Shearon et.al
Your fathers experiences ring true. When you read that the VA is doing more
for vets, that really means that they enrolled you into the system, hence
they claim "70% of the vets are getting better treatment" but what happens
next could be months or years of waiting. I want to know who decides the
dollar value for a lost limb, blindness, or 40 years of madness.
Our contract has a berievement clause- five days off for a spouse, three
days for a child, two for a sibling. Like if my daughter got killed in a car
wreck on monday, I would be back to teach on thursday.
A lawyer friend worked for the auto company that sold the pintos. A rear end
collision caused the gas tank to explode. Some bean counter (and I would
really like to know who raised them and how)
calculated how many famalies they would have to pay for dead relatives vs
the cost of recalling all the cars and moving the gas tank. They chose to
pay for the dead.
Richard Pisacreta, Ph.D.
parolled Psychology professor
Feris State University
Dept. of Social Sciences
From: "Shearon, Tim" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)"
<[email protected]>
To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)"
<[email protected]>
Subject: [tips] RE: playing with the VA
Date: Tue, 6 Mar 2007 22:14:01 -0700
Richard- And the even sadder thing. Same thing since WWII and I suspect
before. Your email details exactly many scenarios I saw my own father have
to endure as a wounded WWII vet (The DAV and American Legion did finally
win some compromises for him). Included in the VAs support; being told he
was never injured while mentioning his merit citation (I heard that one
personally!); And was not due compensation due to his being in a "safe
zone". 2+ years Pacific theater leading up to and including the entire
Philippines campaign actually. Somehow he'd earned multiple merit and
bronze stars (which, of course are only awarded to those in combat, yada,
yada. Hmmmm). I have them including the papers so it's no rumor. Makes one
wonder why the vets are bitter. Support the troops, indeed. Seems, they
talk the Partiotic talk in Washington but . . .
Tim
_______________________________
Timothy O. Shearon, PhD
Professor and Chair Department of Psychology
Albertson College of Idaho
Caldwell, ID 83605
email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
teaching: intro to neuropsychology; psychopharmacology; general; history
and systems
-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Pisacreta, Ph.D. [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Tue 3/6/2007 6:57 PM
To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)
Subject: [tips] playing with the VA
If you think university procedures are frustrating, try dealing with the
VA.
Some examples:
They tell you that there is no record indicating that you were in Vietnam,
when your DD214 discharge papers list medals earned by serving in Vietnam.
They claim they can't find your records but quote those records when they
turn you down for a disability.
The widow of a deceased vet who had a disability is entitled to his
disability. The VA denies the claim saying your husband didn't have a
disability although he had been getting monthly checks for years.
The vet gets free meds. Your shrink has to prescribe the med every time you
are getting low on pills. If your shrink isn't in that day (say friday),
you
have to wait until monday to get a renewal even if your med is a serious
pain killer like Vicodin or Oxycontin. The VA often orders the largest size
pill they can (because it is cheaper), and tell you to cut them half or
smaller sizes.
The VA awards you a 50% disability even though you deserve a 70% rating
based on their own criteria. You report this and wait months for them to
say
OK.
Disability pensions can range from 0 to 100% for vets with the same
application.
You put in a claim for a disability and take 4 shots a month to keep the
symptoms in remission. They insist on having their doctor examine you. Even
though you tell him that you take shots to keep the illness in remission,
the VA turns you down saying that the doctor could find no evidence to
support your claim.
The VA calls you and tells you that you missed an appointment yesterday and
they will let you know when another appointment can be scheduled, usually
several weeks later. The next day, you get a letter from the VA telling you
of the appointment that you were scheduled for, i.e., days after you missed
it.
The prime directive of the VA is to make sure that you are not dangerous to
yourself or others. Other psychiatric problems are handled at a much slower
rate.
Any knowlegable vet will tell you that you never deal directly with the VA.
You give power of attorney to the VVA, DAV, or the purple heart agencies
who
represent you for free.
If I had the time I would tell about the loads of fun you will have dealing
with Social Security. They turn down 70% of all first time applications for
a disability pension. Most people get it on appeal but that can take years.
Their forms ask questions like "Are you right or left handed"
I remember my first SS card said on the back, IN THE EVENT OF YOUR DEATH,
NOTIFY THE NEAREST SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE IMMEDIATELY. (caps theirs).
\
The motor vehicle manual says that you will lose your drivers licence if
you
are convicted of treason!
Richard Pisacreta, Ph.D.
parolled Psychology professor
Feris State University
Dept. of Social Sciences
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