Everyday exactly the same while veterans wait

Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
June 1, 2014

"My view was, if we spend billions and billions and billions of dollars of getting young women and men in harm's way, we will have to spend what it takes to get them back in as normal a life as possible, whatever it takes. And I think that is where we are coming from."
Bob Dole said that in 2007 during his testament "Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded Warriors"

June 1st but it feels more like Groundhog day.
"What would you do if you were stuck in one place and every day was exactly the same, and nothing that you did mattered?"
(Bill Murray Groundhog Day)

While it is astonishing how many people are trying to actually do something to take care of our veterans it seems as if no matter how hard we fight for them, none of it really matters enough. None of it comes close to what they did for all of us.

With the passing years of tracking veterans reports it is horrifying to arrive at this point in time where all the bad stories increased and hopeful stories decreased. It wouldn't be so bad if no one was doing anything but with so many doing so much it seems pretty hopeless at times. It will remain so until members of congress are holding themselves as well as others accountable. Elections are supposed to have consequences but they really don't. It doesn't matter what party takes control of any of the bodies as long as the bodies in the chairs are not held accountable by everyone.

The following story from Frost Illustrated has a long gone link but after reviewing more of the over 22,000 posts on Wounded Times, I thought it would clarify a few things for readers.

This story has it all. Walter Reed Hospital, PTSD, fee-based VA care and how the congress has skillfully avoided taking responsibility for anything.

Veteran good enough to fight, get wounded, but not good enough for congresswoman to meet

For a time, he lived in Maryland, where he met with congressional representatives there, before moving officially to Washington, D.C., where he's organized protests in front of the White House. But in a bit of bitter irony, Evans said he hasn't gotten any support from his Washington representative-Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, who like Evans, is black. According to Evans, he's been trying to get a meeting with Norton for about a year and has received no word back.

"I'm good enough to fight for our country and get wounded, but I'm not good enough to meet with my congresswoman," said Evans.

FORT WAYNE-More than a decade ago, U.S. Army veteran John Evans was trying to alert the nation to a serious healthcare crisis when it came to treating military men who had served their nation admirably in times of war. He largely was ignored. Now with recent startling and embarrassing revelations about conditions and treatment at once-highly regarded military healthcare facilities such as Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C., Evans finally is being vindicated by many who once tried to ignore him-including some politicians. But, rather than retiring from the fight, Evans is planning to step up his battle to find justice for veterans. That includes organizing a public protest for Sept. 5 through Sept. 7 in front of the Federal Building, 1300 S. Harrison St.-right here in Fort Wayne, where it all began.

In 1994, Evans, a decorated Vietnam War veteran who said he had been declared 100 percent disabled due to Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, woke up to find his world had collapsed around him. His veteran's benefits mysteriously had disappeared leaving him unable to pay his bills and his bank account had been closed. After frantically calling the Veterans Administration and the bank, Evans discovered that he mistakenly had been declared dead by the Social Security Administration, which had confused him with his son, John Patrick Logan, who had passed away. According to Evans, it was two months before he received a letter informing him that he had been-mistakenly-declared dead. During that time, stress began to mount until he suffered a severe heart attack.

The situation went from bad to worse. While having the heart attack, Evans instructed his brother to take him to Parkview Hospital on Randallia Drive-just blocks away from the local Veterans Administration Medical Center on Lake Avenue. Evans said he made the decision to be taken there because he knew the VA didn't have the facilities for critical heart care and credits that decision-along with doctors, he said-with saving his life through emergency bypass surgery. But, not having a fee–based medical card, which allows veterans to seek care from private sources under various circumstances, the Veterans Administration refused to pay his hospital bills, leaving Evans under even more stress.

We hear a lot about this politician or that politician pushing this bill or that bill but there has not been one single member holding any other member accountable for the lousy job their have done all these years. It is pretty pathetic to look back at what has been going on all along and see, we're right back where we started. What is worst is to look back and see that it is even worse than where we started. The above report was posted in 2007.

It was during a time when Democrats controlled but the President was George W. Bush. Chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee was Daniel Akaka. He was begging President Bush to sign Wounded Warrior Assistance Act and nominate someone to become Secretary of Veterans Affairs after Jim Nicholson resigned.

The bill had it all.

TITLE I--WOUNDED WARRIOR MATTERS
SEC. 101. GENERAL DEFINITIONS.
Subtitle A--Policy on Care, Management, and Transition of Servicemembers With Serious Injuries or Illnesses
SEC. 112. CONSIDERATION OF NEEDS OF WOMEN MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND VETERANS.

Subtitle B--Health Care
PART I--ENHANCED AVAILABILITY OF CARE FOR SERVICEMEMBERS
SEC. 121. MEDICAL CARE AND OTHER BENEFITS FOR MEMBERS AND FORMER MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES WITH SEVERE INJURIES OR ILLNESSES.
PART II--CARE AND SERVICES FOR DEPENDENTS
PART III--TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY AND POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
SEC. 132. IMPROVEMENT OF MEDICAL TRACKING SYSTEM FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES DEPLOYED OVERSEAS.
SEC. 134. REVIEW OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND TREATMENT FOR FEMALE MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND VETERANS.
SEC. 136. REPORTS.
PART IV--OTHER MATTERS
SEC. 141. JOINT ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

Subtitle C--Disability Matters
PART I--DISABILITY EVALUATIONS
`Sec. 1216a. Determinations of disability: requirements and limitations on determinations
`Sec. 1554a. Review of separation with disability rating of 20 percent disabled or less
SEC. 154. PILOT PROGRAMS ON REVISED AND IMPROVED DISABILITY EVALUATION SYSTEM FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.
SEC. 155. REPORTS ON ARMY ACTION PLAN IN RESPONSE TO DEFICIENCIES IN THE ARMY PHYSICAL DISABILITY EVALUATION SYSTEM.
PART II--OTHER DISABILITY MATTERS
SEC. 161. ENHANCEMENT OF DISABILITY SEVERANCE PAY FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.
SEC. 162. TRAUMATIC SERVICEMEMBERS' GROUP LIFE INSURANCE.
SEC. 164. ASSESSMENTS OF TEMPORARY DISABILITY RETIRED LIST.
Subtitle D--Improvement of Facilities Housing Patients
SEC. 172. REPORTS ON ARMY ACTION PLAN IN RESPONSE TO DEFICIENCIES IDENTIFIED AT WALTER REED ARMY MEDICAL CENTER.
SEC. 173. CONSTRUCTION OF FACILITIES REQUIRED FOR THE CLOSURE OF WALTER REED ARMY MEDICAL CENTER, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

Subtitle E--Outreach and Related Information on Benefits
SEC. 181. HANDBOOK FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES ON COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS AVAILABLE FOR SERIOUS INJURIES AND ILLNESSES.
Subtitle F--Other Matters

TITLE II--VETERANS MATTERS
SEC. 202. INDIVIDUAL REHABILITATION AND COMMUNITY REINTEGRATION PLANS FOR VETERANS AND OTHERS WITH TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.
`Sec. 1710C. Traumatic brain injury: plans for rehabilitation and reintegration into the community
`Sec. 1710D. Traumatic brain injury: use of non-Department facilities for rehabilitation
SEC. 204. RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND CLINICAL CARE PROGRAM ON SEVERE TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.
`Sec. 7330A. Severe traumatic brain injury research, education, and clinical care program
SEC. 205. PILOT PROGRAM ON ASSISTED LIVING SERVICES FOR VETERANS WITH TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.
SEC. 206. RESEARCH ON TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.
SEC. 207. AGE-APPROPRIATE NURSING HOME CARE.
SEC. 208. EXTENSION OF PERIOD OF ELIGIBILITY FOR HEALTH CARE FOR COMBAT SERVICE IN THE PERSIAN GULF WAR OR FUTURE HOSTILITIES.
SEC. 209. MENTAL HEALTH: SERVICE-CONNECTION STATUS AND EVALUATIONS FOR CERTAIN VETERANS.
SEC. 211. DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM ON PREVENTING VETERANS AT-RISK OF HOMELESSNESS FROM BECOMING HOMELESS
SEC. 212. CLARIFICATION OF PURPOSE OF THE OUTREACH SERVICES PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

TITLE III
SEC. 301. FISCAL YEAR 2008 INCREASE IN MILITARY BASIC PAY.

The Congressional Budget Office review of the cost in 2008 found this legislation would cost $25 million in 2008 and $5.3 billion from 2009 to 2013 in discretionary costs.

This was President Bush's response to the bill.

Statement of Administration Policy: H.R. 1538 - Wounded Warrior Assistance Act of 2007
March 27, 2007
STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY
(House Rules)
(Rep. Skelton (D) Missouri and 28 cosponsors)

The Administration endorses the goals of the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act of 2007 but believes that this legislation is premature. The President established the Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded Warriors and the Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes to help ensure the most effective utilization of resources to provide the highest quality of care to those who served in the Global War on Terror. It would be preferable for Congress to wait for the recommendations of this Commission and Task Force - scheduled to report no later than July 31 - before legislating.

Furthermore, H.R. 1538 raises some concerns, including an objectionable provision that would impose a broad one-year moratorium on the initiation of new public-private competitions involving any function at any military medical facility. The Department of Defense should retain the full range of management tools to improve services at military medical facilities. The tailored application of competition at select military medical facilities allows the Department to use its full continuum of military, civilian, and contractor resources to ensure better operations, better quality accessible care to its patients, and optimal readiness and deployment capabilities. Numerous Administration reports provided to Congress on competitive sourcing issued over the past several years have documented the significant savings and improved management practices that have been achieved by the responsible use of public-private competition. For example, competitions completed over the last four years are expected to generate more than $6 billion in savings over the next 10 years.

The Administration looks forward to working with Congress on this bill as it moves forward and as the results of the Commission and Task Force become known.

This was the findings of that commission.

The first is to improve access to care for servicemembers with post-traumatic stress disorder. We call on Congress to authorize the VA to provide lifetime treatment for PTSD for any veteran deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan in need of such services. This presumptive eligibility for the diagnosis and treatment of PTSD should occur regardless of the length of time that has transpired since the exposure to combat events.

The current conflicts involve intense urban fighting, often against civilian combatants, and many servicemembers witness or experience acts of terrorism. Five hundred thousand servicemembers have been deployed multiple times. The longer servicemembers are in the field, they are more likely to experience events which can lead to symptoms of PTSD. The consequences of PTSD can be devastating. The VA is a recognized leader in the treatment of combat-related PTSD, with an extensive network of specialized inpatient, outpatient, day hospital, and residential treatment programs. Therefore, we ask that any veteran of the Iraq or Afghanistan conflicts be able to obtain prompt access to the VA's extensive resources for diagnosis and treatment.

Next, we ask Congress to strengthen the support for our military families. In our travels across the country, it has become abundantly clear that we not only need to help the severely injured, we need to help their loved ones as well. These loved ones are often on the frontlines of care and they are in desperate need of support. Therefore, we call upon Congress to make servicemembers with combat related injuries eligible for respite care and aide and personal attendant benefits. These benefits are provided in the current Extended Care Health Option program under TRICARE.

Presently, DoD provides no other benefit for caregiving. Yet we know that many families are caring for their injured servicemember at home, and many of these servicemembers have complex injuries. These families, forced into stressful new situations, don't need more anxiety and confusion. They need support. Families are unprepared to provide 24/7 care. Those that try, wear out quickly. By providing help for the caregiver, families can better deal with the stress and problems that arise when caring for a loved one with complex injuries in their homes.

We also recommended that Congress amend the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to extend unpaid leave from 12 weeks to up to 6 months for a family member of a servicemember who has a combat-related injury and meets the other FMLA eligibility requirements. According to initial findings of research conducted by the Commission, approximately two-thirds of injured servicemembers reported that their family members or their close friends stayed with them for an extended time while they were hospitalized; one in five had to give up their job to do so. That is simply unacceptable.

Getting family members to the bedside of an injured servicemember is not a problem. The services have developed effective procedures to make this happen, and the private sector has stepped up to provide temporary housing. Because most injured servicemembers recover quickly and return to duty, a family member's stay may be short. However, for those whose loved one has incurred complex injuries, the stay may last much longer. Extending the Family and Medical Leave Act for these families will make a tremendous difference in the quality of their lives. Congress enacted the initial Family and Medical Leave Act in 1993, when I was Secretary of Health and Human Services. Since then, its provisions have provided over 60 million workers the opportunity to care for their family members when they need it most. We have tremendous experience and evidence with that Act. All of these family members have been able to care for a family member without losing their jobs.

We were pleased to see the Senate has already unanimously passed the Support for Injured Servicemembers Act which implements this particular recommendation. We hope that the House will quickly follow suit.

You can read the rest of what was said during this hearing from the link above.

There have been so many hearings, so many bills that it is hard to keep track of what was passed and what was just a replacement for something else some other politician pushed, but in the end the result is no much was accomplished no matter who was in the chair.

We've them come into office and leave only to be replaced by someone else we believed in. We discovered sooner more often than later that what they said is not what they ended up doing. We've heard promise after promise followed by claim after claim that veterans were their priority.

So how is it that none of them have even had to be held accountable for the results? Presidents appoint their cabinet secretaries and the VA is no different however when things go wrong in the VA, that head rolls even though congress is supposed to be paying attention all along.

As you read the above, all the troubles veteran had in 2007 were repeats of what happened for decades before and years afterwards. You may have read this political talking head cheer with the latest resignation but the truth is we've been down this road too many times before.

Keep all of this in mind as yet another election approaches and reporters try to push one person over another. So far, few reporters have bothered to discover how things got this bad for our veterans. As with most things, replacements are not always better than the original. More often than not, the replacement has a higher price tag with a pretty bow but you'll still have to toss out the empty box.

The bill was "Incorporated into the FY 2008 Defense Authorization, which was signed into law on January 28, 2008" Suicides, attempted suicides in the military and veterans community have gone up. No accident Wounded Times started in 2007 since that is when most of the "efforts" started to take care of our military folks but everyday since then they wake up wondering if what they did for us mattered enough.