TO ALL READERS,

I have been working as a Veteran's Advocate since 1998 and I have found several problems. There are problems on both sides of the equation and each side has to have a translator in order to talk with the other.

The VA Regional Office is a bunch of paper handlers and their interpersonal skills are lacking until (THE / A) Veteran establishes communication with them. Their rules have the Veteran frustrated due to the fact that every time the Vet goes in he speaks to someone new, and being human the someone new filters different information from what is said. We all do it, but when the Veteran is trying to get help, IT IS AN IMPENATRABLE WALL. Therefore the Vet becomes frustrated and departs.

The VA Hospital is full of Doctors who know nothing of the requirements of the VA Regional Office and they also know nothing of the problems that are faced by the Veteran. Veterans ARE NOT NORMAL PEOPLE, they see issues in either black or white, there are no shades of gray. The doctors listen but they don't understand the pain, and they are so afraid of being attacked that they do not do what should be done in many cases. If they feel threatened, they hide behind the WHITE WALL OF SILENCE that the doctors build and the Veterans words are unable to penetrate that wall, therefore the Veteran becomes a LAB RAT that they treat by throwing medication at him to placate the Veteran.

NOTE: A recommendation to the veteran to open communication with the doctor would be to write down all of your problems, put a number on each problem and have the doctor deal with you on a problem by problem basis. This forces the doctor to deal with ALL OF THE PROBLEMS, because your numbered list of problems becomes an OFFICIAL DOCUMENT once it is placed in the hands of the doctor (PS - be sure to keep a copy for yourself). It also prevents the Veteran (who, many times, is afraid of the system and the doctors) from lowering his head and saying nothing or not admiting to any problems. The doctors cant read your mind and they cant treat what they don't know about. They are not gods, they are human and you have to pass them information in order for them to get their job done.

Many Veterans are afraid of the paperwork and all of the ritual "BS" that they see at the DVA (Department of Veterans Affairs) therefore it is best to have a translator on your side, an advocate like myself, the DAV (Disabled American Veterans), the MOPH (Military Order of the Purple Heart), the AMVETS (AMerican VETeranS), or some other Veterans Support Organizations. One has to realize though that there are limitations to the Organizational types of translators though. The organizations have to follow procedures but they do give you a single point of contact for you to talk to so you only have to tell your story to that person. The Veterans Advocates are hard to find and they are your the biggest assett, but their value and capability is in their personal knowledge of the Governmental Regulations, who they have as contacts, and how much intestinal fortitude they have.
A big benefit of the Veterans Advocate is that HE IS A VETERAN and you can talk to him, because he has been there and he knows a lot about you because he is your brother. The Veterans Advocate can tell the story from your perspective and using many of your words. He can generally work through your emotions and tell the story from a position outside of your emotions. He can explain your emotions without becoming emotional which causes intended doctor or government worker to hear the story without evoking their emotions.

There are three distinct intities that have to be delt with when claiming benefits.
1. The VA Regional Office thinks that they are the only reason in the world for your existance, and they need to have everything fed to them with a silver spoon otherwise, you ain't goin Nowhere. Get an advocate or an organization to support you here.
2. The Compensation and Pension Exam is a part of the hospital, but they think that they are a department on their own and they are the reason that you will get your benefits. *** You have to be careful here, you only see these people once and their first impression of you and your condition is what they will pass forward. You can't carry notes here, they won't take em. Get a Veterans Advocate to prep you before you go.
3. The Hospital, self explanatory, but you have to insure that your medical records make it from the hospital (refered to as documentation in support of your claim) to the RO.
All three of these parts are separate and you cannot leave out any of the steps. Learn what to do from other veterans, or better yet an Advocate, it will help.
A good Translator in your corner will be able to tell you this and he will be able to teach you how to talk or communicate with the idiots on the other side of the table. Things get done quicker with a good tranlator or Veterans Advocate. Good part about the Advocate is he ain't gonna cost you nothin, if he charges you cash he aint a good Advocate.

Dave