The VA and me
This marks the first time I have ever started a discussion in my time here so here goes.
I am a disabled veteran that was injured in the line of duty overseas. I leave the discussion of my accident as I had a bad day, in addition to my injuries two fellow sailors lost their lives.
I have been out of the service wrapped in my DD214 blanket since 1997 and used the VA as my primary care for most of that time. The time I didn't use the VA from 2007-2010 I had Blue Cross as my ex-wife worked for them and made a pre existing injury exemption for me. I have had four left knee reconstruction surgeries and three back surgeries to date. Since I was medically discharged for my left leg I had had back pain. In 2006 my VA doctor said I needed lumbar fusion surgery but I was being put on the wait list due to the fact they only had one doctor to perform it. Early 2007 my ex got a job with Blue Cross and I was put on her policy by December 2007 I had the surgery but was not afforded service connection because the VA didn't do it. In the summer of 2008 I was being lifted out of a MRI and something popped followed by very sharp pain, my hardware broke. I was given another surgery in my lumbar section in two weeks paid for in full by Blue Cross. My total deductible paid was 100.00 for both surgeries. In 2010 my ACL tore again and was unable to be repaired again Blue Cross and surgery and 100.00. My wife and I separated during that surgery and divorced in 2011. I was back with the VA upon checking in I found I was still on the waiting list for surgery. Things were ok and I was seeing my Dr every six months or so then last year it hit. Boom no feeling from the waist down I was sent to the VA hospital for many tests while in the ER the Chief of Staff was making rounds he was new only there for a year or so and he and I talked while I was on morphine and vocal. I told him of the treatment I had with Blue Cross and compared it to what I was receiving from the VA. He then gave me the option of using my previous neurosurgeon for this incident because of a program called VA Choice. In a few months I was scheduled for surgery seems in 1996 my injury included a fractured vertebrae at T6 that was missed and a bone fragment was halfway through my spinal cord. Working together my excellent VA Dr and my well known Neurosurgeon have me up and walking and having a semi normal life except I will never work again.
I tell this to say yes there are problems with the VA it is underfunded is a big one but the people there do care and want to help. I also point out to others that I would still be on the wait list if President Obama had not created the Choice Program. Our Commander in Chief is the reason I can walk today.
Tomorrow is Veterans Day and I just wanted to say thank you President Obama for being there for me.
= new reply since forum marked as read
We utilize the services of the much-maligned Central Alabama Veterans Healthcare System.
In the last 5 years, from Montgomery to Tuskegee, to Birmingham for neurological services, my son has had attentive, professional, courteous care, and we see hundreds of veterans being helped just like us every frequent trip!
This has all been on President Obama's watch.
Like DVRacer says, my entire family says thank you, President Obama!
And thank you to every veteran who answered the call when they were asked! 
of stop making more I've be one happy person
War totally destroyed my chances of a normal life and the thing is I didn't really realize this until it was too late to do anything about it. Well I guess its never too late but the day is getting long as it is, metaphorically speaking that is.
Hey DV welcome to our little corner of the world here at DU. Settle in we need more people just like you.
Thank you yallerdawg for your kind words 
you had to go through but am happy for you now that all has worked out well.
Every veteran in our U.S.A. deserves appropriate health care.
My dad escaped the worst of the Korean war by luck of the draw as a M.A.S.H. style Army clerk. He was very near-sighted and a klutz with guns.
My wife's dad had a more risky experiences as a Marine Medic. Our Navy put him to work in nuclear weapons testing. He saw nuclear weapons up close and personal in Nevada, from a trench. Later he was on the boat to Korea when the conflict was suspended. He was then diverted to Japan, to study the carnage of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs.
War, Science, and Medicine!
