In some ways, this is a fake and phoney
attempt to put lipstick on a pig so do
NOT be fooled by the deception here!
The new records system is for NEW cases
or possibly current cases from the current
war period. The better part of the claims
backlog at the VA has to do with LIFELONG
cases dating all the way back to the
Vietnam War period and beyond, who will
NOT be served by this new records system.
That means some 800,000 cases, will STILL
remain unadressed. This is a Republican
effort that started years ago, and simply
is now announced under the new Democrat
administration. The Republicans had an
agenda to hide, downplay, and never speak
on the totallity of the claims backlog
itself as it stands right now. This would
be to admit they were all incompetent in
the first place which caused the huge
pile up of cases.

So there is little relief or comfort to the
rest of us in this particular announcement.
See it for what it is, a little good news,
and a lotta bad news for now.



Apr 9, 8:28 PM EDT


Obama announces new record system for vets

By KIMBERLY HEFLING
Associated Press Writer


WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama on Thursday promised a more efficient record system to ease delays in health care for wounded veterans as the government copes with more than 33,000 military personnel injured in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Under the new system, an electronic record would follow a service member in the military and then later in the Veterans Affairs Department's medical system.

There is currently a six-month backlog in disability claims at the VA. Because the two agencies have different medical systems, veterans have complained about bureaucratic hurdles and long waits as they enter the VA system.

Recounting the hundreds of stories he said he heard from frustrated veterans unable to receive needed treatment, Obama said: "It's time to change all that, it's time to give our veterans a 21st century VA."

He said his new military and veterans affairs budget focuses heavily on more spending for diagnosing brain injuries and psychological disabilities that have gone untreated.

"We have a sacred trust with those who wear the uniform of the United States of America, a commitment that begins with enlistment and must never end. But we know that for too long we've fallen short of meeting that commitment. Too many wounded warriors go without the care that they need," Obama said.

More than 1.6 million troops have deployed in support of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Of those, more than 33,000 have been wounded on the battlefield. The VA has said that more than 400,000 recent veterans have sought some sort of care - including mental health care - at a VA facility since 2002.

Obama made the announcement with Defense Secretary Robert Gates and VA Secretary Eric Shinseki. He said he's asked them to develop a unified system, and they've taken the first steps to do that.

The electronic record keeping system would handle military service members' administrative and medical records from the day they enter service and ensure that those files are transferred automatically to the VA when they leave active duty.

As the president tackles the larger problem of health care for all Americans, he is proposing massive spending to enable providers to keep patients' records on computer networks, a development that Obama says will cut costs in the long term and reduce medical errors.

Obama has also been pushing for increased spending for veterans, claiming those who have and are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan are not getting the care they deserve. The president's plan was praised by veterans advocates.

"Historically, the onus for enrolling in the VA system has fallen on the service member once they come off active duty," said Ray Kelley, legislative director for AMVETS.

The program introduced Thursday will be part of overall Defense Department spending of $47 billion on health care in the next fiscal year, the White House said.

Over the next five years, the White House said, spending for veterans affairs was set to grow by $25 billion.

There are more than 23 million veterans in the United States, and nearly 5.5. million people sought health care at a VA facility last year.


________________________________________
End of Associated Press Release

Hello everyone,
I just wanted to say one thing on this topic; raceism goes both ways, and can only be overcome by reporting the ones who commit the act of racesism.

Let us vet's not in fight over this issue; let us stand together as we have done in battle, and over come this never ending ignorance.

REPLY:

Of course, the million dollar jackpot question
here is how and in what way did you file
your complaint? We cannot really make any
sense of this if you leave that information
out. thanks

THIS IS A RESPONE I GOT FROM THE VETERAN AFFAIRS OFFICE CONCERNING A COMPLAINT I FILED. THE MENTALITY DISPLAYED GIVES A CLEARCUT PICTURE AS TO WHAT THE VETERANS ARE UP AGAINST.



> AMERICA THE BRAVE!
> WHAT ARE WE DOING???
> FROM RECONSTRUCTION
> TO CIVIL LIBERTIES
> TO CIVIL RIGHTS
>
> WHY IS DISCRIMINATION & INJUSTICE STILL AS PREVALENT TODAY AS YESTERDAY?
>
SEE BELOW FOR SOME LOGICAL REASONS AS OUTLINED
>
> Response (Department of Veterans Affairs) 02/26/2009 01:23 PM
> Mr. Morris:
>
> Mr. Svirsky's name appears on almost everything, as he is the Veterans Service Center Manager, he does not physically answer every question in this forum nor does he write every letter that leaves the Roanoke Regional Office.
>
> The law requires that we treat all veterans equally in reaching a determination on each claim, regardless of the veteran’s race, ethnicity or any other factor that is not relevant to the claim. Therefore your comments concerning your race are simply incorrect.
>
> If you have any further questions that have not already been addressed we will be happy to answer them, however, to continue to address this issue is counterproductive.
>
> Inquirer 02/21/2009 06:30 PM
> I KNOW WHY YOUR RESPONSE IS BUSINESS AS USUAL (BS) YOUR INFORMATION IS INACCURATE AS USUAL. WHY DO I HEAR FROM THE CULPRIT ALWAYS. D SVIRSKY IS THE VILLIAN THAT MY COMPLAINT IS AGAINST. SO WHY IS HE ALLOWED TO RESPOND TO EVERYTHING IS IT BECAUSE I AM A BLACK VETERAN? I AM FULLY CONVINCED.THAT I AM NOT BEING TREATED AS A WHITE OR FOREIGN VETERANS. I SERVED 2&1/2 YEARS IN VIETNAM SAVING LIVES ALL COLORS AND SEX, SO WHY CAN'T I GET THE SAME TREATMENT? PLUS THE LAWS ARE BEING VIOLATED.
>
> OH MY GOD VA IS GOVERNED BY THE LAW AND IT OBEYS IT SO VETERANS JUST SHUT UP!!!!, WHY DID'NT SOMEBODY TELL ME THE VETERAN'S AFFAIRS OFFICE WAS OBEYING THE WRITTEN LAW please post this on national tv and on every sign post.

WHAT A JOKE REMEMBER I DID NOT SAY IT
>

I am one white vet who had tried to make a stand against abuse of other veterans at the McGuire VA Hospitals back in the early 90's. I am not saying that you will waste your time by seeking care at this hospital.Many vets have though since I have heard their stories and I certainly know mine since I have been faced with years of retaliation and have been forced to endure all kinds of black harassment and abuse. When you're dealing with a bunch of freaking cowards and incompetent staff, you get a dysfunctional abusive hospital. Can you figure that out?

My wife and I am moving back to Roanoke this summer.

I planned on taking advantage of the CHAMPVA CITI program at the Richmond VAMC.

From reading your post, should I assume its not worth the effort because we are white?

Obama says that some veterans aren't getting the care that they deserve. That's a joke! The McGuire VAMC in Richmond, Virginia doesn't seem to know the meaning of care unless it pertains to minorities. Care for white male vets is abuse in many cases and the VA simply doesn't care. The cowards at McGuire prevail for now.