

"1) How, or what, is the proper way to initiate such a claim? 

2) Besides our Cherry Troop, who else is involved at this point in the process?"

OK, the gloves are coming off and I'm going to go at this from now on with bare fists holding automatic weapons.  No more "Mr. Nice Guy"!  In Phase I I made it quite clear to all reading it that there is a proper procedure to follow upon the Cherry Troop's departure from the military service he or she has given this nation.  Remember, when that said Cherry Troop he was given a complete physical.  This is not the case upon his honorable discharge.  It is up to that said individual to 'cover his own 6' and get right to the nearest VA hospital and get his VA card, get signed up and get an appointment with his primary care doctor and have a complete physical.  Then he needs to get a mental evaluation.  With this whole procedure under his belt, it is not time to approach making a claim.

A physical wound should be addressed first.  And, without sounding ridiculous, if the Cherry Troop had one of his limbs blown off in battle, then that is a 'physical' wound.  And, no one is going to question him about it.  It is what it is:  a physical wound and depending on the circumstances, we enter into the VA's percentage ward.  And this is where we start using figures to play this game.  

I had a few physical wounds from my battles on the jungle floors in Vietnam in 1968 and 1969.  I had a hand grenade booby trap blow up in my face that caused me to lose part of my hearing, but that was it.  Not one piece of its deadly shrapnel hit my body.  But, I did have a Viet Cong attack me physically and slice a knuckle on the ring finger of my right hand.  I also came home 40 pounds lighter than I was when I went over there caused by dysentery, and that bug I carried in my intestines for decades.  I also got "Jungle Rot" that to this day is still present between my little toe and the next one on my right foot.  

Now, all those physical injuries that I just wrote about are 'physical' wounds and if I was that said Cherry Troop, I would have all that information written into my medical records by my primary care doctor in my first visit.  Now, that doctor might want me to write all that down, or email it to him at the new VA web site at:  https://www.myhealth.va.gov

If you have injuries like I had when I came home, each injury is logged by the VA Claims Adjuster.  It is given a percentage.  Don't hold me to this, but for example.  Let's say it is determined I had hearing loss due to that bobby trapped hand grenade exploding in my face.  And that determination will be made only by the hearing specialist that will give you an appointment and check out your hearing due to you telling your primary care doctor about that incident.  If in fact my hearing was 30% off, then the VA Claims adjuster will give you a percentage of maybe 5%.  Then the finger being sliced, maybe that will get me a 1%.  The dysentery gets me another 1% and they feel like its my lucky day, so they throw in another point.  So, you add up those points and my total is 8%.  So, now I'm a disabled American Combat Warrior Veteran.

This percentage game is bull shit.  But, it is the way the VA deals with claims.  And, if you get enough points to qualify for a monthly check, then that's the finish line in this claims process.  And, my 8% example here would not get me a check.  I'd probably have to have a 10% total to qualify for a check for $10 bucks.  And, when the VA adds up my points that amount to 8, they say I have only a 2% total.  That's where the bull shit comes to play.  And I will explain this more and more in detail and how to avoid this 'VA Booby Trap'.  And this is where getting an Advocate really comes into play.  You need advice from someone who knows how to play the game if you want to make a claim.  I've discussed only physical wounds here.  I have not gone into the mental problem area at all.  I will.  But, for now, let's answer your two questions:

You need to initiate your claim while you are in the first stages of signing up for your VA card and having your first appointments with your primary care doctor and your mental hygiene doctor.  The first to be involved with this process is the Cherry Troop and his doctors.  And there is nothing wrong with asking all the doctors you come into contact with on how you should make your claim.   

So, to end this Post 2, I want you to go to the first link on this page in its upper right hand corner and read it.  This will tell you exactly what is going on with the numbers presently with the claims backlogged at the VA. 

LT

POST 1 on ROLL CALL Phase II

Reporting to ROLL CALL  7/25/13  9:57AM

This is the first post here on ROLL CALL Phase II.  If you are reading this, it is because you contacted me after you read all the posts on Phase I of ROLL CALL and emailed me asking for this url here on Phase II.  This site is not open to the general public.  There's a reason for this.  

But before I enter into the 'meat on this bone', I'm going to tell you about a personal incident that happened to me on Tuesday.  I had an appointment with my CalVet councilor at 2PM so I had to drive down to his office in Sacramento.  My councilor is also my 'inside contact' for my Veteran Advocacy.  When I meet a fellow Veteran in my day to day life, either on the street or on the Internet, who is in need of some advice or help, after I qualify him/her I set them up with a meeting with my CalVet connection.  He works for the VA, so he is able to take my Vet and put him into the VA Machine.  

After my meeting at CalVet, on the way home I stopped at Panera Bread and got a cup of their good Hazelnut coffee and hooked up my laptop to their free WiFi.  I got caught up on my networking, and had to pack up and leave to get back to my 'critters' on my farm, but first I had to hit the head.  When I entered the bathroom, there was a young man inside washing his hands, and when he turned to me he saw the Screaming Eagle on my baseball cap, and he said, "Thanks for serving!"  I replied, "You've made my day."

This young fellow looked like he was in trouble.  He was pale and 'antsy'.  I asked him if he was a Veteran, and he went on to explain that he was a Marine and had served in combat both in Iraq and Afghanistan.  I asked him if he had a VA card.  He told me no.  I asked 'why'?  Then he 'dumped' on me.  He said he was having some bad troubles.  He then exposed his left inner arm and I could see 'tracks'.  For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about here, this guy was a dope fiend.  In other words, a drug addict.  He looked at me with shame in his eyes.   I gave him my business card and also gave him the card of my connect at CalVet and told him to call him and to call me if he needed help.

This Veteran did need help.  I have not heard from him again.  He's out there self-medicating, and he's in trouble.  I do wish I could have done more, but I can only do what I do.  And that is to do my best as a Veteran Advocate to get my fellow Veterans the help they need for serving in our military forces and getting an honorable discharge for doing so.  In another story I did finally get a Desert Storm Troop who is suffering from a massive PTSD problem into the VA Machine and The CalVet program as well that day when I was there for my appointment.  So it goes.  One Veteran at a time.  

So, with the above story having been told, that brings me back to the reason I am blocking this Phase II of ROLL CALL from the general public.  You, the reader, are here because you are having trouble adjusting to the "Real World' now that you are out of the military and on the street.  So, here, I am going to begin explaining to you how to 'Play The Game' of getting your VA claim into the VA Machine.  And, believe me, you have to know how to play the game if you are going to be successful in getting a valid claim made.  So, I"m going to call it a day on this post and let the Captain check in and make his comments here, and then we'll start picking the meat off this bone.

LT