NewsChannel 7 Investigates | VA denying nearly 1 out of every 3 veterans’ emergency claims
WSAW 7 News
By Matthew Simon
Jul 27, 2016
(WSAW) -- Fearing the Department of Veterans Affairs would deny his claim, a disabled Pittsville, Wis., Gulf War veteran avoided going to his nearest emergency department during a recent medical scare.
“My pillow was covered in blood,” Jerry Zehrung said, who lived with a constant infection risk since, having his hip resurfaced eight years ago.
“My wife looks at me, and she's panicked,” Zehrung said. “Her first instinct was let’s get you to the emergency room. And my first instinct was, 'who's going to pay the bill?'”
NewsChannel 7 Investigates discovered a VA executive admitted there are a large number of denied veterans’ emergency treatment claims.
The VA Assistant Deputy Undersecretary for Health for Community Care, Dr. Baligh Yahia, testified before a Veterans’ Affairs subcommittee in February.
Yahia told members of Congress, during the 2014 budget year, approximately 30 percent of the 2.9 million emergency claims filed with the VA were denied.
Of those 870,000 denied claims, Yahia said 89,000 were late. Another 98,000 were not emergencies. There were 140,000 claims denied because a VA facility was determined to have been available. In addition, 320,000 more claims were denied because the veteran was determined to have other health insurance that should have paid for the care.
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Thursday, July 28, 2016
Suicidal Veterans — Fatal Problems in Arizona
The Phoenix VA Still Has Problems With Suicidal Veterans — Fatal Problems
Phoenix News Times
Shanna Hogan
JULY 26, 2016
Luis Mariscal Munoz called the Phoenix VA Health Care System to say he wouldn’t be coming in to work. He drove to a shooting range at the Table Mesa Recreation Area off Interstate 17 and parked. At about 6:30 p.m., having walked about 70 feet from the car, he put a borrowed nine-millimeter handgun to his head and pulled the trigger.
An hour later, Luis’ wife, Lisa Mariscal, arrived at the West Phoenix home the couple shared with their two dogs. Luis had texted her: something about how he was sorry and to read the note he’d left for her. She’d tried to call and text him back, but there was no reply.
Lisa knew that for the past month, her husband had been attending weekly therapy appointments at the VA on Indian School Road, where he worked as a medical laboratory technologist. She was aware that a psychiatrist there had prescribed an antidepressant. But Luis had told her he was just suffering from anxiety.
Then she read the note.
“Please do not feel guilt about my decision,” he had written. “I would like you to feel happy or relieved that I am no longer suffering. You never did anything wrong. No one could have changed my mind.”
Phoenix News Times
Shanna Hogan
JULY 26, 2016
"Nor did doctors clue in Lisa about the extent of her husband’s inner turmoil — or, for that matter, anything at all about his condition. This, despite the fact that Luis signed a consent form explicitly naming her and authorizing VA officials to inform her if the 'patient may do harm to him/herself.'"
An hour later, Luis’ wife, Lisa Mariscal, arrived at the West Phoenix home the couple shared with their two dogs. Luis had texted her: something about how he was sorry and to read the note he’d left for her. She’d tried to call and text him back, but there was no reply.
Lisa knew that for the past month, her husband had been attending weekly therapy appointments at the VA on Indian School Road, where he worked as a medical laboratory technologist. She was aware that a psychiatrist there had prescribed an antidepressant. But Luis had told her he was just suffering from anxiety.
Then she read the note.
“Please do not feel guilt about my decision,” he had written. “I would like you to feel happy or relieved that I am no longer suffering. You never did anything wrong. No one could have changed my mind.”
• On June 10, 2013, U.S. Army Sgt. Daniel Somers took a handgun from his Phoenix home, walked several blocks away, and fatally shot himself in the head. He was 30 years old. In 2007, Somers had returned from his second deployment in Iraq with post-traumatic stress disorder, fibromyalgia, a traumatic brain injury suffered in combat, and a slew of other medical issues. Frustrated in his efforts to get mental-health and medical care, he wrote to the VA describing his symptoms as worsening and stating that his health “drives me to consider suicide very seriously on a daily basis.”
• On May 10, 2015, U.S. Army veteran Thomas Michael Murphy killed himself in the parking lot outside the VA’s Phoenix Regional Benefit Office. At the age of 53, he was homeless. Before shooting himself, he e-mailed a suicide note to New Times, in which he blamed the VA for his death. “Thanks for nothing VA,” he wrote.
• On July 23, 2015, former U.S. Army Ranger Antouine Castaneda shot and killed himself. He was 32. After serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, Castaneda had sought help at the Phoenix VA, where psychiatrists noted that he was at high risk for committing suicide. VA whistleblowers would later allege that he had not been provided with proper mental-health care.Also there are more online and you can find them.
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2013 KJZZ reported veterans in Arizona were committing suicide double that of civilians
December 27, 2015
PHOENIX - A veteran who was reported missing weeks ago was found dead at the Banner University Medical Center on Sunday.
According to the Phoenix Police Department, 34-year-old Guido Feruglio was found on hospital property dead.
"Indications are he took his life," Officer James Holmes with Phoenix police said.
Goodwill Returned Items to Widow Hero
Fallen Soldier's Belongings Found At Goodwill
News Channel 5
Chris Conte
Jul 26, 2016
Such was the case in May when a shopper brought in a small bag to donate, that no price tag could ever do justice.
"I knew these bags were given to people that had passed away, I looked at my manager and said wouldn't this be tragic if that was that if this was someone's personal items that passed away
In the bag was a driver's license, family photos and a dog tag. Inscribed on the tag was Sgt. Asbury Freddie Hawn's name.
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News Channel 5
Chris Conte
Jul 26, 2016
Sgt. Hawn was 35-years-old when he was killed in Iraq by a roadside bomb in 2005. He was a 1989 graduate from LaVergne High School in 1989 The items left at Goodwill were in his wallet the day he died.Every once in a while Shane Hubanks and his employees at the Mt Juliet Goodwill find something that doesn't belong inside their store.
Such was the case in May when a shopper brought in a small bag to donate, that no price tag could ever do justice.
"I knew these bags were given to people that had passed away, I looked at my manager and said wouldn't this be tragic if that was that if this was someone's personal items that passed away
In the bag was a driver's license, family photos and a dog tag. Inscribed on the tag was Sgt. Asbury Freddie Hawn's name.
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Passengers Honor WWII Soldier Sacrifice With Glory!
Choir Sings ‘Battle Hymn of the Republic’ as WWII Soldier’s Remains Taken off Plane
Free Beacon
BY: Alec M. Dent
July 27, 2016
The Iowa Ambassadors of Music Choir found a unique way to honor a fallen World War II veteran.
The choir was on a flight returning from Germany to the United States, along with an Army private who was escorting the remains of a soldier who fought in World War II.
After the plane landed in Atlanta, the pilot announced the private would be exiting the plane first, explaining his mission and that he would be continuing his trip to Houston, the fallen soldier’s final destination.
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Free Beacon
BY: Alec M. Dent
July 27, 2016
The Iowa Ambassadors of Music Choir found a unique way to honor a fallen World War II veteran.
The choir was on a flight returning from Germany to the United States, along with an Army private who was escorting the remains of a soldier who fought in World War II.
After the plane landed in Atlanta, the pilot announced the private would be exiting the plane first, explaining his mission and that he would be continuing his trip to Houston, the fallen soldier’s final destination.
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Fake Vietnam POW Veteran Arrested After Elderly Veteran Ripped Off
POW impersonator exploits elderly veteran
News Herald Reporter
By ZACK McDONALD
July 27, 2016
PANAMA CITY — A man who thought he was lending a helping hand to a fellow veteran and former prisoner of war instead was swindled out of thousands from his savings that he likely will not see again, according to arrest records.
Robert “Bob” Leroy Rogers, 61, was arrested Monday in connection with the scheme. According to police, Rogers claimed to be a veteran and former Vietnam POW with financial troubles in order to borrow more than $18,000 from an elderly neighbor.
Rogers allegedly told 74-year-old William Lipovsky, a former air force master sergeant, he would repay him with up to $1 million after he received a large settlement from the government for his service. However, after several delays and conflicting stories about whether he would be reimbursed, Lipovsky contacted the authorities.
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News Herald Reporter
By ZACK McDONALD
July 27, 2016
PANAMA CITY — A man who thought he was lending a helping hand to a fellow veteran and former prisoner of war instead was swindled out of thousands from his savings that he likely will not see again, according to arrest records.
Rogers allegedly told 74-year-old William Lipovsky, a former air force master sergeant, he would repay him with up to $1 million after he received a large settlement from the government for his service. However, after several delays and conflicting stories about whether he would be reimbursed, Lipovsky contacted the authorities.
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