Charlotte, NC – Hundreds of veterans are sharing their experiences with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on MyVAStory.org, a new Concerned Veterans for America (CVA) platform which launched last week. The organization has been encouraging veterans from around the country to submit their stories to the website or on social media using #MyVAStory.
Here are a few of the stories we’re seeing in North Carolina:
Robert, Army Veteran: “The Veteran’s Advocate Didn’t Offer Much Help.” “After years of enduring neck pain & simply learning to deal w/ it, I filed a claim for it & the knee issue that plagued me since my Active Duty time. I submitted a stack of paperwork probably about 2-3 inches high, which apparently was submitted in vain. The Veteran’s Advocate didn’t offer much help beyond submitting the claim.”
Christine, Navy Veteran: “The VA Offers Substandard Care.” “I needed an x-Ray on my foot for a possible fracture. My only option through the VA was to drive to approximately 2-3 hours away… for an x-Ray on my foot. I had an X-ray taken and my foot was fractured. My opinion is that the VA offers substandard care to those of us that served our country for 20 plus years.”
John, Army Veteran and CVA North Carolina State Director: “It Took Over Six Months to Get My First Appointment.” “I had a crazy experience with VA Healthcare in 2015. It took a week to get someone to help me transfer locations in the same state. It took over 6 months to get my first appointment despite being in pain. When my provider recommended minor surgery, they put me in the ‘Choice Program.’ You know, the one for veterans who have to wait more than 30 days? It took almost 120 days in the ‘Choice Program’ to be seen by a Doctor the VA picked.”
Charles, Army Veteran: “The Unions Have Ruined the VA.” “I am a Captain who served 10 years in the Army, and am a patient at a North Carolina VA. Since I have been here, I’ve seen about 20% of the staff and leadership have a desire to make positive impacts on veterans lives. I’ve also seen about 30% of staff who have no clue what they are doing, but manage to stay under the radar. In my experience, good people don’t stay long at the VA due to the culture. The unions have ruined the VA and there is a culture of recycled incompetence.”
Each of the stories are being read and compiled, and CVA’s policy team is looking for broad themes. This information will help inform the kind of VA reforms CVA will fight for moving forward.
To read more stories or to learn more about the project, visit www.MyVAStory.org.
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Concerned Veterans for America is a non-partisan, non-profit, 501(c)(4) organization that advocates for policies that will preserve the freedom and prosperity we and our families so proudly fought and sacrificed to defend.