I would like to request that those who have signed on the line to serve this Country receive the care that Congress receives, and that Congress receive the care that Veterans have been. The bodies of Veterans are more broken, demanding more care, but the VA literally is providing minimal. As a couple of examples, testosterone levels in the civilian sector is measured from age 9-90, BUT male Veterans who have lived under extreme stress during deployments are measured the same. What extreme stresses are experienced by the civilian sector equivalent to being under constant threat of incoming attacks? For sometimes 3, 4 or 5 deployments? What segment of the population has missing extremities, backs, knees and ankles that have withstood the heavy weight of wearing rucksacks daily at 100+ pounds, that no longer can? Being allotted 12 visits PER YEAR to the chiropractor and 10 visits PER YEAR to the massage therapist is not only dismissive, but extremely insulting. As a way of helping our Representatives and Senators to fully appreciate what kind of care they are relegating their Veteran constituents to, they should feel the burden of their decisions. The minimization of our Veterans has caused several to take their lives in VA parking lots, as well in other locations throughout our Country. There is a LACK of continuity of care, with Referrals for Service going unanswered or taking 6-12 months for Care in the Community.
Additionally, as a way of streamlining the extremely archaic travel pay system (BTSSS), why, as soon as the bill is received from the medical service provider is travel pay not dispensed into the veterans bank account? I am computer savvy, yet the travel system requires scans of proof of attending the appt, along with a bunch of other non-intuitive processes. (I can just about guarantee that no Vietnam Vet has been getting travel pay…)
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