VA Benefits Fraud

[jessemoore97 1,287]

You just inadvertently reminded me of my next major pet peeve in all of this. Why do non-military folks feel obligated to thank servicemembers for their service?

 

Nickman, do you know what I got out of joining the Army? Let's see....

 

1) Free college tuition while enlisted and about $250,000 in education money after I left. That 250K doesn't even count the $2,000 a month I currently receive in housing allowance simply for being enrolled in school. I can also transfer unused education benefits to anyone in my immediate family. You know, for whenever I'm tired of piling up graduate degrees.

 

2) A VA home loan with 0% down payment at an interest rate of about 2.5%.

 

3) The highest level of security clearance which afforded me the opportunity to hunt down bad guys while I was in and continue to do so now that I've left. The clearance itself is worth a six figure salary for the rest of my life and I get to do meaningful and satisfying work.

 

4) Access to a vast network of other prior servicemembers that can plug you in to just about whatever job you're interested in. I haven't legitimately interviewed for a job in years.

 

5) VA Disability Benefits. If I filed for this when I left and received 100%, I'd be getting about 60k a year for the rest of my life for doing absolutely nothing. Nothing.

 

And while I was in, sure the pay wasn't great but we are talking about kids right out of high school for the most part. It blows my mind when airlines solicit passengers to give a round of applause for a service member on board like they did it for free or something. Of course there is some risk involved but everyone knows that when they join.

 

 

Nice thing to do? lol

 

I don't thank every service member. The guys that I work with who have gone on tours, I welcome back with a handshake and a hearty "welcome home".

 

The men I usually thank(ed) the most were WWII vets, rightly or wrongly. I think it was mostly because of the nature of that war, the vastness of it, and because both my grandfathers(who are both gone) served. I don't think I ever told them thanks for their service and for coming home, which obviously I owe my whole existence to. Perhaps one of the men I thanked saved the life of someone's grandfather that I knew or even my own. Corny I know.

 

I know the feeling of thinking it odd when someone thanks me for being a policeman, because its my job. Its nice when you do get a sincere thanks from someone that you actually helped though.

[echo88 74]

Nice thing to do? lol

 

I don't thank every service member. The guys that I work with who have gone on tours, I welcome back with a handshake and a hearty "welcome home".

 

The men I usually thank(ed) the most were WWII vets, rightly or wrongly. I think it was mostly because of the nature of that war, the vastness of it, and because both my grandfathers(who are both gone) served. I don't think I ever told them thanks for their service and for coming home, which obviously I owe my whole existence to. Perhaps one of the men I thanked saved the life of someone's grandfather that I knew or even my own. Corny I know.

 

I know the feeling of thinking it odd when someone thanks me for being a policeman, because its my job. Its nice when you do get a sincere thanks from someone that you actually helped though.

 

IMO, vets of the Korean War, both WW's, and draftees in Vietnam deserve the utmost praise. Those warriors were truly selfless. They didn't get the benefits and the apartments overseas.

 

What I am talking about is very different. If you could see the coffee shops, laundry service sheds, ice cream parlors, concerts, Burger Kings and Baskin Robbins that accompanied the Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns, you might not feel so sorry......

[chirodomer 47]

IMO, vets of the Korean War, both WW's, and draftees in Vietnam deserve the utmost praise. Those warriors were truly selfless. They didn't get the benefits and the apartments overseas.

 

What I am talking about is very different. If you could see the coffee shops, laundry service sheds, ice cream parlors, concerts, Burger Kings and Baskin Robbins that accompanied the Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns, you might not feel so sorry......

 

Maybe, I only get the guys who are ready to eat a bullet every day from pain. So many are jacked up on 10-15 pain pills a day and seem to need downers just to keep them from popping like a cork on society. What's funny is every guy who has been in the shi7 never wants to take any complimentary services or extra treatment that gets denied by the VA etc whereas, the guys who sat behind a desk will always bite. I do know a couple of guys who have seen some pretty heavy duty stuff and they are completely normal and when they come home to be a cop or "ghost" they yearn to go back and be able to actually engage in some action. It truly takes all kinds. Like I said though. My friend from high school was crazier than batshit when he went in and is just as crazy now that he is out. They pushed PTSD on him wi a big payout and monthly benefits and now he just sits around and gets high and rides his motorcycle. He had a great job hanging steel and made big money. I really think a man has to engage in some sort of work bc when you leave a man's mind unoccupied by work or service then they end up dying mentally and a lot of times their body doesn't follow for 40 years.

[nickman54 0]

This thread has got me reminiscing about my grandfather. I hope you don't mind me sharing his story. He would never speak of his service to anyone, just my grandma. As I said he was a Korea vet. He discharged the army as a "sergeant firs class", he was a "master sergeant" for about a day. He just got back to his base after being in combat with his platoon. He told my grandmother that it had gotten so bad that he ripped his stripes off and wanted to avoid being tortured. Eventually they prevailed though. He got back to base and was told that he was getting another stripe and would be a master sergeant. Later in the day his commanding officer informed him that his platoon had to go to Seoul to take part in some victory parade. Long story short he told his commanding officer to go F^^^ himself, he wanted his men to rest as they had gotten the crap kicked out of them. They took his stripe that they awarded to him earlier in the day on the spot. Sorry if my army terms don't sound completely right as I don't know the verbiage.

[jessemoore97 1,287]

IMO, vets of the Korean War, both WW's, and draftees in Vietnam deserve the utmost praise. Those warriors were truly selfless. They didn't get the benefits and the apartments overseas.

 

What I am talking about is very different. If you could see the coffee shops, laundry service sheds, ice cream parlors, concerts, Burger Kings and Baskin Robbins that accompanied the Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns, you might not feel so sorry......

 

You're right I probably would feel a little different seeing that stuff. Sounds a lot more comfy than things were like in the last century.

[AlabamaDuck 0]

Fighting every night. Kicking doors down of supposedly terrorist homes while their kids are sitting in the floor too scared to move.

 

Crawling 1/2 mile in the under brush of a water hole to capture big named terrorist and his body guards that has killed dozens of American soldiers.

 

Going into villages that are 100% bad guys and then get ambushed on the way out. With a team of 10-12 guys including interpreters, you are always out numbered.

 

And then the next night you do it again. When you are in a constant gun fight, there is no thought of a ice cream cone.

[echo88 74]

Fighting every night. Kicking doors down of supposedly terrorist homes while their kids are sitting in the floor too scared to move.

 

Crawling 1/2 mile in the under brush of a water hole to capture big named terrorist and his body guards that has killed dozens of American soldiers.

 

Going into villages that are 100% bad guys and then get ambushed on the way out. With a team of 10-12 guys including interpreters, you are always out numbered.

 

And then the next night you do it again. When you are in a constant gun fight, there is no thought of a ice cream cone.

 

LOL you've been watching too many movies.

 

Those scenarios are (loosely) familiar to maybe 5% of all troops in theater. And those aren't the soldiers I'm referring to when discussing PTSD. Unless you've been there, please don't pretend to know what that is like. Based on your description, I'm guessing you haven't.

Edited January 13, 2014 by echo88

[jbrown_9999 1,020]

The guy Castisllo broke his ankle playing football at the West Point Prep School but never entered the academy and never served in the armed forces. He then claimed a 30% disability as a "veteran" to get a monthly check and to allow his company to win government contracts as a disabled veteran-owned business.

 

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-11-13/news/ct-met-duckworth-disability-bill-1113-20131113_1_disability-duckworth-veterans-act

 

I had another officer show me a youtube video from a Congressional hearing this past summer. I really wish I could dig it up because it was appalling. The man testifying was some big wig so-and-so, and was apparently receiving disability payments and treatment for what amounted to tennis elbow or some such thing, which I believe may have occurred when he was in the Guard but didn't happen as a result of combat or anything pertaining to his duties.

 

Anyhow a female congressperson ripped his arse for 10-15 minutes getting down to every last detail of his "war wound" and why he needed continual treatment and disability payments, especially in light of the nature of the wound, he was well off, and soldiers who actually suffered traumatic injuries were having problems getting treated, etc.

 

I agree Echo, it is a damn shame that crap like this goes on in our military. Lord knows I've seen officers medical out for "bad backs" and other BS, while the rest of us sit there and have to take it. I hate schemers. What makes them so entitled to think that they are somehow owed more than the rest of us who trudge the same ground day after day!

[AlabamaDuck 0]

LOL you've been watching too many movies.

 

Those scenarios are (loosely) familiar to maybe 5% of all troops in theater. And those aren't the soldiers I'm referring to when discussing PTSD. Unless you've been there, please don't pretend to know what that is like. Based on your description, I'm guessing you haven't.

 

Not pretending!

 

The worst thing was going to Walter Reed to see a couple of buddies that couldn`t hug you back.

 

You are not an expert, quit trying to be one.

[echo88 74]

Not pretending!

 

The worst thing was going to Walter Reed to see a couple of buddies that couldn`t hug you back.

 

You are not an expert, quit trying to be one.

 

Again, go back and familiarize yourself with the benefits recipients who I object to. Combat arms guys, especially ones who suffer injuries, are the ones who deserve the benefits.

[GunSlinger 28]

Not pretending!

 

The worst thing is going to Walter Reed to see a couple of buddies the disabilityt hug you back.

 

You are not an expert, quit trying to be one.

 

Jesus bud take it easy, he is not saying a double amputee shouldnt get taken care of. He's referring to guys who twist a knee at a golf course but then collect 20 percent disability for the remainder of their lives because they claim it occurred during military service.

[TDUB 0]

I got one for you...one of my co-workers is an ex-marine who collects disability benefits even though the extent of his service was being on guard at a U.S. base (he never served a tour or left the country). So what's his disability check for? He got hit in the head trying to catch a softball during a game at one of the bases which ended up requiring surgery to alleviate pressure on his sinuses. Has had zero impact on his life other than a big scar. I didn't believe him until he showed me the bank statement one day. The worst part is he brags about it.

[echo88 74]

Jesus bud take it easy, he is not saying a double amputee shouldnt get taken care of. He's referring to guys who twist a knee at a golf course but then collect 20 percent disability for the remainder of their lives because they claim it occurred during military service.

 

Exactly. And as sad as it is, guys like this make up the glaring majority of ones who collect.

Edited January 14, 2014 by echo88

[PursuitAce 0]

I gotta agree with Echo on this. The system encourages vets to take the money and a lot of guys abuse it. It just becomes another money hole of the government.

[echo88 74]

Thought Id drum up this issue again after an experience I had today.

 

Keep in mind that I am currently based at a remote location that executes nightly missions in Syria and Iraq---so best described as austere.

 

So I overhear some dipshit contractor bragging about how he makes 100% disability from the military. This guy gets about 50% from PTSD (guy admits it's from hearing explosions when in Afghanistan--not kidding) and the other 50% is knee/back related. Of course all ailments that cannot be proven.

 

So I remind him that service members who are "disabled" aren't allowed back in combat zones for obvious reasons and he goes on to explain that contracting companies aren't bound by the same provisions.

 

So basically he underwent a psych eval and full medical physical in order to be cleared to deploy for his company which means they found absolutely nothing wrong with him. Clean bill of health = green light to work overseas. So his civilian medical paperwork says he's in great health and his military medical jacket says he is entitled to 100% disability....for the rest of his life.

 

I wanted to smash his teeth in but he would probably get another undeserved medal from it.

 

Pay attention, taxpayers. This is where your money is going. And there are hundreds of thousands of people doing this. This country is turning into a fu(king joke.

 

"The VA has increasingly recognized non-war-related PTSD as well, extending monthly compensation to tens of thousands of veterans traumatized by accidents — both on- and off-duty — that occurred at the time they were enlisted. In one case The Times reviewed, a woman was awarded PTSD compensation based on breaking her leg in a fall walking to the mess hall.

Edited July 10, 2015 by echo88

[nickman54 0]

Thought Id drum up this issue again after an experience I had today.

 

Keep in mind that I am currently based at a remote location that executes nightly missions in Syria and Iraq---so best described as austere.

 

So I overhear some dipshit contractor bragging about how he makes 100% disability from the military. This guy gets about 50% from PTSD (guy admits it's from hearing explosions when in Afghanistan--not kidding) and the other 50% is knee/back related. Of course all ailments that cannot be proven.

 

So I remind him that service members who are "disabled" aren't allowed back in combat zones for obvious reasons and he goes on to explain that contracting companies aren't bound by the same provisions.

 

So basically he underwent a psych eval and full medical physical in order to be cleared to deploy for his company which means they found absolutely nothing wrong with him. Clean bill of health = green light to work overseas. So his civilian medical paperwork says he's in great health and his military medical jacket says he is entitled to 100% disability....for the rest of his life.

 

I wanted to smash his teeth in but he would probably get another undeserved medal from it.

 

Pay attention, taxpayers. This is where your money is going. And there are hundreds of thousands of people doing this. This country is turning into a fu(king joke.

 

"The VA has increasingly recognized non-war-related PTSD as well, extending monthly compensation to tens of thousands of veterans traumatized by accidents — both on- and off-duty — that occurred at the time they were enlisted. In one case The Times reviewed, a woman was awarded PTSD compensation based on breaking her leg in a fall walking to the mess hall.

 

Is there any way to report this scumbag? Im not usually one to invite the man into my life, but thats BS and particularly pathetic.

[coltssb 1,044]

I just read an article on former prez Bush receiving 100k for speaking at a veterans function to raise money for vets. Also had a 200,000 jet take him to this place. Just wondering what your thoughts are on this Echo?

[TheRizz 5]

I just read an article on former prez Bush receiving 100k for speaking at a veterans function to raise money for vets. Also had a 200,000 jet take him to this place. Just wondering what your thoughts are on this Echo?

 

As far as I know, Bush donated the money back to the VA

[coltssb 1,044]

Not trying to get into a political debate because all presidents do this. Just wanted to know Echo's thoughts about a former president doing this.

[EddieAngel 508]

I served in the US Army from 1995 to 2003 as a Cav Scout (19D10D3) and I am always a little embarrassed when people thank me for it.

 

Echo, I must confess I am surprised that you are surprised. There is nothing magical about people who join the military and the idea of holding them to a higher standard than the rest of the leeches and moochers is probably a swift road to your own PTSD claim.

 

That being said, the reason that most pre-Iraq veterans were seldom diagnosed with PTSD is because they just called it "shell shock" back then and sent people on their way assuming they would get back to normal on their own eventually. I can assure you that is inaccurate. My dad served four tours in Vietnam and was never right after. My grandpa served in the Army in the Philippines in WW2, doesn't really like to talk about it. One uncle served in Korea, another in Vietnam. None of them are quite right.

 

All things being equal, I would prefer that my hard earned tax dollars go to a few broke d**k moochers than abortionists, socialists, and attorneys.

 

But that is just me.