This should not be a political thread but no Republican ever called me a terrorist but John Kerry sure did. No republican ever called the Marines at Haditha murderers without proof but John Murtha sure did. No Republican ever labeled me and all other returning vets a possible threat to the Nations security but the head Health and Human services Katherine Sebilius sure did.

Let's keep this about disabled vets and not about politics as we all have opinions.

Why is it the Texas VA system seems to be the worst in the country? Waco has the longest wait times of any VA office in the country. Avg. is 330 days. The Dallas VA is rated as one of the worst in the country and as someone who goes there I can see why.

Anyone else have problems at the Dallas VA? If one person complains....no one listens. If we all complain....they have no choice. Maybe we could get something going? I find the staff rude and getting timely appointments difficult for starters.

VA Seeks to Expand TBI Benefits


December 7, 2012


Proposes Adding 5 Diagnosable Illnesses Secondary to Service-Connected TBI

WASHINGTON– The Department of Veterans Affairs is publishing a proposed regulation in the Federal Register that would change its rules to add five diagnosable illnesses which are secondary to service-connected Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

“We must always decide Veterans’ disability claims based on the best science available, and we will,” Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki said. “Veterans who endure health problems deserve timely decisions based on solid evidence that ensure they receive benefits earned through their service to the country.”

VA proposes to add a new subsection to its adjudication regulation by revising 38 CFR 3.310 to state that if a Veteran who has a service-connected TBI also has one of the five illnesses, then the illness will be considered service connected as secondary to the TBI.

Service connection under the proposed rule depends in part upon the severity of the TBI (mild, moderate, or severe) and the period of time between the injury and onset of the secondary illness. However, the proposed rule also clarifies that it does not preclude a Veteran from establishing direct service connection even if those time and severity standards are not met. It also defines the terms mild, moderate, and severe, consistent with Department of Defense (DoD) guidelines.

Comments on the proposed rule will be accepted over the next 60 days. A final regulation will be published after consideration of all comments received.

VA’s decision is based on a report by the National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Medicine (IOM), “Gulf War and Health, Volume 7: Long-Term Consequences of TBI.” In its report, the IOM's Committee on Gulf War and Health concluded that "sufficient evidence of a causal relationship" - the IOM's highest evidentiary standard - existed between moderate or severe levels of TBI and diagnosed unprovoked seizures. The IOM found "sufficient evidence of an association" between moderate or severe levels of TBI and Parkinsonism; dementias (which VA understands to include presenile dementia of the Alzheimer type and post-traumatic dementia); depression (which also was associated with mild TBI); and diseases of hormone deficiency that may result from hypothalamo-pituitary changes.

Specific information about the Defense and Veteran Brain Injury Center is available at http://www.dvbic.org/. Information about Gulf War and VA's services and programs are available at: http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/gulfwar/hazardous_exposures.asp.

I go to the Temple VA. I can walk in and in two to three days, see my primary care. Ive had over 150K spent on me over the course of two years.

I have no cost medical care for the rest of my life. I live with someone that doesn't. If youre complaining about the VA...your a serious tard.


All you have to do is wait for care. And want to run a mob to the doors of the VA. LOL...really?



The VA is one of the finest health care systems in the state of Texas.

Grasshopper, are you being serious or are you being sarcastic? I'm not trying to start a fight but if your experience with the VA has been positive you are certainly in the minority. Surely, you're aware that there are people, many people, still waiting on a VA rating determination for over ten years. Although its no one specific person's fault the entire VA system needs an overhaul and they certainly need way more people to make disability determinations. I think 90 days is an acceptable wait time but most everyone I know waits at least a year. And I'm sad to report that there are quit a few people I know still waiting. I do applaud you for giving compliments where you think they are deserved but if you think you're experiences are the norm or typical, that's just not the case.

10 Years!!! Must be for something that there is No Documentation On.

I have been in the VA System for 21 years there has been some Hick Ups with appointments, But I have to say everything has been pretty smooth. YES Determinations DO take way longer than one would think.

I just got MedSepd after 10 years in. Approved my rating before I went on terminal then to find out the day after my EAS the claim as closed and disapproved. Now a new claim is put in and I didn't submit it. I'm glad I wasnt trying to live off that money b/c now they're saying June for my "Letter" to come in.

Ahhhh VA

A. I go to the Dallas VA. Rated worst in the country. Wow you can walk in and see your primary care in 3 days. That's good? Helps alot when you have the Flu. My wait is 2 to 3 weeks to see my primary care. If you have the Flu they say go to Dallas VA ER.

Avg ER wait time at Dallas VA ER is 12 to 15 hours if not bleeding.

The VA is the Best in TX? You must be a tard if you Think that. Avg ER wait time in Denton Private hospital???? 35 to 40 minutes. Guess you and Websters have a different definition of "Good".

If you want a doc who went to Sri Lanka Med school and can speak some english then the Dallas VA is the best care for you.

Anybody who thinks the VA is the best care available in TX with under paid and over worked docs, along with the mantra of give them pills and pass them along to the next doc, AKA the "VA shuffle", needs to have their head space and timing checked.

I had to self diagnose ruptured/torn disk after 6 years of complaing of extreme pain and demand an MRI after someone told me that was an option and after waiting 8 months to get said MRI then waiting another 2 months to get to an Ortho. Best in TX! I was told by them I had Fybromyalga....LOL. Quality care....Yet I am the tard. "I can walk in an see a doc in 2 or 3 days", LOL. Quality......

The VA should be disbanded IMO and we should be given a quality private Insurance policy provided at current rates. When I call my kids doc (private Ins) at 8 a.m. and they give me an appointment in 2 hrs (during flu epidemic) I would say "3 days" or for me 3 weeks is un satisfactory by all medical standards. Just because it's "free" does not mean it has to be bad. BTW it's not "free" you paid a price for it.

TF Panther- your last sentence says it all!!!

I am in the Medical Evaluation Board now and going through the IDES (Integrated Disability Evaluation System) and will see how the VA Treats me before making a commment. Hopefully, they provide all that I have earned (no more, no less).

I pray that all my fellow Veterans get treated with the best of care and with dignity/respect.

Rex

Ranger, my advice to you is don't play fair and expect the VA to play fair. Because they won't.

I have been using the VA since 1969, I have not had any major problems with them in all of that time. I have received top notch medical every time I have used them and have been treated the same as if I had went to my own Doctor. Actually I have waited longer in my private Doctor's waiting room than I have in the VA waiting room. The VA isn't perfect, but I am thankful for what they have done for me.


With claims things take time, they have to reviewed every way but loose, and then are reviewed again and even "loose" is reviewed. The VA offices in Texas are understaffed and over worked, the money they pay for the professionals in the medical field is a joke compared to what the same Doctor can make in the private sector. In the private sector they don't have to put up with the bureaucratic bull shirt or the complaining of the patients.

Dog Cathcer. The problem lies with the Big VA's. If you are going to the Ablilene VA availibility is not an issue due to a low patient population. Dallas on the other hand has high patient demand therefore we recieve rationed care. Chiropractor will see you every 90 days.

Physical therapy consist of, this is how you do the exercises. Now go home and do them and we will see you in 90 days here are some more pain killers. "Oh the exercises did not work? Hmmmm go home and do them again and we will see you in 90 days".

"While we realize your disc are ruptured and torn through out your spine, you are not a candidate for surgery....you need to learn to live with pain".

I left the Navy in May of last year and submitted my claim in November of 2011 per their new Early Enrollment Program. I still do not have a rating. I have two that are pending and both past their prescribed dates. I knew it would be slow but wow. I was in military medical my who career and never have I had an experience waiting like this. Its actually quite sad.

From one Doc to another.... get use to it, brother. It sucks.

Good luck.

Proceed with caution for those not reading the Gun Legislation thread.

http://freedomoutpost.com/2013/02/combat-veterans-with-ptsd-or-tbi-losing-the-right-to-bear-arms/

FYI...in 1997 President Billy Clinton issued his Executive Order requiring the VA to provide all records of Veterans with any mental health issues to the FBI/BATF. At the time, that EO affected over 80,000 veterans from all wars!

This is nothing news....and for once, it is not something Obama did. This information is still being sent to the FBI/BATF and is not reviewed until a veteran attempts to purchase a firearm. Then at that time, the veteran's medical file is reviewed and the decision is made to delay or deny the purchase. If delayed, the FBI will review the current records and make an evaluation based upon the medical records indicating the mental status of the veteran then to allow the purchase or deny it.

http://washingtonexaminer.com/watchdog-b...article/2522655

Finally some Bi partisan agreement.

Also Bill Clinton may have started it but it appears BO is going on the offense with it. Since the National debate has recently begun and the letters have also, I am forced to not believe it is mere coincidence.

FTC

Watch out Vets/brothers. Now Feinstein (Democrat) says all Vets are mentally ill and PTSD is a phenomenon of the Iraq War. My God this is unforgivable. There is a CSPAN link included within this one so you can watch her say it.

http://www.infowars.com/feinstein-all-ve...wning-firearms/