Larry and Me

Former U.S. Army troop, Larry

Ranger Question of the Day (R.Q.O.D.):
What happens when a soldier
is no longer "Army Strong"?
_________________

This is Larry. He lives on a park bench outside of the local VFW post, which happens to also be near a coffee shop I frequent. He served in the U.S. Army during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

He is not quick to socialize, and is easy to miss in a crowd. Larry has severe palsy and skin problems, the latter which has earned him a 10% disability from the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA). he receives treatment for his skin problems at the local VA Outpatient Clinic.

Larry can barely speak, so it is hard to know why he is living on a park bench and not receiving additional support. He seems to have brain problems.

Sometimes I wonder what separates a guy like Larry from me. Does he have physical or mental or physical problems which are insurmountable? Does he have no one who cares for him? How was and is he damaged? Is he depressed? Angry? Has he chosen this way of life?

Larry is one of the veterans in the "We Support Our Veterans", only he doesn't seem to be getting much support.

Whip Lash

Will I live tomorrow?
Well, I just can't say
But I know for sure
I don't live today
--I Don't Live Today, Jimi Hendrix
_______________

Another tale from the "We Love Our Veterans" crypt:

Last year the Department of Veterans Affairs finally got around to granting fee basis treatment for chiropractic and massage services for service-connected disabilities.

The operant terms here are "authorized treatment," "service-connection" and "fee basis". Ranger has documented parachute-related neck injuries clearly within the purview of the law, and has benefited by the chiropractic and massage treatment which has been authorized for the past year.

In February '09, the DVA cut off massage benefits, explaining that the services were no longer funded through fee basis. This contradicts the law, which has not changed (Ranger verified this through Congressman Boyd's vet rep, Michael Bishop.) Tallahassee and Gainesville VA Clinics are contravening National DVA guidelines.

Five months have passed, and Ranger still does not have massage therapy coverage. His primary care physician at the Tallahassee outpatient Clinic, Dr. Fajer, will not authorize the massage because she claims the policy is not to allow the treatment.

What's a poor boy to do?