en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/713369 Comments by willyal http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfsep10/nf091010-1.htm#IDComment98002207 Amen! The Good Book also says (paraphrasing): He who is without sin shall cast the first stone and Judge and in the same manner you shall be judged! And oh yeah how about staying on subject broncovet Oh I'm sorry bashing Va is the subject no matter what. Fri, 10 Sep 2010 11:52:53 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfsep10/nf091010-1.htm#IDComment98002207 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfaug10/nf083110-3.htm#IDComment96130864 I read a statistic that Vietnam Vets are dying at a rate of 300 per day. That's a lot of dying for a group only in their 60's. Could it be possible that AO is the major factor in this grim reality? What about the major reduction in future health and comp costs that are offset by this mortality rate? We are sick and dying and we want are dignity back. We will not beg for benefits we have already paid for. Wake up America! You say you support the troops. Spare us your lip service for it's time to put your money where your mouth is. There is more than enough ill spent money to be found in the day to day business of corrupt Washington politicians to offset the costs of providing the needs of Vets many times over! Tue, 31 Aug 2010 10:53:42 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfaug10/nf083110-3.htm#IDComment96130864 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfjul10/nf070910-5.htm#IDComment85742805 How many shots? Dead men tell no tales!! Fri, 9 Jul 2010 06:07:04 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfjul10/nf070910-5.htm#IDComment85742805 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfjun10/nf063010-3.htm#IDComment83444066 Where are the facts? Where are the sources? The links? The footnotes? Boy, but ain't those words fancy. Wed, 30 Jun 2010 11:23:37 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfjun10/nf063010-3.htm#IDComment83444066 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfjun10/nf061910-1.htm#IDComment81102708 For many years a lot of Vets never used a dime of their VA benefits.These individuals are not only the backbone of this once great nation, but also the glue that keeps America together. On the street or in the mall. I have been thanked by hundreds of people for my service and that sincere acknowledgment is always appreciated. That being said, I don't think the general public is aware of the plight of the Vet. There are some congressmen who feel that VA compensation is another form of welfare. But rather than getting upset with these people I prefer to look at the positive advances the congress has made for the Vet. Take for instance Senator Webb's courage to take a stand on the issue of funding AO presumptives. His observation that the new presumptives could be just another ailment related to old age. I totally agree with Sen Webb and I think all veterans should have proper health care and compensation either in the event of AO exposure or illnesses related to old age. Sun, 20 Jun 2010 15:47:30 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfjun10/nf061910-1.htm#IDComment81102708 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfjun10/nf061410-2.htm#IDComment80081249 Am I on the orange brick road chasing rabbits? AO, A A A O, The Nightmares come and I wanna go home! ( check of my profile). Mon, 14 Jun 2010 11:36:02 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfjun10/nf061410-2.htm#IDComment80081249 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfjun10/nf060510-1.htm#IDComment78811653 I don't believe there is anyone that follows this forum naive enough to think this issue is a slam dunk.This certainly is another battle in the war we wage for justice. Personally I don't. intend to "relax" and wait to see what happens.If I go to the coffee shop my order will be take out. We must respect the cunningness of our enemy and their ability to lie, cheat, and cause division in our ranks. I thank God for putting a burden on Larry Scott's heart in establishing this website Don't think for one minute that our enemy is not monitoring watchdog.and looking for ways to divide and conquer. They know that our Brother is mourning yet the loss of another love one.There is no rules of engagement here..Our power and strength is here within the cyber walls of Watchdog. Call it our last stand against all odds. Make it known that the line in the sand has been drawn. As King David slew Goliath, we will not be intimidtated by the size of Washington and the VA. In our righteousness we will have victory and we will leave no brother or sister behind. Sun, 6 Jun 2010 16:51:35 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfjun10/nf060510-1.htm#IDComment78811653 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfjun10/nf060510-1.htm#IDComment78707912 I read this story early yesterday on (Military.com) and I have been anxiously waiting for watchdog to run with it I gotta say it gave me a long time to think about what to say here. Unfortunately Parkinsons Disease has just about ruined my short term recall .My typing does not keep up with my thought process.and when it catches up I don't always remember the point I was trying convey. Senator Webb.is a turncoat and a liar.Sir we are not the ones picking the pockets of the taxpayers.It's you and the rest of your partners in crime who sit on their lofty ass trying to fix the mess you created. The people of Virginia wake up !! and throw this bum out.!!. I am trying very hard to control my thought process and the rage that has boiled over in me but because of PD it's very hard to do. so I ask my Brothers (and you sir will never be my brother) to have patience with me. How dare you take the place of God and be the judge of Vets who are suffering from these diseases. Maybe it is just old age but only God knows the origin of these maladies. Take the stick out of your own eye before you chastise sickly Vets. When it is your time to give an account how will you answer God when he asks you " who did you help??? My life as well as thousands of Vets will never get a cup of cold water from you. May God have mercy on your soul. Sat, 5 Jun 2010 18:15:56 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfjun10/nf060510-1.htm#IDComment78707912 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfmay10/nf052110-2.htm#IDComment76793557 It took 40 years of continuous prodding from Vets organizations for the VA and the DoD to admit to the use of AO along the Korean DMZ In the same manner as "boots on the ground" the VA has identified an area along the Korean DMZ as a combat zone where AO was used as a "tactical military herbicide". The VA is very specific as to what military units are eligible for AO benefits.and only for time served only in the years ('68-'70).I'm afraid it's going to be a long uphill battle to get the Agent Orange Equity into law. We must be vigilant in our efforts to see this bill passed. .Abraham Lincoln would turn over in his grave if he could see.what is happening to those who "shall have borne the battle"..I am afraid we are witnessing the decay of a once.great nation Apathy soon leads to Anarchy. Sun, 23 May 2010 14:30:26 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfmay10/nf052110-2.htm#IDComment76793557 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfmay10/nf051210-1.htm#IDComment75262287 Instead of trying to create a warm fuzzy relationship with the vets, save all that lip service for the next congressional hearing you are summoned to. Just wrap up all that touchy goody two shoes "I feel your pain" crap and throw it at those arrogant politicians who look at you with that condescending over the top of reading glasses sanctimonious stare. This display of impotence ( i sorry I meant importance) can be met with a stylish spin blend of posterior smoke and Asian G.I number one..This mixture is irresistable and capable of inflating more than just a politicians ego.This approach will divert any investigating politician from the subject at hand and most likely an adjournment for a smoke break will occur. By doing this you won't have to avoid these hearings any more. So instead of wasting niceties on vets just give us all a number. That's right we want to be just a number. You know like at the deli. When our number is called just give us the service we have already paid for. Thu, 13 May 2010 14:20:41 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfmay10/nf051210-1.htm#IDComment75262287 http://vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfapr10/nf041610-4.htm#IDComment68363887 It's about time these impostors receive harsh sentences. So what if this man is a Nam Vet.He is probably faking PTSD and Parkinson's Disease. The prostate cancer? Well I'm sure there is some way to alter the tests..I'll bet the VA is loving this. Fri, 16 Apr 2010 12:16:55 +0000 http://vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfapr10/nf041610-4.htm#IDComment68363887 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfmar10/nf033110-1.htm#IDComment65106785 Absolutely brilliant Larry! Good cop Bad Cop. You knowing this ("why can't we all get along") Trojan Horse is trying to set you up so you turned him over to "the dogs of war". I applaud you for strategic handling of this sorry ass. Thu, 1 Apr 2010 01:42:55 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfmar10/nf033110-1.htm#IDComment65106785 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfmar10/nf031010-5.htm#IDComment61367251 As I have commented before and concur today with K9USAFRet these imposters should be pitied instead of prosecuted.Shame on the person who allows this masquerader an audience without first checking credentials (DD214).We certainly have bigger fish to fry. I can remember a time when nobody wanted to be seen in a uniform. I know of many soldiers who would pay full price for airline tickets instead of military standby which was much cheaper but required wearing dress greens.Today there are no more ugly scenes at the airport because. our citizenry has a new respect for the uniform. So in a positive sense these wanna bes are an indication of a now appreciative society. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:44:38 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfmar10/nf031010-5.htm#IDComment61367251 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfmar10/nf030910-8.htm#IDComment60796425 Had a C&P exam scheduled for 18 Mar 2010. Last week I called the VA ahead of time to confirm other appointments for 04 Mar. I was then told that I have a C&P exam also scheduled for 04 Mar. I told them this is a mistake because I have the official VA notice of C&P exam in front of me and it clearly says report on 18 Mar at 2:00pm. I was then informed that I called and canceled for the 18th exam and agreed to a new exam date on the 4th. I was able to control my anger even though they were lying and in away calling me a liar. What would have been the consequences if I hadn"t called to check on other appointments? Needless to say I reported on the 4th for the C&P exam. Something even more worrisome is the time line. My initial date of claim is Dec. 2007.and I was denied benefits for PD. Where is my appeal docs? Should I consider them pre-shred or post shred ? Tue, 9 Mar 2010 19:59:40 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfmar10/nf030910-8.htm#IDComment60796425 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nffeb10/nf021510-6.htm#IDComment56925823 A former Marine Captain and commercial airline pilot claims he's a victim? The only victims of this despicable crime is the veteran who's legitimate claim has been swallowed up by a million plus backlog of claims. I smell a Rat! How many more claims (illegitimate or not) are receiving preferential treatment? Stolen valor? Don't waste my time. Lets go after the real criminals. That would be the ones who are not only stealing our benefits but even worse than that we are being robbed of something much more valuable and irreplaceable. When are we as veterans going to wake up and recognize that TIME is our most precious commodity and that we deserve to be compensated for the loss of it. This ever growing monster (the backlog) would be put on a crash diet if the VA had to compensate at a per diem rate for each and every day a veteran loses to the ineptness of the system. This benefit would automatically "kick in" after a reasonable specified time to process a claim. This would clean up the system and minimize the corruption as exampled in the article.above. Mon, 15 Feb 2010 14:07:13 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nffeb10/nf021510-6.htm#IDComment56925823 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nffeb10/nf020510-5.htm#IDComment55478240 Thank you for mentioning South Korea as an area that is now recognized and approved by the VA for AO benefits.This is limited only to service in front line.DMZ units and only a in time period of 1968-1970. I take this opportunity to raise awareness of this 2nd Forgotten War in Korea that was and still is over shadowed by Vietnam. It was only because of failing health and lack of medical insurance that I "came in". For 40 years I stayed away from an agency that told me I was not a Vet unless I serve in Vietnam. This stigma is still prevalent today and is bolstered by phrases such as " boots on tha ground" and "Vietnam era vet". There are still many DMZ vets out there that will not "come in" because of this.To this day I still have to educate VA reps when they tell me I am not eligible for AO benefits. because I did not serve in the "Nam". Then it's "Oh yea right". I suffer from Parkinsons Disease and was diagnosed almost 10 years ago placing me in that same window as mentioned above. I have two daughters that have scoliosis and the younger has a syringomyelia. At the age of 11 her spine curvature reached 78 degrees. This life threatening condition prompted her doctors to perform radical surgery to partially correct the curvature. She is now in college but is in constant pain and permanently disfigured. When is the Dod and VA going to make it right with this generation? Fri, 5 Feb 2010 13:40:38 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nffeb10/nf020510-5.htm#IDComment55478240 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfjan10/nf012310-6.htm#IDComment53680407 I know I am a Vet and I have a DD214 to prove it. I am not intimidated by "wannabes." Impostors should be pitied not prosecuted. Sun, 24 Jan 2010 13:24:15 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfjan10/nf012310-6.htm#IDComment53680407 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfjan10/nf010510-3.htm#IDComment50449444 Mr Shinseki Sir, Thank you for your many years of service to this once great nation of ours. Your military record speaks for itself .and I am confident that you will not shy away from leading us in the "mother of all battles" that being the status quo of the VA. For 35 years I stayed away from the VA only because of the ill treatment I received on my initial treatment after separation from the Army. I know many Vets that to this day will not set foot in a VA facility for the same reason. Loss of medical coverage is what prompted me to apply for VA benefits. I must say that I was pleasantly surprised by the change in attitude from 35 years ago. Unfortunately, it was not long after that I realized things hadn't changed much at all..I made the mistake of filing claim! Now it seema like dejavu 35 years ago. Mr. Shinseki Sir,. your warriors need help. We have "born the battle". Give us back our dignity! Justice is all we ask. Recognition can only come from proper compensation.. Tue, 5 Jan 2010 11:50:16 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nfjan10/nf010510-3.htm#IDComment50449444 http://vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfdec09/nf120709-3.htm#IDComment46152573 For 30+ years the DOD and the VA conspired to hide and cover up the fact that AO was used extensively along the Korean DMZ and supposedly only in the years 1968- '69. How many years will it take the government to "fess up" to other areas of AO use? War Crimes? Collateral Damage? Friendly Fire? Chemical Warfare? Dare I make such accusations. Mon, 7 Dec 2009 12:57:24 +0000 http://vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfdec09/nf120709-3.htm#IDComment46152573 http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfnov09/nf111709-5.htm#IDComment43574450 I have been an avid reader of Watchdog only for the last 6 months so my comment may be old stuff. So anywho, I don"t understand why the DOD and the VA continue to waste time ( I really do understand) with these so-called task forces when all they need to do is get a consultant from the IRS. Hire a couple of IRS clerks part time and they could probably handle the backlog on their smoke breaks. This is not rocket science. They routinely handle millions of returns in a matter of a few months every year. Refunds as well as audits are always handled in a timely fashion. Could it be that our government is better at collecting funds than releasing them.? Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:47:45 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfnov09/nf111709-5.htm#IDComment43574450