DOCTOR VS ADMINISTRATION -What's Really the Problem With VA Services?

Hello Everyone.  I pray you are having the best day of your life today.  Mine is going pretty darn good, I must say.


Today I would like to talk about whether the problems with VA and the service that we receive stems from the doctors or from the administration.  I'm middle of the road and think it's both.  However, another group that I belong to, Atlanta VA Medical Center Improvement Group, the moderator (Bob Teets) seems to think that it's more the Administration.  I must say though that he has helped me quite a bit in navigating the administrative side of the Atlanta VA.  If you are in this area I suggest you join this group.  It is focused on improving the care we receive at the Atlanta VA.


As always, I digress from my topic but I'm back now.  The reason I believe it is a combination of both is because I have had bad service from both.  Yesterday I had an appointment with my new doctor, Dr. Phelps.  He is a breath of fresh air after my last doctor, Dr. Ghanta.  She was so mean to me and I'm one of those people who are very active in my health care.  You are not just going to tell me anything and try to blow me off (doctor).  She didn't like that and it showed in the way she treated me. 


So I got a new doctor.  Mind you this was not easy.  As I said above Mr. Teets was very helpful in getting my doctor changed.  I had tried to do it on my own but I kept getting the runaround (admin) and it seemed as if it was going to either not happen or take forever to happen.  My point is that if you have a doctor that is not treating you the way you deserve to  be treated, get another one, and if that one doesn't work, continue until you get one that does.  Do NOT take no for an answer.  You can change your primary care doctor.


Now what I'm about to share with you may blow your mind, but then again it may not.  You all have probably had similar experiences or know someone who has.  During my exam, it was recommended that I get an MRI to see why my right thigh hurts all the time and stays swollen.  The doctor gave me the number to call Radiology to set up an appointment.  So, I give them a call and almost said some words that I haven't said in quite a while.  They look like this ^%$*%&)$#&@#.  I did say almost. :-)


When I told him I needed to schedule an appointment he looked up my information and told me that the appointment had not been approved yet by the Radiologist. Huh?  They have to approve me getting an MRI?  Yes they do.  They have to make sure that it is within the guidelines out of Washington (whatever that is), as well as determine if you really need one.  Really?  How is someone who has never examined me going to tell me what I do or do not need. This one is a combination of doctor and admin.


Of course, I ask him how long should it take to hear something.  He said it could take up to 30-days.  It may be only a week or so but don't hold him to that. WHAT?  I'm in pain.  My doggone leg hurts and I'm tired of being in pain.  Why do I have to wait this long?  This was all in my head, I didn't say it out loud.  Normally I would have taken it out on the poor person on the phone, but I've long ago realized that they are only doing their jobs and giving me the information as they are told to. 


I don't know if I've proved my point about it being both doctors and admin or not but my main point for this post is that you take charge of your healthcare.  Don't allow anyone to treat you less than what you deserve. 


As always, thank you for your support.


TTYL - Be blessed!!

PROTECTING YOUR GI BILL - Research Your School Choice

Hello and I pray you all had a great weekend.  I certainly did.  I am refreshed and ready to start a new week.

Today, even though I am not eligible, I want to stress to all of you the importance of ensuring that you use your GI Bill wisely.  There are so many schools out there that will do whatever it takes to get approved to receive the funds from VA, but when you actually attend they prove to be substandard in the education that they are providing you.

Now this isn't all on the school.  The VA has to do better about vetting the schools that they approve.  I know of one school, in Atlanta, that was approved to provide training under the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP).  This school was supposed to be training veterans in Apartment Maintenance and Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC).  The sad part about it is they were approved to train, but they hadn't even set-up the lab or anything.  There was curriculum or instructors in place and they had no verifiable history of training these programs.

I share this information because one of the only ways that the VA finds out about these schools in because of veteran complaints.  These are usually proprietary and privately owned schools.  My suggestion, if you are able, would be to attend a college or university, where you are more likely to get a better education, even though some of those can be suspect.  Either way, please do your research before you give away your money and your benefits.

I'm sharing a story with you below to show how important it is to report these types of schools.  These individuals were able to make millions of dollars before someone finally reported them.

As always, thank you for your support.

TTYL - Be blessed!!

"

Colleagues and Fellow Veterans,

Over the past few years you may have heard us using phrases like, “safeguarding the integrity of GI Bill benefits” and “protecting our beneficiaries from bad actors,” – but what does this really mean? Unfortunately, not every school/institution out there has Veterans’ best interests in mind, so we have been working diligently to ensure that our GI Bill beneficiaries don’t fall victim to schools that employ fraudulent, misleading, or deceptive practices.

Just recently, we had a major “win” that we hope will set a precedent for the future:

As a result of a student complaint in our GI Bill Feedback System, the owners of the College of Beauty and Barber Culture in Chesapeake, Va., were sentenced to jail time and required to pay $4.5 million in restitution. The school, which enrolled hundreds of Veterans since 2011, only had a handful pass their licensing exam. The investigation also revealed that many students did not receive the required hours of instruction, which contradicted information submitted to VA. More information about the case can be found here.

We take our Veterans’ education benefits very seriously, which is why we encourage them to conduct thorough research before choosing a school. To assist them, VA is constantly updating the GI Bill Comparison Tool with the number of complaints a school receives, and we add caution flags highlighting important information such as investigations, settlements, accreditation issues, or financial issues.

GI Bill beneficiaries, family, and friends can play a part in helping keep schools honest. Reporting Principles of Excellence violations and fraudulent schools through the GI Bill Feedback System can help other Veterans and dependents to avoid bad actors and protect the integrity of the GI Bill education programs. Students can also call the VA Office of the Inspector General hotline at 1-800-488-8244. In both cases, it’s up to you if you want to provide contact information or remain anonymous.

We will continue to work hard to provide the most accurate and timely information to our beneficiaries. As we navigate these sometimes turbulent waters, we will remain dedicated to providing the best GI Bill experience possible for those who fought for us.

V/R,

Curtis L. Coy
Deputy Under Secretary for Economic Opportunity
Veterans Benefits Administration
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Washington, DC 20420"

WAS THE CHOICE REALLY MINE? - Utilizing the VA Choice Program

Hello Everyone.  I pray that you are having the greatest day possible.  When I started writing this blog I knew that I was going to have to be transparent in some things, but I really didn't realize how much.  As I've progressed, I've found that the best way to tell you about a subject is to share my own experience.  I've probably told you all more than some of my closest friends but that's what this blog is all about.


So today, I would like to share my experience with you about the Choice program.  When I was initially approved it was for a mammogram, because the wait to get one at the VA clinic was too long.  Many of you may think that the only way to get approved to use Choice is because of the distance you may live from a facility, but both of the times I have used it, it was because of the long appointment wait times.  Anyway, as usual I digress. :-) 


When I first used the Choice program for the mammogram, everything went pretty smooth.  The only hiccup was that the facility where I received my mammogram had double-billed the VA for my services.  This resulted in me getting a bill, even after Choice had paid.  Now this wasn't their fault but of course my first assumption was that it was, but we all know what they say about assuming.


The second time I used Choice was because of the length of time it would take me to get an appointment in podiatry.  I had hurt my ankle back in January 2016, and to this day it still hurts.  I was seen in podiatry initially and given a cane and a brace but this didn't fix my problem.  So in December 2016, I was given a Choice appointment for January 2, 2017.  I went to the appointment and the podiatrist told me that the reason my ankle couldn't heal properly was because of my flat feet.  He told me that we should first try custom inserts before trying to surgically repair the damage.  His office did the molds of my feet and ordered the inserts that day.


GUESS WHAT EVERYBODY!!!  Yep, you guessed it, I still don't have the inserts.  Why you ask?  Well that's a good question.  I don't have them because the VA has not paid for them.  You see when you get any kind of devices, other than those that are surgically implanted into your body, Choice won't pay for them.  These have to be paid for directly by the VA.  So even though I was given a timely appointment, the devices needed to assist in my healing are still M.I.A.  I call the podiatrist's office at least once a week to see if they've received payment and they haven't.


I'm sharing this so you can make an informed decision on whether to use Choice or not, if you are eligible.  If I had waited on a VA podiatry appointment it would have been in February, and if I had needed the inserts they probably would have already been done by now.


Anyway, I hope this helps someone with their "CHOICE".


As always, thank you for your support.


TTYL - Be blessed.

Prepare, Prepare, Prepare - Studying For Your C&P Exam

Hello Everyone.  I pray that all has been well with you since I have been gone.  I started a new job recently and I've been consumed with learning what it is that I'm supposed to do so that I can do a good job.  I recently found that this same type of studying needs to take place before you go for your Claims & Pension (C&P) Exam.  While this information is in no way intended to help anyone cheat the system, it is very necessary for anyone who has a scheduled exam or who may want to apply for VA disability some time in the future.

One of the ways many people study is to check the CFR38 online at http://www.benefits.va.gov/warms/bookc.asp.  Unfortunately, for me I was adding Fibromyalgia to my already approved lower back pain and I could not locate anything regarding Fibromyalgia in the CFR38 manual, so I had to do my studying by Googling it and just remembering all the things I've learned about Fibromyalgia from my doctor.

So anyway, I had my C&P exam on Friday and I truly believe that the doctor who examined me thought I was stupid or ill-informed or maybe even both.  One thing that anyone who has been diagnosed with Fibro knows is that the doctor will touch specific areas of your body known as "pain points".  If you experience pain when you are touched in these areas it's a pretty good indicator that you are suffering from Fibro.

Two of these points are on your wrist and your ankle.  When I told her that it hurt when she touched me there she said that she was only checking my pulse.  Another area is across your upper chest and neck.  When I told her it hurt when she touched there she said she is just checking my clavicle.  You also have these pain points on your upper back and buttocks, so when she tapped her way up my entire backside I again let her know that it hurt when she touched me in these spots, and as a matter of fact it hurts when someone applies even light pressure to any part of my body. 

What really cracked me up is when she asked me what pain medication I take.  When I told her I use Ibruprofen and Tylenol, she asked me did I take it as needed.  Yes I take it as needed, which is everyday.  That's why the doctor told me to alternate the pain meds so the Ibruprofen doesn't cause damage to any of my other organs.  Although I haven't seen what she has written up I'm sure it will be interesting. 

So being the writer that I am, I immediately wrote a letter regarding my C&P experience and uploaded it to eBenefits.  I advise any of you that have any type of experience in your exam that you do not agree with to do this.  I really feel as if she was trying to find a way to say that I didn't have Fibro based on the exam.  In addition to the CFR38, study up on your condition.  Know what makes it worse and know how it hasn't worsened since you were first diagnosed with it.  Don't give them any room to attempt to pull the wool over your eyes.  You deserve your compensation - don't let them cheat you.

As always, thank you for your support.

TTYL - Be blessed!!

STOP THE VIOLENCE!! - Keep Your Hands to Yourself!!

Even though I've been out of the military for quite a few years, I've been blessed to stay in contact or been able to reconnect with some of those who I considered to be my friend.  We went through some things together and had a lot of great fun together.  And as close as we were I never noticed what one of them was going through and really didn't know the full story until yesterday.

My friend lives in Savannah and had to come up to the VA today for her BVA hearing.  She called and asked if she could spend the night with me and of course I told her yes.  When she got here we did a lot of small talk, just about what we were going through, our families and that sort of thing.

I assumed that she was going to the BVA because of a physical injury.  In all the years I've known her I never knew she had one, but I decided I would ask.  I was totally blindsided when she told me that she was going for PTSD.  Now mind you, I'm one of those ignorant people who believe that you can only get PTSD if you've been in a war or in some type of terrible accident.  As she explained to me the physical and verbal abuse that she suffered at the hands of her husband I was dumbstruck.  Then to add insult to injury she told me about how her Chief Petty Officer had also harassed her.  Not at just one duty station, but at two different ones, and how no one took her seriously enough to do anymore than slap him on the wrist.

My friend doesn't know I'm sharing her story, but I hope she is okay with it.  And in the interest of fairness I'll share my own.  In no way did I ever suffer what she did physically, but the verbal abuse from my ex-husband had me terrified for a time.  I even lost my 1st home to foreclosure because he wouldn't leave and the police wouldn't make him leave.  I had to make a choice of whether I wanted to protect me or if I wanted to keep a piece of property.  The choice was very easy for me to make.

To all of you suffering in silence I beg and plead with you to do something about it.  Now, many may think that there are only men who are abusers, but be assured, there are some women out there who are abusive themselves.  Whatever your situation I implore you to seek help.  No matter where you are, there is a way out.  And whatever you do, please stop saying that it was your fault.  No one has the right to put their hands on you in a violent manner.  I don't care how mad I am at someone I will not put my hands on them because this opens me up to them possibly hitting me back, and I think I am way to pretty to get beat.

The military also offers you a way out.  I received the following information in a recent email:

Every single day in the United States, approximately three women are killed by an intimate partner. What can you do to take a stand against domestic violence?

Visit NO MORE for more information and ideas.

  

 #StopIPV #SuperBowl501 #Caring4Vets

 

With VA's Caregiver Support Line assistance is just a quick phone call away. Whether you're in need of immediate assistance or have questions about what services you may be eligible for, the caring licensed professionals who answer the support line can: Tell you about the assistance available from VA. Help you access services. Connect you with the Caregiver Support Coordinator at a VA Medical Center near you. Just listen, if that's what you need right now. If you're just getting started with VA, calling the Caregiver Support Line is a great first step to take to learn more about the support that's available to you. While this says it is for caregivers, the help and support is for anyone who finds themselves in an abusive situation. As always, thank you for your support. TTYL - be blessed.

WHERE'S THE MONEY GOING?!! Audit of VAs Financial Statements

Recently the Veterans Office of Inspector General conducted an independent audit on the VAs finances.  The audit was for the fiscal years 2015 and 2016.  I really wanted to be surprised at the results but unfortunately I wasn't.  No surprise here guys.  Mismanagement and more mismanagement of funds.

While I don't depend on my disability to pay my bills or uphold my lifestyle (what there is of it), it bothers me that there is so much waste and the veterans who could really use the help are getting the shaft and have to fight so hard to get what they deserve.  What I really want to see though is what happens to those who have done such a poor job in managing these funds.  It seems that no matter how bad they do they get a pass, and continue to stay in jobs that they don't deserve.

This is only a portion of the bad news coming out of the VA.  For those who really want to work here I would caution you about that.  The VA has gotten a bad rating in regards to employers and they also are so far behind on their Human Resources tasks that it's crazy.  A recent investigation showed that they are over two (2) years behind on their background checks.  Lord only knows who could be working there and taking care of you.  I've added a link to both of these stories below.

As always, thank you for your support,

Be blessed-TTYL.

Audit of VA's Financial Statements for Fiscal Years 2016 and 2015 11/14/2016 07:00 PM EST We contracted with an independent public accounting firm to audit VA’s FY 2016 financial statements as required by the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990. VA received an unmodified opinion meaning that its financial statements were materially accurate. The contractor identified six material weaknesses: IT security controls; education benefits accrued liability; control environment surrounding the compensation, pension, and burial actuarial estimates; community care obligations, reconciliations, and accrued expenses; financial reporting; and CFO organizational structure for VA and VHA. The contractor further identified two significant deficiencies: procurement, undelivered orders, accrued expenses, and reconciliations; and loan guaranty liability estimate. It also reported VA’s substantial noncompliance with applicable Federal financial management systems requirements and the United States Standard General Ledger at the transaction level under the Federal Financial Management Improvement Act (FFMIA). It noted improvements were needed in complying with the Federal Managers’ Financial Integrity Act. The contractor cited instances of noncompliance with section 5315, title 38, United States Code, pertaining to the charging of interest and administrative costs; noncompliance with section 3733, title 38, United States Code, pertaining to the vendee loan program and six violations of the Antideficiency Act identified by VA. Review of Alleged Human Resources Delays at the Atlanta VA Medical Center 01/29/2017 07:00 PM EST VA OIG received and substantiated allegations that the Atlanta VA Medical Center had a backlog of over 300 unadjudicated background investigations and that mandatory drug testing of new hires did not occur for 6 months. VA officials confirmed the VAMC had a backlog of unadjudicated background investigations by mid FY 2015. The Director of VA Central Office’s Personnel Security and Suitability Service said the VAMC had a backlog of about 200 of these investigations as of July 2015. Atlanta HR personnel acknowledged a backlog dating as far back as 2012. Even though the lack of available records limited our ability to quantify the extent of the backlog, we substantiated that backlogs were occurring by determining that the average adjudication processing time at the VAMC was about 170 days. We also substantiated that the Drug Free Workplace Program was not administered from November 2014 to May 2015. These lapses occurred because records within the personnel security program were inadequate, policies were not implemented as required, and HR staff were not adequately trained. VAMC management did not ensure the continuity of the DFWP when the former coordinator left the position in September 2014. Without proper controls over these functions, the VAMC cannot reliably attest to the suitability of its staff, exposing veterans and employees to individuals who have not been properly vetted. The facility lacks assurance that employees in Testing Designated Positions remain suitable for employment. We recommended the Medical Center Director assess the HR program and ensure staff receive appropriate background investigations, provide training on the requirements of the personnel security program, and monitor the DFWP. The Director concurred with our recommendations. We consider the corrective action plans the facility submitted acceptable and will follow up on their implementation.

MAKING LIFE EASIER - Electronic Medical Records

I actually had something totally different that I wanted to talk about but then an interesting article came across my email.  I don't know how many of you have ever heard of this before but they are actually testing a new electronic medical record system for the VA.  What is exciting about this system is that it can interact with the civilian system so if you are going to a private doctor, who is using this software then your medical records can be automatically uploaded to your VA file.

Now, when I first read this I thought how much easier it would make it for use to file our claims without having to go to each and everyone of our civilian doctors, both past and present, to get information that helps us support our claims.  It also keeps track of the type of medical we receive and helps doctors to determine which treatments are most effective for certain types of illnesses.

While I don't know the true extent of this program I plan to keep an eye on it so that I can report back to you everything I find out.  For those who are currently in the military this system is supposed to bring in all of your medical records as well so you shouldn't have to go through the hassle of requesting them.  Everything should be in one location.

I hope this is helpful.

As always, thank you for your support.

TTYL - be blessed.

This is just the beginning of the article:

"“Liberate the data.” That was a principal design goal for a team of public-private health care technology collaborators established by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Veterans Health Administration to develop a working and scalable proof-of-concept digital health platform (DHP) to support the department’s long-term vision.

The open-source project demonstrated both proven and emerging technologies for interoperability and advanced functionality innovations from both the public and private sectors. The proof-of-concept delivers capabilities that VA and VHA leadership had identified as strategically important to support clinical and operational policy and program transformation plans needed to address expected changes in veteran populations, service needs and care delivery models.

For example, the demonstration included the capability to obtain patient data from disparate military and commercial electronic records systems, and accept information from a broad range of ancillary services and consumer medical devices. "

If you want to read the whole article here is the link: http://www.news.gatech.edu/2017/01/31/team-demonstrates-digital-health-platform-department-veterans-affairs.

CHOICE IS A CHANGING!!

If you're anything like me, when you want an appointment with your doctor, or any doctor for that matter, you want it sooner rather than later.  Unfortunately, we all know that it is usually later than sooner when it comes to getting a VA appointment.  The Veterans Choice program was supposed to be the solution to this problem.

In my humble opinion, it has not worked out as well as I'm sure they hope it would.  I've heard of individuals complaining about the process, as well as complaining about the lack of response from the employees running the program.  I've used it myself and it has proven to be a bit of a challenge.  I'm also, getting different information from VA employees on whether I should only see my Choice doctor, or whether I should see my Choice and VA doctors for the same condition.  Whew, I tell you I have to take a break from the VA mess some days.  It can become so convoluted.  

The good thing is that the VA has recognized that this is a problem.  Below is a story about an investigation that was conducted on the Choice program by the VA Office of Inspector General, as well as the findings.  I'm also providing a link for you to read the entire 45 page report, just in case you're bored or something. Let's hope that this leads to some great changes in the program that will make it much more user friendly.

As always, thank you for your support.

TTYL -Be blessed!!

https://www.va.gov/oig/pubs/VAOIG-15-04673-333.pdf

"Review of the Implementation of the Veterans Choice Program 01/29/2017 07:00 PM EST We conducted this review at the request of Senator Johnny Isakson, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, who expressed concerns about the implementation of the Veterans Choice Program (Choice) and the barriers facing veterans trying to access it. Our review focused on whether veterans were experiencing barriers accessing Choice during its first year of implementation. Choice, as part of the Patient Centered Community Care (PC3) Program, provided care for eligible veterans, when the local VHA medical facilities lack available specialists, have long wait times, or are geographically inaccessible. We reviewed monthly reports to identify average wait times for multiple stages of the Choice process, including the authorization of care, scheduling, and the delivery of health care to veterans. We determined several barriers exist in accessing care through Choice, to include cumbersome authorization and scheduling procedures, inadequate provider networks, and potential veteran liability for treatment costs. After being scheduled with a Choice provider, on average the veteran waited about 13 days to receive care. VHA identified approximately 1.2 million instances in which veterans could not receive VHA appointments from November 1, 2014 through September 30, 2015. During this period, about 283,500 eligible veterans opted into Choice, and 149,000 of these received an appointment with a Choice provider. We calculated a 13 percent rate of Choice utilization (based on appointments provided compared veteran eligible to receive care). We were unable to determine why the other 87 percent did not access Choice. We recommended the Under Secretary for Health streamline procedures for accessing care, develop accurate forecasts of demand for care in the community, reduce providers’ administrative burdens, ensure veterans are not liable for authorized care, and ensure provider payments are made in a timely manner. The Under Secretary for Health concurred with our findings and recommendations."

YES!!! I CAN SHOP AT THE EXCHANGE AGAIN!!

I am so happy.  It is official.  I can shop online at the Exchange once again.  Previously this was only a benefit that was awarded to those service members who are retired or 100% disabled, unless you're on active duty.

I remember when I was stationed in Bermuda and I first found out about the Exchange online I almost lost my mind.  Every week I was getting something in the mail.  My poor roommate had no room to put anything.  We had three cabinets in the room and my stuff was all over all three of them.  I'm hoping I don't do that this time but I can't wait until November.  They will actually open it to us on Veterans Day this year.  This combined with actually getting the day off from work is going to make me extremely happy.

I'm posting the actual story from Military.com below.  I hope you all don't overspend.  I'm actually going to start my Exchange savings account today so that I'll have a nice chunk of change to blow on things that I don't really need but can get at a great price.  YES!!!

As always, thank you for your support.

TTYL - be blessed.


"A Defense Department retail board has given the green light to a plan to open online exchange shopping to all honorably discharged veterans, with hopes of starting the program on Veterans Day in 2017.

The move, originally proposed by the Army and Air Force Exchange Service in 2014, was approved by the Executive Resale Board early this month. The board unanimously voted to ask the Pentagon to update its policy regarding patronage rules.

Pentagon officials confirmed that the proposal is still under consideration.

The board's decision was announced in an Aug. 12 email newsletter from the American Logistics Association, which lobbies on behalf of companies that do business with the exchange and commissary systems.

Opening the Exchange to the about 20 million honorably discharged U.S. veterans comes with a strong business case, Exchange officials have said.

The move could produce between $226 million to $1.13 billion in annual sales, according to the 2014 proposal. It could bring as much as $108 million annually in support for MWR programs, which rely on exchange dividends for the bulk of their funding across the services, it says.

However, opening commissary shopping to honorably discharged veterans isn't included in the proposal.

Unlike the exchanges, the Defense Commissary Agency relies on a $1.4 billion annual taxpayer subsidy to operate. Because goods there are sold at cost plus a 5 percent surcharge, increasing the customer base to all veterans would result in higher taxpayer costs under the current operating system."

WHAT ONCE WAS LOST IS NOW FOUND!!!

Hello and I pray that you are doing well.  I have been so busy these last few days that I haven't been able to get out here and talk with you all.  They are actually making me work on my real job.  I'm so upset about that. Even though they pay me I didn't expect to actually have to work for my pay. :-)  Just kidding.  But I have been working really hard lately and I'm going to have to get back to it so I'm going to make this post quick today.

I don't know if you are like me, but since I've gotten out of the military I have lost everything.  I've moved quite a bit and in the process it seems that something that is near and dear to me is always thrown away in my quest to move as little as possible.  Unfortunately, over the years this has included quite a bit of my military items.  Everything from uniforms to pictures, to dog tags have some how found themselves in the old trash bin.

I was thinking the other day about how I would like to leave my son, and prayerfully, future grandchildren, something from my days in the military so I started Googling to see if there was a site that could replace at least some of those items.  Imagine my surprise when I came across this website, https://www.usamilitarymedals.com/.  You can get so much off of this site to help you replace some of the things you've lost.  They have dog tags, ribbons, medals, uniforms, and other service specific gear.

I ordered my dog tags and my ribbons a couple of days ago and they are already on the way.  I was so glad to find this site because I was really bummed out about not having anything left.  If only they could replace my photos I'd really be excited.  I wonder if there is a site that can send me a copy of my boot camp photo.  If anyone knows of a site that does this please let me know.  I'd love to get a copy of it.

Anywhoo, I've got to get back to the job I'm being paid for.  I hope this helps someone out there.  If you're active duty and reading this you can just get your items replaced by the military.

As always, thank you for your support.

TTYL - Be blessed.

APPRENTICESHIPS & YOU!!

I'm so sorry I've been away for a few days.  I have been so busy trying to get things together for so many great events that I'm coordinating at work.  I told you a few days ago that I was going to share information with you about apprenticeships.  I know a lot of people are looking for information on how to get their claims approved but I also want to share ways for you to be able to earn a living so that you won't be dependent on monies from your claims.

As some of you may know apprenticeships were more popular in the North than they were in the South and years ago were used to successfully place individuals into good paying, secure employment.  Well they are on the rise again and I promise you there is one out there that can fit your needs.  If not, then I and your local Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA) office can work with an employer to create one.

The great thing about apprenticeships is that you can earn money while your learn and incur no student loan debt.  Most apprenticeships are administered through unions and will pay your tuition for you or you can get assistance through your WIOA office.  Either way you have the opportunity to earn great money, while becoming a skilled craftsman and at the end of the apprenticeship you will receive a nationally recognized certification.  So if you are in one area and decide for whatever reason you want to move to another city or state you can take your certification with you.

Another great thing about apprenticeships is that many of them line up with the skills you may have received in the military.  As I said above I've been working on a lot of events lately, but one of them is a Building Trades Day.  I am working with the local North America's Building Trades Unions office in our area.  This event will be held in Griffin, GA at Southern Crescent Technical College, on January 25, 2017, from 10:00am - 2:00pm.  We will have representatives from the Operating Engineers, Carpenters & Joiners, Iron Workers, Laborers' International, Teamsters, Cement Masons, Bricklayers, Electrical Workers, Elevator Constructors, Heat & Frost Insulators, Painters, Boilermakers, Roofers, Sheet Metal/Air/Rail & Transportation, and Plumbing & Pipefitting Unions.  So if you are in the area please come by.

These are also great options for your children and other relatives.  This is a way to get them in a well-paying job without incurring any student loan debt.  My advice is to get your certification and then if you choose to go into managment there is always the opportunity to go back and earn a traditional degree.  Many people believe that there aren't a lot of jobs our there but there are.  The problem is that they don't realize that some jobs will never come back and they have to be open to moving in another direction in their career.  I get jobs from companies everyday that are having trouble filling their positions.

If you want to learn more about apprenticeships please follow this link - https://www.dol.gov/featured/apprenticeship.

As always, thank you for your support.

Be blessed - TTYL.

GET THAT PAPER!!! - It's Never Too Late

Sorry to those of you who thought I was talking about getting or upping your disability rating.  Today I really want to focus on getting a certification or degree and which one may be better for you.

Coming from the military we have such a varied skill set and for many it's very hard to determine what civilian careers your skills will transfer too.  There is a great site "http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/skills-translator/" that will help you do just that.  It will also help you to do your research to determine what degrees or certifications are also needed once you have translated your skills.

I currently work for an organization that administers the Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (2014-WIOA).  Under this act we are given monies to assist individuals with becoming employed through training and retraining.  We also offer job search assistance.  Another program we offer is On-the-Job training.  Under this program we reimuburse an employer a portion of a participants salary.  This is done over a specified period of time that is determined by the employer and the agency administering the funds.  This is definitely a way to make someone more enticing to an employer.

And contrary to popular belief there are tons of jobs out there.  The problem is that there aren't enough people with the skills necessary to do these jobs.  In my area, and across the United States, there is a great shortage of mechanical engineers and mechanical maintenance techs.  This reaches across all manufacturers, from automotive to bakeries.  They are all having issues finding someone to repair and maintain their machines.

It's kind of ironic that I ended up in the field that I'm in because I am a great advocate of education, whether it be technical or degreed.  I actually started school some years back because I wanted a low-interest loan and a student loan was my best option.  Now abut 12-years later I have an Associates, a Bachelors, and a Masters degree.  Imagine my surprise when I found out I actually liked school.  And don't ever think it's to late.  Just know that I wasn't a spring chicken anymore when I went back. :-)

Even though I chose the more traditional route, please understand that there are some great, well-paying jobs that can be found by obtaining a technical certificate, or by entering into an apprenticeship program.  The great thing about apprenticeship programs is that you usually get paid while you work.  I'm mentioning them briefly here but I will give you more info on these tomorrow.  They are a great way to take your military training to another level, while still earning a great wage in the process.  Also, under WIOA veterans are given priority of service so I encourage you to take advantage of this no cost you program if you are having trouble finding employment.

As always, thank you for your support!!

TTYL - Be blessed!!

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?!! Understanding Veteran Acronyms

If you are anything like me you have had a bit of trouble understanding what some of the acronyms mean that are used by our fellow vets.  In order to help you out I’ve compiled a list of the ones that I’ve seen.  If you know of any others or would like to elaborate on the ones I’ve provided please feel free to do so.

As always, thank you for your support.

TTLY – Be blessed.

VA – The Department of Veterans Affairs - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is responsible for providing vital services to America’s veterans. VA provides health care services, benefits programs and access to national cemeteries to former military personnel and their dependents. The department carries out its duties through three main administrative divisions: Veterans Benefits Administration; Veterans Health Administration; and National Cemetery Administration.

IU – Individual Unemployability - IU is a part of VA's disability compensation program that allows VA to pay certain Veterans compensation at the 100% rate, even though VA has not rated their service-connected disabilities at the 100% level.

DBQ – Disability Benefits Questionnaire - DBQs can help speed the processing of compensation and pension claims. DBQs allow Veterans and Servicemembers to have more control over the disability claims process by giving them the option of completing an examination with their own healthcare providers instead of at a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facility.

C&P Exam – Compensation and Pension Exam- If you've filed a claim with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for disability compensation or pension benefits, VA may ask you to go to an examination as part of the claim process.

BVA - The Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA or Board) - The administrative agency within the VA where veterans may appeal their claim after all appeals have been exhausted at the Regional Office level. The Board is part of the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA or VA).

RBO (RO) – Regional Benefit Office – The local office that will handle your benefits claim.

PTSD - PostTraumatic Stress Disorder -  Is a mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event, like combat, a natural disaster, a car accident, or sexual assault.

SOC - Statement of the Case - Is an explanation of the decision made on the appellant’s case.

An SOC provides the appellant with a complete understanding of the decision so the appellant can prepare an effective substantive appeal with specific allegations of errors of fact or law.

DAV - The Disabled American Veterans - Is an organization chartered by the United States Congress for disabled military veterans of the United States Armed Forces that helps them and their families through various means.

SCD – Service Computation Date or Service Connected Disability

TBI – Traumatic Brain Injury

CRSC – Combat Related Special Compensation - CRSC is a monthly entitlement that allows eligible military retirees to recover some or all of their retired pay that was offset by their Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation.

VSO – Veterans Service Officer or Veterans Service Organization – Provide assistance to veterans when filing their claims.

RBPS - Rules-Based Processing System - In order to shorten the amount of time it takes to add a dependent to a Veteran’s award, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) developed the RBPS, which automatically processes claims with minimal user involvement.

SECOND OPINIONS - Should I Pay to Get One or Not?

Hello and Happy New Year to you all.  I pray that you had a wonderful New Year and that you start the year with joy and happiness.

Today I would like to talk about whether it is cost effective to get a second opinion on your DBQ.  I was told by a rater that it would be good to locate a non-military affiliated doctor to do an assessment of my back and to fill out a DBQ for my.  I guess I'm pretty naive because I really didn't think this was going to be a problem, but all the doctors I called said they didn't perform this type of service.

I kept digging and I located one office who did.  I was told to send them an email and this was the response I received:

"Veterans are scheduled for an initial consult appointment with either Dr. Kyle Mitchell or Dr. Christopher Parman. This consultation appointment is not billable to insurance companies and the fee is currently set at $350 that is due at time of service.

COPIES of complete STR (service treatment records), DD214 Form(s), previous decision rating letters (if applicable), VA treatment records (if applicable), and civilian treatment records (if applicable), are required at this appointment.      **** PLEASE NOTE THAT CONSULTATION APPOINTMENTS WILL NOT BE SCHEDULED UNTIL COPIES OF ALL RECORDS ARE AVAILABLE****

Doctors will then review your military history and discuss any major illness or injuries incurred while in active duty and determine whether or not you will benefit from the VBAT program. If you decide to proceed with the program, copies of your records are asked to be left at the office in order for claim writers to begin record review and extraction. The initial deposit of $600 will also be due at the time of your consult appointment (totaling $950).

The total fee for the VBAT program, to include the review and extraction of records, developing claim package, and completing the IME (independent medical exam) is $2500. Discount option is available upon request.

If necessary, the physician will then refer you to schedule a new patient appointment through our medical office, Northside Family Practice, in order for them to begin medical treatment on discussed conditions. Otherwise, a "worklist" will be provided to you for guidance on proceeding with the program.

Please note that you will be responsible for providing your medical insurance to the office in the case that you come through and are treated as a patient. You will be exercising your medical benefits when you are medically treated by our providers and this is considered separate from VBAT or fees associated with VBAT program. You will be financially responsible for any co-payments, deductibles and co-insurance that are required by your medical insurance. If your insurance requires for you to list a specific primary care provider, you will also be responsible for ensuring that either Dr. Kyle D. Mitchell or Dr. Christopher L. Parman are listed as your current primary care provider, prior to your initial appointment with Northside Family Practice.

Dr. Mitchell's consults are scheduled from Tuesday to Friday at 1:30pm and Dr. Parman's consults are scheduled on Fridays at 10:30am. Please let me know which provider you would like to schedule with and your next availability and we will do our best to accommodate."

The total cost for this service is $2500,  I don't know, so I'm asking you all, is this a fair price or is this price gouging.  I personally thought it was a bit high,  If you have received assistance from an outside doctor to fill out a DBQ or write a Nexus letter, I would appreciate it if you would share your experience and the cost.  There are many of us out here who could use your expertise.

As always, thank you for your support.

TTYL - Be blessed!!!