Broken Promises

I was talking to Vincent at a veteran’s event and he discussed his experience with the Veterans Administration (VA). Vincent is a US Air Force veteran who was stationed in Guam during Vietnam.  He is now retired and living on Social Security struggling to make ends meet. Even though Guam was used to support aircraft used in the Vietnam, it didn’t matter. Vincent went to the VA and requested services and was told he did not qualify for them because he didn’t have “boots on the ground” in theatre, the requirements to get some services from Vietnam and did not have a service connected disability rating.  He went to the VA expecting to get the prescription medication and medical benefits he was promised when he joined the Air Force in 1964. Vincent hoped he could use the VA to fill the prescriptions he needed while living on his limited income. Vincent was turned down for his prescription medications and was upset. He was told he would be taken care of by the VA when he separated from the military, the times have changed.

Vincent like most veterans received his honorable discharge after 4 years and went about his life as most 22-year old’s do. He got a good job with the county allowing for a comfortable living for himself and his family. He had insurance from his county job and did not feel the need to get benefits from the VA, he was covered. He has believed since 1964 that he was eligible for services from the VA, but chose not to use them because others needed those services more than he did. It wasn’t until recently when he went to get help that he found out he was not eligible for any services because he did not file a claim at the time of separation from the military for anything.

One of the biggest misconceptions in our society is that the VA provides all services for veterans. The reality is they don’t. Many civilians assume the VA takes care of veterans because they are told all veterans receive benefits. This is technically true if you don’t have a dishonorable discharge. What they don’t say is not all services are medical. The VA doesn’t freely discuss their requirements, you must ask someone who knows, or go on their web page and try to figure it out. They just let society believe they provide services to all veterans and assume veterans are taken care of, but there not.

The events of 9/11 changed the way the VA operates. The promise to prior veterans was rescinded in 2003 because of limited resources and a mandate to provide quality and timely healthcare to veterans. The VA established guidelines mandated by the new policies and we live with them today. The VA decided to stop enrolling non-combat veterans, and non-service connected disabled veterans whose income exceeded the VA threshold for the area the veteran lives in for years. Like many veterans who are retired Vincent was barely over the income threshold.  

Before we start beating up the people at the VA we need to realize they are under the control of politicians. When the politicians say, they want to cut cost to entitlements, the VA is one of those entitlements. When politicians decide to go to war they don’t include the cost of veteran’s care. The VA is funded with what seems to most Americans as a lot of money for services, the problem is there is still not enough money to go around. With the newest veterans, Vietnam era veterans, and cold war veterans all getting older there is an extensive need for the VA funding to increase. Battlefield medicine has improved so significantly that most who would have died on the battlefield are now injured and require extensive care. The government is ill equipped to handle the need and it is only going to get worse.

Vincent feels fortunate that he left the military unscathed, but there are many who get out and are struggling now because of what they did in their early 20’s. Jumping off equipment or jumping out of perfectly good aircraft is hard on the body, the abuse increases the pain as they age. Some of the aches and pains veterans have as they age could be attributed to their time in the military. Medical care should not be an issue, if you served in the military you should not have to fight for benefits, especially minimum benefits such as prescription medication. The VA should honor the promises made to this country’s veterans. If the VA wants to stop funding care for a certain class of veteran that is fine, just don’t make it retroactive to those who were promised services for life. Make it for those entering the military now and let them know there are requirements to receive benefits from the VA. Make sure if you are a veteran or a family member keep checking with the VA about services, the rules constantly change and a veteran who was not eligible last time they checked, might be eligible now.

For questions or comments, you can contact me at afterdutyvets@gmail.com or visit my website at www.afterdutyvets.com, and subscribe to my YouTube channel After Duty Vets or like us on Facebook at After Duty Vets.