I am also recieving excellent care through the local VA, I just signed up a couple of years ago after a friend told me about some of the Agent Orange issues. I have always thought that there were guys alot worse off than myself but decided to go through a local advocate at the American Legion, after being in contract with one of the guys with the national VFW association. They were very kind and walked me through all the steps and with my physicians blessings, all told it was less than three months from start to finish and very little of anything I would refer to as beaurocratic b.s. Since my introduction to the VA I have been treated in everything manner on a first rate basis. I know friends of mine that wait three months to see a doctor on the outside. The longest I've had to wait for an unscheduled visit was three hours and I might add that was on a weekend. Scheduled visits I have never waited more than 15 minutes beyond my scheduled time. I understand there is an issue with the differences between veterans without disability and those with a boni-fide disability. I have friends that are without disibility and they do complain about how long it takes for them to get care and most opt out of the VA and go through other means associated with medicare, others with spouses still working use their wives medical, others use the VA for prescriptions only. I'll mention that I have a 60% disability and am as happy with the VA as I have ever been with any other medical procedures from private practice, etc. I have sent letters supporting General Shinseki because of the changes he instituted regardless of all the charges recently leveled at him. I still admire him and salute him for his statement that he was not ready to step down because he still had work to do and was not finished with his mission.
