RANGER AGAINST WAR: The Wait Zone <

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

The Wait Zone

Here we go
We're at it again

With Mickey Mouse

and Rin Tin Tin

--Old Army Cadence


VFW Magazine--mouthpiece of the uberpatriotic VFW and staunch supporter of the Phony War on Terror--even VFW magazine has its limits.

In "'Overwhelmed' VA Claims System is Strained to the Limit [May 2007]," we read the sorry truth, which is the Department of Veterans Affairs is broken, has been for some time, and neither the fighting Democrats nor Republicans have the political will to fix it.


Patch it, sure; fix it, no.


Following are some article excerpts:


"(I)n the area of compensating wounded veterans, VA is, according to veterans filing claims as well as independent analysts, a mess."

"VA says its backlog of disability claims is up to more than 400,000, but the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and Harvard professor Linda Bilmes, who spent a year researching VA’s claims system, say it is actually 600,000. VFW says the backlog is closer to 800,000, with more than 100,000 claims decided wrongly every year."


"GAO’s Daniel Bertoni, testifying before a House Veterans Affairs subcommittee on March 14, said that 'after more than a decade of research, we have determined that federal disability programs are in urgent need of attention and transformation.'"


"Rep. Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) said, 'I can’t even begin to count the number of GAO reports over the years outlining the problems. It’s been 20 years in the making trying to get VA and DoD to cooperate.'

"[Bilmes said] the agency as currently structured is simply not capable of settling the current and projected volume of claims in a timely manner."

Even toe-the-party-line Commander-in-Chief Gary Kurpius told a joint House and Senate VA committee hearing on 6 March, “No disabled veterans should have to wait for benefits many of them need to care for themselves and their families.”

Odd man out VA Secretary Jim Nicholson told the Boston Globe, “I feel wonderful about the way we are treating the nation’s veterans and that is exactly what they deserve.” There is something sinister in this comment, or the guy was out in the hallway smoking dope.


Speaking as a veteran from four or five wars ago, not only am I outraged on behalf of these young men and women returning now and having to endure waits of up to almost two years, but there ought to be an examination of how older vets are being treated by the DVA system, as well.


The current rave is about the returning vets, but what about the older vets who are broken, and who deteriorate daily? How are their claims for increased severity for service-connected conditions being handled?


Since there is an absence of national dialog on the topic, it is safe to say there is no national priority to serve the needs of these veterans in an expedited and timely manner.


The sidebar article asks, "What Does the VA intend to do?" This is not the question. More to the point: What are the citizens doing to force the Commander in Chief and Congress to address these issues in a non-partisan manner?


The ball is in the Decider-in-Chief's court.


"In the meantime, veterans will endure long waits while their claims are resolved.


“There’s this wait zone,” [Jeffrey] Lennon said, “and that is where you fall apart.” [Lennon is a former Army Reserve Sergeant who served in Iraq.]

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15 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

The negligence of the VA seems very willful to me. They should have had a good idea about the resources necessary to take care of aging vets. I'd assume that they would have a better handle on processing benefits claims for recently returning vets considering the length of time the U.S. has occupied Iraq.

When I was working for the Social Security Administration in the late 80's and early 90's, the number of disability claims rose exponentially. They streamlined some procedures and put more warm bodies on processing claims. I don't see the VA doing anything to improve the situation.

They are trying to run out the clock and leave the mess for others to fix.

Wednesday, May 9, 2007 at 5:09:00 PM GMT-5  
Blogger rangeragainstwar said...

mosca,

Right...and hoping the clock runs out on the older veterans. A morbid plan.

Wednesday, May 9, 2007 at 5:12:00 PM GMT-5  
Blogger d.K. said...

I have a re-evaluation VA claim in - asking them to adjust a claim approved many years ago. I filed it in October. I get a form letter, every two months, saying, "we're still working on your claim..."

I can wait. It's not big deal for me, but I know people in my boat for whom it is a big deal, are suffering from the neglect. It's shameful.

And I'm shocked to see VFW actually criticizing something. I'm a member (I'm not a V.of FW, but I qualify, because I have the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for service in El Salvador, which entitled me to that and hence, the VFW classification.) Many vets from El Salvador do deserve it - I don't. But that's a whole other story.

Wednesday, May 9, 2007 at 9:25:00 PM GMT-5  
Blogger rangeragainstwar said...

d.k.,

Your experience is exactly what I'm trying to convey in this one.

Veterans like us are verbal, educated and able to negotiate the hoops. But I've known those who can't, and these are the ones I'm concerned with. Generally the fraternal organizations do aim to help these people, much to their credit.

Having said that, I criticize the fact that veterans must go to these fraternal organizations for help in the first place.

If you have the qualifications to join the VFW, you've earned them.
Never be apologetic for your service. The ''commander guy'' can't join, but he sure loves to give speeches to us, exhorting others to do what he did not.

I'm on my VA kick, and another is forthcoming...

Wednesday, May 9, 2007 at 9:53:00 PM GMT-5  
Blogger Lurch said...

By all means, kick the VA all you want.

Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 1:39:00 AM GMT-5  
Blogger rangeragainstwar said...

Lurch,

More to follow, soon, at a theatre near you...

Ranger Jim

Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 8:55:00 AM GMT-5  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"There is something sinister in this comment, or the guy was out in the hallway smoking dope."

Or it explains drug shortages in the VA hospitals!

Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 10:56:00 AM GMT-5  
Blogger Lurch said...

I hope the show at the theater is in 3D, because I've been wearing my red/green, good Republican/bad Democrat "compromise" glasses.

Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 11:50:00 AM GMT-5  
Blogger rangeragainstwar said...

Labrys,

You think it's an inside job what's depleting the infirmary shelves?!

Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 6:02:00 PM GMT-5  
Blogger rangeragainstwar said...

Lurch,

It will be shot in 9mm Pathex (but you will look smashing in your 3-D's!)

--Lisa

Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 6:06:00 PM GMT-5  
Blogger Lurch said...

Things are going great, and they're only getting better
I'm doing all right, getting good grades
The future's so bright, I gotta wear shades

Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 6:40:00 PM GMT-5  
Blogger rangeragainstwar said...

Lurch,

Right-on, brother.

Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 7:09:00 PM GMT-5  
Blogger d.K. said...

I absolutely agree with what you said regarding resenting that these private, self-funding, well-intending organizations are required in order to get help to vets. When I got called to contribute for body armor for the troops in Iraq, my blood boiled. Hell no, that's not the private sector's job -- every single soldier or Marine being deployed to a combat zone MUST be provided safety gear by OUR government, or we don't send them. Period.

Friday, May 11, 2007 at 10:09:00 PM GMT-5  
Blogger rangeragainstwar said...

d.k.,

Exactly.

When this administration started their ''compassionate conservatism'' and ''faith-based initiative'' crapola, I knew that equaled ''bailing out'' on those in need.

Somehow, they have successfully managed to make donating basic needs like protective gear a civic virtue. But that is why we pay taxes. Levy higher taxes, or don't go to war.

The revolutionary spirit seems lost,

--Lisa

Friday, May 11, 2007 at 11:33:00 PM GMT-5  
Blogger rangeragainstwar said...

d.k.,

Ranger further analyzes the private sector donations in a jaundiced manner.

Somebody, somewhere is making personal profit. And it's not the troops. But I would go so far out on a limb as to conjecture it would be a loyal Republican. After all, patriotism and profit go hand in hand in the new America.

Saturday, May 12, 2007 at 6:50:00 PM GMT-5  

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