disabled American Vetrans

VA hospitals run the gamut from extra excellent to worse than worst. In 1989 I was living in Oklahoma and needed some heavy duty neurosurgery and was afraid of the VA hospitals in Oklahoma due to experience with them in the past. I finally decided to have the work done at the Portland, OR VA. The neurosurgery and the following year metal implants put me back together.

Fast forward through the Atlanta, GA VA and on to the Muskogee, OK hospital. The Muskogee VA was a real disaster. Decent medical people but greatly lacking in some of the administrative people. One fellow in particular would come waltzing in 30 minutes late in the mornings when he was to check-in the folks for X-Rays. Fasting since midnight, getting up early to drive various distances to make the appointment. One morning I went to the Director's Office to see why this was allowed to happen. Nobody had ever complained and the clerk did as he pleased.

He was later transferred to my medical team as the appointment clerk, and wouldn't answer the phone. After driving 70 miles round-trip several times to find out appointment times, I again went to the Director's office and told his secretary that I would simply call her for any communication I needed with the hospital. I also informed her that if this didn't fix itself there would be a formal complaint made to the Inspector General's office. It didn't change and the complaint was made.

The IG made an investigation and there is now a world of difference and the Director and I are almost on a first name basis. It is now about as friendly as some of the better hospitals in the system.

The moral of it is that we can P... and moan all we want but it is a beurocracy and will not change until forced into it. It is your VA. We were there for them and it now their time to be there for us.

Hello, I have never written here before, but as a 100%DAV due to Bipolar disorder; that and PTSD. Without going into details, it occured during my first duty station. Now after years of therapy and with the right medications I can function well most of the time. When I am not deeply depressed people don't know there is anything wrong with me. When depressed I hide away. So when I say I am 100%DAV and I seem to be very healthy, I sometimes feel guilty. It is hard to explain to people too. Am I unworthy? Plus most people don't expect it of a fairly young female.
N

Don't sweat what other people think. How many times have you seen what you think is an able bodied person pull into a handicapped parking space, put up their handicapped placard and go into Wal-Mart, etc? Just because he looks able bodied does not mean he is. I have a handicapped placard issued by the State of Oklahoma. I had surgery on my left foot almost two years ago. At the time the doctor said, "six/eight weeks and you'll be better than new." Well, I'm still waiting. It has yet to heal properly. Most of the time I don't have any problem but when it acts up it is all I can do to walk from the handicapped space to the store. After seeing other doctors I've learned it is something I will just have to live with. I don't walk with a limp and anyone seeing me may question my having the handicapped placard. That is their problem and I refuse to make it mine. If the VA declared you disabled then I'm a believer, knowing had hard it is to get that designation.

All battle scars are not on the outside.

All battle scars are not on the outside.

Very true. My husband is 100% P&T. He breaths through a hole in his throat. Of course he keeps it covered. He has major breathing issues. He also has Disabled Veteran's plates. But, we still get stares because #1 We don't have the placard in the window (people forget to check for plates)... #2 He isn't limping or sitting in a wheelchair... #3 We drive a big red Dodge Ram Dually! So, people think he shouldn't be disabled. Go figure! We actually made and displayed a bumper sticker for awhile stating that he would trade his Vietnam injuries for his disabled spot but, no one took him up on it, lol.

HI, I TO HAVE NOTICED THAT NOT ALL VA HOSPITALS ARE NOT CREATED EQUILY, I WAS IN THE PITTSBURGH SYSTEM 3 YRS AND DIDNT GET AN ID CARD TILL VISITING CALIF. ON A TRIP. I AM VERY HAPPY WITH SANDIAGO VA AND THE TUSCON VA SYSTEM. I BELEAVE EVERYONE WHO SERVED HONORABLY SHOULD GET SOME TYPE OF COVERAGE, I CAN TELL YOU I AM RETIRED BUT THOSE WHO SERVED OR MY HAVE WORKED WITH CHEMICALS THAT AREN'T SAFE. SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE SO NEW; THEY DON'T KNOW THE LONG TERM AFFECTS. IE ASBESTOS, AGENT ORENGE. I CAN ONLY HOPE THE CHEMICALS WE WORKED WITH ARE NOT BAD IN THE LONG TERM I.E METHAL ETHEL KEYTONE, ISOCYINITEC PAINT, BYRELYM, ASATONE, NOT TO MENTION ALL THE ADVANCED COMPOSITES NOW BEING USED. SO YES IF YOU SERVED YOU ARE ENTITLED RO CARE!! IF YOU WHERE TURNED DOWN REAPPLY CALL YOUR CONGESSMEN SCREEM FROM THE MOUNTIAN TOPS YOU HAVE TO FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT!!!

WOW
thanks folks for such a wide array of responses

I to have disabled veteran plates, but was marked 60% by our VA process, I cant write with a pen but can type like a chicken dancing on a piano fr short times, I was lucky my tow post service employers were very freindly towards disabled veterans and accomadated me quite well.

PTSD and other ailments have taken their toll.
I will say my VA prcess while in florida was not as good as i expected.
When we moved to alabama it started all over again and was GREAT. almost to the point of over caring numerous hand surgeries, mris of the brain etc,
but still I think 60 is a bit low, but i abuse tricare to fill in what the va hasnt to keep me vertical and walking and dealing with the mental issues.
anywho

mr. dawson
about methyll ethyl ketone, acetone, poly paint (isocyanates) and the other substance. they do attack your liver, spleen, kidneys and some brain tissue ( memory loss, falling down without cause, headaches,lack of drive for lovin, etc)
I would hope in your line of work they did at least annual paint physicals and blood work, these are smoking guns and can be used to prove to the va later on if you develope say alzhiemers or memory loss, kidney or spleen issues, etc. its important that folks who care about us know where all these documents are and you educate them what to look for if you have a stroke or the dread alzhiemers sets in.

i have a placard we hang in the window, in texas i can park in the red zone spaces, never seen one either, but wife is 100 % and we get stares and bitches when we park up frnt she walks and i hoble a bit .
my prayers go now to teh folks coming home now who are being pushed through and anre uneducated in the way the VA works, you can only get this education aftert the fact, so we as vets need to talk to every active duty persn we see about keeping records and seeing the doc for everything n matter how insignificant at the time, especially the anthrax cocktail of shots.