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Veterans-for-Change and the Lack of Care, Treatment with the VA
by Jim Davis, Staff Writer
GARDEN GROVE, CA – The mission of Veterans-for-Change is a simple one and it should be shared with all. According to Jim Davis, the founder of Veterans-for-Change, the mission for Veterans-for-Change is, “To wake up Congress and the President to meet the needs and fulfill the promises made to care for and treat Veterans.
As a member of Veterans-For-Change, an expanding vocal group for Veterans rights, benefits, and treatment, I as well as my co-members and veterans nationwide, are extremely upset that the following areas are not being addressed by Congress or the Veterans Affairs adequately or properly.
Veterans-For-Change finds this an outrage and would like to request consideration from all who care about America, the military, and the war veterans to correct and improve the system that has forgotten how to care for Veterans, and how to service their needs. When called to duty, to service America and its freedom, our Veterans stood tall, fought the battle, and now when needing our service the most, the VA ignores, or procrastinates to service their needs. This is a disgrace to all serving in the military.
Veterans-for-Change repeatedly hears stories from military veterans about the lack of care with the VA, along with the intense emotional battle, just to get benefits. Repeatedly, veterans are either denied, or their files are placed on hold, sometimes for years. Many of these claims are for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder [PTSD]; lack of properly sanitized and sterilized medical equipment used for testing and physicals; and Blue Water Navy Dioxin Exposure.
1) PTSD: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. VA Physicians are being instructed to deny or misdiagnose PTSD, or they are simply ignoring the signs, over medicating or improperly medicating, and simply not even looking into alternative ways of dealing with PTSD. Many Veterans are left to feel as if no one cares, or no one listens to their symptoms. Instead of listening, or asking probing questions, the medical practitioner prescribes a drug and it appears that the VA has a drug for every ailment. We as Americans must take a stand to service and understand our soldiers and Veterans, not simply remove their weapons, dust them off, and refer them to another source of treatment, or someone else at the VA.
We must learn to listen and stop the habit of prescribing drugs for every ailment. Veterans are not pin cushions or guinea pigs. We promised our Veterans benefits, freedom, and a better life, not simply prescribed drugs by doctors who react by overwriting prescriptions, instead of listening to their emotional ailments. Is this the way the VA strives to help our Veterans? Just simply prescribing a drug in hopes the Veteran will feel better in the morning? Post Traumatic Stress Disorder [PTSD] is described as an ‘emotional illness’ and it was not recognized as PTSD until the 1980’s when the American Psychiatric Association recognized it as such, according to the website, www.psychiatric-disorders.com.
PTSD leaves no visible scars, only the emotional scars that will remain forever inside the mind of the war veteran. PTSD leaves a stigma attached to it. To those who do not understand this ailment, the looks, discriminations, and lack of compassion leaves the Veteran with a lack of understanding of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and the wounds of it. While it is true, the wounds are embedded within the mind, the wounds are so obvious to those of us who love the Veteran suffering with PTSD; and we strive to do all we can to make their life more productive and pleasant. We need the VA to do the same.
2) Medical Equipment: Veterans-for-Change has discovered there are far too many reports of improperly cleaned or sterilized equipment at numerous VA hospitals, resulting in thousands of complaints that have not been addressed or resolved. Reportedly, there could be as many as 11,224 Veterans at risk, due to this lack of care, and many VA hospitals are involved. The number of Veterans affected could result in health and physical epidemics that could result in deadly diseases that should have been prevented provided the proper sanitation, and sterilization techniques were used. Instead, questions remain unanswered, and the VA’s continuous denial brought to the public attention of these problems, resulted in denying any possibility, or accepting responsibility, of cross contamination to many veterans. This is unforgivable and a government investigation should be underway – ASAP.
3) Blue Water Navy: Reportedly 21 million gallons of Agent Orange were scattered over the fields in Vietnam between 1962 and 1970. Many of the Veterans of the Vietnam conflict served the United States Navy during 1962 and 1975. Many of these war veterans suffer with medical disabilities from the effects of Blue Water Navy Dioxin Exposure, found in Agent Orange. However, these naval personnel are constantly denied service-connected health care and disability compensation by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Those who served in the Navy during war time have been excluded for presumption of illness directly related to Agent Orange. This chemical was sprayed, tossed around, and of course when it rained went into the ocean, or was carried in the air during strong winds. Agent Orange was also carried on board ships for delivery, yet Veterans are still denied benefits due to the “boots on the ground” ruling. The ‘boots on the ground’ ruling must be changed to benefit the Veterans and their illnesses. They were in Vietnam. They experienced Agent Orange in everything around, especially in the air and waters.
President Obama has said: “We have a sacred trust with those who wear the uniform of the United States of America, a commitment that begins with enlistment and must never end.
”You, as Americans, and politicians of a free society, do have a moral, ethical, and Patriotic obligation to provide benefits and care, regardless of the costs involved! Our government has a moral, ethical, and Patriotic obligation to care for those who did the job others failed to do, or the many millions of Americans who chose to escape the effects, physical ailments, illnesses, and emotional wounds of war. Freedom is not free; it comes with a price tag.
Veterans paid a gigantic price, emotionally, physically, and mentally. Only a war veteran can comprehend how that price was paid for in full by our military and war veterans, along with their spouses and children! The price they paid for their devotion to their freedom does not have a monetary amount and it could be considered priceless since the effects of war leave so many emotional and physical scars that cannot be repaired. The price our war veterans paid was distributed in full with blood, sweat and many tears! Veterans-for-Change finds this unforgivable.
Isn’t it about time Congress, the President, and the Veterans Affairs actually stood tall and paid that bill? Isn’t it time to help our wounded warriors, including those who suffer with PTSD, lack of medical care and improperly cleaned or sterilized equipment, and Blue Water Navy Dioxin Exposure, along with the emotional scars, to be compensated? The actions of Congress and the actions and policies of the VA seem to express so loud and clear that it would have been far better had our men and women not served or died at war than to suffer the denials, the schemes, shenanigans, and the maltreatment provided by the government of the United States. Let us all make a bit of noise with our Congress and all lawmakers.
Send a copy of this release to those in your community, along with those who represent your home front. Isn’t it time our Veterans were treated with respect and dignity? Isn’t it time we welcomed them home and gave them the benefits promised, without the emotional war they must battle now, just to get those benefits? The choice is yours. You must decide.
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Short URL: http://www.veteranstoday.com/?p=7005
Posted by Jim Davis on May 29 2009, With 0 Reads, Filed under Benefits. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
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I agree that the VA system is broken. It is not just VA ….it is our own organizations that are supposed to be representing the veterans. I have had a claim on file for over 5 years now. I was just called tonight and they said they couldnt find any reason to raise the claim. I have records of Doctors supporting unemployablility and was asked by the VA Doctor at my 2 comp and pen appts in a 4 month time frame if I wanted to work? He tried to do forward flexion and side to side and I didnt even move because my back was so still and sour. I was a paratrooper in the service in Germany. I was also in the old Guard. I now work part time because of my back. The doctor in Germany put me on a permanent profile due to my back and 2 surgeries for my left knee in the service at the end of my career. The doctor also recommended me for a MRB or MEB board in Germany. The Sgt Major stated that their wasnt one and I would have to let VA handle it when I got back to the states. I now work part time for the VA and am trying to support myself and 2 boys after a divorce. I am going backward faster than I can go forward. Due to my back and left knee I have had to protect myself when it comes to jobs…….so I work at a desk and do not make enough to support myself less my kids. I have been on Naproxen for over 4 to 5 years and have found that this can cause fatle liver damage if taken for to long? I now find out they want to operate and put a pin in my back to increase the spacing, but this operation can have setbacks. What do I do if I become paralized due to the surgery. I have been put into a situation all due to my honorable military service, can anyone tell me why or how a government and country that I defended for nine yrs can do this to its own people? I will keep fighting it thru the VA and have asked for a congressional hearing or investigation on the handling of my claim by the American Legion. They lied to me twice saying they had all my records and I called the places that I filled out the release of Information and no one even called about my records. I was told they lost my records twice. The integrity of my records in the hands of people who didnt and dont care one thing about the veterans is what makes me so angry……… Anyone with any direction on this matter can call me at 563-528-4947.
Why?
Jerry,
I am so sorry you’ve had to deal with so much crap from the VA system, VAMC’s, etc.
NO it’s damn sure not right, and in my opinion as well as countless thousands of others the VA makes it their job to NOT approve, delay, deny, delay, until you die!
You served your country and it’s their time to pay the bill, they OWE YOU and thousands of veterans like you.
What I would recommend you do first off before you allow ANY surgery to be done, is to please, get a second opinion from a civilian doctor!
I understand your money is very tight and you’re more than likely either just barely above or even below poverty level.
Next thing I would strongly recommend is sending a letter to your Congressman and both Senators saying exactly the same thing to all three and request they step in on your behalf.
They will probably require that you sign a power of attorney for them to access your military and medical records, but they will keep it confidential that you can count on!
If there is anything I can do to be of assistance, and you don’t mind sharing more indepth details, please feel free to contact me and I will do what I can to help however I can!
Jim Davis
President
Veterans-For-Change
JDAVIS92840@SBCGLOBAL.NET
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VETERANS-FOR-CHANGE/
Voice For The Veterans and Their Families
Hi My name is Robert E. Sprague, Jr. and I am the official voice for the American Veterans and their Families.
I am trying to get my word out and I hope that you can find it in your hearts to help me out in any way that you can. Below is just some of what I have put out to grab peoples attention on just the basics of what I am trying to do. The attention this is starting to generate is heart warming. This is something I truly believe in. And every single Veteran that I have spoken to through the years has given to me their blessing to try and make a change for us the American Veterans and our Families. I gave each and every one my word and my hand shake. To do everything in my power as a disabled American Veteran with the right help to make a change that will benefit the whole country.
I now have sponsors growing across this great nation to help me help the American Veterans and their Families get the changes we deserve. We have fought and died to make our country safe and free and we can no longer except inadequate medical care. We deserve more from our government. In my 29 years of being a disabled Veteran, going through all the nightmares that the VA medical system has put me through, I have had the opportunity to speak to and to listen to many veterans just like myself. I had no idea how starved the rest of the Veterans and their Families of this great country are for someone to listen to their wants and their needs and truly care about what they are saying. Every one asks the same question. Why do we not have a strong voice to stand up for our rights?
Well HERE I AM!! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!! I am here for one job and one job only. To sit down with a strong legal team and draft out a bill By the American Veterans and their Families for the American Veterans and their Families. And it will be hand delivered to Washington DC BY US, The American Veterans and our Families.
I understand our elected officials can’t afford to focus on only one issue at a time. I know that they are constantly being pulled in every direction. But I can no longer allow the people that we voted into office to ignore the voices of US the American Veterans and our Families. The politicians of this country are voted into office to work for and with us the American people, and to help better our way of life. I am not running for office. I have my own office and only one job to do. To get this bill to Congress. And with the voices of my fellow Veterans and their families, we can and we will make a change. By making these changes we can only strengthen our country.
What I truly need is your backing and your support for us, the American Veterans and Our Families. I need all the help that I can get to do my job right. I have been getting a lot of support all across this great country . I am now talking for thousands of my fellow Veterans and their Families. I am doing the job that they are asking me to do. Please Join us in our quest for change.
Hi I am a 29 plus year disabled Veteran and this is my basic plan for change. First of all is common sense. From here on in its just plain and simple English.
I find myself unable to sleep at night thinking of the nightmares that my fellow Veterans go through every day, caught up in our VA medical system. Not only are the Veterans suffering but their Families are on the front lines seeing and going through everything the Veteran goes through and more. The families are the ones who have to tend to the every day needs and watch in helplessness as veterans struggle with life after military service. For this I find myself in tears. I can no longer let this go on knowing that I have a way that can help our Veterans and their Families. Not only will it benefit us the Veterans, but the rest of our country as well.
I find myself unable to sleep at night thinking of the nightmares that my fellow Veterans go through every day, caught up in our VA medical system. Most people do not realize that there are Veterans across this great country of ours dieing EVERY DAY from poor or negligent VA medical care. There are wrong medications administered, miss-diagnosing illnesses, over medicating, and too many incompetent doctors. Too many Veterans are being intimidated into doing things a certain way or suffer by having all their medications taken away from them no matter what the consequences may be.
Not only are the Veterans suffering but their Families are on the front lines seeing and going through everything the Veteran goes through and more. The families are the ones who have to tend to the every day needs and watch in helplessness as Veterans struggle with life after Military Service. For this I find myself in tears. I can no longer let this go on knowing that I have a way that can help our Veterans and their Families. Not only will it benefit us the Veterans, but the rest of our country as well. I really would like to accomplish this without stepping on anyone’s toes or hurting any feelings, but unfortunately that is what I am going to have to do to get the truth out about our Veterans’ needs.
his bill will actually create more jobs in the medical field, not take away from it. If Veterans are using private doctors and hospitals, there is going to be a bigger demand for medical staff. This also means less waste by eliminating all of the programs that do not work. That will allow us to save millions of dollars that can be put back into the private sector. And help towards the advancement of medical research.
All Veterans programs will be the same across the country no matter what state you live in. No more allowing each state to choose for the Veterans what programs we need. WE NEED THEM ALL. No matter what state you come from we should have access to them all, NO exceptions.
We need to have complete accountability on all of the money that has been set aside just for these programs and make sure that the money is not going to other projects or getting tied up some where along the line.
These are just a few of the basics of the plan on which I am structuring my fight on. If I can get interviews arranged, I can go into more of the details of this plan and how it can be implemented to save hundreds of thousands of our Veterans’ lives and in the mean time save millions of wasted government dollars that can be put back into the private sector of our country.
I am trying to give the rights back to you, the veterans and your families of this great Country. WE NEED A BILL THAT IS WRITTEN AND DELIVERED BY THE VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES. Help me draft out this bill by providing your thoughts and your needs to me. We need the heart and souls of the American people in this bill. That’s what it is going to take for this bill to work and to be implemented into law. I need you to help me help you get what we the American Veterans and our families have earned by making our country safe and free. I need you to help me write this bill, OUR BILL from US the American Veterans and our Families, and present it to congress. We can no longer accept NO for an answer. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. The time for this drastic change is now. We can no longer wait. I am asking for the help of my fellow Veterans and their Families to take this battle to Washington DC. So We can put together the strongest legal team that We can. So that the US government can no longer ignore the demands for change that will improve the quality of life for all veterans and their Families.
This is not just a whim. This is something that has been bothering me for years. I have put many years of thought and common sense into trying to come up with ways to change all the wrongs of the VA medical system. And it comes down to only one thing to do. If it’s not working for us the American Veterans, then get rid of it. And come up with a working plan that can and will work for the American Veterans and our Families. With the rest of my country behind me, we can make the changes that need to be made. We can settle for nothing less. This is a government mess that should have been cleaned up decades ago. I need a team that can take my words and translate them into a language that the politicians understand. And put their language into words that we the American people can understand. In plain and simple English. I need help from you and a good legal team so all that we are asking for will not get tied up with legal mumbo-jumbo that can go on for years. We cannot allow such pettiness to stop us from our goal. Too many Veterans are dieing every day from bad VA medical care. We do not have any more time for government red tape.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. We need this bill passed. Help me help you get this done.
These changes are a long time coming and I can make a change with your help.
I need your input, I need your stories.
Please Email me at: robertsprague@yahoo.com
Or call me at. Ph.# 406-291-3470
Mail me your comments or concerns at:
Robert E. Sprague, Jr.
700 S. Main ST.
Fredericktown, MO 63645
Donations can be made to:
Enough Is Enough
c/o First State Community Bank
713 W. Main St.
Fredericktown, MO 63645
(573) 783-7232
This is a nonprofit organization.
Please visit my internet site at.
http://voicefortheveterans.tripod.com/
In order to accomplish the goals set forth by this organization, the need for funding is very real. If every American Veteran were to donate $1.00 to this cause, we would have the ability to fight for amazing changes in the lives of all Veterans and their families. Your input is so very important and valuable in creating this bill. But your dollars are the necessary help that we need to put your input to work for you and your families. These changes are a long time coming and I Can make a change with Your help and Support.
All Donations will be used solely for the purpose of getting this Bill Passed and put into Law.
Unused funds from this campaign will be used to further the causes to help Our Homeless Veterans and their Families.
Jerry, my father was in the 101st in WW II. That’s a rough line of work. Hang in there my friend. Help may be closer than you think.
My late husband died in January 1986, two weeks after my father died. Captain Robert Good, III committed suicide.
I have been trying to settle my late husbands affairs, a claim filed by a private attorney who happened to be a retired judge for the Board of Veterans appeals. Gil stated they owe you money, they will not want to pay you, you are a military officers widow. DON’T LET THEM DO THIS TO YOU.
I have not found one attorney who will help me. I have been appealing for our DIC ever since 1986 and am still plugging away. This morning I spoke with the VA case worker for Congresswoman Kirkpatrick.
So we know we are entitled and now I find they have created a re-structured case having lost the orignial case.
When does resolution happen? War is HELL on the HOME FRONT too, we are barely surviving but still trying to honor the red the white and the blue….
Our contact information is:
littlebearheart2000@yahoo.com
594 Mosher Lane
Prescott, Arizona 86301