I read a thread with a number of posts on another Veteran’s Web Site several days ago. It concerned who knows what to begin with, but had degenerated into a sub discussion which had been hijacked from there. One of the fellows posting suggested that VSOs are paid with the funds that the VA pays them  for every POA they collect. Phrased differently, it seemed the fellow was implying that VSOs cannot survive solely on contributions, donations, car washes and bake sales. The VA gives them funds based on the number of Vets they are assisting. This is where the POA enters as that is an indicator that the Vet is using the named VSO for his claim. VSO presents signed POA to VA and voila- funds are distributed. This seems to make sense on it’s face as the VA insists that we take one of two paths. Either we represent ourselves pro se or we hire the VSO (free). The lawyer option is not allowed until after you get your denial and file the NOD.  Pretty screwy system, huh?

This is when the fur began to fly at Peggy’s site. I say “Peggy” because everyone keeps referring to Peggy said this and Peggy told me that. I assume she must own it for her name is bandied about almost hourly. The site is also done in a lovely shade of pink and looks very feminine which would comport with my supposition. She has an 800 number but apparently is hard to get through to. Many of the personnel who are in day to day charge of the site immediately attacked the poor Vet and called him a liar and worse. In spite of his giving the name of the Service officer who divulged this financial practice, even more attacks were forthcoming. Shortly thereafter, the thread was shut down and no further discussion was allowed to be posted.

Being the inquisitive person I am, I decided to research this claim on Bing. Zero. They’re overrated on Vet info, apparently. Next, I called the Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington State (Olympia) and talked with a sweet lady named Colleen. She told me all about how the Washington (state) DVA apportions funds from the General Fund to contract out for Veterans assistance on claims. Many, but not all, states have State and County Service Officers who are paid by the state to provide this service. They make on the order of $47-50 K a year full time and often work from home. Washington State has none. That’s why they contract the service out. Nevertheless, all states have a mechanism based imprecisely on what Peggy’s member Vet suggested and was attacked for.

As for the National Organizations? They , too receive a small stipend from the VA and Colleen emphasized the word “small” to imply they should probably pay more. She said VSOs do get free rent, electric, furniture and phones from the VA. That isn’t actual currency but it certainly saves the VSO a large financial outlay every month. I would hypothesize it could be “construed” as income in that it is a hard cost rather than a soft one.

I guess what really struck me as illogical was the attitude the moderators took of bored ennui and snide responses associated with the Vets they purport to help. On the occasions when a Vet ventures a theory or  states anything that casts the VA in a bad light, the siren goes off and the whole place jumps into action like a  Chinese Fire Drill. Moderators are summoned to castigate the individual, dispute his allegations and generally ride him out on a rail. Posts are removed if deemed too inflammatory. This is no way to approach a dispute. I noted that the moderators demanded, rather than asked him, to provide his sources (which he did).  Once he did so, the  Grand Poohbah shut it down. The personal attacks are what floored me. Peggy was nowhere seen or heard during this distasteful display of what turned out to be ignorance.

We as Veterans, must stand together rather than become a fractious group with nothing in common. We are 8% of America. John Adams said (don’t quote me) of the War of Independence : We must all hang together or we most assuredly will be hung individually. Drawing a parallel, to partake in backbiting amongst ourselves and call one another names is a disservice to us all. Some are not as well-versed in this claims process as others. To call one another dolts and question our parentage is counterproductive. It breeds animosity in short order and drives prospective Veterans seeking information away. Incorrect information can be reversed but blind, uncalled for anger simply breeds more of the same.

I personally want to thank all of you for acting like adults on this site. We have never here, or on the old site, had anyone who was rude, racist, or disagreeable as I observed the other day. A fellow member of this site as well as Peggy’s, said it is the norm rather than the exception there. How sad that gentle readers cannot curb their their tongues if not their emotions.  Disparate views on VA’s alleged abuse of Veterans, while impassioned, should be able to be discussed without raising our voices. The VA is no paragon of virtue, but neither is it the wicked witch of the east. I find their attempts at denying us both humorous and sad. Humorous in that they come up with some of the darnedest reasons for denial and sad because so many are missled and discouraged by poor legal advice at the hands of those charged with representing them for “free”. Nothing in life is free. Or, to paraphrase an old parable, don’t look a gift VSO in the mouth. And no, I have no proof that VSOs are in league with the VA in a vast right wing conspiracy hatched by Halliburton and Cheney to deprive us of our rights- yet.

We pause now for Station Identification.