U.S. Military (Ret.): Vets must become own advocates to navigate stressed VA system - Military Retirement - Navy Times

U.S. Military (Ret.): Vets must become own advocates to navigate stressed VA system

An issue that I routinely touch on in this column that generates a lot of response is the performance of the Veterans Affairs Department’s disability system.

Some readers say they are simply resigned to the system falling short. “As a 20 percent disabled veteran, I too have had my encounters with the VA system,” wrote retired Navy Cmdr. Peter Gregory. “I started my application while on active duty and it took two years when all was said and done. Am I bitter? No, it’s the nature of the system.”

One of the core issues with the disability system is the growing backlog fueled, in part, by an increasing tide of claims from veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. VA had a backlog even before those conflicts, and it has only grown worse in the past decade, despite a series of attempts to tame the mountain.

Part of the problem is ineffective communication and transfer of data between the active-duty medical system and the VA health care system. As such, the veteran is often forced to be his own aggressive advocate.

Many veterans approach the VA too passively, assuming some advocate will advance their cause for them. Others assume VA care is a “right.” It’s not. Read the VA manual for appeals — VA health care is never defined as a right or entitlement by virtue of military service alone or combat exposure.

If that were the case, there would be no priority care groups below Level 3, nor any need for income verification for levels of service provided. Your DD 214 discharge would serve as an access card, no questions asked.

That said, when I access VA care, I find it to be the best in the world. The trick is navigating that pretzel of a system.

This requires obtaining all your military personnel and health records and researching VA’s website, which provides step-by-step details on how to file or appeal a claim — start at www.vba.va.gov.

What has been your experience with VA’s health care system, or its disability claims system? Drop me a line.

Retired Command Master Chief Alex Keenan served 28 years in the Coast Guard. Email him at retired@militarytimes.com.