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My Experiences with the VA

By Paul J. Tabone

Several years ago I reconnected with a Nam buddy that I hadn't spoken to in decades. Because we are geographically nearby (he's in Ohio and I in New York) we have managed to see each other on a number of occasions. Beyond the many hours of memories we discussed, he mentioned to me his experiences with the VA. He lived near a local branch and was retired and therefore had the time to pursue whatever he had coming to him. He spent hours with a VA rep over many visits learning about medical coverage but as a byproduct learned what he (We!) were entitled to as 11B grunts who had served in I Corps. He gave me the confidence to pursue things myself and I proceeded to contact the VA offices in Northport, NY. I initially made contact via email and eventually was called in to a Suffolk County Department of Veterans Affairs office for an appointment. I brought whatever documents I could gather proving my existence as well as my location of service in country. My experience with the personnel at the county office was actually quite pleasant. I was told that I would hear back within a period of time (I seem to recall it was several months). I eventually did and was requested to submit banking information for any awarded funds I might receive.

I should make an aside comment here that I was asked to submit a list of ailments I had experienced what I felt might have been Agent Orange related. I brought whatever documentation I had with me to the initial visit. Apparently after many years of two stepping claims the VA was ordered to pay to anyone who was "boots on the ground" without any chance of challenging them. I was suffering from measurable hearing loss and had had a pacemaker installed several years prior. Both ailments were automatically considered covered. As a result I was declared a set percentage permanently disabled and received a retroactive check for the first year of the award with each subsequent month a fixed amount magically appearing in my checking account.

Since then I have also been diagnosed with diabetes and have initiated a claim for that as well, since it appears to be on the Agent Orange list of probable health related issues.

I am in no way suffering from PTSD that I know of nor was I wounded in action. For those men I have overwhelming compassion. However, the rest of us who had the misfortune of being there as well are entitled to a payout. I'm not a supporter of scamming the system, but damn it all, we did our time and if it's there to be collected, we should go for it.

Paul J. Tabone was in 1/5 Infantry (Red Diamond) I Corps 1969-1970.