April 24, 2025 • 60 mins
Veterans are facing incorrect payment dates for PACT Act claims, with the VA Inspector General finding errors in roughly one quarter of the claims examined, resulting in $6.8 million in improper payments and shortchanging an estimated 2,300 veterans.
• VA has received 2.44 million PACT Act-related claims since August 2022, approving 1.59 million and awarding $5.7 billion in benefits
• Inspector General estimated VA will make $20.4 million in improper payments in first three years of the PACT Act
• Veterans diagnosed with conditions prior to PACT Act passage qualify for benefits backdated to diagnosis date
• Mistakes occurred because claims processors weren't prepared to determine correct effective dates and automated tools were unreliable
• Current VA claims system has a 96% initial denial rate
• The "benefit of doubt" rule means if evidence is equal, the decision should favor the veteran
• VA doctors are often not allowed to make statements connecting conditions to military service
• Outside medical specialists can provide crucial opinions connecting conditions to service
• Veterans facing appeals may benefit from hiring accredited agents rather than relying solely on VSOs
• The Traveling Vietnam Wall will be in Winchester, Tennessee in August for veterans and families to visit
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Visit J Basser's Exposed Vet Productions (Formerly Exposed Vet Radioshow) YouTube page by clicking here.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
J Basser (00:00):
Welcome folks to another episode of the Exposed
Vet Productions special show.
We have my co-host here, mr RayCobb.
How are you doing, ray?
Ray Cobb (00:08):
Great, how are you?
J Basser (00:08):
this evening I'm doing wonderful.
It's been a beautiful day, alittle bit of rain here, but
it's been pretty mostly today.
My name is John Stacy.
They call me Jay Basher.
I'm basically an advocate forveterans.
I do a lot of shows based on VAissues.
We discuss everything from theclaims process to VA issues to
(00:31):
problems within the VA,navigating the VA health care
system.
Ray is a former commander of theAmerican Legion down in
Winchester, tennessee, and he'skind of retired from that area
but he always has, you know, hehelps veterans.
He's been doing it for yearsand he's got a big following
down there in Tennessee.
He has his own radio station,matter of fact, on Tuesday
mornings at WZYX out ofTennessee and you guys can
(00:59):
listen to that if you can.
But today we've got aninteresting show for you.
We'll start off on the firstsubject matter.
It's about the PACT Act.
Now we covered the PACT Actlast week and a couple of issues
with the PACT Act and you knowBethany came on and you know
gave her exposure stuff.
This came out earlier withMilitarycom this week.
(01:21):
It's a pretty good-sized story.
So I'm going to go ahead andcover this.
If you have a PACT Act claim ora PACT Act decision.
You guys need to listen to thisvery closely.
Okay, the VA Inspector Generalthey're kind of a watchdog group
.
They check everything VA youknow the working to the regional
office and things and they kindof see if there's anything
wrong, they try to find ways tofix it.
(01:43):
And they do things by sampling.
They sample different claimsand things like this and then
they grade what they sampledversus you know the rest of the.
You know the rest of the claimsprocess and they come up with
ideas.
They find issues Like, forexample, the sampling of
disability claims filed underthe 2022 PAC Act found that
roughly one quarter listedincorrect start dates.
(02:05):
It resulted in improper payoutsof about 6.8 million to some
veterans and shortchanging anestimated 2,300 others.
That's what the watchdog found.
Their relief support, I guess.
Tuesday week ago, the VeteransAffairs Office Inspector General
(02:26):
included that the legislation'scomplexity, along with
inadequate guidance from theVeterans Benefit Administration
and we'll use that as an acronym, I call it the VBA that claims
adjudicators to assign the wrongeffective date to an estimated
26,000 claims.
Now, 26,000 claims is a lot ofclaims and a lot of people, you
(02:47):
know, and a lot of them gotoverpaid.
I'm sure some got underpaid too.
Of course, you know there'snothing to.
I don't know how to figure thatout and it's a.
2,300 additional claims haderroneous dates and that means
that they had I don't know whythey had they made a retro date.
They should have made a retrodate retroactive to a date
(03:10):
before the law was signed,increasing compensation for
veterans, but the agency saidthey could not determine their
monetary impact on the affectedveterans.
So if you packed that claim sayyou filed a, packed that claim
before the act started and yougot denied, but you turn and
redid it because of the PACT Act, then they have to go back and
pay you.
That's just.
You know, that's just law.
(03:44):
It was signed in August 10, 2022and expanded health care and
benefits to millions of veteransexposed to environmental
pollutants while servingoverseas in specified combat
zones across decades, includingthe Middle East and Afghanistan.
Accordingly, it has received2.44 million PACTAC-related
claims since the law went intoeffect.
It has adjudicated 2.14 millionclaims and approved 1.59
million as of May 2024, and hasawarded $5.7 billion in related
(04:06):
benefits to veterans orsurvivors.
According to that, $5.7 billionis a lot of money.
The OIG investigated orestimated that the VA will have
made an estimated $20.4 millionin improper payments in the
first three years of the law,representing about 2.36% of the
payouts representing about 0.36%of the payouts.
(04:30):
Veterans who develop an illnessrelated to the hazardous
exposure, or their survivors,are able to file a claim at any
time.
However, in the first yearfollowing passage, beneficiaries
could submit a claim or intentto file to receive any approved
benefits backdated to August10th 2022.
Some vets have been diagnosedwith the conditions covered by
the PAC Act prior to its passage, were eligible for retroactive
(04:51):
benefits back to their date ofdiagnosis.
So, for example, you had a lungissue and you were diagnosed in
, say, 2010,.
And you got denied and I meanyou got approved under the PAC
Act.
You would go back to 2010 andget your percentage whatever,
but it's the way it should be.
You know the date of diagnosisis very important, especially
(05:17):
when you go to effective dates.
So the complexity of determiningthe correct start date led to
the review of the claims foraccuracy and to figure out
whether the VA was assigningeffective dates correctly.
The watchdog examined astatistical sampling of 100
claims filed last first year andbased on that, they estimate
the VBA assigned incorrecteffective dates to 26,100 of
(05:40):
131,000 claims and found Locaine2300 should have been assigned
a different date and it shouldhave been assigned a different
date and it should have beensent back when they got their
diagnosis.
So that's just the sampling.
Okay, if that sampling isinvolved, you're looking at a
lot higher numbers.
Now they found the mistakeswere made because claims
(06:01):
processors are not adequatelyprepared to determine correct
effective dates.
They added that automated toolscreated to provide prepared to
determine the correct effectivedates.
They added that automated toolscreated to provide assistance
to determine were unreliable.
So I guess they had automaticcomputer systems and tools and
it wasn't set up right.
So it turned around and kickedout a bunch of wrong dates and I
guess they put too much faithon it.
First of all, if you're goingto set a computer system up,
(06:23):
they're paying a lot of moneyfor this to be done.
It's a waste.
I mean, you've got some youngfolks out here that are geniuses
.
It's proven every day.
You know, in DC You've got somegeniuses working right now and
they'll be able to go in thereand fix their computer systems
and they'll have a group workingfor all the government and they
can build a system to fix sureeverything works right.
They can do that in a matter ofdays or a matter of hours,
(06:46):
these people know what they'redoing.
That's how smart they are.
But too much red tape.
It noted that claims processorshad made the BBA aware of the
complexities and administrationhad taken steps to include
updated training to conductreviews and ensure accuracy.
(07:08):
Okay, so they reviewed it andwere checking for accuracy.
Okay, rinkenmeier, who's theOIG, and his investigators made
several recommendations for theVBA to implement and include the
the VA to create an effectivetool to help processors
determine the right date andremove ineffective date builders
(07:30):
from the system.
Continue updating the system toensure it follows
claims-oriented laws andevaluate PACT Act training and
correct all processing errorsfound by the IG.
Michael Ferreth he's the VA'sacting undersecretary for
benefits concurred with therecommendations in the written
statement, said VIXXIS hasalready been made that weren't
(07:51):
covered by the report.
He said the VA would implementall recommendations by July 31st
of this year and for the 24statistical sampling claims that
were erroneous.
We'll complete the reviewsApril 30th, so they should be
done next week.
Since the start of the secondTrump administration, lawmakers
(08:12):
have expressed concerns aboutthe scope of the PAC Act and the
impact of proposed reductionsin force the VA would have on VA
health care and benefits.
Some Republican lawmakers sayan increased scrutiny of the
GOP-led White House economycould help hone the legislation
they describe as being rushedthrough the legislative process.
Some of this legislation hasbeen rushed through, you know, I
(08:32):
mean.
They're like let's do this realquick.
You know, and I got I mean Isay it the more you rush, the
more mistakes are going to bemade.
You know they need to be.
You know it needs to beanalyzed.
Everything needs to be thought,you know, thought out.
You know they need to be.
You know it needs to beanalyzed.
Everything needs to be thought,you know, thought out.
And it needs to be brainstormed.
It needs to be implemented andit needs to be quality assurance
controlled and it needs to be.
When it implements, it shouldbe okay.
You know.
(08:53):
Let's say, we're building carsand they let the brake system
off of it.
You think you're going to havea recall.
Ray Cobb (09:00):
Well, you know, john, we both have worked in
government before, we bothunderstand how government works
and you know there's not goingto be anybody out there if your
supervisor makes a statementthat we're going to do this and
this is going to work, and blah,blah, blah.
(09:20):
And you know, for whateverreason it's not going to work.
You know, for job security,they're going to keep their
mouth shut.
And then I will tell somebodythat, oh well, this isn't going
to work and convince them it'snot and this is going to hurt
the veteran and, from what Iknow, I have not heard of any VA
(09:46):
employee at any level to takeup for the veterans.
They'll say it oh, I'm for theveterans.
They'll turn around and dosomething that actually hurts
veterans instead of helping theprocess.
I mean, that's why we'resitting here right now looking
(10:09):
at these PAC Act claims, andwe're sitting here with a large
number.
I think the last one I heardjust last week was 96%.
Claims are now being denied thefirst time through.
That's up 2% from what it wasprior to Trump taking office.
Now, what they're going to tryto do because of the pressures
on them, which we'll probablyget into later, because you
(10:32):
can't get into this withoutgetting into it.
The next thing you're going tosee happen is going to be like a
shredder gate, except thisone's going to be denial gate
and what it is.
They'll look at it and they say, gee whiz, this has been on my
desk six months, eight months,18 months.
Well, I'll tell you what I'mgoing to deny it.
I got a call today.
I got a call today at noon froma local veteran who had gotten
(10:55):
a denial letter and that sayswhy did they deny you?
It doesn't say it, just saysit's denied, and I've got a
feeling that's what's comingdown.
Say it just says it's denied,and I've got a feeling that's
what's coming down.
The pipe now is going to getworse in the next few weeks or
months.
They're denying it and they'renot even taking the time to
(11:17):
write the reasoning for thedenial which, if I understand
and correct me, if I understandthe law, they're allowed to deny
it, but they've got to tell youwhy they denied it.
J Basser (11:28):
What was there that made them deny it?
That's duty to assist.
There they have to.
They've got to explain it toyou.
That's in the law.
Ray Cobb (11:34):
So if he's got that, then they're supposed to have to
, but they didn't.
He didn't have any reason.
Now he had already had an actionyeah down, he had already had a
match.
Yeah, he does.
And he said to them and heagreed, he said they didn't even
tell you why.
He said, well, I have to runthis one down.
So he ran it down and, sureenough, when the doctor the VA
(11:57):
doctor turned it in, there wasevidently two places that she
was supposed to check boxes andthen sign it and she didn't
check the boxes.
But that was something that hisattorney found, or his agent
found, not something that the VAtold him why they turned him
(12:18):
down.
They just turned him down.
J Basser (12:20):
That's a skill of error.
Yeah, it is.
Ray Cobb (12:27):
No doubt.
But what's happening?
We're going to see more andmore of that, because what they
want to say oh man, we'vereduced.
You know, we don't have 145,000claims backed up now.
We've got that down to 115.
We're doing pretty good andthey pat themselves on the back.
But the only reason they got itdown is because they denied all
of them.
They didn't take the time toreally research it.
(12:48):
nor did they take the time toexplain their reasoning for the
denial.
You know as well as you knowyou saw my last denial when I
had Alex in Bonk.
You know he just got on thephone with the regional office
and got it corrected right thenand I didn't have to appeal it
to the board.
But that's because he knew whathe was doing and the fact that
(13:09):
they had made the mistake, andhe was able to point out to a
higher-level manager where themistake was made and why and
looked at my medical records andagreed.
But when they first denied it,they never even sent back the
reason for the denial.
And of course, now that wasthat was a year ago, this past
(13:33):
March.
So I can anticipate what'sgoing to be coming down the road
the next year, year and a half,if the pressure is to get rid
of the backlog.
Yeah, they're getting rid ofthe backlog, but they're not
being fair to the veteran.
J Basser (13:49):
Well, if they're doing that rate and that increment,
if the regional office is doingthat and they're getting rid of
the backlog in that manner, theonly thing they're doing they're
not getting rid of nothing.
The only thing they're doing istransferring that backlog onto
the BVA and it feels processed.
Ray Cobb (14:03):
And what's the BVA doing more and more of?
If I understand you know, alex,last time I talked with him
what I understood is the BVA isactually sending it back to the
region, saying you made somemistakes here.
Here's what they are Get itcorrect and then they get the
correct part of them, if not allof them, and then send it back
(14:24):
to the veteran with anotherdenial.
That happened to me and that'swhy I sent it right back up to
the board and that time Alex gotit.
You know it got approved butyou know they denied it twice,
even after the judge told themto correct it that I was
deserving of level two in aidand attendance.
J Basser (14:49):
Well, it goes to show you that you know it's all
political to certain issues.
You know when you're playingwith the house, money right.
Ray Cobb (14:58):
Well and they're trying to cover their own jobs.
You know here locally.
I was surprised I'm surprisedwith what I heard yesterday.
There's a lady here that worksout at the base and who works
(15:20):
very closely with TennesseeWildlife Resources and some of
the other organizationsconcerning the wildlife and
things on the base and aroundthe base area and she's scared
to death.
She's about to lose her job.
Well, from a person that knowswhat she does and everything
(15:40):
pretty closely, said thatbasically very seldom does she
really need to work more thanfour hours a day.
Knows what she does andeverything pretty closely, said
that basically very seldom doesshe really need to work more
than four hours a day.
But she's there in the officefor eight hours a day.
How much work she does I don'tknow, but she's sitting there on
a salary of $85,000 a year plusbenefits, for what this game
(16:01):
warden said is a part-time job.
He said he wished he could getthat money and work half of his
shift.
Kind of interesting.
What's going on with all the newchanges and what's happening in
the government that affectsveterans?
The reason that was brought upto me was because of the 100
(16:24):
veterans in state of tennesseehave a special hunting and
fishing license that are free.
And then they also they're whathe was talking to me about they
have a new program that they'regoing to have in effect.
Well, I guess it started thisthis turkey season, where they
actually have gotten theseblinds type things for
(16:45):
handicapped like myself with awheelchair, that you roll up in
the back of this little cart andthe guy was telling me what all
had a little heater in it andwhatever, and you can deer hunt
or turkey hunt out of it.
And they've gotten I think hetold me seven of those across
(17:06):
the state, and he was asking mehow we got on the subject, if I
like to deer hunt or turkey hunt, which I never did deer hunt
and I don't know if I'd liketurkey hunting or not.
I never did that either.
J Basser (17:17):
You would.
Ray Cobb (17:19):
You would.
I used to do a little dove andquail and rabbits and squirrels,
but a small game, but I nevergot into the.
I guess you could kind of callit the troking game.
J Basser (17:33):
It's okay as long as you you know.
Ray Cobb (17:35):
That's what he approached me about.
Then he asked me does you knowanybody else that would?
So you know, that's how thistopic about this lady getting
paid this outrageous amount ofmoney and if that's happening
now, that's just one incidentand I'm sure that's not the only
one.
You're probably more familiarwith a gentleman I know of at
(17:58):
Murfreesboro.
It was eight months ago at thehospital.
He's standing there in themiddle of the floor just talking
to another guy.
His supervisor comes by, saysdid you get that bathroom clean?
He said no, not yet.
I'll do it a little later.
And he said I want thatbathroom clean.
He said what are you going todo?
(18:19):
Fire me?
You can't fire me.
Well, to come to find out whathappened he had been a little
rude or whatever to severalcocked, an attitude to several
veterans that had a certainlevel of disability higher than
his and caused him some delaysand delays and seeing doctors
(18:40):
and stuff.
They caught him.
Now you and I would say firehim, but because of the union
and what his job was, theycouldn't.
So what did they do?
They tried to make him quit.
They demoted him to a custodian, but he still got the same job
as he was doing when he wasbooking appointments and things,
which is a much higher payingjob than what the average
(19:01):
custodian gets.
So that's some of the stuff thatI'm hoping gets straightened
out in the VA.
And then you know, look atthese claims that are being
denied, denied, denied and thennot sending them a reason for
the denial and the reason theydon't is they want to get it off
their desk within a certainamount of time so that they get
(19:24):
an attaboy.
That's true.
Let me put it this way Ourcounty service officer is
probably one of the better onesthat you'll find in the whole
country but, with that beingsaid, they make a lot of
mistakes.
But he has gotten to the pointwhere the American Legion has
(19:45):
required him to give a monthlyreport on how many veterans came
through his office.
Now, the only thing that hesays he's not allowed to do is
tell how many one claims and Idon't know if that's true or not
.
You might have an idea of thatbut he said he doesn't have the
(20:07):
authority to release thatinformation.
But he was able to tell us thatthere was 3,065 veterans in
Franklin County.
J Basser (20:22):
I don't see why it's seeking knowledge.
You know it's just numbers game.
That's all you know.
Ray Cobb (20:25):
Right.
I think he just doesn't wantpeople to know how many are
denied or how many are, how feware being approved.
He tries to make it sound likethey're overworked, you know.
J Basser (20:41):
Overworked.
Yeah, they work hard.
Ray Cobb (20:44):
They work.
They have in this particularcase I know for a fact they have
.
They work three days a week.
Out of those three days a week,which is 12 days a month, one
of those days has to be taken upfor training, and so that's 11
(21:04):
days a month and he only isrequired to see three veterans a
day.
Now that's not process of claim.
That's just to see.
That is a requirement that'sput on him from the state and
he's averaging 4.5.
So it makes him look like anatta boy doing real good
(21:25):
because he's above the averageand above what they want him to
do.
But how many of those claimsare properly prepared?
And then how many are approved?
Well, we know how many areapproved, because you can say,
on average, 96%.
J Basser (21:44):
Denied, you mean.
Ray Cobb (21:46):
Yeah, the rest of them are denied.
96% are denied.
They come through the systemand they're denied.
If you take that same thing,that's saying only 4%.
I can get out my calculator anddo the math, but you know you
got 11 days at four people a day.
That's 44 people a month.
Now if he sees 40, let's justround it up and say 50 a month
(22:09):
and only 4% of those 50 areapproved.
That means out of that 50veterans, only two of them are
approved.
He works three days a week.
He works three days a week.
That's what the county pays himto work.
Three days a week he worksthree days a week.
That's what the county pays himto work.
They won't extend it to him.
Most of our county serviceofficers' offices are only open
(22:30):
three days a week in the stateof Tennessee.
However, in saying that, ifthey are one of the service
officers service offices inNashville, at the VA hospital or
Murfreesboro no, murfreesborohas gone to three days a week.
Nashville, I think, is the onlyhospital now that has somebody
in there once a day and whatthat means is the guy may be
(22:54):
there, one guy may be there twodays a week, another one another
day a week, and then they workin the state office downtown
helping with claims down there.
They're not in that one office,so you know they kind of spread
them out there, which I wouldimagine if they really wanted to
(23:14):
, that door would stay open.
It would stay very busy at VAVanderbilt with somebody in the
office every day.
But my understanding is thatthe doctors there are even told
unless the veteran asks where togo see someone.
(23:36):
They're not even allowed totell them.
Oh, you know, you might want togo down on the first floor and
go behind the operator's deskand those three doors there are.
Veterans knock on the door andsee if anybody's there.
They don't even leave theirdoor open.
They shut the door.
You got to knock on it.
If somebody opens it, fine, hecan sit in there and not open it
(23:57):
if he doesn't want to.
J Basser (24:00):
Let's touch on another issue.
We to the past.
That's pretty good.
I want to retouch it for anissue we discussed a little bit
last week.
But um, gas bottle claim.
The adjudicators claim they lookat what they need.
They, those guys, got to need acmp exam so they sent this
(24:20):
request out to one of theirsubsidiaries or one of their
companies to request an exam forthis vet.
The company contacts the vetand sets up the exam.
The vet goes through the exam,does what they asked him to do
and takes his exam and goes onback home.
The examiner puts it togetherand coordinates it and puts a
stamp on it and puts it in thecomputer and and sends it to the
(24:43):
VA, back to the VA.
The VA looks at it, results,looks at it and they make a
determination as to.
You know what's what and itdepends on the type of claim it
is.
But anyhow, the VA uses asystem called benefit of the
doubt and basically what thatmeans is it's all percentage
(25:05):
based.
So if the examiner looks at youand the DBQ says is this
person's issue at least aslikely is not related to this
issue that happened in service,and then explain why with your
rationale, you know.
That means that at least aslikely as not.
(25:26):
If they check that box, thenthat means that examiner is 51%
sure that that veteran's issuehappened during service or
related to it in service orwhatever.
Okay, 50% is what you need.
That is the cutoff.
If you're less than 50%, it's adenial.
(25:47):
If you're over that, it shouldbe approved.
Now let's call the benefit ofthe doubt.
The benefit of the doubt is theweight of the evidence.
According to a clinic, you knowhow much clout the evidence has
.
You've got this doctor heresaying yes.
(26:07):
You've got one doctor saying Idon't know, maybe.
You've got another doctorsaying no.
How does it work?
You've got to add them up.
You've got a maybe and a yesversus a no.
That should trump a no, right?
You got a maybe and a yesversus a no.
That should trump a no right.
Well, sure, yeah, if they writeon your letterhead that your
(26:37):
condition was due to an eventthat happened in service, you
can actually take it to the bankthat they're 100% certain
that's what happened.
Uh, that's 100.
Now there's a 75 one too.
More likely than not.
I mean, they're 75, sure.
Then you got your leashes, likeyou're not.
Then you got less likely as not, that's 25, and the bottom ones
(26:57):
did not happen to occur.
That's 25%.
And the bottom one is did nothappen to occur.
That's pretty much true, youknow.
You know.
So, as long as you get anythingabove and get the benefit of the
doubt, tie goes to the runner,or that.
It's in your favor.
Remember that and it's not tobe confused.
I think the benefit of thedoubt and they say the word
(27:19):
benefit of the doubt, they'rethinking it's a benefit and they
doubt you're going to get it.
But you know it just depends,because there's several
different caveats in the Title38, part 3 and Part 4.
And you've got attitude ofsurrounding officers.
You've got all kinds ofadjudicative tools.
(27:41):
You've got got to add to thiswriting officers.
You got just all kinds ofadjudicated tools.
You got exploration to therules, laws and regulations has
been through the depth.
One of them effective dates.
You know when your claim startsJust everything in the world.
(28:01):
You know.
You got this and I down andread this one.
These days It'll be a loteasier on you if you're doing
claims, but the benefit of thedoubt is an important thing.
If you get a positive there,you're probably going to win
your claim Well, you know, Otherthan that, you know, we have to
realize that, yeah, go aheadRay.
Ray Cobb (28:19):
You got to look at it from the way I look at it, from
standpoint.
Va doctors are not allowed tomake those statements.
They're not supposed to.
I asked one to make it.
It's as likely as not that myagent diabetes was caused by my
agent Orange.
He said we have been told wecannot make those type of
(28:42):
statements in your room.
Yeah, so they're puttingpressure on the VBA.
Well, I recommend to everybody,knowing that you know, you just
try to get the diagnosis fromthem.
But what you do with the others?
You can go to your own doctor,a specialist of that type, and
(29:07):
the way I have done it in thepast is I print off my medical
report with the diagnosis and Iwalk into another doctor,
another specialist, and I saidhere's what Dr So-and-so at the
VA said I have, do you concurwith that?
(29:29):
And he says, well, yeah, let mesee.
Well, in one case he concurredwith it and when I was talking
with him I said something wassaid and he said yeah, he said
it's as likely as not that thistook place while serving at Fort
(29:52):
McKellips, alabama, and I hadthat documentation.
So he put in a letter and Iturned that letter in.
However, I went to anotherdoctor.
He said well, I don't know, Iwasn't at Fort McKellip, alabama
.
I can't say that that's whereyou got exposed to Agent Orange
or not.
He said no, I can't put that inthere.
(30:12):
I said well, just write theletter the way you think.
Well, he wrote the letter upstating the condition was
correct, the diagnosis wascorrect, stating the condition
was correct, the diagnosis wascorrect.
But he refused or did not putin there.
It's just likely it's not thatit happened while serving on
(30:32):
active duty.
What I did, as a matter of fact,james Cripps told me, if I ever
got one like that, what to do.
I walked out, wadded it up,threw it in the nearest trash
can and realized I wasted $105on that doctor's visit.
Well learned, okay, and forwhatever reason, when you find a
doctor that will help you getyour benefits and be honest
(30:57):
about it, when you tell them thestory and who will take the
opportunity to believe yourstory, then that's the one you
need to tell other veteransabout, so they can go and you
know.
There wasn't anything wrongwith what my podiatrist said
about my feet and he concurred,matter of fact, he concurred
(31:21):
with the VA and he thought Ithink a little more expensive
foot brace would be morebeneficial to him on helping him
with balance and named whatbrace it was.
Now I could have gone back tothe VA and said, hey, this
doctor said this.
Yeah, I'd had two doctors kindof say, well, this is the way we
treat him and this is the waythe VA does it, of saying well,
(31:42):
this is the way we treat him andthis is the way the VA does it,
and I don't even know if the VAfurnished that other type of a
brace, because I was satisfiedwith what I have and how it's
helped me over the years.
I mean, I've been wearing themsince 2008, 2007, 2008.
So I've had them a long time.
(32:02):
The same type of braces.
This is my second set.
They last a pretty good while.
But you know, guys, you've gotto stay on top of it, like
John's talking about.
You've got to know what thisstuff is and look and see what
that effective date is.
(32:23):
It's up to you.
When you receive your award,you can have a disagreement with
the effective date, but youbetter be able to go back and
find the doctor's note that gaveyou that diagnosis, that first
(32:43):
diagnosis.
J Basser (32:44):
That's easy, you can do it.
You can do it.
You can do it, sure, you can.
Ray Cobb (32:50):
There's a gentleman.
You don't have to worry aboutit.
I've talked about it before,right.
J Basser (32:56):
You don't have to worry about it because it's in
your file.
They need to go back to find it.
Ray Cobb (33:02):
Well, a lot of times I don't, but they expect you to
tell them approximately within afew months of when that
diagnosis was given.
Now I had a gentleman, a friendof us, here in Winchester.
He came to our last conference,I think he met him there.
He suffers from Parkinson's andfor a year his primary care and
(33:26):
the VA doctor says well, itlooks like Parkinson's, but I'm
not ready to diagnose it as ofyet.
So then he goes to an outsidesource Okay, and the outside
doctor says yes, by all means,it's Parkinson's.
So then he goes back to the VAdoctor and takes the letter from
(33:51):
the Vanderbilt doctor and looksat it and then the doctor the
VA doctor says yeah, I think I'mgoing to go ahead and determine
that it's Parkinson's.
Well, since he did that, thenturned it in and he won his case
.
But I told him, until he has adirect diagnosis from his VA
(34:17):
doctor, you know that's not eventhey're not supposed to, but
they lean more to the VA doctorthan what they do to the outside
doctor.
Not supposed to, but they do.
If it's a 50-50 chance they'regoing to go with what the VA
says.
If you haven't got a goodpolicy from the outside doctor,
(34:41):
like I said, I'll throw it inthe trash, can?
I don't have any use for it.
It's not going to benefit me.
I know what I have.
J Basser (34:47):
I know what they're treating me for yeah, that's
true, you can eat outside docstoo.
I'm I've won several my claimson outside docs opinion over the
va doc because, just face itray, you get some good va docs.
But here we got a this musicalrevolving chairs.
You know you might have.
I've had several primary carepositions within VA in over a
(35:10):
period of 20 years.
You know people get mad andquit, or you know they just are
overworked, or you know theydon't have enough time to spend
with the patient.
They're too busy in front ofthe computer pushing keys.
You say that.
Ray Cobb (35:22):
You say that that's why I changed my cardiologist
after my open heart surgery.
You know I was supposed to goevery six months back to the VA
for a checkup, a wellness check.
I was like see how everythingwas going.
Every time I went there I had adifferent doctor because they
were using interns and so theywere a doctor that got to really
(35:45):
know my case and understandwhat was going on or why it
happened, even or anything.
So I went back and asked for acardiologist that was actually
with the VA and I've been seeinghim now, I guess 10 years.
J Basser (36:06):
That's one of the drawbacks.
That's one of the drawbacks ofworking at a hospital is a
teaching hospital You're goingto have it's like my dental
department you're going to havenew people every so many months
to come in and they rotate outand you know.
So you get a lot of but I meanyou're getting some of the
latest and greatest viewsbecause you know these guys are
up on everything, because youknow they're learning in school
and they know what's going on.
(36:27):
You know, and some of theseolder docs, you know they're on
their way out, so they're kindof like what they learned in
college years ago and of course,they got to keep up with the
things to get their educationcredits.
But still, I mean it's kind ofa catch-22, you know, I mean you
can have good luck with theinterns or residents or you
cannot.
So but as long as you've got apermanent doctor that you can
(36:48):
see over a period of time, youknow that knows you well, you
know that's.
You know a different issue,because the relationships with
your doctor is very important.
You know you got to know whothey are and things like that,
and you know, because they'rethe ones taking care of you, you
don't want to give yousomething wrong and kill you.
You know what I mean.
Ray Cobb (37:06):
Well, yeah, you know, I had a round with an intern on
my vision I go in for an eyecheckup and he said oh, we need
to do laser on your right eye.
I said no.
I said you've already donelaser on my left eye and burned
it and I can't see out of it.
I'm not going to let you do itto the right eye.
I'd be blind.
(37:26):
Well, I'll turn you in forrefusing treatment.
I said I'm not really refusingtreatment, I'll have it done.
If you'll get me in writing,that'll improve my eye,
guaranteed.
We don't know if it will or not.
I said no, all you know is fora fact it's going to say the
same or it's going to rush it,correct, right?
(37:48):
Yeah, always go to Washington,correct, right?
Yeah, I said so.
Therefore, I'm refusing thattreatment because if it worsens,
then I'm going to be blind inboth eyes.
And do you want to see mecoming down the road driving?
You know?
And the supervisor who comes in, I lay it out for her too.
And she said well, when wasthis?
And I had memorized the day,because they had put me to sleep
(38:11):
to put the laser, because theyhad to get so close to the
center of the retina to do whatthey thought was the right thing
and burn the retina.
J Basser (38:20):
It was true, but it happens more often you got
retinopathy too, though.
Ray Cobb (38:28):
Yeah, that's what I'm saying.
I have retinopathy in both eyes.
The right eye, the vision isnot.
You know, it could go bad atany time, the retina could
rupture at any time.
And the purpose of theinconsistency of blood vessels
around your retina?
They have found that if theyburn the ones that are not
(38:52):
properly formed or encircled,then that will allow new ones to
come and grow and be better.
That is now so, eight or 10years later, have been proven.
That's not true.
That's not the case, and bothVanderbilt Eye Clinic and the
(39:14):
Centennial Eye Clinic no longerdoes laser, so it's not a
treatment to which they do.
I don't know if the VA, becauseI don't go to them for that.
I don't know if they're stillusing it.
J Basser (39:32):
I haven't heard a lot lately.
It was big news back in the 80sand 90s.
You know laser surgery, laserkeratometry, whatever.
A couple of folks had it andwere pretty good.
But if you get right in the eyeyou know macular issues.
I don't think it's a goodresult, even cataracts.
Ray Cobb (39:56):
And another thing concerning retinopathy with
diabetes Okay, if you don'ttreat it and if it happens,
which is a separation of theretina, there's actually surgery
that they can do to correctthat.
Okay, now, if they do laser,like they did on me, and get
(40:21):
close to the center and burn theretina, there's nothing that
can be done about that.
Right the center and burn theretina, there's nothing that can
be done about that.
So if I'd known that going in,I'd say I'll take my chances and
if the retina separates fromthe back of the eye, then we'll
do surgery.
If I had to do it over again,that's exactly what I'd do.
(40:43):
Well, that's kind what I do,mm-hmm.
J Basser (40:47):
Well, that's kind of you know, hindsight's 20-20, you
know, to look back, oh.
We have to do over again.
Ray Cobb (40:54):
Well what you and I are doing.
We're using our hindsight tohelp others to know the
directions to go, the road back,to follow.
J Basser (41:04):
Well, give them a bat, tell them who to see and what
to do.
You know we're not going to payyou clean for you, but we'll
put you in the right direction.
That's all we can do.
Ray Cobb (41:12):
Yeah, and if you lose out on the pill and you want to
find somebody that can a goodperson, honest person that will
help represent you.
You know you've got the list.
You shared that list with me.
We can get them in toucheverywhere, from the
mid-northwest to the farnorthwest, all the way down to
(41:33):
Miami, florida and many placesin between.
J Basser (41:37):
And across the USA From sea to shining sea.
No, but it's true.
So I don't know.
I want to reiterate somethingguys, we talked about hiring
people, agents or people toassist you in your claims.
(42:00):
I mean you can get a VSO if youwant, you know, to help do your
initial claim and get it going.
If you've got denial in yourhand, you can pick up an
accredited appeals agent to helpwith your claim and you get
what you pay for.
But still, I mean, some ofthese guys are excellent in what
they do and that's theirlivelihood.
(42:23):
That's all they do is VA claimand VA appeals.
So you know they're going tofight harder than, say, some
other group that doesn't havethe experience.
That's their livelihood.
That's all they do is VA claimand VA appeals.
So you know they're going tofight harder than, say, some
other group that doesn't havethe it's not in their heart.
Ray Cobb (42:37):
You know what I mean, ray, I do.
And another thing I don't knowif it is in every state, but in
the state of Tennessee ourcounty service officers, along
with our DAV and I don't knowabout, I know the DAV, the VFW
and American Legion, our serviceofficers that represent us they
(42:57):
are not allowed to assist aveteran on an appeal.
All they're really allowed todo if they need an appeal is to
ask questions like do you havethis or do you have that, or you
may want to get this or you maywant to do that, and they tell
(43:18):
them just go back to the countyservice office and tell them you
want to file an appeal.
You know, I'm very fortunatethat when I first got started
and you had the travelingmedical board, as they called it
, the travel BAB board- Travelboard yeah.
(43:42):
The travel board.
You know I was able to go, sitdown in front of the judge and
explain my case and in today'sworld I don't think that I would
have the same impact doing itwithout getting an agent,
(44:03):
because I cannot look into therecords.
Talk to the people at the highenough level at the regional
office, and definitely not ajudge in DC, to get some things
done to help with my claim.
So I think today, more so thanever, I'm recommending what a
(44:23):
guy calls me and says he's lostyour claim.
I tell them they need an agent.
Now our local county serviceofficer says no, they don't, you
can do this yourself.
Well, I do not know of anyonewho has won an appeal Now.
(44:47):
I know one or two here locallythat I worked with and helped
with.
That won it the first timearound.
They did it on their own.
But when it comes to winning iton an appeal, talk to one today
.
Call me after lunch today.
(45:09):
He has actually ended up,because of the diabetes, had to
have his leg amputated above theknee, and he was telling me
about how they got him his newprosthetics and they're wanting
him to go to physical therapy.
He says I know how to walk.
I just been looking at YouTubeand stuff and I see how to do it
with my walker and I'm going todo that and strengthen my leg
(45:30):
that way.
He said I don't have too muchfaith in our local physical
therapist around here for doingmy prosthetics, but I told him
as long as he would do it on hisown, he did it every day.
He would push himself.
J Basser (45:48):
Above the knee, above the knee.
Amputation Above the knee,above the knee, it's going to be
a lot harder process, he thinks.
Ray Cobb (45:57):
Well.
J Basser (45:58):
You got to walk, you got to bend.
You got to find somebody tobend that knee, to get that knee
working right.
Ray Cobb (46:04):
Well, it's above the knee.
It's a prosthetic knee.
J Basser (46:07):
It working right.
It's a prosthetic knee, it's anautomatic prosthetic knee, but
he's still got to be able to fixthat leg to get that knee to
bend.
Ray Cobb (46:11):
Well, and they've given him one of these that
attaches to the muscle, that ifhe learns how to use it properly
, he won't even know that he hadhis leg amputated, one of the
new titanium type.
Are you familiar with those?
I wasn't.
J Basser (46:29):
Lieutenant Dan legs Titanium alloy.
Yeah, that's pretty cool.
Ray Cobb (46:37):
Six million dollar man .
J Basser (46:41):
But yes, that's what I was talking about.
I mean, you know, you guys,I've seen some scary stuff over
the last several weeks on ourFacebook groups and things like
that looking around and we had acouple of folks that tried it
on their own and then made amistake, this or that.
The VA never lets down with amistake.
They can take that mistake andthey can make you claim the last
10 years.
Yeah, I'm serious.
Ray Cobb (47:02):
Oh yeah.
J Basser (47:04):
It's called the hamster wheel.
Ray Cobb (47:07):
Look at my first one with the peels and everything.
They stretched mine out fromthe beginning.
After our first pile theystretched it out 11 years before
I won my claim 11 years.
J Basser (47:21):
I was 14.
Ray Cobb (47:24):
Delay after delay after delay, and another C and P
and all types of stuff, and youknow it's an ongoing battle.
So, guys, I'm telling you, withthe way the VA system is set up
today, right now, today, I'drecommend, if you get it in now,
start looking for an agent thatcan represent you.
J Basser (47:49):
Yeah, and sometimes not very often but there are
some agents out there that willactually help you with the
initial claim Because they cando the initial claim and help
you do it.
It was legally fine as long asthey don't charge you a dime for
it.
You know that when the pillprocess comes down then they
(48:11):
charge you.
But you know, if they help youwith the initial claim, thank
you very much and pat them onthe back and appreciate it.
But anything you disagree withyou can file through them to
disagree and board with them forpills, because that will
promote them back to whateveryou know.
So the initial claim they can'thelp.
(48:32):
I know two that actually do it.
I don't know if they do itright now because they get.
You know they do a lot of stuff, but you know they got, they
got to work, they got to paystaff and everything else, so
they do a pretty good job.
So but reach out to theexposecom if you guys need
information and stuff like thatand we'll tell you to reach out
to.
We don't care, that's what wedo.
We aim to help everybody getwhat they deserve and what
(48:57):
benefits that they need to get.
But next week, I think afterBethany's show we'll discuss I
want to discuss his greatadaptive housing.
Let's do a show on that nextweek.
You want to?
Ray Cobb (49:12):
Yeah, that'd be great.
That's you got a lot ofexperience in that.
I'll have to freshen up on whatthe levels are now of how much
you receive for those two.
But Hesagrant's reallyimportant when you first,
especially if you have diabetes.
That's you know.
(49:32):
Diabetes is, that's you know.
J Basser (49:34):
Diabetes is the worst disease man can get, you know,
except for cancer, and thediabetes is going to kill us all
you know.
It may not be the diabetes, butit's going to be a secondary
condition, like heart disease orlung disease or whatever you
know.
Or kidney failure yeah, stroke.
Kidney failure, stroke yeah,bad stuff.
They said the Pope died of astroke.
(49:56):
You see that I did, yeah, sookay, we've got 10 minutes left.
Ray, you want to add anything,anything going on locally that
we can use, or anything?
Ray Cobb (50:13):
One thing that we you know I jumped on the bandwagon a
few weeks ago, several weeksago, and I think we've been able
to get it stopped the act inthe Tennessee legislature that
would allow claim sharks to comein and take up to six months of
your back pay and all of that.
I think we've got that stoppedand I think it's staying in the
water.
(50:33):
I don't think it's going to sixmonths of your back pay and all
of that.
I think we've got that stoppedand I think it's day in the
water.
I don't think it's going tocome out of committee to go to a
forum for a vote.
So that's one thing locallythat we've done.
We're kind of excited that wewere able to get that stopped.
We do crosses and flags here.
(50:54):
If you live near the MiddleTennessee area, we're going to
be putting those out.
I think it's May the 19th, 18th, 19th, sometime along in there.
They stay up for two weeks.
What this is, folks?
It's a program that I washelping involved with getting
started six years ago and we putout a cross that tells a
(51:16):
veteran's name, what time andwhen he served and what conflict
or time of military duty heserved.
And we have an American.
I think it's a four by fivemilitary flag, a US flag above
it and it goes through the crossand stands.
(51:37):
We line them up along the sideof the road.
It's pretty interesting.
We don't put rank on them.
It doesn't matter if they werea captain or a private, the
crosses look the same.
And families it's a way tohonor their loved ones.
This year we just closed outyesterday we are going to have
(52:01):
977 up around the town this year.
You're getting close to 1,000,buddy 1,000, yeah, we were
talking this last week.
We probably will hit that byVeterans Day and we will
probably have a new dedicationfor it to kind of kick off the
(52:24):
next 1,000.
J Basser (52:27):
Whoever gets 1,000, maybe give them a gift card to a
restaurant or something.
Give it to them as a littleprize, you know, being the
thousand flag on it.
Ray Cobb (52:37):
Yeah, to give it to the person that purchased it for
them.
J Basser (52:42):
Yeah.
Ray Cobb (52:43):
Yeah, we have volunteers that purchase them.
We have every conflict that theUS has been involved with.
We have a veteran that at onetime lived in Franklin County is
now deceased and he has acrossing flag up.
So we have at least onerepresentative.
I think we've got two.
(53:04):
We've got at least tworepresentatives from every
conflict.
I mean we're talking theSpanish-American War, we're
talking the Indian Wars, we'reall the Indian Wars, we're all
the way back.
And we do have.
We had 53 Revolutionary Warveterans that lived at one time
in Franklin County.
Some of them were givenproperty here after the
(53:25):
Revolutionary War as part oftheir retirement for fighting in
the war.
So we have all 53 of thoseidentified and we do a little
something different for thoseguys.
We actually put on theRevolutionary War flag, the 13
stars with the 13 stripes andthose when you go down the
(53:47):
highway and you see a cross withthat flag above it.
You know that that's aRevolutionary War veteran.
J Basser (53:55):
Well, the 13 colonies were the only reason 13 is used
in a positive light, because youknow there's a lot of buildings
that don't have a 13th floor.
Ray Cobb (54:05):
A whole lot of hotels don't.
J Basser (54:08):
Mm-hmm, so no, and Friday the 13th, it's kind of
crazy.
Well, ray, I think you know wecovered a lot of information, a
lot of ground tonight and thankyou for coming on as usual.
You've been very good and veryhelpful over the past couple
years and you know one otherthing.
Ray Cobb (54:29):
Let me invite you down here.
Maybe you can come down and wecan go do a little night fishing
or whatever in August yeah, andI'll have the exact date.
I heard it just earlier thisweek the traveling wall is
coming to Tennessee.
I think it's the second orthird week of August and it's
going to be the closest.
This is going to be the closest.
(54:50):
So if you live in Alabama,Georgia, Mississippi or any of
the states that are touchingTennessee, this will be the
closest place that you'll get tosee it for at least a year.
So you know, if you live inKentucky and you want to come
and see the traveling wall,Where's it going to stop?
at.
Come on down.
We're going to have it here inWinchester and we're going to
(55:11):
put it up at the County CityPark and it will be on display
there for four days includingthe weekend.
They'll open it up on a Thursdayand it will be open Thursday,
friday, saturday and Sunday andwhat they're talking about one
of the things they'll be doing.
If you serve, they'll help yoube doing.
(55:32):
If you serve they'll like helpyou find if you serve with
anyone and their name's on thewall.
They'll help you find that.
And then they're going to havesome areas and some maps and
some information about Vietnamso you can go see or tell
someone or show your familyexactly where you were stationed
if you're interested in doinganything like that.
(55:53):
But it's really a moving event.
I think on the opening I thinkthey've got planned for some
high school bands and juniorhigh bands to play.
They'll have, of course, somespeeches.
Can't have something like thiswithout somebody speaking so
they're going to have a fewthings like that going on.
And so they're going to have afew things like that going on.
(56:14):
I don't anticipate it, but therecould be the possibility that
for those crosses and flags wehave for the gentlemen that
served in Vietnam that are notwith us, someone would ask if we
could put a display of thosegentlemen down there with the
(56:35):
wall.
That would really require anawful lot of expense and extra
work because of not getting theflags and the crosses and
everything.
But to drill the holes and putthe holes in and properly space
them would be a.
It would take us at least amonth to get those all up and
(56:57):
done and in place.
And then what are you going todo afterwards?
If we had to take the littlesleeve that we use in the ground
, if we had to take it out afterit's over with?
That'd be a lot more work.
So I don't know if they'll beable to pull that off.
J Basser (57:12):
If that was mentioned, Hopefully they can keep it on
the ground.
I mean it makes a lot easier toput the flags in, Makes a lot
easier to put them in and holdup.
Ray Cobb (57:25):
It might be five or six or ten years before we need
to do anything else down there.
J Basser (57:34):
I don't know.
I like to have a picture ofthat, you know, because I had
one on Google Earth once and itshowed the flags.
That's pretty cool, you know.
On the computer you can look itup and it showed the flags.
Ray Cobb (57:46):
Well, I think we may be able to get, you know, 25, 30
flags, something like that, up,which I don't think that'd be a
problem, but to get the numberof Vietnam veterans that we have
up, and as soon as we didn'tget them all up, somebody's
going to want to know why theirbrother or why their daddy or
why their uncle flag or crosswasn't displayed during the
(58:11):
showing of the wall.
So I think that would really bea task that wouldn't be, worth
it, but I do agree with you.
J Basser (58:22):
You can do a couple from each area, a couple from
each conflict, a couple flagsfrom each conflict and have them
set up like that, instead ofhaving to do a bunch like that.
That's fair.
Ray Cobb (58:37):
I'll mention that to the people who charge it on the
committee.
J Basser (58:42):
Yeah.
Ray Cobb (58:43):
Well, folks, even if we had one, if we had one of
each conflict, yeah, it's goingto work.
J Basser (58:49):
But you know, I mean it's true, I mean you can do
Warner Pires, you know, set themup next to each other.
You can actually even put themin buckets and put a couple of
those holders inside the bucketit's big to get the big planters
or whatever and get them, putsome dirt in them and do that
and put the thing there and havethem like that, you know, like
(59:09):
side to side or whatever.
And then when people get aroundthem, have them like that, you
know, like side-by-side orwhatever.
And then when people get aroundthem, you have to watch them.
You know, because you don'twant nobody stealing them, you
have to get some ex-Marines downthere to stand watch.
Ray Cobb (59:19):
I only had two of them stolen, and over the last four
years, so that's pretty good.
J Basser (59:27):
Well, all right.
Well, folks, we appreciate youlistening Tune in next week at
the same time, same channel, andI'm going to tell you I
appreciate you guys watching onYouTube Right now.
I really appreciate it.
I want to give a special thanksto Bethany Spangler for setting
this up.
She's pretty good at what shedoes and she'll be on next week
(59:48):
With that.
This will be John J Basher, onbehalf of Mr Ray Kopp and the
Exposed Lit Productions.
We'll be signing off for now.
Welcome folks to another episode of the Exposed
Vet Productions special show.
We have my co-host here, mr RayCobb.
How are you doing, ray?
Ray Cobb (00:08):
Great, how are you?
J Basser (00:08):
this evening I'm doing wonderful.
It's been a beautiful day, alittle bit of rain here, but
it's been pretty mostly today.
My name is John Stacy.
They call me Jay Basher.
I'm basically an advocate forveterans.
I do a lot of shows based on VAissues.
We discuss everything from theclaims process to VA issues to
(00:31):
problems within the VA,navigating the VA health care
system.
Ray is a former commander of theAmerican Legion down in
Winchester, tennessee, and he'skind of retired from that area
but he always has, you know, hehelps veterans.
He's been doing it for yearsand he's got a big following
down there in Tennessee.
He has his own radio station,matter of fact, on Tuesday
mornings at WZYX out ofTennessee and you guys can
(00:59):
listen to that if you can.
But today we've got aninteresting show for you.
We'll start off on the firstsubject matter.
It's about the PACT Act.
Now we covered the PACT Actlast week and a couple of issues
with the PACT Act and you knowBethany came on and you know
gave her exposure stuff.
This came out earlier withMilitarycom this week.
(01:21):
It's a pretty good-sized story.
So I'm going to go ahead andcover this.
If you have a PACT Act claim ora PACT Act decision.
You guys need to listen to thisvery closely.
Okay, the VA Inspector Generalthey're kind of a watchdog group
.
They check everything VA youknow the working to the regional
office and things and they kindof see if there's anything
wrong, they try to find ways tofix it.
(01:43):
And they do things by sampling.
They sample different claimsand things like this and then
they grade what they sampledversus you know the rest of the.
You know the rest of the claimsprocess and they come up with
ideas.
They find issues Like, forexample, the sampling of
disability claims filed underthe 2022 PAC Act found that
roughly one quarter listedincorrect start dates.
(02:05):
It resulted in improper payoutsof about 6.8 million to some
veterans and shortchanging anestimated 2,300 others.
That's what the watchdog found.
Their relief support, I guess.
Tuesday week ago, the VeteransAffairs Office Inspector General
(02:26):
included that the legislation'scomplexity, along with
inadequate guidance from theVeterans Benefit Administration
and we'll use that as an acronym, I call it the VBA that claims
adjudicators to assign the wrongeffective date to an estimated
26,000 claims.
Now, 26,000 claims is a lot ofclaims and a lot of people, you
(02:47):
know, and a lot of them gotoverpaid.
I'm sure some got underpaid too.
Of course, you know there'snothing to.
I don't know how to figure thatout and it's a.
2,300 additional claims haderroneous dates and that means
that they had I don't know whythey had they made a retro date.
They should have made a retrodate retroactive to a date
(03:10):
before the law was signed,increasing compensation for
veterans, but the agency saidthey could not determine their
monetary impact on the affectedveterans.
So if you packed that claim sayyou filed a, packed that claim
before the act started and yougot denied, but you turn and
redid it because of the PACT Act, then they have to go back and
pay you.
That's just.
You know, that's just law.
(03:44):
It was signed in August 10, 2022and expanded health care and
benefits to millions of veteransexposed to environmental
pollutants while servingoverseas in specified combat
zones across decades, includingthe Middle East and Afghanistan.
Accordingly, it has received2.44 million PACTAC-related
claims since the law went intoeffect.
It has adjudicated 2.14 millionclaims and approved 1.59
million as of May 2024, and hasawarded $5.7 billion in related
(04:06):
benefits to veterans orsurvivors.
According to that, $5.7 billionis a lot of money.
The OIG investigated orestimated that the VA will have
made an estimated $20.4 millionin improper payments in the
first three years of the law,representing about 2.36% of the
payouts representing about 0.36%of the payouts.
(04:30):
Veterans who develop an illnessrelated to the hazardous
exposure, or their survivors,are able to file a claim at any
time.
However, in the first yearfollowing passage, beneficiaries
could submit a claim or intentto file to receive any approved
benefits backdated to August10th 2022.
Some vets have been diagnosedwith the conditions covered by
the PAC Act prior to its passage, were eligible for retroactive
(04:51):
benefits back to their date ofdiagnosis.
So, for example, you had a lungissue and you were diagnosed in
, say, 2010,.
And you got denied and I meanyou got approved under the PAC
Act.
You would go back to 2010 andget your percentage whatever,
but it's the way it should be.
You know the date of diagnosisis very important, especially
(05:17):
when you go to effective dates.
So the complexity of determiningthe correct start date led to
the review of the claims foraccuracy and to figure out
whether the VA was assigningeffective dates correctly.
The watchdog examined astatistical sampling of 100
claims filed last first year andbased on that, they estimate
the VBA assigned incorrecteffective dates to 26,100 of
(05:40):
131,000 claims and found Locaine2300 should have been assigned
a different date and it shouldhave been assigned a different
date and it should have beensent back when they got their
diagnosis.
So that's just the sampling.
Okay, if that sampling isinvolved, you're looking at a
lot higher numbers.
Now they found the mistakeswere made because claims
(06:01):
processors are not adequatelyprepared to determine correct
effective dates.
They added that automated toolscreated to provide prepared to
determine the correct effectivedates.
They added that automated toolscreated to provide assistance
to determine were unreliable.
So I guess they had automaticcomputer systems and tools and
it wasn't set up right.
So it turned around and kickedout a bunch of wrong dates and I
guess they put too much faithon it.
First of all, if you're goingto set a computer system up,
(06:23):
they're paying a lot of moneyfor this to be done.
It's a waste.
I mean, you've got some youngfolks out here that are geniuses
.
It's proven every day.
You know, in DC You've got somegeniuses working right now and
they'll be able to go in thereand fix their computer systems
and they'll have a group workingfor all the government and they
can build a system to fix sureeverything works right.
They can do that in a matter ofdays or a matter of hours,
(06:46):
these people know what they'redoing.
That's how smart they are.
But too much red tape.
It noted that claims processorshad made the BBA aware of the
complexities and administrationhad taken steps to include
updated training to conductreviews and ensure accuracy.
(07:08):
Okay, so they reviewed it andwere checking for accuracy.
Okay, rinkenmeier, who's theOIG, and his investigators made
several recommendations for theVBA to implement and include the
the VA to create an effectivetool to help processors
determine the right date andremove ineffective date builders
(07:30):
from the system.
Continue updating the system toensure it follows
claims-oriented laws andevaluate PACT Act training and
correct all processing errorsfound by the IG.
Michael Ferreth he's the VA'sacting undersecretary for
benefits concurred with therecommendations in the written
statement, said VIXXIS hasalready been made that weren't
(07:51):
covered by the report.
He said the VA would implementall recommendations by July 31st
of this year and for the 24statistical sampling claims that
were erroneous.
We'll complete the reviewsApril 30th, so they should be
done next week.
Since the start of the secondTrump administration, lawmakers
(08:12):
have expressed concerns aboutthe scope of the PAC Act and the
impact of proposed reductionsin force the VA would have on VA
health care and benefits.
Some Republican lawmakers sayan increased scrutiny of the
GOP-led White House economycould help hone the legislation
they describe as being rushedthrough the legislative process.
Some of this legislation hasbeen rushed through, you know, I
(08:32):
mean.
They're like let's do this realquick.
You know, and I got I mean Isay it the more you rush, the
more mistakes are going to bemade.
You know they need to be.
You know it needs to beanalyzed.
Everything needs to be thought,you know, thought out.
You know they need to be.
You know it needs to beanalyzed.
Everything needs to be thought,you know, thought out.
And it needs to be brainstormed.
It needs to be implemented andit needs to be quality assurance
controlled and it needs to be.
When it implements, it shouldbe okay.
You know.
(08:53):
Let's say, we're building carsand they let the brake system
off of it.
You think you're going to havea recall.
Ray Cobb (09:00):
Well, you know, john, we both have worked in
government before, we bothunderstand how government works
and you know there's not goingto be anybody out there if your
supervisor makes a statementthat we're going to do this and
this is going to work, and blah,blah, blah.
(09:20):
And you know, for whateverreason it's not going to work.
You know, for job security,they're going to keep their
mouth shut.
And then I will tell somebodythat, oh well, this isn't going
to work and convince them it'snot and this is going to hurt
the veteran and, from what Iknow, I have not heard of any VA
(09:46):
employee at any level to takeup for the veterans.
They'll say it oh, I'm for theveterans.
They'll turn around and dosomething that actually hurts
veterans instead of helping theprocess.
I mean, that's why we'resitting here right now looking
(10:09):
at these PAC Act claims, andwe're sitting here with a large
number.
I think the last one I heardjust last week was 96%.
Claims are now being denied thefirst time through.
That's up 2% from what it wasprior to Trump taking office.
Now, what they're going to tryto do because of the pressures
on them, which we'll probablyget into later, because you
(10:32):
can't get into this withoutgetting into it.
The next thing you're going tosee happen is going to be like a
shredder gate, except thisone's going to be denial gate
and what it is.
They'll look at it and they say, gee whiz, this has been on my
desk six months, eight months,18 months.
Well, I'll tell you what I'mgoing to deny it.
I got a call today.
I got a call today at noon froma local veteran who had gotten
(10:55):
a denial letter and that sayswhy did they deny you?
It doesn't say it, just saysit's denied, and I've got a
feeling that's what's comingdown.
Say it just says it's denied,and I've got a feeling that's
what's coming down.
The pipe now is going to getworse in the next few weeks or
months.
They're denying it and they'renot even taking the time to
(11:17):
write the reasoning for thedenial which, if I understand
and correct me, if I understandthe law, they're allowed to deny
it, but they've got to tell youwhy they denied it.
J Basser (11:28):
What was there that made them deny it?
That's duty to assist.
There they have to.
They've got to explain it toyou.
That's in the law.
Ray Cobb (11:34):
So if he's got that, then they're supposed to have to
, but they didn't.
He didn't have any reason.
Now he had already had an actionyeah down, he had already had a
match.
Yeah, he does.
And he said to them and heagreed, he said they didn't even
tell you why.
He said, well, I have to runthis one down.
So he ran it down and, sureenough, when the doctor the VA
(11:57):
doctor turned it in, there wasevidently two places that she
was supposed to check boxes andthen sign it and she didn't
check the boxes.
But that was something that hisattorney found, or his agent
found, not something that the VAtold him why they turned him
(12:18):
down.
They just turned him down.
J Basser (12:20):
That's a skill of error.
Yeah, it is.
Ray Cobb (12:27):
No doubt.
But what's happening?
We're going to see more andmore of that, because what they
want to say oh man, we'vereduced.
You know, we don't have 145,000claims backed up now.
We've got that down to 115.
We're doing pretty good andthey pat themselves on the back.
But the only reason they got itdown is because they denied all
of them.
They didn't take the time toreally research it.
(12:48):
nor did they take the time toexplain their reasoning for the
denial.
You know as well as you knowyou saw my last denial when I
had Alex in Bonk.
You know he just got on thephone with the regional office
and got it corrected right thenand I didn't have to appeal it
to the board.
But that's because he knew whathe was doing and the fact that
(13:09):
they had made the mistake, andhe was able to point out to a
higher-level manager where themistake was made and why and
looked at my medical records andagreed.
But when they first denied it,they never even sent back the
reason for the denial.
And of course, now that wasthat was a year ago, this past
(13:33):
March.
So I can anticipate what'sgoing to be coming down the road
the next year, year and a half,if the pressure is to get rid
of the backlog.
Yeah, they're getting rid ofthe backlog, but they're not
being fair to the veteran.
J Basser (13:49):
Well, if they're doing that rate and that increment,
if the regional office is doingthat and they're getting rid of
the backlog in that manner, theonly thing they're doing they're
not getting rid of nothing.
The only thing they're doing istransferring that backlog onto
the BVA and it feels processed.
Ray Cobb (14:03):
And what's the BVA doing more and more of?
If I understand you know, alex,last time I talked with him
what I understood is the BVA isactually sending it back to the
region, saying you made somemistakes here.
Here's what they are Get itcorrect and then they get the
correct part of them, if not allof them, and then send it back
(14:24):
to the veteran with anotherdenial.
That happened to me and that'swhy I sent it right back up to
the board and that time Alex gotit.
You know it got approved butyou know they denied it twice,
even after the judge told themto correct it that I was
deserving of level two in aidand attendance.
J Basser (14:49):
Well, it goes to show you that you know it's all
political to certain issues.
You know when you're playingwith the house, money right.
Ray Cobb (14:58):
Well and they're trying to cover their own jobs.
You know here locally.
I was surprised I'm surprisedwith what I heard yesterday.
There's a lady here that worksout at the base and who works
(15:20):
very closely with TennesseeWildlife Resources and some of
the other organizationsconcerning the wildlife and
things on the base and aroundthe base area and she's scared
to death.
She's about to lose her job.
Well, from a person that knowswhat she does and everything
(15:40):
pretty closely, said thatbasically very seldom does she
really need to work more thanfour hours a day.
Knows what she does andeverything pretty closely, said
that basically very seldom doesshe really need to work more
than four hours a day.
But she's there in the officefor eight hours a day.
How much work she does I don'tknow, but she's sitting there on
a salary of $85,000 a year plusbenefits, for what this game
(16:01):
warden said is a part-time job.
He said he wished he could getthat money and work half of his
shift.
Kind of interesting.
What's going on with all the newchanges and what's happening in
the government that affectsveterans?
The reason that was brought upto me was because of the 100
(16:24):
veterans in state of tennesseehave a special hunting and
fishing license that are free.
And then they also they're whathe was talking to me about they
have a new program that they'regoing to have in effect.
Well, I guess it started thisthis turkey season, where they
actually have gotten theseblinds type things for
(16:45):
handicapped like myself with awheelchair, that you roll up in
the back of this little cart andthe guy was telling me what all
had a little heater in it andwhatever, and you can deer hunt
or turkey hunt out of it.
And they've gotten I think hetold me seven of those across
(17:06):
the state, and he was asking mehow we got on the subject, if I
like to deer hunt or turkey hunt, which I never did deer hunt
and I don't know if I'd liketurkey hunting or not.
I never did that either.
J Basser (17:17):
You would.
Ray Cobb (17:19):
You would.
I used to do a little dove andquail and rabbits and squirrels,
but a small game, but I nevergot into the.
I guess you could kind of callit the troking game.
J Basser (17:33):
It's okay as long as you you know.
Ray Cobb (17:35):
That's what he approached me about.
Then he asked me does you knowanybody else that would?
So you know, that's how thistopic about this lady getting
paid this outrageous amount ofmoney and if that's happening
now, that's just one incidentand I'm sure that's not the only
one.
You're probably more familiarwith a gentleman I know of at
(17:58):
Murfreesboro.
It was eight months ago at thehospital.
He's standing there in themiddle of the floor just talking
to another guy.
His supervisor comes by, saysdid you get that bathroom clean?
He said no, not yet.
I'll do it a little later.
And he said I want thatbathroom clean.
He said what are you going todo?
(18:19):
Fire me?
You can't fire me.
Well, to come to find out whathappened he had been a little
rude or whatever to severalcocked, an attitude to several
veterans that had a certainlevel of disability higher than
his and caused him some delaysand delays and seeing doctors
(18:40):
and stuff.
They caught him.
Now you and I would say firehim, but because of the union
and what his job was, theycouldn't.
So what did they do?
They tried to make him quit.
They demoted him to a custodian, but he still got the same job
as he was doing when he wasbooking appointments and things,
which is a much higher payingjob than what the average
(19:01):
custodian gets.
So that's some of the stuff thatI'm hoping gets straightened
out in the VA.
And then you know, look atthese claims that are being
denied, denied, denied and thennot sending them a reason for
the denial and the reason theydon't is they want to get it off
their desk within a certainamount of time so that they get
(19:24):
an attaboy.
That's true.
Let me put it this way Ourcounty service officer is
probably one of the better onesthat you'll find in the whole
country but, with that beingsaid, they make a lot of
mistakes.
But he has gotten to the pointwhere the American Legion has
(19:45):
required him to give a monthlyreport on how many veterans came
through his office.
Now, the only thing that hesays he's not allowed to do is
tell how many one claims and Idon't know if that's true or not
.
You might have an idea of thatbut he said he doesn't have the
(20:07):
authority to release thatinformation.
But he was able to tell us thatthere was 3,065 veterans in
Franklin County.
J Basser (20:22):
I don't see why it's seeking knowledge.
You know it's just numbers game.
That's all you know.
Ray Cobb (20:25):
Right.
I think he just doesn't wantpeople to know how many are
denied or how many are, how feware being approved.
He tries to make it sound likethey're overworked, you know.
J Basser (20:41):
Overworked.
Yeah, they work hard.
Ray Cobb (20:44):
They work.
They have in this particularcase I know for a fact they have
.
They work three days a week.
Out of those three days a week,which is 12 days a month, one
of those days has to be taken upfor training, and so that's 11
(21:04):
days a month and he only isrequired to see three veterans a
day.
Now that's not process of claim.
That's just to see.
That is a requirement that'sput on him from the state and
he's averaging 4.5.
So it makes him look like anatta boy doing real good
(21:25):
because he's above the averageand above what they want him to
do.
But how many of those claimsare properly prepared?
And then how many are approved?
Well, we know how many areapproved, because you can say,
on average, 96%.
J Basser (21:44):
Denied, you mean.
Ray Cobb (21:46):
Yeah, the rest of them are denied.
96% are denied.
They come through the systemand they're denied.
If you take that same thing,that's saying only 4%.
I can get out my calculator anddo the math, but you know you
got 11 days at four people a day.
That's 44 people a month.
Now if he sees 40, let's justround it up and say 50 a month
(22:09):
and only 4% of those 50 areapproved.
That means out of that 50veterans, only two of them are
approved.
He works three days a week.
He works three days a week.
That's what the county pays himto work.
Three days a week he worksthree days a week.
That's what the county pays himto work.
They won't extend it to him.
Most of our county serviceofficers' offices are only open
(22:30):
three days a week in the stateof Tennessee.
However, in saying that, ifthey are one of the service
officers service offices inNashville, at the VA hospital or
Murfreesboro no, murfreesborohas gone to three days a week.
Nashville, I think, is the onlyhospital now that has somebody
in there once a day and whatthat means is the guy may be
(22:54):
there, one guy may be there twodays a week, another one another
day a week, and then they workin the state office downtown
helping with claims down there.
They're not in that one office,so you know they kind of spread
them out there, which I wouldimagine if they really wanted to
(23:14):
, that door would stay open.
It would stay very busy at VAVanderbilt with somebody in the
office every day.
But my understanding is thatthe doctors there are even told
unless the veteran asks where togo see someone.
(23:36):
They're not even allowed totell them.
Oh, you know, you might want togo down on the first floor and
go behind the operator's deskand those three doors there are.
Veterans knock on the door andsee if anybody's there.
They don't even leave theirdoor open.
They shut the door.
You got to knock on it.
If somebody opens it, fine, hecan sit in there and not open it
(23:57):
if he doesn't want to.
J Basser (24:00):
Let's touch on another issue.
We to the past.
That's pretty good.
I want to retouch it for anissue we discussed a little bit
last week.
But um, gas bottle claim.
The adjudicators claim they lookat what they need.
They, those guys, got to need acmp exam so they sent this
(24:20):
request out to one of theirsubsidiaries or one of their
companies to request an exam forthis vet.
The company contacts the vetand sets up the exam.
The vet goes through the exam,does what they asked him to do
and takes his exam and goes onback home.
The examiner puts it togetherand coordinates it and puts a
stamp on it and puts it in thecomputer and and sends it to the
(24:43):
VA, back to the VA.
The VA looks at it, results,looks at it and they make a
determination as to.
You know what's what and itdepends on the type of claim it
is.
But anyhow, the VA uses asystem called benefit of the
doubt and basically what thatmeans is it's all percentage
(25:05):
based.
So if the examiner looks at youand the DBQ says is this
person's issue at least aslikely is not related to this
issue that happened in service,and then explain why with your
rationale, you know.
That means that at least aslikely as not.
(25:26):
If they check that box, thenthat means that examiner is 51%
sure that that veteran's issuehappened during service or
related to it in service orwhatever.
Okay, 50% is what you need.
That is the cutoff.
If you're less than 50%, it's adenial.
(25:47):
If you're over that, it shouldbe approved.
Now let's call the benefit ofthe doubt.
The benefit of the doubt is theweight of the evidence.
According to a clinic, you knowhow much clout the evidence has
.
You've got this doctor heresaying yes.
(26:07):
You've got one doctor saying Idon't know, maybe.
You've got another doctorsaying no.
How does it work?
You've got to add them up.
You've got a maybe and a yesversus a no.
That should trump a no, right?
You got a maybe and a yesversus a no.
That should trump a no right.
Well, sure, yeah, if they writeon your letterhead that your
(26:37):
condition was due to an eventthat happened in service, you
can actually take it to the bankthat they're 100% certain
that's what happened.
Uh, that's 100.
Now there's a 75 one too.
More likely than not.
I mean, they're 75, sure.
Then you got your leashes, likeyou're not.
Then you got less likely as not, that's 25, and the bottom ones
(26:57):
did not happen to occur.
That's 25%.
And the bottom one is did nothappen to occur.
That's pretty much true, youknow.
You know.
So, as long as you get anythingabove and get the benefit of the
doubt, tie goes to the runner,or that.
It's in your favor.
Remember that and it's not tobe confused.
I think the benefit of thedoubt and they say the word
(27:19):
benefit of the doubt, they'rethinking it's a benefit and they
doubt you're going to get it.
But you know it just depends,because there's several
different caveats in the Title38, part 3 and Part 4.
And you've got attitude ofsurrounding officers.
You've got all kinds ofadjudicative tools.
(27:41):
You've got got to add to thiswriting officers.
You got just all kinds ofadjudicated tools.
You got exploration to therules, laws and regulations has
been through the depth.
One of them effective dates.
You know when your claim startsJust everything in the world.
(28:01):
You know.
You got this and I down andread this one.
These days It'll be a loteasier on you if you're doing
claims, but the benefit of thedoubt is an important thing.
If you get a positive there,you're probably going to win
your claim Well, you know, Otherthan that, you know, we have to
realize that, yeah, go aheadRay.
Ray Cobb (28:19):
You got to look at it from the way I look at it, from
standpoint.
Va doctors are not allowed tomake those statements.
They're not supposed to.
I asked one to make it.
It's as likely as not that myagent diabetes was caused by my
agent Orange.
He said we have been told wecannot make those type of
(28:42):
statements in your room.
Yeah, so they're puttingpressure on the VBA.
Well, I recommend to everybody,knowing that you know, you just
try to get the diagnosis fromthem.
But what you do with the others?
You can go to your own doctor,a specialist of that type, and
(29:07):
the way I have done it in thepast is I print off my medical
report with the diagnosis and Iwalk into another doctor,
another specialist, and I saidhere's what Dr So-and-so at the
VA said I have, do you concurwith that?
(29:29):
And he says, well, yeah, let mesee.
Well, in one case he concurredwith it and when I was talking
with him I said something wassaid and he said yeah, he said
it's as likely as not that thistook place while serving at Fort
(29:52):
McKellips, alabama, and I hadthat documentation.
So he put in a letter and Iturned that letter in.
However, I went to anotherdoctor.
He said well, I don't know, Iwasn't at Fort McKellip, alabama
.
I can't say that that's whereyou got exposed to Agent Orange
or not.
He said no, I can't put that inthere.
(30:12):
I said well, just write theletter the way you think.
Well, he wrote the letter upstating the condition was
correct, the diagnosis wascorrect, stating the condition
was correct, the diagnosis wascorrect.
But he refused or did not putin there.
It's just likely it's not thatit happened while serving on
(30:32):
active duty.
What I did, as a matter of fact,james Cripps told me, if I ever
got one like that, what to do.
I walked out, wadded it up,threw it in the nearest trash
can and realized I wasted $105on that doctor's visit.
Well learned, okay, and forwhatever reason, when you find a
doctor that will help you getyour benefits and be honest
(30:57):
about it, when you tell them thestory and who will take the
opportunity to believe yourstory, then that's the one you
need to tell other veteransabout, so they can go and you
know.
There wasn't anything wrongwith what my podiatrist said
about my feet and he concurred,matter of fact, he concurred
(31:21):
with the VA and he thought Ithink a little more expensive
foot brace would be morebeneficial to him on helping him
with balance and named whatbrace it was.
Now I could have gone back tothe VA and said, hey, this
doctor said this.
Yeah, I'd had two doctors kindof say, well, this is the way we
treat him and this is the waythe VA does it, of saying well,
(31:42):
this is the way we treat him andthis is the way the VA does it,
and I don't even know if the VAfurnished that other type of a
brace, because I was satisfiedwith what I have and how it's
helped me over the years.
I mean, I've been wearing themsince 2008, 2007, 2008.
So I've had them a long time.
(32:02):
The same type of braces.
This is my second set.
They last a pretty good while.
But you know, guys, you've gotto stay on top of it, like
John's talking about.
You've got to know what thisstuff is and look and see what
that effective date is.
(32:23):
It's up to you.
When you receive your award,you can have a disagreement with
the effective date, but youbetter be able to go back and
find the doctor's note that gaveyou that diagnosis, that first
(32:43):
diagnosis.
J Basser (32:44):
That's easy, you can do it.
You can do it.
You can do it, sure, you can.
Ray Cobb (32:50):
There's a gentleman.
You don't have to worry aboutit.
I've talked about it before,right.
J Basser (32:56):
You don't have to worry about it because it's in
your file.
They need to go back to find it.
Ray Cobb (33:02):
Well, a lot of times I don't, but they expect you to
tell them approximately within afew months of when that
diagnosis was given.
Now I had a gentleman, a friendof us, here in Winchester.
He came to our last conference,I think he met him there.
He suffers from Parkinson's andfor a year his primary care and
(33:26):
the VA doctor says well, itlooks like Parkinson's, but I'm
not ready to diagnose it as ofyet.
So then he goes to an outsidesource Okay, and the outside
doctor says yes, by all means,it's Parkinson's.
So then he goes back to the VAdoctor and takes the letter from
(33:51):
the Vanderbilt doctor and looksat it and then the doctor the
VA doctor says yeah, I think I'mgoing to go ahead and determine
that it's Parkinson's.
Well, since he did that, thenturned it in and he won his case
.
But I told him, until he has adirect diagnosis from his VA
(34:17):
doctor, you know that's not eventhey're not supposed to, but
they lean more to the VA doctorthan what they do to the outside
doctor.
Not supposed to, but they do.
If it's a 50-50 chance they'regoing to go with what the VA
says.
If you haven't got a goodpolicy from the outside doctor,
(34:41):
like I said, I'll throw it inthe trash, can?
I don't have any use for it.
It's not going to benefit me.
I know what I have.
J Basser (34:47):
I know what they're treating me for yeah, that's
true, you can eat outside docstoo.
I'm I've won several my claimson outside docs opinion over the
va doc because, just face itray, you get some good va docs.
But here we got a this musicalrevolving chairs.
You know you might have.
I've had several primary carepositions within VA in over a
(35:10):
period of 20 years.
You know people get mad andquit, or you know they just are
overworked, or you know theydon't have enough time to spend
with the patient.
They're too busy in front ofthe computer pushing keys.
You say that.
Ray Cobb (35:22):
You say that that's why I changed my cardiologist
after my open heart surgery.
You know I was supposed to goevery six months back to the VA
for a checkup, a wellness check.
I was like see how everythingwas going.
Every time I went there I had adifferent doctor because they
were using interns and so theywere a doctor that got to really
(35:45):
know my case and understandwhat was going on or why it
happened, even or anything.
So I went back and asked for acardiologist that was actually
with the VA and I've been seeinghim now, I guess 10 years.
J Basser (36:06):
That's one of the drawbacks.
That's one of the drawbacks ofworking at a hospital is a
teaching hospital You're goingto have it's like my dental
department you're going to havenew people every so many months
to come in and they rotate outand you know.
So you get a lot of but I meanyou're getting some of the
latest and greatest viewsbecause you know these guys are
up on everything, because youknow they're learning in school
and they know what's going on.
(36:27):
You know, and some of theseolder docs, you know they're on
their way out, so they're kindof like what they learned in
college years ago and of course,they got to keep up with the
things to get their educationcredits.
But still, I mean it's kind ofa catch-22, you know, I mean you
can have good luck with theinterns or residents or you
cannot.
So but as long as you've got apermanent doctor that you can
(36:48):
see over a period of time, youknow that knows you well, you
know that's.
You know a different issue,because the relationships with
your doctor is very important.
You know you got to know whothey are and things like that,
and you know, because they'rethe ones taking care of you, you
don't want to give yousomething wrong and kill you.
You know what I mean.
Ray Cobb (37:06):
Well, yeah, you know, I had a round with an intern on
my vision I go in for an eyecheckup and he said oh, we need
to do laser on your right eye.
I said no.
I said you've already donelaser on my left eye and burned
it and I can't see out of it.
I'm not going to let you do itto the right eye.
I'd be blind.
(37:26):
Well, I'll turn you in forrefusing treatment.
I said I'm not really refusingtreatment, I'll have it done.
If you'll get me in writing,that'll improve my eye,
guaranteed.
We don't know if it will or not.
I said no, all you know is fora fact it's going to say the
same or it's going to rush it,correct, right?
(37:48):
Yeah, always go to Washington,correct, right?
Yeah, I said so.
Therefore, I'm refusing thattreatment because if it worsens,
then I'm going to be blind inboth eyes.
And do you want to see mecoming down the road driving?
You know?
And the supervisor who comes in, I lay it out for her too.
And she said well, when wasthis?
And I had memorized the day,because they had put me to sleep
(38:11):
to put the laser, because theyhad to get so close to the
center of the retina to do whatthey thought was the right thing
and burn the retina.
J Basser (38:20):
It was true, but it happens more often you got
retinopathy too, though.
Ray Cobb (38:28):
Yeah, that's what I'm saying.
I have retinopathy in both eyes.
The right eye, the vision isnot.
You know, it could go bad atany time, the retina could
rupture at any time.
And the purpose of theinconsistency of blood vessels
around your retina?
They have found that if theyburn the ones that are not
(38:52):
properly formed or encircled,then that will allow new ones to
come and grow and be better.
That is now so, eight or 10years later, have been proven.
That's not true.
That's not the case, and bothVanderbilt Eye Clinic and the
(39:14):
Centennial Eye Clinic no longerdoes laser, so it's not a
treatment to which they do.
I don't know if the VA, becauseI don't go to them for that.
I don't know if they're stillusing it.
J Basser (39:32):
I haven't heard a lot lately.
It was big news back in the 80sand 90s.
You know laser surgery, laserkeratometry, whatever.
A couple of folks had it andwere pretty good.
But if you get right in the eyeyou know macular issues.
I don't think it's a goodresult, even cataracts.
Ray Cobb (39:56):
And another thing concerning retinopathy with
diabetes Okay, if you don'ttreat it and if it happens,
which is a separation of theretina, there's actually surgery
that they can do to correctthat.
Okay, now, if they do laser,like they did on me, and get
(40:21):
close to the center and burn theretina, there's nothing that
can be done about that.
Right the center and burn theretina, there's nothing that can
be done about that.
So if I'd known that going in,I'd say I'll take my chances and
if the retina separates fromthe back of the eye, then we'll
do surgery.
If I had to do it over again,that's exactly what I'd do.
(40:43):
Well, that's kind what I do,mm-hmm.
J Basser (40:47):
Well, that's kind of you know, hindsight's 20-20, you
know, to look back, oh.
We have to do over again.
Ray Cobb (40:54):
Well what you and I are doing.
We're using our hindsight tohelp others to know the
directions to go, the road back,to follow.
J Basser (41:04):
Well, give them a bat, tell them who to see and what
to do.
You know we're not going to payyou clean for you, but we'll
put you in the right direction.
That's all we can do.
Ray Cobb (41:12):
Yeah, and if you lose out on the pill and you want to
find somebody that can a goodperson, honest person that will
help represent you.
You know you've got the list.
You shared that list with me.
We can get them in toucheverywhere, from the
mid-northwest to the farnorthwest, all the way down to
(41:33):
Miami, florida and many placesin between.
J Basser (41:37):
And across the USA From sea to shining sea.
No, but it's true.
So I don't know.
I want to reiterate somethingguys, we talked about hiring
people, agents or people toassist you in your claims.
(42:00):
I mean you can get a VSO if youwant, you know, to help do your
initial claim and get it going.
If you've got denial in yourhand, you can pick up an
accredited appeals agent to helpwith your claim and you get
what you pay for.
But still, I mean, some ofthese guys are excellent in what
they do and that's theirlivelihood.
(42:23):
That's all they do is VA claimand VA appeals.
So you know they're going tofight harder than, say, some
other group that doesn't havethe experience.
That's their livelihood.
That's all they do is VA claimand VA appeals.
So you know they're going tofight harder than, say, some
other group that doesn't havethe it's not in their heart.
Ray Cobb (42:37):
You know what I mean, ray, I do.
And another thing I don't knowif it is in every state, but in
the state of Tennessee ourcounty service officers, along
with our DAV and I don't knowabout, I know the DAV, the VFW
and American Legion, our serviceofficers that represent us they
(42:57):
are not allowed to assist aveteran on an appeal.
All they're really allowed todo if they need an appeal is to
ask questions like do you havethis or do you have that, or you
may want to get this or you maywant to do that, and they tell
(43:18):
them just go back to the countyservice office and tell them you
want to file an appeal.
You know, I'm very fortunatethat when I first got started
and you had the travelingmedical board, as they called it
, the travel BAB board- Travelboard yeah.
(43:42):
The travel board.
You know I was able to go, sitdown in front of the judge and
explain my case and in today'sworld I don't think that I would
have the same impact doing itwithout getting an agent,
(44:03):
because I cannot look into therecords.
Talk to the people at the highenough level at the regional
office, and definitely not ajudge in DC, to get some things
done to help with my claim.
So I think today, more so thanever, I'm recommending what a
(44:23):
guy calls me and says he's lostyour claim.
I tell them they need an agent.
Now our local county serviceofficer says no, they don't, you
can do this yourself.
Well, I do not know of anyonewho has won an appeal Now.
(44:47):
I know one or two here locallythat I worked with and helped
with.
That won it the first timearound.
They did it on their own.
But when it comes to winning iton an appeal, talk to one today
.
Call me after lunch today.
(45:09):
He has actually ended up,because of the diabetes, had to
have his leg amputated above theknee, and he was telling me
about how they got him his newprosthetics and they're wanting
him to go to physical therapy.
He says I know how to walk.
I just been looking at YouTubeand stuff and I see how to do it
with my walker and I'm going todo that and strengthen my leg
(45:30):
that way.
He said I don't have too muchfaith in our local physical
therapist around here for doingmy prosthetics, but I told him
as long as he would do it on hisown, he did it every day.
He would push himself.
J Basser (45:48):
Above the knee, above the knee.
Amputation Above the knee,above the knee, it's going to be
a lot harder process, he thinks.
Ray Cobb (45:57):
Well.
J Basser (45:58):
You got to walk, you got to bend.
You got to find somebody tobend that knee, to get that knee
working right.
Ray Cobb (46:04):
Well, it's above the knee.
It's a prosthetic knee.
J Basser (46:07):
It working right.
It's a prosthetic knee, it's anautomatic prosthetic knee, but
he's still got to be able to fixthat leg to get that knee to
bend.
Ray Cobb (46:11):
Well, and they've given him one of these that
attaches to the muscle, that ifhe learns how to use it properly
, he won't even know that he hadhis leg amputated, one of the
new titanium type.
Are you familiar with those?
I wasn't.
J Basser (46:29):
Lieutenant Dan legs Titanium alloy.
Yeah, that's pretty cool.
Ray Cobb (46:37):
Six million dollar man .
J Basser (46:41):
But yes, that's what I was talking about.
I mean, you know, you guys,I've seen some scary stuff over
the last several weeks on ourFacebook groups and things like
that looking around and we had acouple of folks that tried it
on their own and then made amistake, this or that.
The VA never lets down with amistake.
They can take that mistake andthey can make you claim the last
10 years.
Yeah, I'm serious.
Ray Cobb (47:02):
Oh yeah.
J Basser (47:04):
It's called the hamster wheel.
Ray Cobb (47:07):
Look at my first one with the peels and everything.
They stretched mine out fromthe beginning.
After our first pile theystretched it out 11 years before
I won my claim 11 years.
J Basser (47:21):
I was 14.
Ray Cobb (47:24):
Delay after delay after delay, and another C and P
and all types of stuff, and youknow it's an ongoing battle.
So, guys, I'm telling you, withthe way the VA system is set up
today, right now, today, I'drecommend, if you get it in now,
start looking for an agent thatcan represent you.
J Basser (47:49):
Yeah, and sometimes not very often but there are
some agents out there that willactually help you with the
initial claim Because they cando the initial claim and help
you do it.
It was legally fine as long asthey don't charge you a dime for
it.
You know that when the pillprocess comes down then they
(48:11):
charge you.
But you know, if they help youwith the initial claim, thank
you very much and pat them onthe back and appreciate it.
But anything you disagree withyou can file through them to
disagree and board with them forpills, because that will
promote them back to whateveryou know.
So the initial claim they can'thelp.
(48:32):
I know two that actually do it.
I don't know if they do itright now because they get.
You know they do a lot of stuff, but you know they got, they
got to work, they got to paystaff and everything else, so
they do a pretty good job.
So but reach out to theexposecom if you guys need
information and stuff like thatand we'll tell you to reach out
to.
We don't care, that's what wedo.
We aim to help everybody getwhat they deserve and what
(48:57):
benefits that they need to get.
But next week, I think afterBethany's show we'll discuss I
want to discuss his greatadaptive housing.
Let's do a show on that nextweek.
You want to?
Ray Cobb (49:12):
Yeah, that'd be great.
That's you got a lot ofexperience in that.
I'll have to freshen up on whatthe levels are now of how much
you receive for those two.
But Hesagrant's reallyimportant when you first,
especially if you have diabetes.
That's you know.
(49:32):
Diabetes is, that's you know.
J Basser (49:34):
Diabetes is the worst disease man can get, you know,
except for cancer, and thediabetes is going to kill us all
you know.
It may not be the diabetes, butit's going to be a secondary
condition, like heart disease orlung disease or whatever you
know.
Or kidney failure yeah, stroke.
Kidney failure, stroke yeah,bad stuff.
They said the Pope died of astroke.
(49:56):
You see that I did, yeah, sookay, we've got 10 minutes left.
Ray, you want to add anything,anything going on locally that
we can use, or anything?
Ray Cobb (50:13):
One thing that we you know I jumped on the bandwagon a
few weeks ago, several weeksago, and I think we've been able
to get it stopped the act inthe Tennessee legislature that
would allow claim sharks to comein and take up to six months of
your back pay and all of that.
I think we've got that stoppedand I think it's staying in the
water.
(50:33):
I don't think it's going to sixmonths of your back pay and all
of that.
I think we've got that stoppedand I think it's day in the
water.
I don't think it's going tocome out of committee to go to a
forum for a vote.
So that's one thing locallythat we've done.
We're kind of excited that wewere able to get that stopped.
We do crosses and flags here.
(50:54):
If you live near the MiddleTennessee area, we're going to
be putting those out.
I think it's May the 19th, 18th, 19th, sometime along in there.
They stay up for two weeks.
What this is, folks?
It's a program that I washelping involved with getting
started six years ago and we putout a cross that tells a
(51:16):
veteran's name, what time andwhen he served and what conflict
or time of military duty heserved.
And we have an American.
I think it's a four by fivemilitary flag, a US flag above
it and it goes through the crossand stands.
(51:37):
We line them up along the sideof the road.
It's pretty interesting.
We don't put rank on them.
It doesn't matter if they werea captain or a private, the
crosses look the same.
And families it's a way tohonor their loved ones.
This year we just closed outyesterday we are going to have
(52:01):
977 up around the town this year.
You're getting close to 1,000,buddy 1,000, yeah, we were
talking this last week.
We probably will hit that byVeterans Day and we will
probably have a new dedicationfor it to kind of kick off the
(52:24):
next 1,000.
J Basser (52:27):
Whoever gets 1,000, maybe give them a gift card to a
restaurant or something.
Give it to them as a littleprize, you know, being the
thousand flag on it.
Ray Cobb (52:37):
Yeah, to give it to the person that purchased it for
them.
J Basser (52:42):
Yeah.
Ray Cobb (52:43):
Yeah, we have volunteers that purchase them.
We have every conflict that theUS has been involved with.
We have a veteran that at onetime lived in Franklin County is
now deceased and he has acrossing flag up.
So we have at least onerepresentative.
I think we've got two.
(53:04):
We've got at least tworepresentatives from every
conflict.
I mean we're talking theSpanish-American War, we're
talking the Indian Wars, we'reall the Indian Wars, we're all
the way back.
And we do have.
We had 53 Revolutionary Warveterans that lived at one time
in Franklin County.
Some of them were givenproperty here after the
(53:25):
Revolutionary War as part oftheir retirement for fighting in
the war.
So we have all 53 of thoseidentified and we do a little
something different for thoseguys.
We actually put on theRevolutionary War flag, the 13
stars with the 13 stripes andthose when you go down the
(53:47):
highway and you see a cross withthat flag above it.
You know that that's aRevolutionary War veteran.
J Basser (53:55):
Well, the 13 colonies were the only reason 13 is used
in a positive light, because youknow there's a lot of buildings
that don't have a 13th floor.
Ray Cobb (54:05):
A whole lot of hotels don't.
J Basser (54:08):
Mm-hmm, so no, and Friday the 13th, it's kind of
crazy.
Well, ray, I think you know wecovered a lot of information, a
lot of ground tonight and thankyou for coming on as usual.
You've been very good and veryhelpful over the past couple
years and you know one otherthing.
Ray Cobb (54:29):
Let me invite you down here.
Maybe you can come down and wecan go do a little night fishing
or whatever in August yeah, andI'll have the exact date.
I heard it just earlier thisweek the traveling wall is
coming to Tennessee.
I think it's the second orthird week of August and it's
going to be the closest.
This is going to be the closest.
(54:50):
So if you live in Alabama,Georgia, Mississippi or any of
the states that are touchingTennessee, this will be the
closest place that you'll get tosee it for at least a year.
So you know, if you live inKentucky and you want to come
and see the traveling wall,Where's it going to stop?
at.
Come on down.
We're going to have it here inWinchester and we're going to
(55:11):
put it up at the County CityPark and it will be on display
there for four days includingthe weekend.
They'll open it up on a Thursdayand it will be open Thursday,
friday, saturday and Sunday andwhat they're talking about one
of the things they'll be doing.
If you serve, they'll help yoube doing.
(55:32):
If you serve they'll like helpyou find if you serve with
anyone and their name's on thewall.
They'll help you find that.
And then they're going to havesome areas and some maps and
some information about Vietnamso you can go see or tell
someone or show your familyexactly where you were stationed
if you're interested in doinganything like that.
(55:53):
But it's really a moving event.
I think on the opening I thinkthey've got planned for some
high school bands and juniorhigh bands to play.
They'll have, of course, somespeeches.
Can't have something like thiswithout somebody speaking so
they're going to have a fewthings like that going on.
And so they're going to have afew things like that going on.
(56:14):
I don't anticipate it, but therecould be the possibility that
for those crosses and flags wehave for the gentlemen that
served in Vietnam that are notwith us, someone would ask if we
could put a display of thosegentlemen down there with the
(56:35):
wall.
That would really require anawful lot of expense and extra
work because of not getting theflags and the crosses and
everything.
But to drill the holes and putthe holes in and properly space
them would be a.
It would take us at least amonth to get those all up and
(56:57):
done and in place.
And then what are you going todo afterwards?
If we had to take the littlesleeve that we use in the ground
, if we had to take it out afterit's over with?
That'd be a lot more work.
So I don't know if they'll beable to pull that off.
J Basser (57:12):
If that was mentioned, Hopefully they can keep it on
the ground.
I mean it makes a lot easier toput the flags in, Makes a lot
easier to put them in and holdup.
Ray Cobb (57:25):
It might be five or six or ten years before we need
to do anything else down there.
J Basser (57:34):
I don't know.
I like to have a picture ofthat, you know, because I had
one on Google Earth once and itshowed the flags.
That's pretty cool, you know.
On the computer you can look itup and it showed the flags.
Ray Cobb (57:46):
Well, I think we may be able to get, you know, 25, 30
flags, something like that, up,which I don't think that'd be a
problem, but to get the numberof Vietnam veterans that we have
up, and as soon as we didn'tget them all up, somebody's
going to want to know why theirbrother or why their daddy or
why their uncle flag or crosswasn't displayed during the
(58:11):
showing of the wall.
So I think that would really bea task that wouldn't be, worth
it, but I do agree with you.
J Basser (58:22):
You can do a couple from each area, a couple from
each conflict, a couple flagsfrom each conflict and have them
set up like that, instead ofhaving to do a bunch like that.
That's fair.
Ray Cobb (58:37):
I'll mention that to the people who charge it on the
committee.
J Basser (58:42):
Yeah.
Ray Cobb (58:43):
Well, folks, even if we had one, if we had one of
each conflict, yeah, it's goingto work.
J Basser (58:49):
But you know, I mean it's true, I mean you can do
Warner Pires, you know, set themup next to each other.
You can actually even put themin buckets and put a couple of
those holders inside the bucketit's big to get the big planters
or whatever and get them, putsome dirt in them and do that
and put the thing there and havethem like that, you know, like
(59:09):
side to side or whatever.
And then when people get aroundthem, have them like that, you
know, like side-by-side orwhatever.
And then when people get aroundthem, you have to watch them.
You know, because you don'twant nobody stealing them, you
have to get some ex-Marines downthere to stand watch.
Ray Cobb (59:19):
I only had two of them stolen, and over the last four
years, so that's pretty good.
J Basser (59:27):
Well, all right.
Well, folks, we appreciate youlistening Tune in next week at
the same time, same channel, andI'm going to tell you I
appreciate you guys watching onYouTube Right now.
I really appreciate it.
I want to give a special thanksto Bethany Spangler for setting
this up.
She's pretty good at what shedoes and she'll be on next week
(59:48):
With that.
This will be John J Basher, onbehalf of Mr Ray Kopp and the
Exposed Lit Productions.
We'll be signing off for now.
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