Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland answers questions from VA Watchdog dot Org readers.

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Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland provides regular columns for VA Watchdog dot Org.  If you would like to contact Jim about his columns, you can email him here...  The archive of Jim's articles is here...  To find an answer to a specific VA benefits question, use the VA Watchdog search engine... click here... 

Be sure to use Jim's:  "A to Z GUIDE OF VETERANS DISABILITY COMPENSATION BENEFITS" click here...  

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by Jim Strickland

NOTE:  Letters in my Q&A columns are reprinted just as they come to me. Spelling and grammar are left as is and only small corrections are made to improve readability, ensure anonymity or delete expletives that may offend some readers. This is not legal advice. You should always seek the advice of an attorney who is qualified in Veterans' law before you make any decisions about your own benefits.

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Jim;

Is there a report or invidual Veterans that have reported the progress of requests for reconsideration under the VA Temporary Special Handling Claims Policy per fast letter 08-41? Are Veterans who submitted these special reconsideration's under fast letter 08-41 being given any kind of priority or acknowledgment.

Seems that since all of the media hype and hearings have passed, this issue is becoming like past VA issues and falling through the cracks!

I cannot find mention of anything on the VA web site on any internet search site.

Thanks in advance!

Reply;

I'm sure you're correct. This is largely being ignored...VA is very good at doing such things.

You could force some information if you wanted to take the time and trouble. Using The Freedom of Information Act is one way to do that. I write more about FOIA in my A to Z Guide at http://jimstrickland912.com

For the purposes of your search for information, let's make a quick stop at the Wikipedia site to learn just what FOIA is
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of
_Information_Act_%28United_States%29

You could demand copies of all reports as on page 2 of FL 08-41 where it says: "Reporting; Each Veterans Service Center Manager or designee shall submit to his or her Area Office a weekly Missing Document Report (see Enclosure F)."

Use the FOIA Letter Generator here http://www.rcfp.org/foialetter/index.php 

The trick to getting results with FOIA is to be very precise in requesting what you want. Using the FOIA Letter Generator will help with that. You may want to ask for that Attachment F form from your own VARO rather than asking for it from all 57 Regional Offices. Depending on your results, you may later want to expand your search. You could also enclose a copy of the Fast Letter to ensure that the FOIA Officer understands just what you're referring to.

The Fast Letter is available here for viewing or download.

The DOJ keeps records and information about FOIA here http://www.justice.gov/oip/foiapost/mainpage.htm

A bulletin of the DOJ regarding FOIA timing is here http://www.justice.gov/oip/foiapost/2008foiapost29.htm

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Jim;

I have got myself into another situation.

My low back injury continues to get worse and is now causing problems with my legs. I was in to see my rehab doctor and he says about all that can be done that hasn't been done is epidural injections. This is where the problem appears, I need someone to take me to the same day surgery clinic and pick me up.

I live alone in a senior's apt. complex and do not have any friends, who could take me and even if they could they are having worse medical problems than I am.

I know of no other way to get to this treatment that is acceptable to the same day clinic people.

Are you aware of a possible solution to this problem?

Reply;

This is a frequent challenge. If you have special needs, like a wheelchair or walker, your VA clinic may assign you a benefit that allows a private medical transport service to pick you up. These services are very expensive and even sort trips cost as much as $200.00 or more.

Your primary care doctor must begin the process and authorize the expense.

There are times that a VA social worker can help. They sometimes have a list of people who volunteer to drive other veterans to appointments nearby. I do this sometimes and a local social worker knows she can depend on me to pick up and deliver veterans for outpatient appointments.

The VA volunteers in your clinic may also be able to help. They even sometimes have a small fund to pay for a taxi for a veteran needing a ride. There is often a DAV van and drivers to take veterans to medical centers for appointments and they may have some ideas for you.

Don't forget to contact your local city bus service. In our metro Savannah area the city bus service operates "Tele-Ride" and they pick up and deliver disabled citizens to appointments, shopping and so on for a minimal fee.

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TOPICS: veterans, veterans' benefits, VA, Department of Veterans' Affairs, Jim Strickland, Veterans' Advocate,