How bad is the VA??

[Chef]

I haven't set foot in a VA hospital since 2001 after my mandatory 5 year physical to lock in my disability.

During my annual physical today with my GP we discussed some Neuro issues I am having with tremors in my legs and hands. I am 30% service disabled due to a pneumothorax that was given to me by a little skinny kid in a place far from here back in 95.

My question is; should I take this back to the VA for a full Neuro workup or just use my insurance to go see a Neuro doc for a consult??? I am in the healthcare business and haven't heard good things about the VA.

[NightStalker]

the bad press about the VA is all about the WAIT to get in. Once you are in, the quality of the care is at least OK. Food is decent.

[sailor]

Don't get me started.......
But, I would start, with a second opinion.
There are some great folks there..
And, some govt. workers....

[Terry]

I have private insurance and can use the big Hospital in Central Texas, however because I went through Agent Orange screening at the VA in Temple, Texas and have 30% disability I go to that VA. To date they have been timely, professional, concerned and helpful.

[tex4k]

I don't know firsthand, but I had 5 uncles that were veterans, none of them made more than 3 visits over the course of 50 or so years.

[Rakkasan2187]

The va here in Kansas in top notch.

[StickSlinger]

have you regular doc do it and send in the paper work a whole lot easier

[coop]

I can't say about your location. As said above the weight to get in is the bad part. I've had excellent care at the Fort Worth Clinic.

I hate to go to the Dallas VA hospital which I have to do this Friday. It only took me 5 months to get an appointment to get an abscessed tooth checked out. And parking is unbelievably tuff.

[coop]

Double post.

[DJM]

I've always had excellent care/service.I even had a Saturday appt once,and everybody there seemed happy to be there.I think it really depends on the facility.

DJ

[dustoffer]

My only two contacts with them are the local clinic for annual flu shot, pneumonia, etc. and the audiology clinic in SA for hearing aid work. No problems for me. There is a lengthy wait time for an appointment for audiology though, but hearing loss is a presumed service-connected disability and VA is the biggest hearing aid customer in the US, so lots of work there.

[ACook]

I think it depends on the actual clinic. My wife works at a clinic and some people there don't give a crap about anything but others are awesome. From hearing her talk there are too many Generals and not enough soldiers.

[Saltyag15]

I can never say anything negative about the VA. They took great care of my Grandpa in San Antonio through about 8 years of severe health issues. My mom and grandma never had a complaint about them.

[texasair]

Took my uncle for regular visits for many years to the Houston VA for quite a few different ailments and was favorably impressed.

[Froggy]

The VA has blocked certain news stations from being aired in their waiting rooms. When I asked why I couldn't watch Fox News, I was told it was "because of their verbiage". I asked if I could watch CNN or Al Jazeera I was told that was okay.

I was then verbally attacked by the clinic administrator (contractor) for asking questions. An hour later a VA employee who overheard our conversation called me to apologize.

I changed to the Denton clinic last month. While sitting in the waiting area we all watched a show about growing weed in California.

I've had fairly good service from the VA although, in 2005, I was misdiagnosed when they put me on a treadmill and told me my heart was fine. I went to a private cardiologist the next month. Found out my right coronary artery was 90-95% blocked and the left side was 85-90% blocked. Had two stents put in a few days later. Took my records back to the VA. A few months later I filed for compensation for CAD from Agent Orange exposure. The Dallas VA then told me I didn't have heart disease.

I once again provided the records and was eventually granted 60% for CAD.

There is a way to set up Continuity of Care between your private physicians and the VA. It allows your doctor to access your VA medical records.