1-stop-shop for Veteran benefits: CivDivonline.com Apologize for the background noise. We are stuffed inside a hotel room… - Clay

It pisses me off as a disabled Veteran that it’s easier for someone to get food stamps who hasn’t served their country than it is for a Veteran to get their due benefits.

I hate to tell you this but it means absolutely nothing Nobody at the VA is going to face any repercussions

They give themselves bonuses while many of us suffer with no compensation and get denied over and over. This guy needs an attitude adjustment

Veterans with PTSD have enough stress on daily basis without dealing with the VA….the VA in most cases with making it that more difficult with veterans trying to get necessary help intensifies their stress that even more and veterans end up giving up. I certainly have been in that boat quite a few times.

I remember being told that if I said anything about my mental health issues at my discharge exam that I would be committed and would not be able to get out. So I kept my mouth shut.

The question that was not asked is, "If these people are not the problem, what is the solution?" The Secretary should have a plan.

These people need to be held accountable!! Hope what I am going to say is not triggering...I have had a V.A. doc say that a suicide attempt with a fire arm is not considered an attempt until some one pulls the trigger....who with a conscious and morals would honestly want to let anyone get to that point in life!!!

All honorably discharged veterans should get E-1 base pay for life or their disability rating, whichever is higher. All 100 percent P&T should automatically get SSDI

Congress just grandstands to see how high they can trend. Words are just that, where is the legislation to fix it? Nowhere to be found. I started my first enlistment under Reagan, I am still waiting for it.

I agree with you 100%. Suicide is a very very complex medical condition and should be addressed the best it can before the member is discharged from service. However, after living through multiple teammates, family and friends take their lives throughout the SOF community of interest my gut take away tells me you will never see the silent guilt/shame that hides within us and you will never see it coming in this community. Pride and honor kills.

they stay at VA because they cannot get sued for medical malpractice.

We’re not succeeding with them. Conversation ends right there and he has to realize major changes need to be made.

After decades of avoiding all aspects of the mental health industry (for various reasons), I recently recognized that I've needed help for that entire time. Yesterday (Monday), I had my first MH appointment to assess my situational needs. After agreeing with my need and determining that I wasn't currently suicidal, even with prior attempts, I was told that the earliest that they could schedule my next appointment would be 3 to 4 months from now and that they'd get back with me at a later time to schedule it. Not a good start VA... Not a good start.

They need to stop taking money dollar for dollar for percentages up to 50%. from veterans retirement pay.......

Congress is sick of the VA! 😡 They hate that it exists.

This is what they do. They have been doing this for years. This type care was happening in 1979, 1978, 1980.

They should post their performance appraisals and their award justification.

Hell, I remember my discharge exam. It was a joke. Mostly of my own making because I was so glad to be going home. Mental Health problems are sinister because we don't know what we don't know. More can and must be done.

I have been a disabled veteran for 30 years. Prior to returning from Desert Storm in 1991, my father had been a disabled Vietnam veteran for 20 years. During the 50 year timeframe I speak of, the VA has engaged in open, unrestricted warfare against veterans. If you are a veteran, I want you to read what I type here very, very carefully. Everything the VA does, it does with the full approval and support of congress. Ignore the Dog & Pony Show and all the hot air being blown around. Do not, under any circumstance, assume our elected officials have, or have ever had in our lifetimes, any intention of fulfilling the promises made to veterans. Congress has the power of funding, investigation, and overhaul as regarding the VA. If you doubt this, simply look at what Biden did soon after he was installed. He forced the VA to add a multitude of new conditions to the presumptive list. What does this prove? It proves that, when politicians want the VA to get something done, they can force the VA to get something done. To reiterate, and clarify for finality, all the misery and betrayal veterans suffer through at the hands of the VA, is purely and entirely intentional. They want us dead. Period. If you doubt this, you are clearly not paying attention. On a good note, congress and the VA have brutalized veterans so badly, for so long, that young people are simply refusing to sign up to serve. This is a good thing. Any government that actively betrays it's own troops is not a government that deserves our support.

Suicidal soldiers become suicidal veterans. The military needs to give soldiers the proper treatment and diagnosis before throwing them out to fend for themselves. Going in to Behavioral Health to ask for therapy was the worst thing I ever did in my entire life. One of my abusive therapists, Major Samuel Ochinang was actually awarded an "iron majors medal" in 2023 despite nearly driving me to suicide in 2021. Sadly the worst people are always the ones who try to make themselves look good in front of outsiders and get rewarded for it. Meanwhile their patients suffer with PTSD as a result of their lack of care.

I disagree with the notion they could make more $$$ else where. If so, they would of pursued it.. why would they settle for less along with Bureucratic stress?

Its crazy how we have the evidence to get a rating or an increase but we are steadily denied....the VBA must be fixed as well...when i can't work but i can't get disabilities connected it definitely drives me to having bad thoughts about life.

They could not go outside the VA and make 3x the $. They'd be unemployed. Private industry does not reward failure.

The real # is double what he’s telling us!

Maybe have those “highly educated sought after psychs” have some mandatory attendance to veteran funerals weekly to see their lack of progress first hand. They will either quit or find a way to improve.

If they are doing it for the love of Veterans then they really miss the boat

Never forget.. YEA RIGHT!

VA needs an overhaul. Needs more veterans working there and not any politicians or lawyers.

Just wonder if the pact act money was used to give them bonus money instead of giving it to the veterans who were eligible for the pact act claim MONEY. This just make me upset they get it and nothing is done to help our veterans.

Deep topic. Our brother and sister Veterans deserve the care. If your not part of the solution., your part of the prpblem!

they give senior people big bonuses and fight and deny good VA calims everyday

This is a typical happening within all government, don’t get rid of the bad, give them a bonus, and promote and or pass them of to others

Congress? We’re all tired of their shit!

Hey Clay, “ Don’t Concern yourself with the Noise, We all Families, Your Babies are Precious they are trying to do the best they can. Keep up your Excellent Work on these Videos, Appreciate Them!❤

The VA sent me their Decision Letter this week They denied all 3 claims The Letter seems to contradict itself: The VA says that they concede I have disabilities, they concede that I was exposed to radiation and they concede that I participated in a TERA (Toxic Exposure Risk Activity) while performing my job as a Minuteman ICBM Missile System analyst Technician ( EMT Team Member ) in the Air Force. But then they also say that the disabilities that they concede that I have were not caused by those activities that they concede I was exposed to in the Air Force. Sounds like Government double speak ( talking out of both sides of their mouth. I will be appealing

I personally knew eight people who committed suicide that served.

Why the hell is that kid kept in the room 😂

How about those bonuses go to the vetrans who need help... yet i bet it wont be a thought.

The VA secretary said his top people stay for the benefit of the vets…..That’s pure B S. They stay because on the outside world, they would have to answer for their shortcomings and probably be given their walking papers. Where else can you work half heartedly and get large bonuses?

Then our MH services would not failing or covering up the problems across the board, CONTINUOUSLY YEAR AFTER YEAR;! PERIOD!

My biggest problem with the VA is not only the huge mountans they put in front of completing anything, but the not answering phone calls, or returning phone calls. As someone that has PTSD, I tend to feel like I am running in circles to move forward with my benefits. I get frustrated, and wind up giving up. I am already 100% p&t, but the VA system is just so confusing to me, with all these websites, and logging in, and then being logged out. Just exhausting, by the time I find what I am looking for, I can't remember how I got there. Just my two cents, but I agree, the whole system is so jacked. There really need to develop a whole new system from scratch, instead of continuing to build off a broken one.

The bonus thing, is all about the games played by the management

The VA suicide prevention team is always been a failure. The crisis hotline hangs up on Veterans. How do I know because I use the crisis hotline one Saturday I was hung up on nine times and then the 10th time I called back I recognize the ladies voice and I said didn’t you hang up on me earlier and she said yes, I did .

FOIA requests: Veteran Affairs Secretary's involvements in the prevention of "insert descriptions of s****** incident and approval of bonuses". Except for a tax assessment only form I come across government has to get a warm body to sign. Ask your Congressman to publish results in Congressional record. Peace over.

As a veteran it really felt good to see and hear someone go to bat for all of us at that level I know that with the V.A everything takes time to change but it’s a huge step in the right direction 👍👍

The VA has a bonus system it is set up for senior management to get bonuses regardless of the merit. I work for a company that has massive government contracts and the same bonus system.

I’ve had some sort of depression off and off the last 30 push years. The VA has failed period.

Clay the physicians do not ever have all the information when the veterans show up to the VA. But in some cases they will not have all the information because the veteran may not have the awareness yet to put the words to the root of what happened. When military is the root this covered up unless outside sources intervene but they do not even have all the root information either. It takes a long time to actually work through serious mental health issues.

I disagree with they can leave and make 3X more. Those guys are SES. Their overall package is an easy $300-400k per year. Then when they retire they keep all of their pay not just a percentage and all their benefits.

I can’t help but wonder whether employed by the VA or not comes down to individual choice. Do the right thing or not. Over the years I’ve came across psychologists who went above and beyond and those who did the minimum requirements for their position. It boils down to individual choices. I’m not going to blame the VA but instead that individual who did me wrong.

Wow and ouch.

Clay it is not about them. Clay it is the system.

I hope my suggestion will get to the secretary, Mr. McDonough. It would be nice if veterans could go to a; Patience First, Urgent Care, Community Care or a Doctor that he/ she chooses. It seems like the deck is stacked against veterans walking through the door. I think this way would save time and money. The Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) could run though a database and tell the rater within minutes whether a veteran claims are denied or granted and it would be coming from a neutral party. Optum Serve/LHI gets paid from the VA and then they subcontract to a Nurse Practitioner, who then gets paid. I have one more thing to add, how much is a C&P exam? I’m curious as to how much money is being spent weekly, monthly and yearly, because someone is getting rich off C&P exams whether it’s Optum Serve/LHI or Nurse Practitioner or both. Sincerely yours,

Things aren't so black & white. Is the VA failing or are they doing as best they can with the budget they have? What type of doctors, nurses, psychologists do you think the VA can staff when you are paying them 50% less than what they can make outside government healthcare? I cant tell you how many doctors and nurses I've met in DOD/VA healthcare that can't even speak English. Sure, they understand English, hence passing English tests, but how well do you think communication is hindered in healthcare when you can't properly speak with your providers? Do mechanics buy tools from Walmart or Snap-on? You get what you pay for!

Government employees get a bonus for doing a good job, when does the veteran get a bonus for being good at being disabled?

I got fired from the VA’s Compensated Work Therapy Program in 2021 after I got assaulted by an actual VA employee with a cup of water to the face while I was meditating in my car during a therapy session that I already had permission & court ordered to attend! I reported this to my Occupational Therapist & they let me go due to attendance issues. But the attendance was calculated from the whole year & a half I worked in the program! The VA covered it all up & I ended up attempting suicide a year later. The same employee that assaulted me, she got to retire & live a lavish life. Screw the VA! My best friend who was on the same grounds crew just killed himself(thats 6 soldiers now that I personally knew or served with) two months ago & the mid manager in the same department killed himself & his wife last year! Does anyone care? No!!

Clay, this is the most powerful video you’ve made. You should try to interview the Honorable Luttrell.

I remember in 1953, my sister-in-law`s brother came back from Korea with PTSD and other illness and was denied help from the VA and ended up shooting himself and the guys coming home from NAM with PTSD and A.O. , even thou it wasn`t called PTSD back than,( Soldiers Heart or Shell Shook ) no help because Government didn`t reconize it back than. That is the Government way of getting rid of the evidence.

You're right but when national policy is to advanced economic interests through war Utilizing poorly informed young troops often misleading them that the war somehow defense the Homeland so somehow there is disillusionment when they find out war after war was corrupt and unnecessary. It was often only necessary from the point of view of capitalist interests. The VA healthcare service does not stand the same scrutiny as civilian hospitals . And probably wouldn't score well. Neglect and disrespect are the common experience at VA hospitals. Most of the Congress doesn't care And that's not likely to change until we get national healthcare like most other developed countries. very little immigration from First world countries to the US because the national goal is to keep 80% exploited and poor. I guess that's fascism not freedom. Your column is the best of the bunch on the VA healthcare service.

Horrable Healthcare system ripe with nepotisum,cronieisum, and an I don't care additude come back in the next 4 months veteran and tell us about your problems mentality. We may just sending you to the furthest V.A. facility available to tell you the same thing because we can't treat you here.

one would hope the director of the VA would be an MD a doctor who also has experience in administration McDonut is part of the Obama cabal and that is how he got the job and he did not serve in military. Bonuses handed out and I have been denied losing a lung my prostate and bladder and now have small lesion in a kidney with TERA affirmed at all my duty stations and records from private doctors from the 60s and 70s, paper records, are gone

suicide rate is about 44 a day, not 22.

The VA needs oversight and more oversight. Also there is not enough money given to pay the employees. Also they do not spend the money the way they are suppose to

Yea 🤝 absolutely. 🎯 SF.

I think no modern med can save us from ptsd. Not mattery what we do, helplesses and demons runs in our head and soul and a broken heart .

It's easy to point fingers and assign blame, but after the blame is assigned, what do you do about actually fixing the problem?

More smoke and mirrors.

Agreed DOD owns a huge chunk of this.

Maybe if they gave us the help we needed and gave us the compensation we deserved we wouldn't have 22 a day but ya know what do I know

If they made the whole system less combative they might have more success in reducing the numbers.

Ironically today markus lutrel (misspelled on purpose) had his va claim reopened. And decreased

Thank you for sharing this with us and very much appreciate your objective view on this complex matter.

Wouldn’t it be interesting to see the statistical correlation between total suicides and the level of pure anguish / defeat propagated by theVA process .. I know it has had an effect on us all. Who out there has a lifetime to spend wading through this bureaucracy ?

I didn't watch this particular video but I did watch the entire Committee Meeting. Rep Luttrell did give the Secretary quite a grilling. He did also, however, pay a nice compliment to the Secretary. His conclusion was that Mr. McDonough is just not the person for that job and suggested he resign. Veterans' suicides have been on the rise after a period of decreasing numbers. I feel the team, which I'll say is hard to put together, for suicide prevention failed. Secretary McDonough and Representative Luttrell just really seen to disagree on that point. The Oversight Committee's primary concern is the Critical Skills Incentive payments, without following the Legislative policy and laws. This was pointed out by the IG's report and that was the focus of the Representative. Why, with suicides on the rise, did these executives in that team specifically receive these incentives? A question the Secretary attempted to answer by saying that these people could easily leave the VA and get jobs paying 3 times more than what the VA pays. The one reason they have been staying is their own concern for Veterans. But when will that concern stop being a priority and family becomes a replacement? When will that psychiatrist or psychologist decide that a bigger salary is needed and leave? That is primarily what the CSI is there to try to prevent. My feeling is that the Secretary has a point to be listened to, but Mr. Luttrell also has a strong point about these people doing the jobs we need them to do. The numbers seem to indicate they are not. Another point, which the Secretary admitted to, was the lack of the number of military personnel being separated from the service and the number of suicides attributed to that group. I think that this Secretary is "in over his head" and is drowning. From what I saw and heard, he is a political appointee for the purpose of allowing him to continue in government service.

If you have not served in combat, you have no idea--there are no words for what combat Veterans jhave been thru.

A big part of the suicide issue comes from people getting out and losing their purpose/mission.

The VA cannot control suicide - period. They cannot also force a Veteran to stay in the service if a problem is identified. While veterans are 1.5% more likely to die by suicide,the overall numbers are similar to those of the public at large. We all have unique coping mechanisms and no one, two, three, nor a dozen different approaches will solve this. If a person wishes to end their life they are going to - regardless of the prevention efforts around them. Like anything in life, to be open to treatment, help, etc. one has to be willing to entertain options available to them.

Morgan is a navy seal veteran and the identical twin of Marcus. Red blooded Texan 💪🏻

Now with Marcus and even Pocahontas bringing this stuff up maybe we will get some help with the VA

Someone call DHR!!! There’s a kid being gagged in there!!!

It's very simple; Congress needs to reduce the VA Sectary's, Pay along with others. To show them how it feels to get nothing. That we were PROMISED..

Thank you Marcus for saying something

Hey Clay, I have an appeal on file for TDIU since 2021. I do not see it online anywhere. When I called the VA they don’t see it. But the DAV who is my rep for the claim says it’s there and I’m just waiting my turn. Have you heard of waits this long? Unable to work and only rated 80% 😞

What I can say seeing Veterans Doctors and trying to commit suicide as a disabled veteran I tried seeking help and these doctors can’t make it as a private practitioner but they get a VA job to pick up the experience when they don’t know their job and honestly they suck because I’ve been deployed numerous times during the gulf war and today I’m still seeking help

6500 souls too many

My last Va PCP and Psychiatrist always canceled ir rescheduled my appointment it last 2 years without seeing my PCP and Psychiatrist. I decided to get a new PCP and new Psychiatrist my mental health issues way getting worse.

VA upped the amount of SC veterans and decreased the amount of providers. I’m a SC combat vet who works for this place. They have no clue and they absolutely will not listen to veteran staff. They hate us!

I laughed when my first VA check was exactly the same amount that my 24 year service retirement went down.

Election year outrage

federal tort law makes it almost impossible to sue.

I wish Clay would stop messing around with his hands loll.

When do the new MH rating criteria take over?

Get'em Marcus

Thanks!

I dunno. Yes, the VA has areas to work on, but the suicide rates across the nation have increased in general. There has been a national shortage of psychiatrist too. I work in a mental health clinic.. and we do get people in fairly quickly, but a lot of the wait times for other agencies is 6 months or more and a lot are not taking new patients/ clients.

Congress is sick of the VA and so am I and other Veterans🖕🖕🖕

Clay, the VA cannot pay physicians a salary higher than what the president makes. So, yes the VA is underpaying them but it’s in the rules. I agree 100% these doctors could go into the private sector and make more money.

VA and there exit Ramps

You can't expect the VA to provide psychiatric care at any better of a rating than what is available in the civilian health care system. And our national rating in psychiatric health care is an unbelievable and dismal failure. The man up on that podium drilling the secretary about salaries is a grandstanding politician. He knows very well that the VA can't compete in the care quality of private practice salaries with the inadequate funding "HE" is providing to them. If you want civilian class services for veterans they need to pay for it. Him and his cronies in DC don't want to pay and then want to blame. Their typical dog and pony show. And they don't care how many vets die in the process. Why do you think the Pact Act took 35 years to be implemented. They thought old devil dogs like me would be dead by now. The solid truth is politicians would rather give corporate welfare, send billions to Ukraine, and fund Israels war than take care of us Vets. Because that's what their lobbyists pay them to do. Vet's should be allowed to use the Health Care Act for free. Simple fix. Have the war machine fund veteran health care under the Health Care Act. The people who made billions from the weapons of war should pay for the negative results of their products. But that means their political campaign coffers would suffer? (An $885 bil industry that gives politicians $2.5 bil in lobbyist donations) Think of what the VA could do for vets with $2.5 billion? Hence ... screw the vet, blame the people tasked to help them, and go for the campaign money. Politicians having been screwing vets while waving a flag and a tear in their eye for a very long time. At least as long as my 71 years have seen. Don't be fooled by them. USMC Vet. Also read this if you want to see who's eating up the VA's budget and bleeding the pact act for all they're worth: www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/04/04/donald-trump-veterans-affairs-jeff-miller-226483/