Well, considering that Walter Reed Medical Center isn't the ONLY one with a "Black Eye," I think it has a lot to do with it. Do you really think that Walter Reed is the ONLY hospital or facility that has these kinds of problems? Have you seen any VA hospitals around the country lately? I'm not talking of just the one or two nearby where you live. I am talking about VA hospitals from several states. Well, I have. I have seen some that are exemplary and some that are a disgrace. But sadly, once you see more than one like Walter Reed, your heart falls apart. So much for "Supporting Our Troops."

Jim obviously isn't a critical thinker. The VA is the next step the veterans face after discharge from the military. It is very important that the VA in this nation give quality care to our military coming back from the middle east as well as all of our veterans who have served. This is a promise that was made and our veterans expect our government to keep it. Since there are 3 branches of government, it is only right and honorable that an investigation into all the medical facilities that serve our veterans be given a look over to make sure they are given the care that is expected. It isn't about the wrong the VA has committed it is about the doing the "right thing" for our veterans.

Why do we tolerate Bush and his incompetent morons? What happened to Johnson and is he getting treatment? I know there are many excellent VA facilities and what's taking so long to get him help?

quick correction, my comment was directed at rplat not Jim.

Wrongs the VA committed:Now almost a 700,000 backlog of veterans waiting for appointments and claims decisions -cutting week day emergency care hours at hospitals and no emergency care on weekends, probable cause of death of veteran at Spokane Washington VA Sept.30, and veterans arriving after hours taken by ambulance to private hospitals where VA denies payment and veterans suffer financial disaster as a result-18 VA hospitals being considered for closing at a time when the VA can not care for the influx of veterans now--suspending 'Priority Group 8'veterans from receiving care in the VA Health Care System-VA is under funded and a disgrace concerning the care of all our veterns-Need more wrongs, let me know.

Not only can the VA not "talk" w/DOD via computers, as of 2003 none of the VA hospitals are connected.
If you move and transfer to another VA hospital, you have to request that your files be mailed!

GAO needs to be looking into this. It's obsued and borders on criminal!

Nicholson needs to resign now.

To rplat: Walter Reed was not mentioned in the article. There's no mix-up here -- the article is clear: Jim Nicholson was put in charge of the VA; he was given an option to install a rather inexpensive system to track soldiers after they leave the military (Walter Reed) and go into the VA system; he turned the fix down; it's still done with pen and paper; now Nicholson has been appointed by Bush to straighten out a problem that Nicholson seems to have exacerbated; Nicholson seems to have "forgotten" that he could have fixed the problem years ago.

Hint: this is not "the government's" fault. This is a question of another bad appointment made by an administration that seems to specialize in them.

I am a veteran who has recieved inadequate care by the VA in GA. I am currently contemplating sueing the VA for refusal to treat me and for malpractice. Basically they messed up my leg then refused to fix it. There is a hell of a lot more to the story but too much for the blog. Bottom line, no one seems to care about the vets after they(we)leave service. I am trying to get my benefits and am constantly bombarded by red tape, idiotic workers who have an attitude every time you talk to them, and yes racism. The VA needs a total makeover!!!

Nothing has changed at the VA. The VA has always been incompetent and will always be incompetent. I retired from military service in 1970 and applying to the VA hospital in Bedford, MA I was initiated into the bumbling,stumbling, fumbling rules and requirements necessary for treatment. Even though I have a "C" number from the VA I still had to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that I had a right to be there.

After about a year I gave up on the VA and sought treatment elsewhere. The cost at times was prohibitive but at least I was getting the treatment that was necessary. I have not returned to the VA nor will I ever return to the VA for medical treatment. I am appalled to learn that They still don't have a viable computer records system in place within the VA.

This current furor over treatment at Walter Reed and other veterans care facilities will eventually quiet down and we will again return to the normalcy of mediocrity in the veteran's health care system. The return of the ineffectual Jim Nicholson to head a task force overseeing veteran's health care only shows the incompetence of our elected leaders.

SNAFU.

The VA isn't innocent in this either. Their facilities suffered a noticeable change in care as they became more overloaded. Appointments became harder to get and even the staff started turning veterans away who were sick and injured. The whole system needs a major injection of overhaul to keep it up and running.

This must be even much more difficult for unmarried, adult Veterans who do not have families to go back home to.

Imagine moving in with ageing parents. Or if none are alive - being a burden on relatives or as a final resort, moving to a homeless shelter.

In areas like New York City where rents are expensive, it must be even more harsh.

I find this report appauling. I work for a local VA Hospital and we put the Iraq Vet at the top of our list. We have put into place a special program for our combat vets. We also get the wounded vets on Conveselant leave and they are HIGH PRIORITY.

If it weren't for the Veterans we would not have a job. I love my job and I love our veterans.

I have a question - why are these people unable to pay their bills? Aren't they still being paid while they move from active duty to veteran status? Don't tell me they are taken off the payroll just because the went and got themselves disabled while carrying out the absurd commands of this administration!

I am a disabled vet and it angers me when the government puts morons in charge of taking care of the disabled vets. Once again the government will continue to let an idiot run an important organization like the VA.

Clearly the Bush administration's priority with the huge defense budget is to seeing that Haliburton and their kind make billions. US soliders are not a priority to this administration.

Thank you Bush and Cheney for not caring about our soldiers and their families. Using slimy intimidation practices to contain your lies as to what you both have done to soldiers and families.

God will remember your soldier abuse!

My father was head of nursing in the Waco, Texas, VA Hospital in the mid-1960s and became a whistle blower because of the untenable conditions for patients while doctors napped in their air-conditioned offices--so the problems and the corporate culture go back a long ways. I can't imagine the horror of smaller VA hospitals if Walter Reed is such a mess.

Plain and simple. Jim Nicholson should be fired. Today. No severance package, no kuddos from the President for his excellent job well done....just fired.

I was in the emergency facility at Ann Arbor V.A. Medical Center and I was diagnosed w/walking pneomonia. I have COPD. While they were trying to get my oxygenated blood level to 94% form 79%, so they could let me go home, I was talking to one of the tech's there. This was in 2004. He was telling me about the news that had come down from the White House.

He said that I was safe....because I had been in the system for more then 5 years but that any other vets applying for aid would probably not get it. He told me not to miss any appt's or I would get on a list that would imperil my status They had been told to refuse giving treatment to any new vet that had not been in the system for at least 3 years.

I never knew his name and did not see him again. But he scared me badly. I have never missed an appt. since them and have seen his staements come true. I feel that the Iraq vets will have a long fight to get what they deserve, rightfully so, and the treatment that they have coming for defending the people that are abusing them. God help them and we will have to help them too.