by Barbie Perkins-Cooper
Established in 2006, the mission of Veterans for Change is simple, promoting the rights, treatments, and benefits for all Veterans. Founded by Jim Davis, son of retired Marine Master Gunnery Sergeant Lesley Davis, he has made it his mission in life to do all he can to service and fight for the rights of all Veterans. Davis lost his father to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, better known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease, from exposure to Agent Orange while fighting the war in Vietnam.
Known as the ‘longest military conflict in United States history,’ the war in Vietnam killed more than 58,000 Americans. The total amount of wounded, and soldiers who are suffering with conditions caused by Agent Orange, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and other medical and emotional conditions, are still up for debate. Many Veterans of the war suffer today with Diabetes, Heart conditions, Depression, and other illnesses caused by the stress of war and the chemicals used, including Agent Orange.
The conflict of Vietnam changed the lives of many soldiers and Veterans, who are still locked away emotionally due to the stress of war. For many of these deserving veterans, they are still locked away in a time war, fearful to discuss the war, fearful to be sociable and fearful of what may be developing inside their bodies from all that happened, ‘over there.’ Although the Vietnam War ended in 1975, for many veterans the emotional war continues.
Why is it taking the VA such a long time to share information, history, medical information, and benefits to those Veterans who fought in Vietnam? Why is there always a delay? Why must a Veteran always be referred to another person – usually someone who is not familiar with his file, medical history, situations, and why has it taken so long for the medical symptoms to develop, only to be denied, declined, or appealed to another committee, person, or??? PTSD was first diagnosed in the 1980’s and it is a condition many Vietnam Veterans deal with on a daily basis. The slightest noise, accusation, or trigger can result in a rage where family members are fearful what may happen to them, and the Veteran; however, the VA still denies claims – over and over and over again!
Veterans for Change, commonly referred to as VFC, works hard and tirelessly to promote the need for veterans to take action on their own to stand and, be counted, be heard by all members of Congress to fulfill the promises made to them countless times.
One issue hard to understand is why such a vast difference in training for Veteran Service Officers (VSOs) exists between the various chartered Veteran Service Organizations, and why those who are working with this mission do not fight as hard as the vet themselves do; why there are so many delays in claims and appeals processing. Why is there so much procrastination, or perhaps it might be considered avoidance. Many Veterans are made to feel that if they are put aside for long enough, they will go away, and many do give up the battle. Veterans for Change [VFC] believes there should be a very strict standard of training for all VSOs to last – perhaps a minimum of one year — before completing the certification process for VSO certification.
The VFC asks why Congress has not stepped up to the plate, while demanding those who are guilty of hiding, shredding, tampering with, avoiding, and the non handling of mail be punished by law to the fullest extent of the law. Why or on whose authority were the VARO Directors allowed to grant “amnesty” to all, just bring the documents forward, log and file, and open the mail and process immediately?
Veterans have been denied, delayed and denied so many times, the honest gut feeling nationwide is the VA won’t help me, they simple want me to die, and not afford me the rights of benefits, medical care or even a proper facility. Family members live with the pain of seeing their loved one suffering, yet they are helpless to assist because the privacy laws dictate they cannot discuss these medical matters with the VA.
For the most part the VFC believes that too many veterans file claims, but when denied, they appeal and are denied again, and then simply give up thus allowing the VA to win with no benefits paid. This is an emotional, vicious cycle where the Veteran feels abandoned. Many veterans because of their experience with the VA, won’t say anything at a VSO meeting, or join another more proactive VSO group to become active in their own health care and benefits.
What’s worse is when those who do join a group to be proactive and help seek the benefits and care they deserve, their requests for assistance from Congressional representatives are replied with a “canned” responses. Documents of these ‘canned replies’ are available and are on file with Veterans for Change.
In the month of March there were 71 bills that had been referred to Congressional committee for review. Most of those bills hadn’t even received a co-sponsor. The VFC asks: Is this a sign that most members of Congress don’t really care about those who laid down their lives in defense of our Country, our Freedom, and our way of life?
The VFC recently sent a letter to the Congressional member from California asking this very question, and yet has received a response.
Recently an original bill by Congressman Hinchey (the TCE Reduction Act) from 2008 that died in committee was revised by several veterans, presented to Congressman Hinchey’s office, and a petition circulated to gain grass roots support for the bill. The response to the requests for petition signatures has been “underwhelming.
If veterans themselves won’t even sign a petition to help themselves or fellow veterans, how can we keep asking Congress to do something?
Unfortunately veterans lose hope in the system, and are under the false belief that even if they do become involved, nothing they do will help or they could lose the small benefits they receive.
Veterans for Change believes that the veteran or spouse can’t rely on the Veteran Service Organizations to respond to needs and address the issues quickly, effectively and adequately to provide the needed benefits and services without serious delays.
Veterans for Change has sponsored the TCE/PCE Reduction Act of 2009 petition and has set a goal of 40,000 signatures needed. Davis says, “I’m a little saddened to see we may not reach this goal, and yet another desperately needed bill for veterans may not succeed in passage unless more veterans take a stand.”
“You harm one veteran, you harm them all!”
When their country sent them to battle the Vietnam War, the soldier stood tall, fighting with his band of brothers to complete the mission. Unfortunately, the Veterans Administration has tossed the veteran aside, failing to meet the needs of soldiers and their families. Meanwhile, the Veteran lives in limbo, in anticipation the letter of approval will arrive in the mail – the question is when???
The Veterans-For-Change non-profit organization fights for additional illnesses to be added to the AO Presumptive list, better treatment, better facilities, better trained physicians and supporting medical staff, top of the line medical equipment and services.
The VFC gets emails each week from a veteran or spouse telling them the horror stories of mistreatment, misdiagnosis, incorrect prescriptions, emergency room, and medical clinic physicians who “prescribe a pill for everything” but don’t really look at the problem the veteran is dealing with.
Veterans-For-Change expects Congress, the Secretary of the VA, and our President to all wake up, honor their promises, provide the best, highest top notch VA facilities, physicians, medical staff and equipment possible to all veterans regardless of cost, and to properly fund the VA with a minimum 2 year budget based on prior year expenses not years before.
VFC would also like to see an electronic claims system put in place this year which would determine a claims eligibility based on pre-set standards causing less human error and intervention and expediting claims. And that any error made be made to the “benefit of the veteran” as outlined in the VA’s own regulations.
Davis pleads monthly to veterans, become involved, be a part of the solution, help yourself, your fellow veteran, your spouses and children. There is power in numbers, and your voice can be heard if you let it be. With a new administration promising change, now is the time for all Americans to voice their concerns and let President Barack Obama and the new administration to awaken to stop procrastinating and hiding documents from Congress and to give our veterans what is owed to them and their families. The time is now to get involved and let Congress know our Veterans deserve better treatment. Now that America is involved in stimulus packages that service earmarks and other funds to the bridges to nowhere, the time is now to fund the Veterans who have served their country in times of war and peace. The time is now to service their claims. Let us all make some noise to Washington and our Congressional members to fund programs that honor promises made to our Veterans. The time is now to treat the men and women who serve our country to receive the medical, financial, and emotional support established by the Veterans Administration. Congress, honor the Veterans by providing the benefits and care, regardless of the cost. Let us unite as a band of brothers who are committed to each other, and to stirring up the pot in Washington and in Congress, to make some much needed changes. There is power in numbers. We stood tall in Vietnam to save our country and to fight for freedom. We stood tall, banding as a band of brothers. There is power in numbers. The time is now to get involved!
"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." President Barack H. Obama
For more information E-Mail: JDAVIS90813@HOTMAIL.COM
WebSite: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VETERANS-FOR-CHANGE/
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