I am a veteran and would like to know about the care at VA hospitals in Virginia.?

Virginia beach recently opened up a new clinic for Veterans for primary Care checkups, eye appointments and mental health services. They may have other specialties there as well, but those are the ones I know of and I do know they are smaller and don't offer diagnostic testing there other than blood work. They also do not have an on site pharmacy. The Hampton VA Hospital has gotten a teeny bit better in their service, but still has a long long way to go. The McGuire VA Hospital in Hampton is huge and offers more in depth tests and has clinics and specialties not offered in Hampton. My husband has to travel there 3-4 times a year to see the Endocrinologist. Make sure you are a strong advocate for yourself, so you get the services you need in a timely manner and do be sure to check your meds to see if they are correct. Hope this helps some.

You don't say where you served, your age, or where you live, so it's kind of tough to give a precise answer, but, if you are in Northern VA, I strongly recommend Martinsburg, WVA VA Medical Center. I'm retired military but get NO services from VA, but that's where I would go. If you served in Vietnam, the first thing to do is get on the Agent Orange Register. Why? See www.landscaper.net/agent2.htm for statistics about defoliant spraying in Vietnam. It will scare the pants off you. Then go to www.va.gov and search for Agent Orange for info about the register.

As far as VA services are concerned, remember that there's a means test, so you might not qualify. Forgot about the VA motto, "To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan," the present administration has cut services to ribbons. But if you qualify and, as another person said, you know how to be your own advocate, you should do OK.

One bit of advice. If you are filing claims, be aware that under present policy, if you file multiple claims (e.g., for hearing, your back, and your foot), and one of them is denied but they tell you nothing about the others, you MUST demand information about the others. If they deny one and say nothing about the others, they probably denied the others as well - they don't have to tell you - and, ONE YEAR after the decision, you are screwed if you wish to reapply or appeal. After that one year you MUST submit "new substantive evidence" - the old evidence of your claim is of no value.

When dealing with the VA keep copies of everything - and get everything in writing.

I would contact the Disabled American Veterans in your area and inquire into what they have to say about the VA hospital you are thinking of using. They will tell you the truth and can help advocate for you if you have a problem.

Wife of permanent and totally disabled veteran in Arizona.

i use the SVAMC for my s/c and they are limited at best but in comparison to other VA hospitals about the same (dope you up to shut you up) if you have ins. go elsewhere.