I am a vet and I have been waiting for 50 years! They have lied to me, telling me that they were burned up in a fire. Then I was told that my files were transferred to another location. They've run me around and I went to several congressman and all I got for 15 years from the VA was they were working on it. I Finally got an attorney pro bono and have done everything they have requested. It went into a remand and we responded to that. When I called the other day, claims stated that" it was still in the region" and they are not looking at them at this time . This was 4/2019. There is nothing else I can do on my part. I am a 70 yr old female vet and they have never helped me when I needed it. I feel sometimes the reason we have so many suicides is because we feel we've been betrayed by our own government and we lose hope.God help us.

Veterans should serve veterans, there is an understanding between those guys and gals, give VA jobs to veterans who understand the need. I speak as a veteran. Thank all vets and current soldiers, sailors and airmen for your service. God Bless you for what you do.

This is constantly going on still every day. I am a veteran and our waiting time hasn't changed.

whats wrong with our government? take care of the world. but not our vets!

I retired in 2010 and faught 10 years before finally hiring an attorney. One year later finally got my case settled.

As an aside, when I call the VA regarding matters over my now deceased husband's care and the many forms a widow has to complete, I can immediately tell if the person on the other end is a veteran or a civilian. You can hear the sorrow and disgust in their voices. Civilians don't give a damn.

And at the risk of sounding discriminatory I believe that sometimes VA personnel believe they can get away with ignoring claims because the claimants are poor and relatively powerless.

This is a shame how the veterans are treated

My brother-in-law was a Korean vet and he died a horrible death filled with cancer. His wife was and still is in a nursing home with the end stage of dementia. My niece did everything she could to try to get help and got nothing from the VA. Told he didn't qualify for anything so neither is his wife. My husband was 100% disabled from Agent Orange complication and died a month after my brother-in-law. I am going to have to help pay for my sister's care because her veteran husband couldn't get help.

I wish we had a law firm that took care of all this.

I wish people understood how serious and regular these occurrences are. It’s insane.

God dam shame. This is what happened to my father, a Vietnam War veteran, son of a WWII veteran, and grandson of a WWI veteran. I am a gulf war veteran and going through this myself.

Despite what you may hear, nothing has changed.

It's always a mess dealing with the VA. They have the slowest people on this Earth to review cases

Lol. I have in writing that the BVA put my claim (filed in 2012) into financial hardship status back in 2015. Yet I have in writing that if I want my claim to be considered for financial hardship I have to apply; not apply again; I have to apply for financial hardship. My claim, if properly adjudicated, will go back to Aug 2003. This lady thinks $36,000 is bad? Mine is near $360,000. I have my C-File; I have emails between VA employees asking where a lost file is. Yes, they put that into my hands. I have in writing a Dr stating that I didn't seek treatment for back pain between 2003 and 2012, yet on the same disc, I have a record of being in the ER on an Air Force Base near Sacramento, CA in 2006. How does that make sense? These people are crooks, that's all there is to it.

Make copies of EVERYTHING. Never give up. Peace to my brothers and sisters.

To the doctors and staff in those facilities how much do you get paid to deny us service and pretend we are healthy. Or to discredit us. Is it worth it? I hope it is.

This happens throughout VA administration. I myself have experienced this crap with healthcare, pharmacy, education, mental health, and especially with appointment scheduling! This isn't isolated to one region.

I've used the VA for 25 years...and it is getting slower and slower, the care is sloppy, I find the best service is to go right to the ER...you get quick help and it motivates your primary care doctor to help you...good luck to all our vets!

The VA system is still broken. More than 2 years ago I went to the Phoenix VA hospital for a MRI after an agreement that I could have knee replacement. Shortly following the MRI I received a notice that due to problems with my back I could not have knee replacements. VA locally do not do back surgeries but received a paper to see a Neurosurgeon in central Phoenix on March 13, 2017. This surgeon declared that the type of back surgery I needed was beyond the scope of his practice. He promised to write a recommendation and sent this to VA. A couple of weeks later I saw my primary provider at the VA and asked about this recommendation and was told it was not in the VA computer system. I left and made numerous calls to the VA hospital about this but could only reach some switch board somewhere in the USA typically Atlanta or Washington DC. People take messages there but almost never a feedback that your messages are going to the right people creating an impression of a black box with a lot of input lines but only one output line. In October 2017 a new visit to VA with a new primary provider and I asked about the recommendations once again with the reply that it was not yet in the system. Nobody within the VA hospital system cared to investigate lost medical records. I eventually contacted the office of the Neurosurgeon and was informed that the recommendation was mailed out in March and a courtesy copy was mailed to me. I made a lot of copies of this courtesy copy and hand delivered one to the office of my primary provider at the VA. Impossible to reach the doctor in person. No feedback and my many calls to the switch boards went unanswered. I complained again to the switchboard about mistreatment and was told a patient advocate would contact me. A voice mail from somebody claiming to be patient advocate came asking me to call a number with an extension which I did for a month but nobody ever answered the phone. When I told the switchboard about this I was given another extension to the same number but again nobody answered. May 2018 I could no longer walk. In April I tried to use Medicare for a back surgery outside the VA system but was told my MRI was more than one year old and therefore useless. Called in vain to VA leaving messages for a new MRI was like talking to a block wall - no feedback. Eventually a friend noticed my bad situation and contacted an acquaintance at a local TV station and an arrangement was made for me to see a back surgeon with national exposure in Scottsdale. He scheduled me for surgery on June 14 but told me I should have had this surgery 2 years earlier and that I may never walk again. That would have been possible if VA had not lost the recommendation mentioned and communicated instead of operating like a medieval secret dungeon. I am now looking for an attorney to take VA to court since what has happened to me apparently has happened to thousands of other individuals. The Doctors and Nurses are not the problem but the management is.

This is absolutely disgusting. It sickens me.

I was veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, 6 years, honorable discharge. In 2011 I went homeless. I was a 4.0 student and general construction laborer in San Diego, California, passing all general education requirements for acceptance to San Diego State University. The housing market and public college system shutdown in 2011 through out the state of California(I now live in Ridgeville, South Carolina). Through no failure of my own, and because of the college shutdown, I lost access to my GI Bill that I earned through 6 years of sea service (the people of AIG insurance demanded and received raises). I lost my apartment, could only make limited funds by working in the crashing economy of the time. I was literally starving on the streets with no shelter and just a little water here and there. Food, water and shelter are needs for life, or we die. The only VA program that would help me made me attend a Alcoholics Anonymous 12 step / Religious program. I had NO drug convictions, not even a speeding ticket, or misdemeanors. I even served as a federal law enforcement officer while doing narcotics interdictions of off Colombia and Peru (40,000 lbs of cocaine seized). Strangely, in order to receive food, water and shelter, I was forced by a largely federally funded VA program to admit I was a drug addict, and also I had to attend religious meetings (to help with that drug addiction?) for 62.5 hours a week, for a period of 9 months, without being allowed to look for any kind of work or education. I was even tested for drugs prior to entering the program by the facility, and I had no drugs in my system not even marijuana. I was stripped of my computer and cell phone as well and any other form communications equipment. This was all done in accordance to what the facility and AA/NA step programs call the "Caring Loving God". By the way, I am not a lazy homeless person, I work 50 hours (maybe more every week); I run a landscaping company 100 plus degree weather. I feel that I was held back, like many other veterans. I can prove all that I say as well. Can someone get me a lawyer or something. I am now forced to pay taxes to that program that I was in like almost all Americans. My tax dollars and my service to this nation are and were meant fight against state sponsored religion, and in favor of our beloved establishment clause to the 1st Amendment. I have physical records and witnesses for all named things in this writing. They could have let me continue my education that I earned to San Diego State University or look for work (with my cell phone and computer they confiscated). Instead they ruined a good portion of life and violated my rights under the U.S. Constitution that all soldiers promised to defend. I did not even have constitutional rights after leaving the service. This happened and VVSD (Veteran's Village of San Diego).

I got denied all of my VA claims for not showing up at my initial VA screening Dr.'s Appointment. I received the letter telling me what time the appointment was and where I needed to be 2 to 3 days AFTER the day of the appointment and I got denied everything. All of my GI Bill money for college is expended and I have no degree, have no job, cant find any decent paying job. Cant support myself at 29 years of age and still live with my parents.

Here in NY. Please don't take my word for it but look into it. I have emails from treasury and va if you want to see. To my direct knowledge 6 had died here due to this. I can name names too. But I surmount there are far more and the implications and impact are nation wide.

There was also that 1973 fire in St. Louis that destroyed millions of veteran documents. I bet that was done on purpose so the government wouldn't have to pay veterans of ww2, Korea and veitnam.

Happened to me. They could NOT locate my file (all 14 years worth). Thank goodness I had certified copies. I simply distrust the VA. There are good and bad issues. Yet common and evidence knowledge/situation that this is business as usual for systemic corruption. =)

This garbage has been going on for WAY too long! MY father and his 3 brothers fought in the war. THeir father, my grandfather fought in the war. My brother in laws fought in the war. I wonder how the pentagon the government and the world would feel if our vets and current armed forces unionized and went on strike...they certainly deserve it or better yet ...let Congress the Senate The pentagon, especially the pentagon and all of Washington start going to veterans affairs for their future care, loose some of their documents and see what happens....

Also they need to talk about how they constantly deny your claims even if it's in your veteran medical records and if you have a mental health condition it's nearly impossible to obtain those medical records

I live in DC and this is a continued issue! my husband and I are new retired vets and he had a stroke 6 months ago they have made attempts to take our house now when I’m a 100% disabled priority 1 veteran. It’s sick and ridiculous. They don’t care. They just ignore us.

i have been wating for 3 years , ,to hear back from va goverment, there no credibility

So sad that our vets go through this after working so hard and long hours a day

I am one of those Vets that have been ignored. They do all kinds of stuff to me. Like put false stuff in my medical records, switching Drs. on me. Prevent me from seeing my Dr. When I have one. And preventing me from treatment. The been sitting on my paperwork since July for an ability test for employment. So now I the job have been responded and pulled from me through no fault of my own. And my life has been crashing because no job that I needed to get a house and not be a homeless vet. I been fixing my credit and trying to do positive things. And all they did is hurt me and my family.

I got out the military in 2004. Took two years for VA to kick in at 60%. I was bored out the military at 80%. I was supposed to get 100% from VA. It took until 2016 before I got the correct one. 10 years of appeals and fighting the VA. God help my brothers and sisters.

as a disabled veteran and you guys have no idea how bad it is when we get seen at a VA hospital. I've had doctors there ask me what they should do. Another doctor once asked me what medication should she prescribe. You get the impression the vast majority of doctors that are permanent there have the inability to find work anywhere else. The wait times are insane. If you have an appointment in the morning, be prepared to spend the entire day there. Parking at the Michael E Debakey center is nigh impossible. The shortest time it has ever taken to me park was 11 minutes. On average you'll spend 20 to 30 mins. When you walk in to the hospital its like walking in to a different country. And this is just the hospital... don't get me started on the claims department. I offered the local news stations here (Houston) to show them some behind the scenes but no response.

This is so sad that everybody's onset is crying. Even the interviewee is crying I'm about to cry. Wow

we should never forget about our veterans in America

I was a victim of the “ We decided your case and sent you a decision a year ago. You didn’t respond so too bad so sad!” They didn’t send me anything. Why wouldn’t I respond when I been waiting years for an answer?

*I walked mine in and it still took 25 years.* *They Will Deny Treatment. *Give A Diagnosis Of ARTHRITIS FOR ALL VETS WITH SPINAL INJURIES.* 100% ALL OF US NO MATTER HOW INJURED.

Took me 5 years to complete my claim. Absolutely unacceptable. I'm glad I'm retired military and use Tricare and not go to the VA clinic or Hospital.

I am a vet who has an appeal started in 2016 through this Oakland VA, (still waiting) I also sent a letter to them approximately 60 days ago and have no response and/or action. The VA SUCKS.

It took me years to get my claim but when I went for my final screen they didn't even have the correct diagnosis. I had to correct it myself and show paperwork of my diagnosis going back years. So I was able to get the claim finally but yes something I felt very sketchy...thank God private sector Dr. Did notice the discrepancy... 🙏🙏🙏 Always double check the claim and bring supporting documents...Bless you all and thank you for your service...🙏🙏🙏✝️

Listen up Brother's and Sister's. Keep on top of your claims and check on them every couple months, because it you don't at least call or write to the claims department and let it lapse, you will loose all of your back pay from when you first filled. Also keep up with the date's of all of them in a notebook, and believe me I've been through it and lost part of my claim amount because I didn't check up on it, and don't wait till they call you. You contact them.Hope this helps. God bless you all

The VA works just depends on how racially motivated the VA employee is - some people think certain people do not deserve benefits

I waited 7 yrs for a hearing for benefits. The only thing I got was on behalf of the veterans administration I'm sorry for your waiting time.

I’m a Vietnam vet. I applied for a home loan in 1976 and got it within 4 months. In 2015 I applied for hearing disability due to loss of hearing and tinnitus from the 5” guns while on the destroyer in Nam. I received a monthly check for that within 3 months of applying for it. I applied for a widowers pension for my mother after my father died (he was in the Navy) and she got it within 3 months. I receive my hearing aids for free. I can get a doctors appointment within 2 weeks. I don’t understand why I can get good results from the VA and others can’t! I go through a VA advocate and she makes sure all papers are filled out correctly. Maybe that’s the key???

The best way to go with VA medical is to go the private medical direction. I am a 100+% perm and Total disabled vet and a retired VA hospital/vet center/CBOC employee. A majority of VA employees know that they have tenure in the system, and don't even pretend to care for veterans. Many employees bring their own computers and internet and play on social medical and games while they are supposed to be helping veterans....

I am currently being treated by the VA for service related PTSD and have been for the last 4 years. In 2017 the VA tried to take my % away. I am still waiting on a judgement. Have been told "a decision will be made in 30-90 days" more times than I can count.

BS, I am still fighting the VA after 11 years!

Well done CBS! God Bless you all! 🙏🏼

They lost my claim and when they finally found it they left off more than half of my things that I put down.

They told me my records was BURNED IN THE ST.LOUIS FIRE YEARS BEFORE I ENLISTED. Yes!

I had a family member which was a disabled veteran died in the hands of the VA 6 years later I'm still waiting for the autopsy report and a letter from them !

Part of the problem with claims is getting a competent doctor in the first place. In Milwaukee I had to doctors lie on my comp & Pen exams. Talk to a patient and nothing is done. If you are in service it also helps if any doctors you see actually document any problems that stat there.

PLEASE INVESTEGET LOS ANGELES, VA SYSTEM ,THE SEEMS LIKE THE CLOSE DOWN

Happened today in Redding Ca, My BHA denied seeing me and instructed me to place the mask on, I ask if she was not going to see me if I didn't place the mask on. She said yes denying me medical appointment and refused to reup my medication. I have reach to my congressman, Local News and the Office of General Counsel to raise awareness about this incident and seek assistance in addressing the matter. However, I would greatly appreciate your support in investigating this issue further, considering the potential implications it may have on patient care and the possible breach of the accepted standard of care.

The veterans from the United States Armed Forces need to unite and stand side by side with their families and be supported by all citizens of the most powerful nation of the world and demand our so called elected leaders to get off their ass and help veterans now, not tomorrow or next week. Today. Veterans lives matter too dammit.

Not just Oakland...everywhere..

The VA system is still broken there is no health care there anymore, they have caused damage to me in the procedures!

i could add my story about the Cleveland office nothing new here.....

It took me from 1995 till 2020 before I ever got any headway with the VA, and that's only because I got a lawyer to represent me and they couldn't ignore me any longer. The VA also changed the claims rules to prevent you for making claims for issues older then 2004. Every dime they save goes into administrators pockets it appears.

It took 5 yrs to get a copy of my husbands dd 214. Investigate them all it's nation wide.

Question: why did he not follow up in 10 years on that claim? I understand a decade for a response is not acceptable but, in 10 years he never made an enquiry? Come on!

Its really a shame that all of this happened. My husband has been waiting for years for answers about his claim. He has Heart Disease from Agent Orange in Vietnam. He needs help NOW!!

I am veteran who have been fighting 34 and a half years. My records was lost from 1988 to 2012.I was discharged without a physical examination before discharging.

Being spat on by the very department that is our only lifeline.

Look at the VA system when you think about voting for free healthcare. The employees have no incentive to do a good job such as a private hospital. If a private hospital doesn't do a good job nobody goes back hence they go out of business.

This makes me cry so true 💔

That explains it! I filed a form for my increase from 10% to anything more for right meniscus tear service connected in 2006 and filed appeal after appeal thinking they are just waiting for me to die, I got a letter 2012 saying my appeal has been remanded and then in 2014 saying my appeal is going to Washington and in 2016 another letter saying the person working on my appeal is no longer a VA employee so it's being remanded again and in this whole time I have had 5 more surgeries connected with the same SC knee where the last 2 were high tibia osteotomy and a total knee replacement in 2016, numerous senvous shots to cortisone to physical therapy as TKR parts were rejected and needed to have a revised TKR to relieve constant agonizing pain as in 2017 the VA gave me 100 percent unemployability due to my knee is now considered a total loss of limb as I do not have good functions with my messed up knee. In the meantime the VA just gave me back pay til the surgery in 2017 and denied all other dates prior to that til the original claim in 2006 stating nothing else is proven, so I guess the pain and suffering I had experienced cause me to have an additional 4 surgeries didn't tell them I was in such pain I needed to have surgeries all done at the VA. They stated no swelling or anything like that. Which it clearly states I complained about all of that in which I now service connected in 2008 with a bakers cysts on my other knee due to favoring the right knee where fluid builds up in back of knee where it's either drained with a huge needle or Walt with and my award letter stated the award letter was a partial to the final but when checked with office they told me that case was closed go figure as I mentioned this to my DAV rep as he scolded me in saying why can't you be happy with what they gave you, I am but I feel they owe me back pay for at least a 10 percent increase or more from 2006 but dismissed it as I no longer have DAV representing me

I was being ignored until I asked the DAV to assist @80% getting unemployment individually income. Unless you have money for an attorney ask for DAV,GI FORUMN these are Veterans that will help, took 6 months and got back pay. Now, I tried SS SOCIAL SECURITY, been turned down twice so hopefully I will get assistance from a company that specializes in that department, 🕊🦅🇺🇸 SEMPER FIDELIS from TEXAS

Thats why the v.a. needs to be privatized why is the v.a. civil service anyway v.a. employees get a federal pension just working at a local hospital WAKE UP VETERANS the v.a. corruption makes a feathered nest out of our pain & suffering .

Thank you for reporting this. Thank you for your services to all military

Thank you for your service I am tired of hearing that because it's a bunch of crock shameful 👎

I really hope this all gets corrected ASAP 😘❤️ No wonder homelessness started?

Navy 61-65 Was 65 in 08 Ask for benefits. No response. 75 now.

Totally disabled since 2013. My problem is I can't get a diagnosis from the VA so can't file a claim. Side note......I probably have 40-50 appointments a year but all they will do is treat symptoms but will not diagnose

I have been denied countless times. Left at 30% for over 20 years. Did finally go from 30 to 60 to 70 to 80 to 90% from August 2016 to August 2017. I did not get all of my retroactive pay; I started these same claims all the way back to 1992. Most of my problems stem from the Gulf War. Including Cancer which was Stage 4 ; metastatic. I know this report is 5 yrs. Old. Can Mr. Wyatt Andrews & CBS do a followup report?

After twelve years I reported to the VA to get my classification level. I was given a seventh level due to my income. I haven’t returned and never will. When I enlisted, I was assuming I would gain benefits the same as any vet. My level only assures me I will get bennies with a co pay. They can take their benefits and shove them. I love America and my service but bureaucrats have destroyed my faith in government.

DAV trashed my claims.

As a Veteran, I have always heard rumors that the VA had a saying "Deny,Deny,Deny until they die." I guess it's not a rumor any more. Don't just "sit" there let's start holding these People "Accountable. VOTE in 2016!!!! Write your Senators and get involve with the VFW or American Legion or the many Veteran Organizations out there. Keep thy Faith. God Bless.

So much for Thank You For Your service.

I'm an Army veteran and have never had trouble with the VA. I really hope they make it right for these people

This really saddens me! These deceased Veterans probably could have been saved had the had the proper medical attention. People who risked their lives for this country! 😡

My dad died December 2019 from acute respiratory failure,the VA said he had a pneumonia they never seen and went him home to die , he was on hospice and never got any equipment from them got approved after he died .

I'll be filing for a disability claim next month, now after this video, I'm going to retain a lawyer!

It's not broken its rigged. Thank to ALL for your service!

All the VA will do is deny those claims anyway or say, "It's not service connected." Not one Veteran leaving the military does not have some medical issue or injuries thay may worsen over time. The VA should be ashamed but they are not.

I waited 10 months!!!!! In starting in 2015!!!! For a total of 3 appointments! 7 of the months were waiting on the clearance on non to return to work!!!!! In that time? I lost my job! Had to file bankruptcy and lost the only home my family has ever known!!!!!!!!!! This is criminal!!!! I'm still waiting!!!!!!!! Next time you see someone on the corner with a homeless vet sign asking for help??? There's a good chance the VA put him/her there!!!!!! I have everything documented to the letter!!!! Sick!!!! Yet they lined their pockets with bonuses!!!

Been on an appeal since 2017. I know fellow Vets have been waiting longer.

It took years for me to get mine as my ma fought for them. Then it took an additional 6 years to get permanent status. Now I am good but if I gave up or my ma didn’t stay on them, I would’ve been swept under the rug too. So I was blessed to have my ma working with a vso to get my benefits in place. It isn’t a quick process at all even when vets get their benefits. It took a total of approximately 10 years to get my permanent status. So I am very blessed and I wish every veteran could say that. I hope one day everyone who served will get to say that. Those in charge at the Veterans Affairs need to get their poop in a group and keep it together, for farts sake! 😠

Hear.!!! Hear.!!! Ever since 9 Dec 2017 to today 28 May 2019 haven't found scrupulous, quality, timely, respectful, sincere, just, considerate VA Health Care

Well, I'm old school. A promise is like a contract. The government made promises to vets when they signed up. Keep your promises to them, they deserve whatever they were promised. All of them.

I wrote ( over 2 yrs ago ) ONLY to ask for my dads medals. They were lost in a fire. Never heard a word back

I use the VA Medical as a service connected Veteran for appointments. Yes the infamous Oakland CA. office in which service my claims. They take forever and it seems as though deny deny deny is the way they do business there in Oakland. Most get appealed appealed and won on appeal with back pay. I wonder why they can't do it correctly when the claim is first filed. I am awaiting an appeal now which takes forever through the Oakland office. The VA needs to have more dedicated professional people handling claims. People who know whst they are doing and know the impact it has on many veterans. Peace

Look at my video, Wanda Williams, a regional worker at the CW Bill Young, or Bay Pines VA. She claims I used a "fake" name to collect benefits. She is most likely collecting them. I informed her supervisor of the false claim. Nothing.

What’s said is that most employees within the VA never served a single day in the military. As a combat veteran wounded twice in IED strikes I’ve applied several times for employment at the VA and never got a response.

Damn shame.... Fighting with the VA is absolutely ridiculous. Even if everything is done correctly and the claim makes sense they'll figure out a way to make it not make sense.

JUST TELL YOUR CHILDREN NOT TO JOIN THE MILITARY

the jackson ms,veterans is the same way,somebody getting the money,its not the vets

Key word with every single Veteran claim for benefits; “may”. You “may” be eligible! I have been eligible and qualified for home, automotive grants and a higher rating. I’m told to file based solely on the medical records supporting the claim. I’ve been denied 3 times and the latter now for 5 years. Begging? I guess I “may” be be after that many years. I’ve given up! Which is what the VA wants you to do. What they do with the funds allocated? “May” be they’re putting it in their own wallets!!

The VA still has problems with losing records. I had to submit the same records three times before they reached where they were supposed to go. Some GS 0.5 just drops them in the trash somewhere along the line. I think it comes from the mentality of 'less money for them is more money for us and better job security'. Their jobs are more important than the veterans they are hired to serve.