Waco Veterans Affairs office denies 92% of Gulf War claims - Sensationalist Headlines

[IMG]http://content.newsinc.com/jpg/3600/32722500/60194804.jpg?t=1500586740[/IMG] [QUOTE][B]Department of Veterans Affairs benefits officials in Waco have denied a whopping 92 percent of claims related to Gulf War illness, giving Central Texas veterans one of the highest denial rates in the nation, according to data in a recent U.S. Government Accountability Office report.[/B] The report found serious and persistent problems with how the VA handles the complicated Gulf War benefits claims, ranging from poorly trained examiners to inconsistent methods of handling claims in different regions of the country. For example, in the continental United States denial rates ranged from 47 percent in Boston to 95 percent in Roanoke, Va., according to an analysis by the advocacy group Veterans for Common Sense.[/QUOTE] [URL]http://www.mystatesman.com/news/local-military/waco-veterans-affairs-office-denies-gulf-war-claims/3F6ee7NAOLCO5xPwLiXPsI/[/URL]

Absolutely disgusting.

America should be renamed from The Land of the Free to The Land of Broken Promises. Military vets aren't being cared for by the system that promised to care for them if they stepped up and volunteered their body and mind to serve their country. Military interpreters were recruited in the Middle East based on the promise that they'd be given US citizenship as a reward. Many are at risk of being deported back to war-torn countries where they fear for their lives as the government looks like it's going to cancel the program without fast-tracking the existing interpreters into their promised citizenships. Illegal immigrants from LatAm countries, mainly Mexico, joined the military and served in Afghanistan and Iraq with the promise of citizenship in exchange for their service. They, too, are looking at voluntarily or forcibly leaving America because of its broken promises. Federal and state employee pension funds are increasingly becoming at risk of being insolvent, with uncountable numbers of public servants now looking at having no retirement pension or plan despite spending their careers devoted to their job in the expectation that, at the end, they will be taken care of by the state after devoting their lives to the state. Many employees devoted overtime away from their family to build up additional pension credits, and now they're being told that all of that may have been for naught. Fucking amazing. "Thanks for your service, chumps, can't believe you thought we'd live up to our end of the deal! OWNED!"

[QUOTE=elixwhitetail;52499247]America should be renamed from The Land of the Free to The Land of Broken Promises. Military vets aren't being cared for by the system that promised to care for them if they stepped up and volunteered their body and mind to serve their country. Military interpreters were recruited in the Middle East based on the promise that they'd be given US citizenship as a reward. Many are at risk of being deported back to war-torn countries where they fear for their lives as the government looks like it's going to cancel the program without fast-tracking the existing interpreters into their promised citizenships. Illegal immigrants from LatAm countries, mainly Mexico, joined the military and served in Afghanistan and Iraq with the promise of citizenship in exchange for their service. They, too, are looking at voluntarily or forcibly leaving America because of its broken promises. "Thanks for your service, chumps, can't believe you thought we'd live up to our end of the deal! OWNED!"[/QUOTE] That and for the most part, the fact that people are not taking action over this, proves that the whole "respect the troops" thing is utter lip service.

can't wait for conservatives to jump on this as an example of big government fuckups but its not like their penny-pinching, save money at all costs, attitude hasn't contributed to this. Hell, they probably went out and hired insurance industry staff to run these places, the insurance industry which runs on a deny-first, deny-second, deny-third mentality. And then you have to look to how the budget and resources for the VA haven't gone anywhere meanwhile we have had 2 meat grinder wars in the last 10 years, and health problems from the golf and vietnam wars coming out.

If you can't face the consequences of war, then you shouldn't be beating the drums. Same to be said with many politicians, some are so willing to go to war but their families won't be the ones making the sacrifice. Its absolutely disgusting that the VA is in just a lousy ass state, Wounded Warriors & American Legion have become the GoFundMe for Vets. Because the VA, much like our Federal Healthcare is so underfunded and understaffed.

My father is a Gulf War veteran. He's been denied every time he's sought after medical care. He had to fight them tooth and nail for his VA loan.

[QUOTE=LoneWolf_Recon;52499334]If you can't face the consequences of war, then you shouldn't be beating the drums. Same to be said with many politicians, some are so willing to go to war but their families won't be the ones making the sacrifice. Its absolutely disgusting that the VA is in just a lousy ass state, Wounded Warriors & American Legion have become the GoFundMe for Vets. Because the VA, much like our Federal Healthcare is so underfunded and understaffed.[/QUOTE] It sickens me that they can find all the money in the world to make new jets, boats, guns, and bombs, but when it comes time to take care of the [I]people[/I] serving the country in the armed forces, there never seems to be any money.

[QUOTE=Zero-Point;52500583]It sickens me that they can find all the money in the world to make new jets, boats, guns, and bombs, but when it comes time to take care of the [I]people[/I] serving the country in the armed forces, there never seems to be any money.[/QUOTE] That's because they couldn't figure out how to get money for vets to go into a rich guy's bank account.

Always been an odd duality that America has this vast surface-patriotism, [I]especially[/I] with the troops, but do not actually back those fee fees up with practical support.

[QUOTE=General J;52500652]Always been an odd duality that America has this vast surface-patriotism, [I]especially[/I] with the troops, but do not actually back those fee fees up with practical support.[/QUOTE] The American dream is to promise everything and deliver what isn't too inconvenient for you, even if that's practically nothing. Thanks, Ayn Rand.

[QUOTE=elixwhitetail;52499247] Illegal immigrants from LatAm countries, mainly Mexico, joined the military and served in Afghanistan and Iraq with the promise of citizenship in exchange for their service. They, too, are looking at voluntarily or forcibly leaving America because of its broken promises. [/QUOTE] Hold up now. If you joined any branch of the military here you under-go a naturalization ceremony in boot camp. Anyone else in the US military can confirm this statement. They literally swear an oath to renouce all loyalites to their country of origin.

I don't get why this is so complicated. You served your country, your shit is free now. It just blows my mind the shit we do to vets.

[QUOTE=RG4ORDR;52500930]Hold up now. If you joined any branch of the military here you under-go a naturalization ceremony in boot camp. Anyone else in the US military can confirm this statement. They literally swear an oath to renouce all loyalites to their country of origin.[/QUOTE] [URL="http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/26/politics/deported-veterans-support-house-hector-barajas-tijuana-mexico/index.html"]Well, the system failed this guy.[/URL] Nobody told him he needed to solidify his citizenship status while he was serving, he assumed it was done and taken care of. And he's not the only one. One detail that escaped my memory: these guys were deported after having minor/not-so-minor run-ins with the law, and only then discovered that they were in fact not US citizens after all and were going to be deported, not sent to jail. That's a bit more justified than breaking a promise to someone because you don't feel like continuing the program anymore, admittedly. [URL="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2017/06/26/the-pentagon-promised-citizenship-to-immigrants-who-served-now-it-might-help-deport-them/"]And here's a source on other fuckery discussed in my post.[/URL]

[QUOTE=elixwhitetail;52499247]America should be renamed from The Land of the Free to The Land of Broken Promises. Military vets aren't being cared for by the system that promised to care for them if they stepped up and volunteered their body and mind to serve their country. Military interpreters were recruited in the Middle East based on the promise that they'd be given US citizenship as a reward. Many are at risk of being deported back to war-torn countries where they fear for their lives as the government looks like it's going to cancel the program without fast-tracking the existing interpreters into their promised citizenships. Illegal immigrants from LatAm countries, mainly Mexico, joined the military and served in Afghanistan and Iraq with the promise of citizenship in exchange for their service. They, too, are looking at voluntarily or forcibly leaving America because of its broken promises. Federal and state employee pension funds are increasingly becoming at risk of being insolvent, with uncountable numbers of public servants now looking at having no retirement pension or plan despite spending their careers devoted to their job in the expectation that, at the end, they will be taken care of by the state after devoting their lives to the state. Many employees devoted overtime away from their family to build up additional pension credits, and now they're being told that all of that may have been for naught. Fucking amazing. "Thanks for your service, chumps, can't believe you thought we'd live up to our end of the deal! OWNED!"[/QUOTE] Just to add to the shitpot, I was in a humvee what gone t-boned by an armored LMTV, and I'm getting no coverage for it even though I was on active duty status, in uniform, was a passenger, and was found to no way at all be at fault. My back has been in some donkass pain since then and I was the only bit of coverage I was offered was for my pinky. Legit was told that they'll only cover my pinky.

I'm so glad I didn't buy into the "join the military and get all these amazing benefits" shit back in high school from the regular recruitment officer that came in

[QUOTE=Snickerdoodle;52501691]I'm so glad I didn't buy into the "join the military and get all these amazing benefits" shit back in high school from the regular recruitment officer that came in[/QUOTE] Yeah man it totally sucks that I get a free bachelor's degree from my GI Bill, those fucking recruiters...

[QUOTE=jgerm529;52502102]Yeah man it totally sucks that I get a free bachelor's degree from my GI Bill, those fucking recruiters...[/QUOTE] Out of curiosity and somewhat related if you've served - how're your knees? A few of my friends who've served have said their knees are completely fucked from hauling their gear. I wanted to know if this is more common out there.

[QUOTE=snookypookums;52502303]Out of curiosity and somewhat related if you've served - how're your knees? A few of my friends who've served have said their knees are completely fucked from hauling their gear. I wanted to know if this is more common out there.[/QUOTE] Depends, but I'd say it's a common thing among soldiers. I knew plenty of guys from my unit who had leg/back issues. I've got them too.

Ahhh the good old walk it off field of medicine.

[QUOTE=jgerm529;52502102]Yeah man it totally sucks that I get a free bachelor's degree from my GI Bill, those fucking recruiters...[/QUOTE] Meanwhile most of us get absolutely nothing or less. Congrats for winning the shit lottery, most of us didn't. I literally have varying degrees of feeling to no feeling in my entire left arm due to nerve damage or whatever now and I was literally denied anything for it because "you can still use the arm so it's not a big deal". Nah mate, it's okay I just can't feel my entire fucking arm now and again, no biggie eh? The treatment of US vets in this country led me to leave the country once out of disgust and after coming back for a degree change I'm leaving again soon as I can because I don't deserve that shit. No one does.

[QUOTE=-Rusty-;52502344]Depends, but I'd say it's a common thing among soldiers. I knew plenty of guys from my unit who had leg/back issues. I've got them too.[/QUOTE] Do they give anything to you for this, or is this considered too small and inconsequential considering your mobility is now technically impaired as a direct consequence of you serving? I've seen the pain my friends were in during the winters, I feel like there's a case to be made for the long term damage shit like this causes.

[QUOTE=-Rusty-;52502344]Depends, but I'd say it's a common thing among soldiers. I knew plenty of guys from my unit who had leg/back issues. I've got them too.[/QUOTE] It's more common among combat arms. Airborne guys have it especially bad. Turns out jumping out of a plane and crashing into the ground (albeit in a controlled manner) will actually take an inch or two off your height. Accidents are also something to worry about, my younger brother is friends with a former E-5 whose chute failed to open properly. Took lots of surgery to get him back on his feet, and he ended up getting a medical discharge. Then there's the fact that Airborne units are notorious for putting their dudes through the wringer, physically. PTing like a motherfucker every day and going through all the training they put infantrymen through will take a toll. One of my Drill Sergeants in basic had fucked up hip-flexors, which gave him an odd walk that looked almost like a drunken swaying. Oh, and unrelated to airborne. I've got a buddy who was an artilleryman on active duty, he's an NG generator mechanic now. Turns out standing next to a 155mm howitzer when it goes off can rupture eardrums, so I have to stand to his right if I want him to be able to hear what I'm saying. Dude's in his mid 20s and totally deaf in one ear.

[QUOTE=F.X Clampazzo;52502369]Meanwhile most of us get absolutely nothing or less. Congrats for winning the shit lottery, most of us didn't. I literally have varying degrees of feeling to no feeling in my entire left arm due to nerve damage or whatever now and I was literally denied anything for it because "you can still use the arm so it's not a big deal". Nah mate, it's okay I just can't feel my entire fucking arm now and again, no biggie eh? The treatment of US vets in this country led me to leave the country once out of disgust and after coming back for a degree change I'm leaving again soon as I can because I don't deserve that shit. No one does.[/QUOTE] I don't know what military you served in but there's this thing called the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill or the Montgomery G.I. Bill, both of which you are 100% entitled to if you have an honorable discharge. There's no getting lucky about it. I agree how the VA handles Veterans sucks but don't outright lie and claim we don't get the G.I. Bill.

[QUOTE=jgerm529;52502402]I don't know what military you served in but there's this thing called the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill or the Montgomery G.I. Bill, both of which you are 100% entitled to if you have an honorable discharge. There's no getting lucky about it. I agree how the VA handles Veterans sucks but don't outright lie and claim we don't get the G.I. Bill.[/QUOTE] I'm in the Guard, I don't qualify for the post 9-11 unless I get a couple of deployments under my belt :v:

[QUOTE=snookypookums;52502303]Out of curiosity and somewhat related if you've served - how're your knees? A few of my friends who've served have said their knees are completely fucked from hauling their gear. I wanted to know if this is more common out there.[/QUOTE] I served as a a Machine Gunner in the Marine Corps and I can tell you me and all of my friends knees and backs are fucked and we all have tinnitus for the most part. Dealing with the VA is a crap shoot and it all literally depends on if the decide that your injuries are service connected or not. [editline]24th July 2017[/editline] [QUOTE=Psychokitten;52502405]I'm in the Guard, I don't qualify for the post 9-11 unless I get a couple of deployments under my belt :v:[/QUOTE] Active Duty is what I was referencing I don't have any idea about National Guard things.

[QUOTE=snookypookums;52502380]Do they give anything to you for this, or is this considered too small and inconsequential considering your mobility is now technically impaired as a direct consequence of you serving? I've seen the pain my friends were in during the winters, I feel like there's a case to be made for the long term damage shit like this causes.[/QUOTE] Well we were always told to "deal with the pain/suck it up" or something similar so I never had enough on my record to build a case for that in particular. When you're in, everyone's got this mindset of not wanting be seen as a weak link so a lot of times shit goes unreported. If you are injured or hurt you are seen as a liability. Also at that same time while I was in they were trying to weed anyone out for "malingering" and I was afraid that would have happened to me. I'd just tell the medics I felt pain in my ankles and knees, that I just needed some pain killers, and they'd give me some 800mg Ibuprofen pills and I'd be on my way. Going to the VA was a nightmare in itself initially and I didn't feel like they really wanted to help me but I did get assistance via an outside organization eventually to get the ball rolling for my disabilities/compensation and they took care of shit.

[QUOTE=jgerm529;52502402]I don't know what military you served in but there's this thing called the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill or the Montgomery G.I. Bill, both of which you are 100% entitled to if you have an honorable discharge. There's no getting lucky about it. I agree how the VA handles Veterans sucks but don't outright lie and claim we don't get the G.I. Bill.[/QUOTE] Why would I take the GI Bill when I'm being denied fucking care for my actual medical problems? Fuck that. I'm not taking spare change as compensation for a house payment if you get my metaphor. The GI bill is also limiting because it counts towards your financial aid calculations but doesn't count as financial aid. So basically for people like me if I took the GI bill I would be losing a lot of money on merit and need based scholarships that are actually vital to paying for my schooling. Plus I was told it doesn't work for out of country schools anyway so I just figured fuck it, who cares anymore. Yeah it's all fine and dandy if you fit a set list of personal checkboxes to get the bill everyone gets it, you can't be denied yeah, but if you don't think they're doing absolutely everything to make it a convoluted mess to turn people away from it you're taking the piss. The US government does everything they can to make taking your benefits as absolutely tooth pulling fucking difficult and painful as possible. Once you're out you're basically just a workplace tax credit for employers and that's all you're good for. I don't identify as a vet for that reason alone. It's absolutely fucked up that my work can get tax credits for my service guaranteed but I'm literally left to fend for my self because fuck me and everyone else who served.

[QUOTE=F.X Clampazzo;52502447]Why would I take the GI Bill when I'm being denied fucking care for my actual medical problems? Fuck that. I'm not taking spare change as compensation for a house payment if you get my metaphor. The GI bill is also limiting because it counts towards your financial aid calculations but doesn't count as financial aid. So basically for people like me if I took the GI bill I would be losing a lot of money on merit and need based scholarships that are actually vital to paying for my schooling. Plus I was told it doesn't work for out of country schools anyway so I just figured fuck it, who cares anymore. Yeah it's all fine and dandy if you fit a set list of personal checkboxes to get the bill everyone gets it, you can't be denied yeah, but if you don't think they're doing absolutely everything to make it a convoluted mess to turn people away from it you're taking the piss. The US government does everything they can to make taking your benefits as absolutely tooth pulling fucking difficult and painful as possible. Once you're out you're basically just a workplace tax credit for employers and that's all you're good for. I don't identify as a vet for that reason alone. It's absolutely fucked up that my work can get tax credits for my service guaranteed but I'm literally left to fend for my self because fuck me and everyone else who served.[/QUOTE] Well if you don't want to use it then that's your choice, I'm using mine because it's literally a free education and the BAH is more than enough for me to live off of. I deal with their horrendous medical care too but to me that's not a reason to not use your G.I. Bill, take what you can sort of thing. You do you though, and honestly you should get into contact with DAV or you local Veterans Services counselor. They helped me out a ton dealing with the VA and you should look into them or even the American Legion.

[QUOTE=jgerm529;52502489]Well if you don't want to use it then that's your choice, I'm using mine because it's literally a free education and the BAH is more than enough for me to live off of. I deal with their horrendous medical care too but to me that's not a reason to not use your G.I. Bill, take what you can sort of thing. You do you though, and honestly you should get into contact with DAV or you local Veterans Services counselor. They helped me out a ton dealing with the VA and you should look into them or even the American Legion.[/QUOTE] I should but the amount of hours of fighting against the VA that most of us have to go through greatly outweighs the benefits usually due to having to take time off work and shit man. I can work a labour intensive job just fine, my injuries aren't something that needs immediate care as far as I know, but I also don't know the long-term effects of nerve damage or whatever else is fucked up with me that I can't even find out right now. I'm really glad that you got your benefits and they're working fine for you and everyone else who happens to be so lucky, really I am, but that isn't the reality for everyone unfortunately. It's not a "take what you can get or fight for the rest" situation to me really anyway though, it's the moral fuck-up of it all that made me choose to not fight the system like this. If they're not going to give me reasonable compensation for the bullshit then fuck them I'll make my own way and be a model citizen elsewhere, I shouldn't have to go through all that shit for something that other first world countries give their regular, non veteran, citizens for "free" (universal healthcare). The fact that we can go through all this and get completely shat on in post is beyond sad really, especially when you throw in how other countries treat their citizens into the mix.