Here’s an interesting case in Independent Living. And I thought a computer was shooting the moon. This makes a greenhouse look like small potatoes.
Over the next year and a half, multiple improvements were made to the Veteran’s home including new door locks, installation of new kitchen and bathroom appliances, the purchase of new furniture (including a new mattress and recliner chair), and fumigation to control a pest infestation. The Veteran was also provided a computer, Ham radio, and YMCA membership. During a January 2008 home visit from a contractor, the Veteran indicated that he wanted VA to procure a free-standing radio tower to expand his ability to transmit and receive signals on his Ham radio. The Veteran was informed that a radio tower would constitute a significant investment of funds and a determination must be made regarding the Veteran’s needs versus wants.
The Veteran disagrees with the conclusion that he is rehabilitated and contends that he is entitled to additional independent living services including the installation of a radio tower on his property and the purchase of a fishing boat.
Well, there’s the problem. Most ILP assessment programs run for 24 months maximum. Mr. Detroit has waited until the last moment to up the ante and ask for additional goodies from his counselor. The denial is narrow and based not so much on his needs as it is on the termination of his contract. He does have the option of filing anew and requesting his tower and bass fishing boat. Chances are that will not happen soon, but we don’t know that yet.
So remember all you severely disabled and handicapped Vets. As with claims for compensation, denials for this will run high -as much as 85% or more. Perseverance is the key word and lots of epistles on the subject. When impressing them with intelligence fails, the default setting is to baffle them with bullpoop.
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Please, sir. May I have some more ILP porridge?
asknod
Bethanie Spangenberg
kcraveiro
robinhoodesqvetsatty
Wesley McCauley
Veterans Claims Help 
Used to be that the WW2, Korean and Vietnam disabled vets would sit around in CONUS and operate a ham radio so that the deployed Marines and sailors could talk to their families from overseas. I put my antenna on a bamboo pole and built the radio with a Heathkit. Somebody donated an old Yaesu that didn’t work which I fixed and used for quite a few months. We would get a few dollars from welfare and rec money to operate but most everything was donated by someone. I had my “regulars” who would relay the call so that they didn’t have to pay long distance charges from their phones. Now it’s all sat phone and dish internet…I miss those days. 🙂
Fishing boats should be issued upon receipt of claims to assist the Veteran in dealing with the depression, anxiety, and independence in daily living while waiting the normal ‘back log’ times of almost two years.
Surely a greenhouse that would produce chemical free sustanence, (cruicial for HCV patients) as well as providing independent living isn’t asking for anything out of well reasoned parameters.
Herein lies the passing of another infection to other Vets. It is called greed and manipulating the system. There are thousands of Vets who ask only for what might alleviate (sic) their pain and allow them to pursue some quality of life. I find this reprehensible in the strongest sense of the word!