Larry Scott of VA Watchdog is looking for returning vets who have has Medical Records problems

[Monkeyman]

Larry is working with a Reporter. He will and can help with your help.

http://www.vawatchdog.org

[The Wizard]

1. I remember when we

returned from Vietnam, all our records burned in a St. Louis fire. Many vets gave up believing there was nothing they could do. The missing records ploy has been going on for years. Mine were lost for a while until they got a letter from my Senator, then they were found behind a desk, yeah right.
When I left the service no one asked me for my medical records. I walked out with them in hand. When I made my first claim I submitted copies so they couldn't use the St.Louis fire excuse. But my file did manage to slip behind a desk for a year.
Sometimes informing the adjudicator who arbitrarily denies benefits that he or she will have to pay you directly out of their own pockets is effective. After informing such individuals you are owed money by them, follow it with these words: "You do what you have to do." and leave it at that. Never threaten. Congressional Representatives can also be a valuable resource if they're not providing cover for Bush treasury looting. If your representative is a knuckle dragging Repube, find a Democrat in your state who can help. If you live in a state without any Democratic representatives or senators, move to a state with a more friendly environment.

[TahitiNut]

2. The records of Viet Nam veterans were NOT destroyed in the St. Louis fire.

The only records destroyed in that fire were for many Army veterans discharged prior to 1960, and many Air Force veterans discharged prior to 1964. (Not all of those records were destroyed, either.)

http://www.nvlsp.org/Information/ArticleLibrary/ServiceRecords/MILREC-1973FIRE-LOSTRECORDS.htm

Let's remember that a "Viet Nam (Era) veteran" is someone who (1)served on active duty for a period of more than 180 days, any part of which occurred between August 5, 1964 and May 7, 1975, and was discharged or released with other than a dishonorable discharge; (2)was discharged or released from active duty for a service connected disability if any part of such active duty was performed between August 5, 1964 and May 7, 1975; or (3) served on active duty for more than 180 days and served in the Republic of Vietnam between February 28, 1961 and May 7, 1975.

[The Wizard]

3. I forgot to qualify

We were told our records were burned. We were told many other things as well that proved to be false. The burned records were (are) also in a different location. That's how the government works.

[4bucksagallon]

4. That's interesting, I wrote for my records in the late 70's and the only medical record

I got was my original physical. All my shot records and any records from boot camp thru my tour in Nam were missing. There were four times I was treated in Nam and one I was on the med ship the USS Sanctuary, but no records were ever received by me. So if all records were not lost or burned maybe just selected records were lost or burned, I have no trust in the military or the VA.