San Diego V.A. Regional Office Allegedly 'Alters' Doctors Reports to 'Deny' Vets Claims
Contact: Gail Johnson, 760-356-0712
SAN DIEGO, July 19, 2011 /
Christian Newswire/ -- Joe Gomez of San Diego submits the following and is available for comment:
For years Veterans websites such as "VAWatchdog.org" have alleged that the Veterans Affairs (V.A.) Regional Offices (R.O.) have intentionally used locally "contracted out" Medical Doctors to medically evaluate Veterans for the sole purpose of secretly "altering" these Doctors' final reports in order to "deny" their service connected injury claims.
One example, an Honorably Discharged U.S. Army veteran, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of any unlawful retaliation by the employees of the San Diego R.O., since his recently "denied" claim is now being "appealed," so we just called him "G.I. Joe" for the purpose of this article.
G.I. Joe was having trouble in readjusting back into civilian life. His wife suggested that he go see a Medical Doctor at the local V.A. Medical Center (V.A.M.C.) His assigned primary treating Physician referred G.I. Joe to their in house senior Psychiatrist, who we just called Psychiatrist "X" in order to protect the confidential Doctor-Patient relationship. After a second follow-up medical evaluation, this full time V.A. staff Psychiatrist diagnosed G.I. Joe of having Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (P.T.S.D.).
Psychiatrist "X" then referred G.I. Joe to a subordinate full time V.A. staff Psychiatrist, who we just called Psychiatrist "Y," for additional follow-up medical treatments. After several appointments with G.I. Joe over a period of seven months, Psychiatrist "Y" also diagnosed him as having P.T.S.D.
G.I. Joe now filed a "claim" with the V.A. Regional Office in San Diego for P.T.S.D., citing the two V.A.M.C. Psychiatrists' medical reports.
The San Diego V.A. R.O. then scheduled G.I. Joe for a "Psych" evaluation with a locally "contracted out" Psychiatrist, who we just called Psychiatrist "Z."
G.I. Joe attended this medical evaluation with Psychiatrist "Z." Psychiatrist "Z," after reviewing the two V.A.M.C.'s Psychiatrists written medical reports, agreed with their findings, and, also diagnosed him with having P.T.S.D.
However, when the San Diego V.A. Regional Office staff "transcribed" Psychiatrist "Z's" "dictated" medical evaluation of G.I. Joe, the Doctor's medical findings were allegedly secretly "altered" with the new conclusion that there was nothing wrong with G.I. Joe.
Claim "denied."
P. Zondervan, the Service Center Manager for the San Diego V.A. Regional Office, as of late Monday, did not return several phone calls for comment.
The V.A. Regional Offices nationwide reportedly pays these "contracted out" Medical Doctors between $500.oo to $1,000.oo for their 30 minute medical evaluations of these injured Veterans.
