Fighting the VA Compared to Fighting Between David and Goliath
One Man’s Fight Againt the Veterans Administration Beast
by Rick Thorne
Fighting the VA could be compared to the story of David and Goliath in the bible. The only difference is David (meaning you and I) rarely win the battle. In 1987 I filed for VA help and was turned down. I was told I wasn’t disabled enough to receive help. Once again I’m fighting the VA for help and it’s a real eye opener. The only reason why I’m receiving medical help now is I’ve been out of work for 13 months. I’ve been rated a Priority 5 because I’m unable to work.
Recently the American Legion informed me I had 3 years after my discharge to protest my Priority 5 rating and after 10 years the VA ruling would become final. Guess what! The Va never informed me of this when they gave me my final examination saying I was cured. That’s just their way of relieving themselves of having to rate me with a disability. I realize now the VA has all sorts of dirty little tricks to escape their responsibility of helping soldiers in need.
I truly believe it’s an unwritten law board members are told to not grant disability except under the most extreme conditions. By the way, there’s no time limit in deciding on a VETS condition. Some VETS have waited years for an appeal ruling. We all know the reason why one can’t obtain full Social Security or Va pension until he or she reaches the age of 65. The government is hoping most of us will be dead by the age 65 or shortly thereafter so they won’t have to pay out the money. Really! What it comes down to is screwing people like you and I so the government can save money in the long run. Do you really think the government gives a damn about its Vets? If that were true 600,000 pending cases would have already been decided.
PRIORITY 1:
The term SERVICE-CONNECTED means, with respect to a condition or disability, that the VA has determined that the condition or disability was incurred in or aggravated by military service. Some veterans may have to agree to pay copayments to be placed in certain priority groups.
NOTE: A veteran having income “below the geographically-based income threshold for their resident location” is not enough to place the veteran in a “GMT copay required” status. The GMT threshold must be above the VA National income threshold for this to apply
There you have it! This information came straight from the DVA HEALTH CARE FACT SHEET JANUARY 2006. First of all, it would take a smart attorney to figure out all the twists and turns under these fragmented Priority groups. The groups are deliberately designed this way to confuse the smartest of people. If you haven’t noticed by now all government documents are designed to leave one totally bewildered. How in the world could anyone decide who goes where in these strange groups. Sure! The medical records should tell the story but do they?
Remember! The VA decides whose placed where at their own discretion. The Va medical board deny as many VETS as possible to save MONEY. Your elected officials can’t do much other than try and speed up your claim. They have no affect on the decisions the board comes to when a case is decided upon. In the meantime you’ve probably lost you car, home and your life savings waiting for a decision that may or may not be ruled in your favor.
So what can we do about it? Not much unfortunately. The political system is designed to delay and frustrate people like you and I. If legislation is designed to help us fight for our rights it’s usually bogged down in various committees where they rip it apart in the end. We have a fine example of this going on now with the federal rebate checks. The legislation is being redesigned so our elected officials can include more people thus reducing the amount of money needy Americans will receive in the end.
About the Author: Rick Thorne can be reached at rthorne2@mac.com
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