In the name of peace and freedom

[August]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Excuse me folks, but does VA stand for 'Veterans Association' and is it similar to our UK 'Royal British Legion' :hmm:

VA = Veterans Administration

It's a part of the Federal Government. Like your national health care system but for military veterans.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by August

VA = Veterans Administration

It's a part of the Federal Government. Like your national health care system but for military veterans.

Cheers....I'd been wondering for a while and always forgot to ask Kpt Lehmann or Privateer over on TS.

[Frame57]

It all depends on which facility and Docs you get. I had three GI doctors misdiagnose me. I took my X-rays to a civilian GI doc, and he immediately commented on how crappy the quality of the X-rays were. We took some more with an X-ray machine that was not 40 years old and he told me staright up, "You do not have what they say you have. I was on 5 grams of sulpher based drugs a day that was destroying my liver. Best thing I ever did was get away from the VA. But then again, there has to be some good facilities out there, but not in my neck of the woods.

[Platapus]

In my last year in the military before retiring after 20 years, I started going to a civilian doctor. When they read my military medical records they were shocked at the misdiagnoses, inappropriate tests and medications that I was subjected to over the years.

Kinda sad when you think about all the really good doctors we have in military hospitals, but not every military doctor was a A+ student.


Not that I was able to see an actual doctor when I was in the military.

[August]

My own long held opinion is the VA is best for "soldiers ailments". Wounds, diseases, health problems that normally happen to soldiers. They are not so good at things like cancer, heart disease and and aging related illnesses.

In my case i had a rather serious inner ear infection that was close to killing me. No health insurance and no money, all i had to do is show them a copy of my DD214 and they treated me for free.

[asanovic7]

Originally Posted by Happy Times

You need to get drunk and laid.

Just saw it..

:rotfl:

Cheers!

You forgot drugs?

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Platapus

In my last year in the military before retiring after 20 years, I started going to a civilian doctor. When they read my military medical records they were shocked at the misdiagnoses, inappropriate tests and medications that I was subjected to over the years.

Kinda sad when you think about all the really good doctors we have in military hospitals, but not every military doctor was a A+ student.


Not that I was able to see an actual doctor when I was in the military.

I guess that's why Salt Lakes VA hospital has a good rep. All their doctors rotate through 'on loan' from the University of Utah.

[Digital_Trucker]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

I guess that's why Salt Lakes VA hospital has a good rep. All their doctors rotate through 'on loan' from the University of Utah.

Maybe I'm misremembering something, but aren't VA hostpitals primary mission to provide health care to non-Active duty veterans? There's a distinct difference between an active military health care facility and the VA, IIRC.

I've had several bad experiences at active military hospitals (one almost cost my first wife her life), but my experience at the VA here in Atlanta has been much the same as Steve's (probably because most of the doctors, specialists at least, are from Emory, across the street).