VETERANS CORNER: Things at the VA are slowly changing

Veterans Affairs Regional Benefit Office Togus, ME

by Gary Kennedy

Well, things at the VA are slowly changing. The Community Living Center which was supposed to be built four years ago has been started. However, for some reason that I haven’t been able to figure out, as of yet, construction has stopped again. Another construction site has begun in the rear of Building 205. The way things have been going is very strange. When I ask, people just say, “I don’t know”, no one wants to talk. The beautiful hospitality house that was gifted to we veterans and families continues to sink into the ground and nothing has be done. The hospitality houses parking lot has been turned into public parking.

Remember several years ago I complained about the house being built on wet land and land that is a wildlife habitat and has been for decades. I even filed a complaint with the state. They didn’t do anything, to my knowledge. We have both geese and different varieties of ducks that breed and habitat that area annually. It’s wonderful for our veterans, especially the inpatients to be able to watch the babies being born and taught by their parents the needs for making the trip south in the fall. I’ve watched them for 50 years and never tired of watching the never ending cycle of life.

We have dozens of deer and other animals that habitat the remaining 500 acres of federal land, the wildlife know what they are doing; it’s the humans that have a problem getting their act together.

We have some fantastic employees at Togus but we don’t have, nor can we keep, enough of them. The big question is why? Many departments are under a great deal of pressure. That is true not only on the medical side but also on the administrative side. A good example would be VBA. The pressure on the employees there is great. When I visit that area with a veteran I can tell the minute I walk in how things will be.

Seventy-five percent of the staff there are brand new and still learning. That is difficult for the veteran and difficult for the employee. Don’t take me wrong, they get the job done; it just takes more effort and more time. Also, recently there has been many retirements in the VA system. That means 20 plus years of knowledge and experience are lost. New eyes are good but those eyes have much to learn. Even the Veteran Service Officers (V.S.Os) of the independent organizations have much to do with it as those organizations are not highly paid.

Covid and government upset has really taken its toll and hurt the least of us the most. The medical side isn’t any better off. We are severely short on skilled doctors and practitioners. People are being moved around into areas that, in my opinion, they have no business in; it will affect overall veteran care and leave the employee in a very bad place. Some of our doctors need to retire and the need for replacement is great. I don’t believe administration knows how to fill the gaps.

Recently, as many veterans are aware, the gym privilege was taken from recovering veterans and rented out to employees. I believe that was done as an incentive for keeping young employees. In any case that is a slap in the face of veterans as that gym and pool were built almost a century ago for the welfare of veterans and anyone eliminating that right should not be working at the VA. My letters to Washington will one day be answered and soon I hope. The veterans deserve better than that. Administration in my opinion has forgotten who they are working for. The word “respect” has been lost and replaced with lip service.

Soon we will be having an election and I pray that everyone has been watching what is going on. Everyone out there needs to evaluate what they see and experience and vote. If you don’t vote then you will receive what you deserve. We are all Americans whether or not you put on the uniform in defense of our country. We are in this together and have our family and friends to protect. Ask any veteran, we are in a very bad and dangerous place at this time. We can’t stand idly by and allow our country to be taken over by the worst of us.

I had a woman call me today and tell me that her husband recently passed away and she asked the VA for help, and hasn’t heard anything yet. She is worried as she doesn’t have her husband’s pension anymore. He was a 100 percent Service Connected, Permanent and Total Vet; of course this lady is entitled to help. I explained D.I.C. to her, told her where to go and who to speak with. I also told her if she had a problem to call me back and I would accompany her to the proper destination and person.

This column has many viewers and I am pretty sure the person I am referring to is one of the readers. I know he will give this lady all the help she needs and deserves. There are so many veterans and/or their significant other that don’t use the system that was designed for them. That is a shame and not acceptable. We all need to help one another, even if only a referral.

If you know someone who is struggling then you should guide them to the VA. There are many of us who really love helping. The joy of another brought on by an act of kindness is in itself a great reward. Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind and compassionate to one another”. It doesn’t take much to assist others who are in need of guidance and/or direction.

As veterans we have an oath to one another. There are other organizations who share that, such as Masons, Knights of Rizal, Rotary, Kiwanis, etc. The motto is “Service Above Self”. We all know someone or some organization that can and are willing to help. We really need to get back on the American path.

Next time I will go over some of the questions I have gathered here on my desk. We will try to get your claims on the right path. Just remember to keep your doctor’s appointments and tell your PCP all that is going on so he/she can make the right referrals. That’s the nuts and bolts of a good claim.

Your VSO will write your case according to what is located in discovery. Your military story needs to be known to your doctor so he/she can place you on the path that you need to be on. Sometimes a case takes awhile to develop. Just be patient and don’t give up. The wheels are always turning. God bless and have a great week.