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 VA Clinic Experience (currently 1 views) |
| Jim Armstrong |
| Posted on: October 18th, 2013, 4:50pm |
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Posts: 203
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I have been going to VA clinics for 10 years or so.
Some appointments have been in the small local one (Ukiah, CA), some in a larger one (Santa Rosa, a little over an hour off) and some in the big one (San Francisco, about three hours away).
These encounters, maybe 30 or so, have never ONCE been accomplished without some screwup, some minor, some major and a few really scary.
Along the way I have had too many primary care doctors to count.
This week I called the local clinic to find out which of always varying flu shot scenarios they were using this year.
"Come on in, no appointmnet necessary, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 1 to 4."
Got there at 2:45, checked in and was told I would be called.
There was one other vet in the lobby and at least seven staff going this way and that with no purpose I could tell.
There is a sign that says to check back if not seen in 15 minutes.
At 3:05, I told the guy who had checked me in that I was out of time and had to go.
"Oh no," he says, "maybe they are ready for you. What is your name and last four." I was the only guy there by then and he had been watching me walk back and forth the whole time.
After scurrying to the back of the clinic (protected by a security pad thing), he comes back in two or three minutes and reluctantly tells me I can go.
So I am off, behind in my afternoon schedule, with no flu shot and the feeling they probably put down that I got one.
I feel like Charley Brown when Lucy pulls the football back every year. I should have known it would not go smoothly.
The main reason they always screw up (and this one is very minor) is that the staff are there for themselves, not for the veterans they are supposed to serve.
Anyone else get that feeling? |
Jim Armstrong
C, HQ, A 2/1
1965-1967 |
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| Jim Gray |
| Posted on: October 18th, 2013, 9:28pm |
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Big Member Sept 67-Sept 68 D 3/21 and HHC
Posts: 87
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Jim i go to one in Bradenton Fl or Bay Pines Va Hospital in St Petersburg Fl.
Both do extremely well. Never a problem at all. Most of the empolyees are retired vets |
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Reply: 1 - 33 |
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| Bob Kotch |
| Posted on: November 7th, 2013, 7:32pm |
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Posts: 187
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| Jim, my experience, overall, has been pretty good. I go to the local clinic in Sarasota and the workers are vol. and are mostly retired vets. They try to get you where you are supposed to be and out in a timely manner. They recently installed a system where they swipe your VA card at check in and it pulls up your appointment schedule so they know exactly who you are to see and when. It seems to help. |
HHC, MP Plt. 9-67 through 9-68 |
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Reply: 2 - 33 |
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| Frenchie |
| Posted on: November 14th, 2013, 10:36pm |
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Maximum Member2 LIke to hear from anyone that was Co C 4/31
Posts: 407
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Didnt want to start a new thread since it is related..
I usually am treated very well at the VA Hospital ... however, the audiologist could use some counseling about his "ATTITUDE"...im guessing he has had bad experiences with some of our guys...and he is a jerk most of the time when i see him but wth i can tolerate him for the visit.
Few months ago i filed a claim for Diabetes II...im doing well without medication...i lost about 30 pounds and the doctor got so excited she called me at home....i guessing she was shocked....i usually get my "we are working on your claim" letter monthly(?)....last week i got a letter to show up at the VA Hosp for today at 8 30am and if i didnt show up processing of my claim would be stopped.......and hey b ring your presciption meds and your over the counter meds....so i get down there with a 2 pound bag of meds and its that heavy because my over the counter meds are from Costco...BIG ...show up at the office , they send me back down for blood and urine tests...i go back up....doctors is there promptly...never looked at my bag...they never do but i know the day i dont take them theyll ask about them!!!! so i take them each time like a good boy..
Doctor sees me and states....Ok, you have Diabetes II and you can go now"".........thats it? yup...i guess the VA wanted someone to "verify" my diabetes....that was IT...no questions, just blood and urine samples taken/given..and the doctor making his statement. The doctor also was impressed by my test number and improvment...im beginning to think they dont see improvments often enough....
in a few days ill probably look up my test results on the computer and in a few weeks/months theyll tell me my claim was approved....
Life is great
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Frenchie - Gilbert E Manasselian
C 4/31 Feb 68 to Feb 69
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| Revision History (1 edits) |
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Reply: 3 - 33 |
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| Jim Gray |
| Posted on: November 14th, 2013, 11:34pm |
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Big Member Sept 67-Sept 68 D 3/21 and HHC
Posts: 87
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Well Frenchie, I guess that is good news. Better news would be;
It's a miracle. You do not have diabetes II |
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Reply: 4 - 33 |
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| Frenchie |
| Posted on: November 15th, 2013, 1:05am |
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Maximum Member2 LIke to hear from anyone that was Co C 4/31
Posts: 407
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| No kiddin.....if you have diabetes II eating is dull....NO bread and bagels etc, NO ice cream, NO pasta, NO fast foods, NO pizza ... i forget the rest of the list...but you get the jest of it. Once a week i eat whatever i want....for one meal...not all day. |
Frenchie - Gilbert E Manasselian
C 4/31 Feb 68 to Feb 69
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Reply: 5 - 33 |
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| Bob Kotch |
| Posted on: November 15th, 2013, 8:41pm |
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Posts: 187
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| Frenchie, hopefully your claim will be approved in a couple weeks and not months. The Doc verified it, so it should be granted quickly, you would think. But, we know how VA works! Eating must be dull if you can't have all that good stuff. What the heck is left, salads and fish? Anyway, stick with it! |
HHC, MP Plt. 9-67 through 9-68 |
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Reply: 6 - 33 |
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| Frenchie |
| Posted on: November 17th, 2013, 6:29pm |
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Maximum Member2 LIke to hear from anyone that was Co C 4/31
Posts: 407
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Quoted from Bob Kotch, posted November 15th, 2013, 8:41pm at hereFrenchie, hopefully your claim will be approved in a couple weeks and not months. The Doc verified it, so it should be granted quickly, you would think. But, we know how VA works! Eating must be dull if you can't have all that good stuff. What the heck is left, salads and fish? Anyway, stick with it! |
yea, the age old question is......do we live to eat or do we eat to live :) ???? yea eating is not very exciting nowadays but im used to it....lots of filler like salads and fruit which i always had before all this came up....as far as how long will i get an approval? im sure i will be approved and if i get it before xmas ill be a happy camper but id rather have no diabetes and no compensation (wont be much...10%?)...
now the question is....if i already have a 40% disability and they add 10% for diabetes II , is that going to add up to 50% or will it be less due to fuzzy math by the VA?
They already did the fuzzy math on me...with my PTSD and Hearing loss/Tinnitus
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Frenchie - Gilbert E Manasselian
C 4/31 Feb 68 to Feb 69
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Reply: 7 - 33 |
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| aab3340 |
| Posted on: November 19th, 2013, 3:59am |
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Frenchie
By my calculations if you are at 40% and they give you another 10% , that will give you 50% total (10% of the remaining 60% is 6 which rounds to 10) On the other hand if they give you 20% that will still give you 50% total (20% of the remaining 60% is 12 which rounds to 10). Hope that helps. |
Bob Poznanski
HHC 196th. MP Plt.
1965-1967 |
| Revision History (1 edits) |
| aab3340 - November 19th, 2013, 3:59am | | |
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Reply: 8 - 33 |
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| Frenchie |
| Posted on: November 19th, 2013, 4:11am |
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Maximum Member2 LIke to hear from anyone that was Co C 4/31
Posts: 407
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in looking it up on the internet, i foresee 10% since im not on medication for Diabetes II.
I will be surprised if somehow i get to 50 but i can always hope eh? :)
Thanks Bob.
PS sounds like you have the VA fuzzy math down pretty good.....ill take your numbers:) |
Frenchie - Gilbert E Manasselian
C 4/31 Feb 68 to Feb 69
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Reply: 9 - 33 |
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| Gregory B Peters |
| Posted on: November 29th, 2013, 4:08pm |
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Maximum Member2 B company, 3/21/196th, incountry 07/1966-07/1967
Posts: 173
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| Hi All, I had read somewhere the if you went to the VA hospital with your dd-214 they would do a picture ID for you in order to show at stores and such giving discounts to veterans. So last friday I went to our regional VA center and They don't provide this courtesy unless you have enrolled and found eligible for VA benefits. |
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Reply: 10 - 33 |
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| Jim Armstrong |
| Posted on: November 29th, 2013, 4:25pm |
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Posts: 203
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My local county Veterans Service Office makes up a picture ID on the spot that is accepted at dozens of local businesses for discounts of 10% or more.
I didn't hear anything about eligibility for benefits or any other qualifying criteria.
I have to say I like it!
I am sure that they would share the process with any other county or whatever office to get one going. |
Jim Armstrong
C, HQ, A 2/1
1965-1967 |
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Reply: 11 - 33 |
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| Bob Kotch |
| Posted on: November 30th, 2013, 6:28pm |
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Posts: 187
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| Greg, you should have been issued a VA card with your picture. If you showed them your DD-214 and it shows your Nam service, you are automatically eligible for the card and VA benefits at priority 6. You have to fill out some paper work and then they take your picture and give you the card while you are there. I did it a couple years ago at the Bay Pines VA Center in St. Petersberg. I use my card at Lowe's a lot. Just ask for a military discount and you get an additional 10% off. Give it another try. Good luck! |
HHC, MP Plt. 9-67 through 9-68 |
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Reply: 12 - 33 |
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| Ken McKenzie, C, 4-31 |
| Posted on: December 11th, 2013, 2:09am |
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Posts: 131
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Greg,
Anyone that served in Vietnam is eligible to register with the VA. You are also presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange. You should go to the nearest VA Medical Center or clinic and tell them you want to be put on the Agent Orange Registry and schedule a FREE health exam as part of the Agent Orange screening.
When you register with the VA health system, you will receive a photo ID card. |
Ken McKenzie
C-4/31, 196th LIB, 1965-1967
C-1/5(MECH), 25thID, 1967 |
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| Jim Gray |
| Posted on: February 8th, 2014, 11:34pm |
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Big Member Sept 67-Sept 68 D 3/21 and HHC
Posts: 87
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I went to the Bay Pines VA hospital last month for my annual dermatology appointment. Nothing found. Good for me.
On Friday the 31st of Jan i get a check from the Dept of Treasury for $134. and change. On the check it stated see enclosed letter. All that was there was my name and address. I have no idea why i got it. I now have Medicare. I am wondering is this maybe what Medicare paid? I have never applied for travel because my income exceeds the minimum allowed. Any one have any ideas?
By the way i am not complaining just trying to get an answer |
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Reply: 14 - 33 |
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