It’s not ALWAYS the DVA’s fault
I have to tell you that I’ve read this article no less than five times, and I still don’t understand what the Hell these people are talking about. But I will preface my opinions with the fact that it’s been my experience that Desert Storm veterans who stayed far from the fast-moving battle are the biggest crybabies on the planet. I, personally don’t believe in the “Gulf War Syndrome” because most of the people who complain of the vast, unrelated symptoms were far from the front. But here are my latest reasons to disbelieve;
One solider trying to get help from the Veterans Administration for combat-related injuries says he has been turned down, because his records are missing. He says he has all the medical records for the time he was in the states, but the records for everything that happened outside of the country are gone.
I don’t know what this ass clown is talking about. When I deployed, this time was like every other time I deployed – my medical records deployed. When I went back to my home station, the medical records jacket went back, too. Do you have any idea how labor intensive it would be for clerks to pour through every records jacket and pluck out the pages which referred to medical treatment for the time period of Desert Storm and destroy just those few pages just to save space?
So, does he have his medical records, or does the VA have his medical records. See how I can get confused?
When I had my second heart attack, the ambulance took me to the VA hospital. I didn’t have an ID card or anything. They checked my SSN and verified that I was eligible for treatment. So why is everyone else having all of these problems except me? I’m not saying the VA is infallible, I’m just saying there’s a right way and wrong way to do things.
This Gulf War veteran served 20 years in the Army. The Veterans Administration has documentation he served in the 82nd Airborne division as an Army ranger and made 125 parachute jumps. All of his claims, including hearing loss, ankle and back injury, have been denied because efforts to obtain service medical records for all potential sources were unsuccessful. He says all his medical records are gone.
Why would the VA have records of this guy being a “Ranger” in the 82d as well as his jump log? When I retired, the Army sent my MEDICAL records to the VA, the VA didn’t need to know where I served and what my job was (and the last time I checked, there was no “Ranger” duty position in the 82d – so what’s up with that?). My personnel file went to Record Center in St Louis, not the VA. The Army helped me file my claim with the VA before I retired and the claim went to the VA with my records.
In the beginning of this article, the author explains that none of the soldiers wanted to give their names to the story because they know “what the government is capable of doing” insinuating that the government will send bureaucratic ninjas after them and kill them when they’re sleeping with wire-guided nuclear throwing stars. I’ll wait for the movie.
Yeah, I know, I’m supposed to support all veterans all of the time, but sometimes I just can’t wade through the bullshit without saying something. I just think the story would have ended up differently if the “journalist”, Mike Deeson, would have checked out his interviewees more closely, rather than just printing what he wanted to hear.
Category: Veteran Health Care, Veterans Issues
The VA has treated me really well. I was surprised at the professionism and the treatment that I received at the VA in Pittsburgh. It was a pretty simple process. I submitted my claim along with a copy of my medical records and they took care of me.
I’m not saying it’s like that in all the cases but you have to do your part. Everyone know that before you retire you need to start getting all of your medical records together. It’s all anyone talks about leading up to their retirement date.
Sadly its not that far fetched. I needed my medical records from the army to re-enlist and low and behold the archives were unable to locate them. Lucky I was already in the VA system for my service connected disabilities, but all they had was that. Not the actual records.
As I didn’t retire, I don’t have this problem. I was dx’ed with an MVP while in service, however. And because of that, I copied all of my records before I ETS’ed. To date I have not had a problem, but who is to say that there won’t be.
Remember the old MFR books we carried in our shirt pockets? I documented all things related to me upon qualifying or failing. And I also copied the 201. I didn’t want any chance of the Army effing something up. Got the microfiche, too. I also spent about 40 bucks to have them certified and registered in the county courthouse…in case I ever lost what I have.
Memorandum For Record: If the Army has lost paperwork once, be smart enough to get your shit copied, and then when they eff up again, you have proof that it wasn’t you and you will be able to re-apply til they get it right because you are the holder of the documents.
My issue is not with vets who were interviewed for the story. I call BS on this letter or memo or whatever it is. If it really existed, why would we not have heard about it before now? Not only that, but an order to destroy medical records is illegal. The only way such a thing is likely is if the records files themselves were not sent. Then we make a temp file. Which could be sent with the individual. None of this makes sense and I would like to know how the letter, which was not made public, was obtained and verified.
I feel like the only guy who served in the Army thats not an “Airborne Ranger”. I feel left out.
Chuck….didn’t you know you can fix that with $5 and a trip to US Cav?
I didn’t read the whole post, and am waaaaay older than the gulf war veterans. But, here at this blog, I have come to know 2 in particular who were in neighboring units, when a very horrendous event unfolded. If anyone could “freak out” with Gulf War Syndrome”, these two heroes could rightfully step to the front of the line. Quite the opposite, they are as steady, and as stable as any veteran I know, (Tankerbabe, might argue that is only until the lights dim, but……).
Now to go back up and read the whole post.
Two heart attacks Jonn? How are you holding up now?
My two cents….. In response to the claim that medical records, while deployed, have disappeared or were destroyed. March 2006 I was burned in an IED attack and CASEVAC’d to Balad. While intubated, my meds were not monitored properly and I became conscious enough to hear doctors preparing to place a chest tube. Unfortunately, they were preparing me for the procedure, but it was one of my Marines that needed it. ***This incident occured because patient identity was not insured, and because dog tags were removed for CAT scan*** MEDEVAC’d to Germany Arrived in Germany and was instructed to immediately begin shaving my burned face. The only explanation was that I needed to maintain hygiene standards. Narcotics were prescribed for pain. MEDEVAC’d to Brooks Army Medical Center Enroute to CONUS I requested torodol, but the prescription was not in my record, despite the fact that I had hand-carried meds with me onto the plane. My only option was morphine. Medical records generated in Balad, IQ had not been added to my patient file. ***No records transferred. Incomplete documentation on records that were transferred.*** When I arrived at BAMC my medical records from Landstuhl were also missing, despite that I had hand carried them off of the plane. When I again requested torodol and pyridium I was told on percocet and morphine were available. I eventually left BAMC with medical records reflecting a successful skin graft, despite never receiving one. The records also state that I received only second degree burns, despite the fact a majority of my nose “melted” and slid to the tip of my nose where it hardened in a black mass. The administrative screw-up compromised my TSGLI claim. I know of one more incident involving a fellow corpsman who was evacuated to CONUS with multiple GSWs. His paperwork loss also cost him his TSGLI claim. Neither one of us has been able to locate any of our “in country” paperwork. Second point: I have helped burn “shadow medical records” just prior to returning to CONUS. HOWEVER, all records generated by the BAS were brought back and properly… Read more »
Who is your Congress critter, AndyMFM?
Andy, why would you burn someone else’s records? If I were near you, I’d let you have it square in the gut. That tells me you were being dishonest and perhaps trying to help someone game the system. If so, then I’d say payback is a bitch.
If all of what you say it true, I have to ask- why you would keep walking and let the records reflect complete untruths?
“Andy, why would you burn someone else’s records? If I were near you, I’d let you have it square in the gut. That tells me you were being dishonest and perhaps trying to help someone game the system. If so, then I’d say payback is a bitch.
If all of what you say it true, I have to ask- why you would keep walking and let the records reflect complete untruths?”
Here is what I wrote “HOWEVER, all records generated by the BAS were brought back and properly filed. (Only the file folders and photocopies of original documents were destroyed).” Must not have been clear enough, so I’ll try explaining again.
The records that were burned were only the file folders and photocopies of original documents. Why should we use cargo space to transport file folders and copies of MEPS physicals, copies of immunization records, copies of hearing and eye exams, etc….?
Records were destroyed by burning because they contained PII and we did not have shredders.
Any paperwork generated “in country” was hand-carried back to CONUS and filed into the original patient chart.
My original post was trying to explain how something completely normal, legal, and common sense can be overheard and then it looks like a huge scandal has been uncovered. BTW, I have called around to several friends and the destruction of copies in “shadow records/ field records” was SOP for our Battalions.
Re: congress critter….. Its almost 5 years ago and Congressional involvement is like the silver bullet you use to slay a werewolf but then you get attacked by all of the animal rights groups and get arrested by the police for violating some city/county/state firearm law. Congressional inquiries almost never turn out well.