The Stovebolt Site Forums The Side Lot Legion Hall Veterans Affairs rant.

A warning to other Veterans. I have an appointment with the local VA Hospital on the 16th of April. I just got a call from someone asking if I would like to do a Video conference or a computer conference instead of a person-to-person visit. Here is the kicker, my instructions say to fast 12 hrs before. There are tests to be taken, which I assume can't be done over the phone. I have a second appointment on the 24th of April for my eyes. I am sure that can't be done over the phone. Computer, yes. This is an important one because I know I need a new prescription and this in Indiana is required to keep my driver's license. I do want to make the trip to the Smoky Mountain Nationals.

Sir;
That is a standard question with the V.A. All you have to do is tell them that you want a face to face. In your case,I do not know why they would ask such a question with what your appointments are for. Sometimes the people who work at the V,A. are a brick short of a load. By the way,I get excellent care at my local V.A.

The bureaucrats at the VA aren't any more intelligent than their peers elsewhere in the .GOV world. Once you get past kumquats to the real doctors and technicians, the care they provide is second to none- - - -but getting that far can be frustrating at least- - - -sometimes downright infuriating!
I have had excellent care from the VA facilities here in Tennessee, including such things as hearing aids, a couple of colonoscopies, and regular appointments with their podiatry specialists to keep the toenail fungus that followed me home from Thailand in 1975 somewhat under control. Then there's the health and wellness checks on a 6-month schedule.
Since my disability from Agent Orange complications was finally established, the care has gotten more frequent and more comprehensive. Compared to the care that was provided for the WW II and Korea vets in my family, the difference is obvious. Back then, a VA hospital was where a homeless alcoholic went to die!
Jerry

A little side note. When I got out of the Army in 1970 I applied for a job at the same VA. I was almost hired except for the last question, how much college did you have? So I answered truthfully, 3 years. She said I did not qualify, it was for 2 years or less. No job. Then I decided to go to Ball State to finish and then they told me the credits were quarter hrs and would not transfer and it put me at 2 years of credit. BTW up until now I got good service but what this is all about I don't know.

I just found a very old friend from 50 years ago that had a lot of dealings with the VA, trying to get disability for her ex-husband who had been a marine sniper over there where we weren't during Vietnam. She met a guy that was a WW2 vet that was trying to get disability for a gun shot wound with a WOODEN bullet from the Japanese. VA didn't recognize a WOODEN bullet so they were denying him. This was back in the late '70s early '80s. But I've been lucky to get pretty good service from the VA.

S2

My local VA must want to stay open. In my first experience with the VA, one of my bosses suggested hearing aids because I had a hard time understanding people on the phone. So I made an appointment and they did a full physical and a hearing test. A week or so later I received hearing aids in the mail. A couple of weeks later I received a letter stating. even though I did not quite qualify for the hearing aids I would be receiving them and a class one disability. The ones I have are great and I can even answer my cell phone if I remember putting the aids In. They even connect with my Heroband watch so can glance at the watch and tell if I want to answer it. Only my contacts show up.

I got the letter today saying that my appointment has been canceled. It further states if it has been canceled it will take a year to reschedule. Then when you try to call the extension I am to call disconnects as soon as I dial it. So I called another number and had to leave my number and my social number at least the last 4. They rattle off things so fast because they say the same thing day after day. If I don't get a call back I will go in person tomorrow.

It seems like most of the Doctors offices are booked out months at a time now...
I've had mostly great experiences with my VA care in Colorado and California.

Ron, have you considered the option of relocating to somewhere in America? The VA nurse practicioner who did my scheduled health and wellness check late last week spent over an hour with me, compared to the 10-15 minutes Medicare and my secondary insurance carrier allows my private practice MD to spend with me every few months. VA also does not ask the asinine bunch of psychological evaluation questions that take up at least half the time I'm allowed to spend with my general practice MD.
LOL!
Jerry