I agree Reverand. Not only is this not an isolated incident, it goes further. There are the matters of:
The unwritten policies of the DVA/VHA include denials of expensive diagnostic tests such as CTs, MRIs, etc, by Program Administrative Officers trying to save money,
The unwritten policies of the DVA/VHA/VBA requiring C&P exams in order to deny nexus for service connection without explaining what they think the connection may be,
There is collusion between the IOM/NAS and the DVA denying nexus of AO and immune system diseases, as well as down-playing the effects of depleted uranium, sarin gas, burning petroleum wells, etc. for OIF veterans,
There is stalling by the Department of Veterans Affairs to approve recommendations by the IOM/NAS for Parkinson's, hypertension, and many other diseases due to costs for granting disability,
In as much as my CBOC is 100 miles away, I have used my TRICARE Prime to seek testing for neuropathy which found autonomonic central nervous system and peripheral neuropathy specific to dioxin exposure, cardiovascular and cranialvascular disease due to hypertension, and a stress fracture of the left tibula. Did the DVA even attempt to determine any of this? Not likely. In addition I have recently had bouts of cellulitis and osteomyelitis and the care I would receive if I had been able to get an appointment would have been lacking because they would have denied the deep bone scan required to diagnose the osteomyelitis.
I also did this because my primary care provider specifically told me that physicians have been told not to document diagnosis in veterans health records which are compensable. So this is not isolated.
I have veteran advocate friends in many organizations across the country, and the horror stories are mounting. Two days ago, the Director of the Toledo VA clinic denied service to three OEF vets who had been involved in an incident of war. The three vets promptly went out and suicided, two by hanging themselves the other blowing his brains out.
Peake disciplined the team leader not for writing the memo, but for getting caught implementing the unwritten rules of Gordon Mansfield and Michael Kussman. It is a continuation of what the DOD was doing by making vets sign statements admitting pre-existant mental disorders. So when Congress or the American people think the transition program is working, well I for one do not think it is possible for the DVA to make anything work.
It is time for an end to the Feres Doctrine. Our fight can only prevail if administrators, whether DVA, DOD, or the President of the United States can be held legally accountable for the decisions or lack thereof that they make. Would the unwritten policies even be considered if DVA administrators knew they could be charged with murder? I think not.
It is time for the reorganization of the DVA by first providing mandatory funding based on costs, revising the current claim system to a simpler, faster system like the IRS with audits of claims after approval, and firing the top five administrative positions of the DVA, VHA and VBA, every regional office, every VA Medical Center, and every CBOC. Do we actually believe that the despicable culture prevalent in the DVA is not the extension of the President and Vice President? I think not.
The Congress should pass the new GI bill over the veto of the President.
The Congress should immediately pass a bill granting any veteran that served burial in VA cemetaries, regardless of whether they died of a service connection or not.
The Congress should pass legislation for funding any war requirements with funding of the health care and disability cost requrements. Special provisions should be made for mental health issues such as PTSD/TBI, suicides, etc, and treatment, rehabilitation, and equipment for veterans catastrophically injured.
The authorities given to the Secretary of the DVA should be revoked.
The Congress should immediately pass legislation funding of Veterans Outreach and Service Center programs in rural America.
The Congress should immediately pass concurrent receipt legislation and DIC.
Veterans in every Veteran Service organizations should unite behind common causes and present a united voice to stop the purposeful separating of veterans based on age, wars, injuries, etc.
And that is the bottom line.