Program Complaint Information

ym244

PEB Forum Regular Member
Hello all. I'm looking for information on where to file a complaint about my case. I'll make my explanation as short and sweet as possible but read between the lines that it's been months of hassle and wrong information. I'm sorry if this is the wrong location to post.

The short of it: I entered the DES pilot program and at the end I received a rating of TDRL 80% and VA 100%. When meeting to sign for my TDRL I felt kind of pressured to accept. I think they wanted me out of their hair because I was at 18.5 years and at first fought the med board (I did not initiate). I was told by my PEBLO that my VA rating was guaranteed so even if my TDRL rating was lowered I'd I'd still be getting the VA % so to me it seemed like a win-win situation and I signed. I asked them some questions and they said "Oh, we'll set you up with a VA outbrief". My outbrief like my inbrief lasted maybe 10 minutes in all with the woman giving me numbers to call to ask "those" questions. I sign. While she is handing me my copies of the paperwork... I ask what I do after I get out, etc. This is the point she tells me about having to schedule medical appts (which was fine. I needed to anyway) because my VA rating is temporary. I start to ask her questions and she tells me that my PEBLO should have told me, hands me a bunch of papers to turn into my local state rep (which gave me the indication I was done with her) to start my VA pay/medical and then has to hurry off to another appointment. Fast forward to three months post-retirement date... I finally receive my 214 (a whole other snafu) and take it to my state rep. He enrolls me in VA medical so I can get my medical appointments started. At the time he was surprised because I hadn't been entered in the system at all. Not even pending. Nothing. Two weeks later I call to schedule my medical appointments and I've been rejected by the VA. Call my state rep who tells me he wasn't able to complete anything because he can't get my original counselor to return his calls or catch her in her office to figure out why nothing has been done. He then tells me that part of the problem is that all the paperwork I gave him says proposed. It wasn't even final AT ALL! He stated he knew that I'd never been given anything because I brought in every piece of paperwork I had been given (18 years of service... I know to save EVERYTHING). I start calling and reach my origianl counselor. I ask her to call my state rep since he has all my forms so they can discuss everything. This is the point she chews me out telling me nothing has been done because I never sent her my DD214 (I had called her months earlier to see if she could help me as I was having trouble getting mine since the AF screwed up my records when I left service and was told no, she could not... that's fine. I understand that but that should have been the point she tells me she HAS to have it instead of turning into the state rep as she counseled during my outbrief). She tells me she shouldn't have to call someone for me (when I tried to give her my state reps number so they can talk as he requested) and all of it is my responsibility. I asked for her supervisor which she gave me flippantly which led me to believe that she doesn't care or she knows nothing will be done.

I want to file a complaint because this is horrible. I can't work... I can't start school and it's not acceptable to me that this lack of correct information could be not only messing up my life but other more inexperienced members of the military. If I hadn't asked questions I would never have known the VA portion was temporary and just gone for my AF medical for my TDRL. Potentially I could have lost money that I require to live on or been sent back to service for not doing what I was supposed to. It makes me sick as if this happening to me... it's happening to others.

Thanks!

ym
 
Contact your state representatives and the IG, I am doing a formal complaint with the IG and going to file congressional. This program needs some reworking and no one wants to help! I have over 20 yrs AF was on an LAS and getting the run around. I am angry at the system angry at the lack of leadership within the program. It is madness!
 
I completely agree. I have been retired since November and was told today that it will be approximately another 40 days before my claim is finalized. I'm still trying to figure out where being in the DES program saved time and hassle. Everyone I know that didn't participate are at about the same time frame or less! And weren't filled with ideas of speed and efficiency.

I think my biggest complaint is they tell you that being in this program will give you your VA rating before you get out. Imagine my surprise when I find out it's a "proposed" rating and can be potentially changed later (after you are out). I'm also wondering why it took months to get this potential rating back while I was still AD and yet another few months to finalize and review AGAIN now. That seems like doing the same thing over and over again. And now another 40 days for even a possibility of getting compensation... the worst part about that is that I was told I probably shouldn't expect my military retirement pay on 1st. WHAT?! They say it like it's no big deal. I'm sorry. I have a family to support and that's just not acceptable to me.

Number two complaint would be the idea that having only one set of physicals is beneficial to the member. I completely disagree. In my case, the VA doctors refused to agree with the diagnosis of a doctor I'd seen for over a year... and this after ONE 40 minute appointment. I do not think that the VA medical should have any bearing on a duty determining medical board. It is because of this disagreement that I am TDRL rather than permanently retired.

Thank you for the information you provided. I've been waiting for the exit surveys I was told in the beginning I was going to get. I received a phone call about the program while waiting for my determination almost a year ago. I was told I would receive two more calls during the process... surprise! surprise! I've received neither. Perhaps it was my completely poor rating of the program while in it that put me on the do no call back list. LOL
 
Thank you for your post. Many more people are experiencing the same delays, with no explanation from the VA and I completely agree with the proposed versus final ratings. Someone please explain the point to all this.

It is amazing the VA can hire more people to get the Post 9/11 GI Bill up and going, but do nothing publicly to help with the injured service member and veterans! This is an outrage.

The VA and the DOD need to review their policy and procedures...their process is broke, incomplete, and lacks the support for the service member and veteran.

No firm timelines, no VA compensation for months, doctors which don't take reports from other doctors, and on and on.

Again, I urge folks to write to your Congressman, let them know how dissatisfied you are with the program, do the surveys, and contact your professional organizations and let them know as well.
 
I am in the pilot program with the army but I had 2 medicals I had a va and a miliatry dr both give me my medicals. Is this not counted for the va or will I have to have still another one once I get out?
 
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