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The idea that the VA is just is just giving benefits to everyone is laughable. Smh

Example: Marjorie Taylor Greene received $183,504 in PPP loan forgiveness. Vets deserve at least the same treatment. They actually served our country for peanuts of pay.

And yet you are from a party that routinely blamed underprivileged folks who took public assistance and is really ok with executing people despite the fact that it’s known that innocent people have been executed. Pro life!!!

There will always be cheaters but they’re never the majority. Veterans deserve more than just thanks for your service.

I work at a VA Medical Center in a non-healthcare role. I love my job because I love our vets because of what they chose to do for our country. They're Americans. They signed up for and served us. None I've met are faking anything. They deserve everything we as a wealthy nation can do for them

Thank You, for serving us!

I disagree. That worked for me.

Father was WWII POW. Issues related to his time serving finally were acknowledged by VA in the late 1980's and he was able to get the treatment he needed (and deserved) and lived another 30 happy years to age 96. Those men and women who have served honorably since WWII deserve nothing less.

Husband is a PT at a VA for 25 yrs. The burn pits only scratch the surface. What about the huge # of compression injuries? There are a lot of soldiers up to 2 inches shorter than before the Gulf, causes serious mobility issues. He has had his job threatened for highlighting the problem.

It took fifteen years and a lawyer to get the full benefit even though my spouse broke his back. It took hearings, reams of records, interviews.. many VA exams, scans, tape measures, etc. it is hard for me to believe that there are many malingerers.

My son-in-law has severe PTSD & is undergoing extensive therapy for nightmares, anxiety, visions, and mood changes. He also has back pain and chronic sinus trouble from burn pit exposure. Disability pay can never replace his health that he sacrificed for his country! My daughter (wife) also suffers.

My son in law has service connected glioblastoma (brain cancer). In the last 18 months; 3 brain surgeries, radiation, multiple rounds of chemo, 2 trials and he feels this is his last Christmas w/ his wife and small kids. It's beyond cruel to threaten his disability, healthcare and survivor benefits.

Here is the kicker. Even with multiple favorable evaluations and medical research backing up a service connected event, many veterans have to fight for YEARS. It’s a battle of attrition, and they hope you will give up and go away. It’s a broken system and it needs help. We need more compassion.

The entire disability system needs to be restructured from the bottom up. Because you're right, one or two abuses to the system doesn't justify the dehumanizing process one has to go through just to get denied anyway. I can't even walk most days, but they still say my disease doesn't even exist.

MAGA elected a leader who said soldiers who gave their lives for their country are “Suckers and Losers”. You can bet the VA is on Elon’s chopping block.

Oh, so NOW people deserve care, since you actually aren't actively voting against them? www.healthreformvotes.org/congress/412...

And Agent Orange they ignored for a long time. Vietnam vets got screwed. All service men and women should be revered not maligned.

Oh dear. Ok. Ew.

Long list of family that served, many without any claims just because it wasn’t in their nature to do anything but suffer in silence. If you did serve and voted for the bone spur spankmonkey, congrats, you played yourself.

Being a deployed soldier is inherently traumatic. Everyone must actually have ptsd

Same problem in the UK. Unfortunately, we’re still having Vets fighting against the Ministry Of Defence because of disabilities caused by Nuclear Testing in the 60’s. Our Govt won’t recognise GWS and I fought for 5yrs for my disability pension purely because they could refuse. Vets deserve better.

My son is 100% disabled after 18 yrs in the Army. He was injured in Iraq when the war began and will never be the same again. He was also exposed to chemicals there and his lungs are shot. He's like an 80 yr old man~ They touch the VA or his disability they're in for it

I am liking you more and more and more. I’m glad you’re who you are. All of who you are and I’m glad that we are a we and not a them or other. Respect great respect for you.

Our friend encouraged him to hire an attorney to continue a claim for his cancer, but my husband decided not to do so. My husband is similar to many veterans. They do not casually apply disability claims unlike mega-wealthy ind. & business lobbying for tax cuts to boost their investors wealth.

As it should!!

Been tied up in that battle for 20years almost. They find every excuse not to help and blame it all on the veteran, even when evidence proves it.

Mine, too. If they only could comprehend what they go through their attitude would change. Only 1% of our population serves. Even with the draft they simply miss the sheer destruction of health and wellness.

That’s the issue with some people! They can’t put themselves in someone else’s shoes! No empathy! But when they need help all they do is cry that no one listens!

I am curious as well.

DFACS are being shuttered on installations with inadequate replacement. Army leadership has even tried to address it with service wide messages. Between that and substandard barracks, life is shitty for soldiers right now. Well, shittier. www.military.com/daily-news/2...

I mean, I certainly would not recommend military service to anyone at this point. Fascist Commander in Chief, White Supremacist SecDef, gutting VA healthcare benefits, deployment orders to the middle east are picking up. Colleges under attack so GI Bill does what?

Those who give their service to their country require no justification for any and all benefits received. Period. Btw Adam, it’s “there” not “their” - just a minor quibble ❤️

The MAGA Republicans believe that rich people don't have enough money and that the poor and middle class have it too easy.

My dad suffered great health effects due to agent orange exposure. He had to jump through extensive hoops to get the money he had earned from serving his country. He has passed away, but I am terrified for the people who have to deal with this system under another Trump administration.

😪

That’s horrible. This country failed that family and many others like that

That’s a tragedy.. And an awful travesty.

Our veterans deserve much better from the government that sent them to war. Meanwhile, draft-dodger trump, who called our war dead ‘suckers & losers,’ has been elected to the presidency

It is better to wrongly pay a few people than let the deserving suffer. They will eventually be caught.

Thank you for your service. Taking benefits away from our Vets is despicable.

My husband is in the Agent Orange group. It took him years to submit the paperwork for disabilities, because there is very detailed documentation/verification and multiple appointments with different doctors reverifying all the information needed. It's not that easy to "fake" your way through.

Funny you mention crapping of pants… gastrointestinal unpleasantness is one of my husband’s burn pit issues (but not one that has been approved for disability, unlike the cardiac issues and breathing problems). Service-related disability is hard earned and deserved.

Adam …. Thank you for all you’ve given

Having 3 post 9/11 Vet sons, this is a medical issues for all of them. The other concern is TBIs are not fully known or accepted. I can see the changes in my sons bc of TBIs that are untreated

Democracy isn’t perfect but you don’t throw the good out because of the occasional bad. Sometimes you have to grit your teeth because people abuse decency. Worthy veterans can never be abandoned.

REPUBLICANS have always used the few exceptions to justify cruelty. They did it to justify Dodd. THAT INCLUDES YOU & LIZ. Now they’re attacking your healthcare, different, Right? What if we say…you should have taken precautions, you shouldn’t have been near the pits. Your health, our choice, Right?

Exactly the nerve of those House Hypocrites

Amen brother

I served in the Marine Corps Reserve & Active Duty Air Force. Desert Storm/Desert Shield. I’ve had several Comp & Pen exams where they tried to deny me. I needed nexus letters, military medical records & multiple MRI’s to prove my cases. Sometimes I wish I had gone to college & not served. Hassle.

Our veterans deserve the disability pay and healthcare they earned by protecting the rest of us, that shouldn’t even be a question.

Magats don't care.

I'm sure there are far more veterans refusing to go seek help for the PTSD they have but are embarrassed by than are pretending to have PTSD that don't.

My father is a disabled vet and 2 time purple heart recipient. He told me he's scared because he survives on VA disability comp and social security. He shouldn't have to be scared. It's tragic. This country turned on him when he came home from 'Nam and it's repeating. Simply atrocious

Adam I’ve never understood the situation of these pits. Were there dire need conditions which demanded all the incinerations? What would be the chain of command for a decision like that? Unprotected soldiers had to have raised the issue up the ladder. So how did that get approval?

I would point to the same use of the "welfare queen" mythology your party used in the 80's to demagogue the poor.

Agree. Some like my father, died bc of glioblastoma (brain cancer) due to exposure from open pits. I hope every single vet gets every dollar & every ounce of support needed so they can grow old & enjoy their grandkids…unlike my dad. 💔 Miss him every damn day. #burnpits #pactact

If you looking for the one single argument for transitioning into a universal healthcare system. You know, like what 1st world countries have. It would be how our country treats our vets.

You should get in contact with the IAFF(International Association of Firefighters) they have extensive experience in getting coverage for cancers due to exposure to inhalation and skin contact with burning carcinogens.

Crystal clear!!

The problem w/any organization that provides health insurance is that when you’re chronically ill you quickly realize that it is in the best interest of the insurer that you either die or are restored to full health in short order. Very few are restored to good health w/o repercussions for future.

Agree 100% Adam!

So riddle me this: Why the fuck did veterans overwhelmingly vote for Mr. Bone Spur?

Thank you for your service.

Should veterans get additional benefits if they are injured? Absolutely. No questions here. My point is why is fraud more affordable than others?

And every American should have the right to a life of dignity. Vets should all be placed in highest regard and taken care of.

Mattis is a great American soldier. Bonespurs unworthy.

This is exactly right, but then should we also apply the same thought process to “illegal” immigrants and welfare recipients? Most are just trying to get on their feet, yet many republicans assume they are just milking the system. Freeloaders are a necessary consequence of adequate social safety.

Good luck. Agent orange is still found on cargo planes still being used.

If you’ve been injured while on active duty/reserve duty/ duty in service to this country, you have earned whatever the benefit that comes with it. The ones who have never served, never understand. They need to quite shit talking our service members!

Sadly all systems are abused by a few selfish individuals to the cost of those most deserving. We have an obligation to compensate all those that gave so much for the safety and freedoms of us all. I struggle to believe the mag(g)ats are so willing to throw it all away. Thank you for your service.💙

As a milspouse I'm biased, but even from a fiscal responsibility perspective - only 1% of the population volunteers to serve. It's ridiculous they're coming after veteran benefits - all in the name of tax cuts for the corporations.

My sperm donor 'father' likes to pretend he's a veteran. Wears the hats and lies through his teeth about what he did. 😡 The worst part is the whole town thinks he's jeebus. Happy to call him out - David Allen Vogelbacher

Nice dig at Ted Nugent!

Wishing you a long life of good health.

That is the Republicans way, they believe because there's a few grifters, yes I see the irony, that may take advantage. Republicans view the world of cheaters just like them.

To this point, are there others who are deserving who don’t have the wherewithal to navigate the bureaucracy/ don’t know to ask, were refused due to technicalities? Also yes. Just accessing benefits requires work.

My outrage at the disconnect between bragging about the best military in the world and actually caring about the individuals who comprise said best military in the world is beyond measure. Small compensation, but my sincere gratitude.

Oligarch controlled politicians will do whatever they can to reduce federal spending and give it all back to the oligarchs

It is incredibly hard to abuse too. The military does deny some requests. They denied my dad for several things (it can be difficult to apply, there is help with applying but folks gotta go get it at the county VA).

Semper Fi 🫡 Gulf War Syndrome, burn pits, oil well fires…

I’d rather have some “fakers” get help than risk even one disabled person being denied benefits.

As a disabled Army veteran, the amount of "fuck you"s I have for Republicans these days is unreal. They only care about helping their rich friends and lobbying groups. They could care less about veterans. They can all just fuck off.

all of our vets should be GENEROUSLY taken care of, disabled or not. It’s a shame there are hoops.

Because these programs help people reach better heights and health thereby contributing to society in a better way than they could without it. We should expand them and fund them. Most times the money goes unspent. And if we hired people to root out the fraud in real ways, shoot our debt would be 📉

OIF/OEF Combat vet with 100% T&P on my first filing. I know too many vets who refuse to file because they feel others were hurt more. I know fewer that played tricks to inflate their filing, like the ED claim. Even fewer have 100% T&P.

I don't know? Have a nephew eight years in he made captain, he injured knee some hearing loss one ear. Engineer functions normally makes 150k as project engineer supervisor. Gets four thousand a month in disability. Seems a bit excessive to me.🤔

About 50 years ago

What is really sad is I know a bunch of disabled veterans that voted for Trump. But because of our relationships being in a clinical setting - I could not talk about politics. Even though I cringed every time I heard one talk about him. 😢

Thank you so much for responding.

Got a 100% service connected, wheelchair bound spouse in the VA tonight, worried sick about losing pension, healthcare and home. Joe made big strides for homeless vets. Orangina is going to create homeless vets.

It is extremely time-consuming and resource-intensive to ensure that every cut of meat is 100% fat-free. Practical alternatives include cutting off some of the meat to ensure all the fat is gone or leaving some of the fat to ensure no meat is wasted. Hope the analogy is apparent to all.

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Australia had a Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. ‘… we have the deepest respect for every Australian who wears our nation’s uniform and serves selflessly to keep us safe. Now we will work tirelessly to improve the system and keep them safe too.’ PM Anthony Albanese.

Various rating levels and payments are determined in increments of 10, from 0% to 100%. Some may have a 10% or 20% rating, while others have 100%. Most, at 70% to 100%, are unable to work. But.... Many Veterans can work at the lower levels. Don't doubt; try to understand the system instead.

My very first thought.

I’m a criminal defense attorney (and a prosecutor for 20 years). The courts are finally recognizing that veterans’ addictions are a symptom, not the underlying cause. Veterans’ courts are becoming more and more common. We treat them with respect and don’t kick them while they’re down.

I’m 100% service connected for PTSD, Depression, and anxiety. I don’t know how anyone can “fake” PTSD and get awarded benefits. I had to go through three different C&P Exams. The process has gotten better, but still very difficult. I don’t know haw anyone can pretend and get past the exams.

Some independence makes a big difference.