Two Years Too Late
After denied funeral benefits, vet gets appointment.
Vietnam veteran Doug Chase was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2011. He tried to transfer his care to the VA hospital in Bedford, Massachusetts, but before he could, he died in August 2012. His widow, Suzanne Chase, asked the VA for funeral benefits, but she was denied because her husband never received treatment at the VA. Now CBS Boston reports, “But two weeks ago, he got a letter, from the VA in Bedford, saying he could now call to make an appointment to see a primary care doctor. ‘It was addressed to my husband and I opened it,’ said Suzanne Chase. … ‘It was 22 months too late…’ At the bottom of the letter, dated June 12, it reads: ‘We are committed to providing primary care in a timely manner and would greatly appreciate a prompt response.’” Was it a secret waiting list, or simply another example of the VA imploding under the weight of its own bureaucracy? As CBS reports, the VA is really sorry. More…
