Thread: Injured US veteran needs advice

Originally Posted by TrilliumLT

I have no advise to offer you. I just wanted to thank you for your service. And wish you well with your up coming surgery.

Thank you for your service compadre', I did the "storm" as well. I had some "botched" doctoring in the Navy myself and had the civilian doctors to patch me up properly. Fortunately there was no permanent damage. I pray for you a speedy recovery in your surgery and if you are permanently disabled, I wish you the best with your pursuit of the benefits you deserve.
Scott

I had a friend who was an M.D with the VA and based on what he has told me and other vets experience I wouldn't send a dog to a VA Hospital.

Gentlemen, the negativity is unwarranted....I think people have the tendancy to attack government systems out of habit rather than reason...I have been through a lot of the institutions that you are putting down. I see a lot of caring people that work for the VA that try help ex military folks navigate through the systems in place. These are hard working people who are criticized every day and really don't deserve it. I have seen other people go through the processes set and really haven't found that many discrepancies...Sure, there are some faults in the system. The VA is a struggling organization that is attempting to care for Veterans from several wars...I retired from the military with several injuries that were incurred throughout the years...Sure, I missed putting a few of them in my records, but for the most part all of them were accounted for and assessed by the VA. I was awarded a disablity rating of 90% and given healthcare regarding those injuries and a cash award every month...I compare that with some of my friends who did not join the military and have incurred injuries throughout their careers...Guess what? They didn't receive compensation for injuries....I really don't understand people when they bash the military and VA hospitals...I don't know a job in the world that will educate, clothe, house, and take care of someone for life other than the military...The military and the VA is what you make of it...I went in the miitary as a G.E.D holding oil field hand, and came out with a MBA, as a world traveler and a great job in the space/satelite field all because of the miitary...So, lighten up fellows...The glass is half full, rather than half empty..If you don't like the hand you are dealt...Then change it..

I would have to agree for the most part. A lot of the folks I have been dealing with at the VA have been truly concerned and helpful. But they usually have nothing to do with the actual care. They are liaisons more or less. It's the few that mess it all up. However, that being said, there does seem to be more than a few vets that are treated much differently. I would attribute your success with the VA as someone who spent their life in the military. Those of us who separated before 15-20 years, however, seem to get very different treatment. My mother-in-law, for instance, has been crippled for years after part of a propeller almost killed her in the Air Force. Twenty years later they finally awarded her a 100% disability. Her treatment at the VA, which I was witness to, was less than compassionate. I have, however, seen retired officers and NCO's that are treated like royalty. I have not been treated the same way, however. I feel like their thinking is "a dead soldier is cheaper than an injured one," unless you spent your whole life working for them. Just my $.02.

Sorry to hear about your problem. Maybe some Veteran support groups can be of help.

Originally Posted by SkinnyChef

I would have to agree for the most part. A lot of the folks I have been dealing with at the VA have been truly concerned and helpful. But they usually have nothing to do with the actual care. They are liaisons more or less. It's the few that mess it all up. However, that being said, there does seem to be more than a few vets that are treated much differently. I would attribute your success with the VA as someone who spent their life in the military. Those of us who separated before 15-20 years, however, seem to get very different treatment. My mother-in-law, for instance, has been crippled for years after part of a propeller almost killed her in the Air Force. Twenty years later they finally awarded her a 100% disability. Her treatment at the VA, which I was witness to, was less than compassionate. I have, however, seen retired officers and NCO's that are treated like royalty. I have not been treated the same way, however. I feel like their thinking is "a dead soldier is cheaper than an injured one," unless you spent your whole life working for them. Just my $.02.

I may disagree with you on time in service/rank having more perks in the VA systems. I only did 9 1/2 years and got out as an E-6 and they treated me with more compassion and care than my General Physician does at times. It may be where you are located, unfortunately. I had all of my experience here in the south at the Dublin, GA facility.

I worked with a guy whose wife was an RN and she left a position in a local hospital to work for the VA in the local VA hospital cause she felt the quality of care in the HMO Hospital she was at wasn't the best. She lasted 2 years at the VA before quiting. Her old place was the Ritz by comparison. He used to tell me she would come home some nights in tears because one of the patients had died because of poor or improper care. She would see patients being given the wrong meds and treatments and the staff would just laugh about it. No one there really cared. The guy I knew who was an MD there years earlier echoed the same things to me.

As a matter of fact this guy I worked with who was a disabled Vet himself and went to the VA and thought the world of them until he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and was about to undergo major surgery and took my advice and got a second opinion and was told there wasn't a thing wrong with him. That was 8 years ago and he's still very healthy.

Just to update you guys on the progress and to thank you all for the very fine advice and support:

I was put in touch with a VA advocate not too far from my residence who is running with the ball and doing all the work for me. He is pretty confident that we can get a significant disability and possibly vocational rehab for these injuries. The civilian surgeon that performed the procedure is assisting with all the necessary documentation to ensure that all the required information tying this procedure to my initial injuries is in place. Thank you all for guiding me in the required information and documentation areas, and to all who helped me contact the proper agencies. Your help was vital.

The surgery was successful beyond my imagination. My arm now hangs "neutral" again (palm facing leg) and the pain that was ever-present at the base of my skull is gone. I have significant shoulder pain, of course, and this usually leads to massive migraines, but I have not had one headache since the surgery. Won't know if I need an artificial joint for two more weeks, but I don't care at this point. The pictures from inside the joint tell a horrific tale. Didn't kow there could be so much internal damage and still be able to use the arm the way I was using it. Doctor seemed pretty surprised as well. But he is happy with the outcome of the surgery and says that my shoulder is now "anatomically correct."

Once again, thank you all very much and lots of love.

Great to hear things went well with the surgery!!

This is great news! I have found that if one can get a good surgeon it makes all the difference in the world. Good luck and I hope all progresses forward for you. It sounds like you are going forward.

Take Care,
Richard