It is a very bad system that is in place. But the hard part, for anyone who is brave enough in government to suggest it, will be exposing it for the problems it has. Because as you know it is not politically correct to take programs/money away from the voting public. The shame is that the real needy Vets are are getting sub-standard service as a reward for serving their country honorably.

>Bret,
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>I agree with you.
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>One person I know, was in the Army 30 years ago, tripped and hurt his knee recently. Rather than get treatment locally, they drove 60 miles to a VA hospital for treatment and the VA built a knee brace for him.
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>Another situation. An American man, in his 60's, has a 50% chance of having Prostate Cancer regardless of military background (Just subtract 10 from your age and that's the percent chance that you have it). But, if you served in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam war and you're diagnosed with Prostate Cancer, the cancer is classified as service connected even though you may never have been exposed to Agent Orange. You get disability pay (couple thousand a month) and free medical care from the VA for the rest of your life. When you die, a surviving spouse will get a pension because you had a "service connected" disease.
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>>Here is my criteria for VA hospital. The VA is only responsible for your care if you were injured while serving or if a later injuring can be proven to come from something that happened to you while serving or you have retired from the military. That is it.
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>>The VA has become socialized medicine for some and in turn some that need care are not getting it because the VA is overwhelmed and losing money. I feel that if you served 4 years and then got out, the government should not give you care at any facility unless the criteria above is met.
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>>We have to enforce the concept of work and pay for health insurance. But unfortunately, the US is getting to the point where a great majority feels the government owes them everything and they have to work for nothing.
>or could have used the VA hospital for medical treatment.