Sept. 5, 2008, Colorado Springs, CO - Doctor turn-over is a major issue for those receiving care in El Paso County VA clinics according to area veterans.

Vietnam veteran Phil Montoya started seeking medical assistance through Tri-Care after 9-11 reignited his PTSD.

"If you had gone to the clinics and VA hospitals they were just packed," says Montoya.

Montoya is now one of 12 thousand people receiving treatment from the VA clinic in Colorado Springs.

"To get an appointment you've got to do it in advance at least one to two weeks," says Montoya.

Aside from competing for time with his doctor, Montoya tells me the doctors he does get, don't last long.

"I've had to change my psychologist at least three times and every time I do it's like I've got to go back to square one," says Montoya.

It's a situation that's left the Montoya's feeling powerless.

Here's another example of a serious problem with the health care veterans receive.

When you are looking to buy a car, for the most part you feel in control. The price of the car is clearly stated, as well as any additional fees and exactly where where those fees are coming from. But veterans tell me, when it comes health care, they don't get that kind of information, and it leads to a confusing system to sort through.

"It's like the rule book changed and we never got the rule book," says Montoya's Wife, Terry Jean Montoya.

US Senator Ken Salazar spoke to residents of Colorado Springs about those very issues Thursday.

He says 2009's 40 billion dollar independent budget for VA health care will help him secure new resources in the upcoming year.

"We need to build additional facilities for our veterans here in Colorado Springs and we are going to do that," says Salazar.

As for the Montoya's, waiting for those changes may be hard, but they say Salazar is finally the light in what had been a very dark tunnel.

Senator Salazar's visit today is his 31st stop in a cross state tour to determine the most pressing health care concerns facing Colorado.

He says he plans to take that information and fight for bi-partisan change in Congress over the next year.