The Veteran Thread

[theoddz]

Thanks for posting that, Greyson. It is a national travesty that our Veterans have to wait so long to get the benefits that we've earned. It always seems like the nation/political system is forever ready to get us involved in armed conflict, yet is never ready or prepared to take care of us, once the Veteran returns. The VA was in really shabby condition and completely unprepared to care for the Veterans of Vietnam. Again, we see nearly the same and even worse with the VBA (Veterans Benefit Administration) this time around, with OIF/OEF Vets.

I can tell you, from my own personal experience of obtaining my benefits, it is a long, long, lengthy process and most times, nearly every Veteran is denied the first time their claim is presented to the Adjudication Board. A Vet could roll in to the VA as an amputee who had his/her legs blown off in battle and the VA would look at them and say, "No, that isn't service-connected". You know why they do that?? Because they know that there will be a certain percentage of Veterans who will just give up and go away, and that saves the VA a lot of money. Another thing the Adjudication system just LOVES to do, when processing a claim, is to "remand" it and send it back to get "more information". Before the VA and DoD became computerized, it took a LOT longer for this to happen. It took me 12+ years to finally get my full benefits, and that was waaaaaaay too long!!! It just breaks my heart to see our service men and women have to fight the VA like they must in order to get their benefits.

The key to finally getting one's VA benefits/compensation is persistence. You just have to keep at them and keep filing the "Notice of Disagreement" each and every time the claim is denied. Don't give up. Oh, and it also helps a LOT if you get a Service Officer (AMVETS, DAV, American Legion, VFW) to work your claim for you. These guys are provided by their organizations, free of charge to Veterans, for the sole purpose of filing and processing disability claims. They are available at ALL VA Medical Centers and at some clinic locations. Some require appointments and some do walk-in's. If you're trying to get help from these people, call your main VAMC phone number and ask to be connected, or for the phone number, of one of the Service Officers. Don't try to process your claim by yourself. The process is confusing and tends to require many time deadlines. These guys keep track of these things for the Veteran, and most of the time, they have "connections" at the Adjudication Boards that can sometimes speed things up a lot.

Thanks again, Greyson, for posting this!!!!

~Theo~

[theoddz]

I'm frustrated with the VA and need to vent, so I'm posting this:

Tommy

I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.

Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.

You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!

~Rudyard Kipling

~Theo~

[Parker]

Originally Posted by theoddz

Thanks for posting that, Greyson. It is a national travesty that our Veterans have to wait so long to get the benefits that we've earned. It always seems like the nation/political system is forever ready to get us involved in armed conflict, yet is never ready or prepared to take care of us, once the Veteran returns. The VA was in really shabby condition and completely unprepared to care for the Veterans of Vietnam. Again, we see nearly the same and even worse with the VBA (Veterans Benefit Administration) this time around, with OIF/OEF Vets.

I can tell you, from my own personal experience of obtaining my benefits, it is a long, long, lengthy process and most times, nearly every Veteran is denied the first time their claim is presented to the Adjudication Board. A Vet could roll in to the VA as an amputee who had his/her legs blown off in battle and the VA would look at them and say, "No, that isn't service-connected". You know why they do that?? Because they know that there will be a certain percentage of Veterans who will just give up and go away, and that saves the VA a lot of money. Another thing the Adjudication system just LOVES to do, when processing a claim, is to "remand" it and send it back to get "more information". Before the VA and DoD became computerized, it took a LOT longer for this to happen. It took me 12+ years to finally get my full benefits, and that was waaaaaaay too long!!! It just breaks my heart to see our service men and women have to fight the VA like they must in order to get their benefits.

The key to finally getting one's VA benefits/compensation is persistence. You just have to keep at them and keep filing the "Notice of Disagreement" each and every time the claim is denied. Don't give up. Oh, and it also helps a LOT if you get a Service Officer (AMVETS, DAV, American Legion, VFW) to work your claim for you. These guys are provided by their organizations, free of charge to Veterans, for the sole purpose of filing and processing disability claims. They are available at ALL VA Medical Centers and at some clinic locations. Some require appointments and some do walk-in's. If you're trying to get help from these people, call your main VAMC phone number and ask to be connected, or for the phone number, of one of the Service Officers. Don't try to process your claim by yourself. The process is confusing and tends to require many time deadlines. These guys keep track of these things for the Veteran, and most of the time, they have "connections" at the Adjudication Boards that can sometimes speed things up a lot.

Thanks again, Greyson, for posting this!!!!

~Theo~

I actually count myself as lucky because my claim(s) took less than a year each - but to be fair, they werent initial claims but a re-evaluations. I did my initial claim back when I first got out and they decided certain things were service connected, but rated at 0% so I never bothered with it again - until things got decidedly worse and I had to have a hysto. Then I requested a re-evaluation and then another re-evaluation a couple of years later when the complications of that made things even worse.

Now I am playing the waiting game with the SSA - apply-deny, appeal-deny, ALJ-non-favorable, and now we are at the appeals council portion of the game.

I didnt have any help with my re-evaluations with the VA because, for some reason, DAV didnt want to help me out and be an advocate/rep (too bogged down maybe? dunno), but with SSA, I have a lawyer to help me wade through the gobbledegook.

It's a tough fight and sometimes a long wait - and sometimes I even catch hell from people who think I am just lazy and looking for entitlements - but each one of us earned those benefits; so I would encourage each veteran to hang in there and keep fighting for what you deserve.

[Tommi]

We can all come together and be part of this great country today.
That flag of Freedom lived and died for flies proudly for all.

[Tommi]

[Wolfsong]

A few things of note.....


Film Explores Life After Military for Female Vets





For those that didn't know about the memorial linked below, I strongly urge you to add your dog tags to the tree. People need to know what we did, what we stand for. It can never be complete without you.

Women in the Military Service for America Memorial

Hey........anyone want to trade MRE's? I got Sloppy Joe's again.

[Little Fish]

Hey Vets--

Has anyone here used the VA Home Loan program?

I'm wanting to buy a house but this program doesn't seem to be used widely in my area...or so I've been told. (and I'm suspect of this agent so...)

Did it work for you?
Which Lender did you use?
Which lender would you stay away from?
Lessons learned?

Also, do you use USAA insurance for anything?

All comments welcome, thanks!

(I still have a case of MREs--the shelf life is scary.)

[Parker]

Hey Little Fish - I plan on using my VA Home Loan when I move to IL and my bank (Navy Federal CU) is who I will try to secure my loan from. I can come back and post about the process ... I honestly wouldnt trust an agent who tries to steer you away from using yours. My landlady is a Realtor and when I started talking about everything that entails using the VA Home Loan, she wondered why I havent used mine yet. lol

Also, while I dont use USAA, I have heard nothing but good things about them for insurance and as a banking institution. I already have good insurance and use NFCU though, so I dont need USAA right now.

-----

I have some MREs, but not from my time in the Navy - these are ones I bought in like 2009 or 2010 for emergencies. I have beef stew, spaghetti, and chicken alfredo. I love the stew

[theoddz]

Originally Posted by Little Fish

Hey Vets--

Has anyone here used the VA Home Loan program?

I'm wanting to buy a house but this program doesn't seem to be used widely in my area...or so I've been told. (and I'm suspect of this agent so...)

Did it work for you?
Which Lender did you use?
Which lender would you stay away from?
Lessons learned?

Also, do you use USAA insurance for anything?

All comments welcome, thanks!

(I still have a case of MREs--the shelf life is scary.)

Hey there LF, yes I have used my VA home loan benefit. It's pretty simple, but let me clear up some misconceptions about what it is.

Any lender or builder should be able to work a VA home loan for you, though some realtors might not want to, because the VA home loan program doesn't allow lenders to tack on a lot of "junk" fees. They are heavily regulated and the loans require that the potential property be inspected and appraised by VA appraiser. It has to meet VA standards, and let me tell you.....those protect you, the Veteran!! That, sometimes, can take a bit of time, depending on the market and how busy the appraisers are. If you are a service-connected Disabled Veteran (at least 10% compensable), you cannot be charged a "funding fee" on your loan, either. Also, with a VA loan, you don't have to have a down payment. Of course, any money you might have to put down will be figured in your financing and will result in a lower monthly mortgage payment. That's with any loan, of course, and is always a good thing, if you can do it.

Okay, now....about the VA loan. A VA loan is a loan that is simply backed by the VA. The VA is the guarantor. This means that the VA acts similar to how a co-signer acts for a loan. They simply stand behind it, in case you default. It's a great program and there's lots of great information on the web about it, if you just google it. Here's a few links for you.

http://www.military.com/money/va-loa...ome-loans.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VA_loan

http://benefits.va.gov/homeloans/

Hope that's enough to get you started.

I would strongly encourage you to not opt for any other type of loan than the fixed rate loan. Don't go for that adjustable rate bullshit. That's gotten a lot of folks into big trouble.

Oh, and I have never used USAA. I have Navy Federal Credit Union and have had it for many years. I absolutely adore them!!!

Good luck!!!

Semper Fi,
~Theo~

[Goofy]

Originally Posted by Little Fish

Hey Vets--

Has anyone here used the VA Home Loan program?

I'm wanting to buy a house but this program doesn't seem to be used widely in my area...or so I've been told. (and I'm suspect of this agent so...)

Did it work for you?
Which Lender did you use?
Which lender would you stay away from?
Lessons learned?

Also, do you use USAA insurance for anything?

All comments welcome, thanks!

(I still have a case of MREs--the shelf life is scary.)

Hey Little Fish, I got my current mortgage with the VA home loan, and I did it through USAA.

I've had USAA insurance on my car for about 10-12 years now. I've haven't had an accident or other reason to use it, but setting it up was an easy process. The folks there have always been nice and very helpful whenever I call. Their website is easy to use and you can make changes or updates on just about everything.

I love USAA, so it just seemed natural to go with them when I decided to buy my house. I called them and asked a TON of questions and they walked me through the entire process. They have a program called MoversAdvantage that hooked me up with a realtor in the area. She was super nice and extremely helpful throughout the process. She still sends me "happy move-in day" cards lol. I got pre-approved through USAA and, once the offer on my house was accepted, was able to view the status online. It was a nerve-wracking experience (it was my first house, which scared the hell out of me), but my agent and the folks at USAA were fantastic. I also have my homeowners insurance through them and they walked me through that process as well.

I don't know if my experience was easier using USAA because it does cater to military folks, but I'm assuming it was. I'm sure the process would be similar with other military affiliated banks/credit unions.

If your agent is telling you that the VA program isn't used in that area...I call bullshit! It shouldn't matter where the house is, as long as it can pass the inspection. Like Theo said, the inspectors are notoriously fickle, but I'd rather have a thorough inspection on an investment of that magnitude than a crappy one.

If you have any other questions feel free to ask.

[theoddz]

Originally Posted by Wolfsong

Hey........anyone want to trade MRE's? I got Sloppy Joe's again.

The Commissary at Nellis AFB sells a case of 24 MRE meals for about $85. I think they are assorted varieties, but I can tell you this......they're 150% better than those canned C-rats (leftovers from Vietnam) that we got. Even my poor ol' dog wouldn't eat those.

~Theo~

[Parker]

I buy mine on-line from a site called TheEpicenter and I like to skip the full packages and just get the entrees. They end up costing me about $2.50 each after shipping.