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“It’s because the VA has a branding problem, an image problem,” said Tom Tarantino, chief policy officer for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of American (IAVA), which has more than 200,000 members.
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I'm throwing the BS flag on this one. Let me tell you about the VA...
So when I got back from Afghanistan and released from Active Duty (REFRAD) I got a call from the VA stating that I was REQUIRED to go for an exam as part of our demobilization. I went down there (ATL VA) thinking that I would spend an hour travelling there, a couple of hours on-site and an hour coming home. I took half a day and scheduled the trip. I figured there should be a good chance of getting at the head of the line and avoiding the dreaded Atlanta rush hour by leaving at 6 and getting there at 7. Not so much... I actually arrived at the VA about 7:15 and there was already a line snaking through the parking lot and all the way out to the main road. It turns out that, at the ATL VA, you are not allowed to park your own car. You are required to valet park. About 10:30 I handed over the keys to my car and went to my appointment. I was told that I should fill out some paperwork and have a seat to wait to be called.
I finally got called at 3:30 PM for my "10:00 appointment". I don't think they actually know what the word appointment means. I saw a nurse (RN) that took basic readings and then spent the next 20 minutes asking if I was feeling suicidal or felt like I wanted to hurt someone. Then I was sent over to have blood drawn. About 4:30 PM they finished with that and sent me to go listen to a "counselor" whose job was to tell me how wonderful the VA is. I asked her why this was required for demobilization and she looked shocked as she told me that this had nothing to do with demob. Apparently, in their zeal to get us to come in so they can meet their numbers, the telemarketers "may have stretched the truth". Needless to say, I cut it short and left...just in time to get into the afternoon rush hour. When I rolled into the driveway at 8 PM, all I could think about is what a waste of a day that was.
As of today I have not heard anything from the VA about that exam or the results. I still have 2 sets of LOD (Line of Duty) paperwork that have been lost multiple times by the Army and/or VA...that were submitted as part of demob in 2012 and not been ruled on. I am now waiting for the preexisting condition clause on my civilian health insurance to run out in another 6 months so I can go and actually get fixed.
VA Home Loan? good to go, very responsive and accurate
GI Bill? PITA to get rolling, but good to go - probably the best benefit they offer if you can figure out how to get it.
VA Health Care? Worst train wreck in the history of man. They can go screw themselves.
You want to know why veterans don't use the VA? It's not a branding problem, it's because the VA doesn't have a clue wtf they are doing. VA Health Services only exist to justify their own existence.
If the government can't take care of ~1.5 million soldiers that are broken from their service, how in the hell do they expect to be able to take care of 350 million citizens?
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