Nightmare stories about VA are true! And sadly, nothing has changed and likely won't

Lord help those veterans who are seriously in need of benefits from the Veterans Administration.

Luckily, while I have filed a claim for VA benefits, I am not in the desperate situation that many of our veterans find themselves.

Sure, I have a military service connected medical condition, But at the moment I have been able to deal with it myself. Fortunately that's the case, because if not I would not likely be around to write this piece.

Unfortunately many veterans cannot deal with their service connected medical problems and are left to suffer without recourse because of the VA's incompetence, overwork, or whatever reason.

We have all read the headlines about horror stories. Politicians are outraged...or so they say. Yet nothing changes.

I filed my claim last year. I had the help of a Veterans Service Officer at the VA in Crown Point, IN.
She helped me gather all the documents, including my military and civilian service medical records, and other paperwork. She assured me this would go through the Indianapolis AMVETS office and be processed. "Don't worry, this is a good claim and we have everything," she told me.

Of course she's not the one who decides about the claim. Nor does AMVETS. They send it off to the VA for processing and a final decision.

There is an online website to monitor the status of your claim. That took about two months to even get posted that I had a claim. That was several months ago. It read "Gathering evidence."

That's fine. I get it. They will probably need military records, etc. Of course, anticipating they would need my military personnel records I requested them from the National Personnel Records Center myself shortly after filing my VA claim.

Periodically checking the status of my claim, I read in February a new note. "Requested evidence is past due." What? I had no idea what that was about.

I called my VSO in Crown Point. She was of no help and told me to call AMVETS in Indianapolis. I did, and left a message. No response or return call.

I decided to call the VA. Ha. That's a joke. Try getting through to the VA about benefits claims. "We're sorry for the delay. Due to high call volume your wait time is 50 minutes," is a recorded message I heard.

I saw there was a LiveChat option. I tried it and after 15 minutes or so I got a VA rep. I told her the issue and she said "let me research it. Please give me a moment." So I did.

She came back online and told me the VA had requested my military medical and personnel records in January from the National Personnel Records Center and were waiting for them. I told her I also had requested them months ago and had yet to receive them. But I said "okay."

Then I sent a status update request to the National Personnel Records Center on or about February 2, 2015. I received an email reply that they were still processing my request and it was due to be completed 3/2/2015 .... but to allow 5-7 days mailing time. Okay.

By March 11 I still had not received them. So I called the Records Center in St. Louis. Again a lengthy wait, but I finally spoke to a representative. She researched and said my request was still in process and she would try to expedite it. I asked about the request made by the VA in January. She said there was a request made in January, "But it was cancelled." What? Why? No explanation. No nothing.

So I hung up and called the VA. This time I waited. I wanted to speak to someone. Finally I did. The polite woman called my claim up and said, "we're waiting for your personnel records because we need them to process your claim." I said I just spoke to the records center and they told me the VA request was cancelled.

Well, we need those records. I said "I know you do, but you'll never get them because the request was cancelled. By whom I don't know."

She started to have an edge in her voice and told me, "whoever is handling your case has many files and when they get back to yours they will see the records haven't been received and send a second request. And they have a lot of files."

Oh My God! How long before whomever gets to my file to even see my records haven't been received. And when they do they'll send a second request. Another who knows how many months. And that's even before they consider my case.

I told the woman would you please at least put a note in my file that I called and said the request for my records had been cancelled according to the records center. She said she would. And she confirmed a second request would delay my claim by several months .... before it's even considered.

In frustration I told her "I just would like my claim to be considered before I die."

A very good friend of mine also has a pending VA claim, which is going on four -- yes four -- years.

But the real tragedy is who knows how many deserving veterans did not survive to see their VA benefit claims processed due to the extraordinary delays.

So despite the rhetoric about a national disgrace concerning the VA, nothing appears to have changed. And frankly I doubt it will.

Did Delta Airlines intentionally delay flight to save money? If so, it cost their customers plenty

There is every reason to suggest Delta Airlines intentionally delayed a flight in order to save money. And as a result, 20 customers lost not only airfare, but thousands of dollars in non-refundable trip expenses.

One example: It was the couple’s 20^th wedding anniversary gift to each other. A dream vacation to the tiny island of Bonaire. A Dutch property located not too far from Venezuela.

The island is known to have some of the best scuba diving in the world. The couple were avid scuba diving enthusiasts, but had sacrificed their love of the sport while raising two daughters. It’s expensive, but so is raising two children.

Nonetheless, they agreed to join a dive group of 16 people for what was hoped to be an adventure of a lifetime. The couple,  from the small Midwestern town of Valparaiso, Indiana, met regularly with the other 14 in the weeks leading up to the trip in May.

Excitement built. Finally the day arrived. May 10^th the couple  left home at 2 a.m. for Chicago’s O’Hare Airport to meet up with the other group members. Their Delta Airlines flight # DL977 was scheduled to leave at 6:00 a.m.

Delta Airline check in

Checking in was no problem. Everyone had arrived. Shortly thereafter some in the group received a notice asking if they would give up their seats on the flight in exchange for $200 or so. No one who received the notice accepted. All 16 waited to board the airplane, bound for Atlanta, with a connecting Delta flight to Bonaire. It was time. Boarding the plane was normal.

About 6:00 a.m. the plane pushed back and began taxiing.  It wasn’t too long before announcements were made on the plane’s intercom system “Due to weather, we are experiencing a delay in our departure. And we need additional fuel.”  The craft turned around and headed back to the gate.

Time after time the announcement was made. The group began to get nervous. After all, they had a connecting flight out of Atlanta in 2 ½ hours.

Meanwhile, a couple of members from the group called Delta customer service and pleaded with a rep, who identified herself as Candy, to hold the connecting flight -- DL923 -- from Atlanta to Bonaire. Candy said "no" they could not hold the flight, but don't worry. If you miss it we will provide compensation for overnight accommodations in Atlanta and you can catch a flight tomorrow.

Problem was -- and what the group did not know -- there was no flight the next day. Or the next. Or the next. In fact, the next flight to Bonaire was the following Friday. Almost a week later.

Air Passenger Bill of Rights

In 2011 Congress passed the "Air Passenger Bill of Rights." In it is Rule 240. It basically states that if a passenger misses a connection due to flight delays, too bad. No recourse.Sure enough, the Chicago to Atlanta flight was delayed long enough -- about an hour and 40 minutes --  to miss the connection by a mere 20 minutes or so.

However, Rule 245 provides that if an air passenger is denied boarding on a connecting flight because the flight was overbooked and no seats were available, the airline must compensate the passenger(s) 400% of the airfare, up to $1,300.

There were 16 in this group, and another four with the same destination on the Chicago flight heading to Bonaire.

The weather in Chicago on Saturday was perfect. And while the weather in and around Atlanta was spotty, it appears there was no reason the Delta Airlines flight couldn't have arrived in time prior to the Bonaire flight departure. A review of the weather radar loop for that day and time seems to confirm that.

Also, a check of seating charts for that same Saturday flight from Atlanta to Bonaire through July shows that flight is virtually packed, with only 4 or 5 seats -- and sometimes fewer -- left in Business class. None in economy class.

Flight delay

So I am convinced Delta Airlines intentionally delayed that flight to save probably $25,000 or more by likely having to pay each of those passengers $1,300 because they did not have enough seats on the Bonaire bound flight.

A call was place to Delta Airlines media relations. The only response was "please send an email." Which I did inquiring about all of this. No response. In my mind, no respose is confirmation of the validity of my suspicions. 

And a call was also placed to the travel agent Dawn Snow from Caradonna Dive Adventures in Florida who helped book the trip and a week at the Bonaire Resort named Belmar. No return call. And no refunds either from Belmar Resort.

Sure, a complaint could be lodged with the Department of Transportation. Does anyone realize how many thousands of complaints there are against Delta Airlines? Was deregulation of the airline industry years ago such a good thing? 

Legitimate airline delays are one thing. Particularly with this past winter. But unless I am missing something, this appears to be an egregious violation of consumer rights, at minimum.

Atlanta Weather Radar May 10

On to the next adventure(s)

It's hard to believe it, but today was my first official day of semi-retirement.
That's not to say I plan on taking it easy. It only means I am slowing down, way down.
Nearly three years ago I joined the most prestigious injury law firm of Kenneth J. Allen & Associates after spending 40+ years as a journalist.
All of it has been the greatest ride anyone could imagine. I've been fortunate enough to meet everyone from the President of the United States, to the now late Tom Ferebee - bombardier on the Enola Gay on its mission over Hiroshima, to Johnny Depp, who needs no introduction.
Adventures during my career are memories I will never forget; nor do I want to. They include flying into a hurricane with the US Air Force Hurricane Hunters, flying in B-52s on missions during Vietnam, traveling Route 66 "The Mother Road" in a new Corvette, and so many more I cannot begin to detail here.
And I don't plan on stopping. Adventure has been part of my life. Pushing the envelope has always been a thrill. Tell me I can't do something, and I'll usually prove you wrong.
Some of those challenges are more difficult than others. The greater the risk, the more I'll try to prove anyone wrong.
Take smoking for example.
I started that terrible habit a few months ago. I have had three women who I cherish nag me constantly. Finally, one of them said she would quit talking to me if I didn't quit. Well, I didn't and she did - quit talking to me that is.
That was it. I quit smoking then and there. It's only been four days, but I am feeling great about it. Valuable relationships in this short life are often few and far between. I was not about to jeopardize this one.
And it was just another difficult challenge, something I thrive on. So that's it with the smoking.
Besides, my next adventure is something I need to focus on.
Indy car racing has always excited me. Lo and behold, I found a Mario Andretti driving school right here in Chicagoland.
For Christmas I've asked my wife, Donna, to sign me up. After a few hours of instruction I'll take an Indy car out -- alone -- and see what kind of speed I can post. Of course I will be in constant radio contact with the crew chief who'll guide me through the turns.
After getting comfortable with a few laps under my belt, the pit crew will adjust the speed limiter and we will really see -- and feel -- what those guys do on Memorial Day weekend in Indianapolis.
So while today is my first day of semi-retirement, it really is only the beginning of another chapter in my already adventure filled life. I can hardly wait.

A special and appreciated friendship

Did you ever have people come into your life unexpectedly and add a dimension that brings joy and laughter?

Let me tell you our experience.

Three years ago I was scheduled to have surgery for a total knee replacement. Now I have had numerous orthopedic surgeries and one thing I learned is that post-op physical therapy is nearly as important as the surgery itself.

Taking no chances, I decided to interview physical therapists. I went from one to another talking about rehab after surgery.

I went into Accelerated Rehab in Valparaiso, Indiana. I was greeted by a woman with an accent. I told Renata of my upcoming surgery.

Hardly before I could get the words out of my mouth she was handing me a stack of papers with pre-op exercises and the admonition that you must do these even if you come here or not.


We talked some more and she finished with "and my patients who have total knee replacement leave here with 130 degrees flexibility, and you are not going to change that!"

I thought, "what a b----, perfect!"

Renata turned out to be the most compassionate -- and skilled -- physical therapist that I have ever had the pleasure of being tortured by. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry" as she bent your leg beyond where it wanted to be bent.

She was, and is delightful. And since that time she and her husband, Art, who is also a physical therapist, and two daughters, have become very good friends with Donna and I. Actually, more family than friends.

At Christmas Renata called Donna excitedly to tell her how Art had given her a Pandora bracelet with charms as a gift. How nice, I thought. That was until Renata urged me to get one for Donna whose birthday was in January.

So I did. Since then the girls have exchanged umpteen charms, at the expense of Art and my bank accounts. They even exchanged Best Friend charms. And they enjoy, and it gives me great pleasure to see them both light up.

Now it's dresses.

Last week Renata calls, "Donna, I am ordering this dress, do you want one?"

"Sure, in black," Donna says. And off we go.

Whether it's popping in at one house or another, a movie, or dinner out or in, our home is always open to Art, Renata and children and we feel the same about theirs.

It's wonderful having Art and Renata and children as a part of our family.

Waiting, dreaming

So, it's been a couple of weeks since I sent material to the casting folks of the TV series Criminal Minds. Haven't heard anything...yet.

That's not unusual. The entertainment industry works on its own schedule, and that's okay. Aspiring actors should never, ever set expectations --other than ones of rejection.

My philosophy is I try to start with rejection, and if something positive happens -- like a call from my agent -- then that's a small first step.

And I have realized that things happen when you least expect them...not just this business, but life in general.

Who would know that after 40+ as a journalist I would be entering my second year in the legal world?  And, with the best and most successful injury attorney and law firm in Indiana and Illinois -- Kenneth J. Allen. March 11 is my anniversary with Kenneth J. Allen & Associates.

And who would have guessed that a family from Poland, who landed in Valparaiso nearly 20 years ago, would drop in our world (my wife Donna and me) and become very loved -- and valued -- friends.

Donna is trying to learn Polish -- she's up to four or five key phrases and words.

Having been born and raised in Chicago, obviously I was exposed to Polish families and some of its culture. But honestly wasn't very close to anyone of that ethnicity ... until three years ago when our new friends entered the picture.

So all of us are working on somewhere warm to travel. We all love hot weather. Everything from Belize, Mexico, California, Hawaii are on the table.

But, if and when we win the lottery is has been decided we are all moving to Bora Bora. Houses on stilts with glass floors, flowers, sun, and more. That's our joint dream. Hopefully all our kids will come, too. We''ll come back and visit Valparaiso.

In the meantime, we just enjoy life while I wait for that call for an acting role, and the others do their thing.

Nothing ventured, nothing ...

Criminal Minds is probably my favorite television drama.

Why? Probably it has some to do with my intense interest in human behavior and psychology. I have always been keenly interested in what makes people do the things they do ... or don't so. It's fascinating to study people.

I've found one of the benefits is often predicting human behavior in advance, and ultimately avoiding pitfalls. It also gives me an edge in being able to easily manipulate situations. Normally that's not a good thing, but I always do it with best intentions. I rationalize that if you know you're manipulating, then it's okay.

I doubt the real professionals would agree, but it makes me feel better.

Back to Criminal Minds. It's a drama about the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit, which of course studies human behavior and uses those skills to solve crimes.

For months I also told myself I ought to research casting for the show. Well I did. And I found the company that apparently does the casting for principal players. It's in LA.

So yesterday I put together a package -- all they want is a professional 8 x 10 and a resume stapled to the back of the photo. That's all any casting company wants actually.

I sent it off. I did, though, also send a demo video of an audition I did last year for a major motion picture to be released this fall -- Machine Gun Preacher, with Gerard Butler.

That would have been a great role, but apparently got cut before it ever made it to production. It was two scenes with Butler. Oh well.

Since then I have been rather blasé about whole acting thing. I have been so busy this past year that I have not had time to pursue this career. I promised I would change that this year.

Normally my agent puts me in for roles she thinks I should audition for. Recently there was an upcoming feature film role calling for a news reporter. She is submitting me.

I did this yesterday on my own, although I listed my agency -- BMG Talent / Chicago -- on my resume. Not to do so would be plain wrong. Hopefully they'll get a call for me.

And if they do, it'll be interesting to see what the role is. Psycho killer, local cop, who knows? When I mentioned it to my friend Art Pniak a couple of days ago  he laughed -- "You, a psycho killer...?" It is pretty funny. We'll see. Likely I'll hear nothing, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Note to CN: Thanks for the comment. Send me your email address and I'll tell you what I have with regards to the real reporters in Public Enemies.

My two cents: Academy gets it right

It's great to see the Oscar people got it right for a change.

The King's Speech deserves every one of its 12 nominations. The acting in the film is outstanding. Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush were spectacular and I am pleased the Academy has nominated them for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, respectively.

And, The King's Speech was also nominated -- along with nine others -- for Best Film.

As I prepare to submit my votes for the Screen Actors Guild awards (deadline is noon Friday) to be broadcast on TV Sunday evening, I am delighted that the Oscar nominations are more in line with my choices than in previous years -- especially last year.

Anyone who has followed my writings knows I blasted the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences last year for snubbing "Public Enemies" and almost more importantly, Johnny Depp.

Of course again they overlooked Depp, who without a doubt is the most talented actor never to win an Oscar. The Academy needs a wakeup call on that one.

Anyway, there's been a lot of buzz about another film The Social Network. No mistake, it's good. But frankly it cannot hold a candle to The King's Speech.

Other than this, no hints on how I'm voting in other categories. Besides, I still have work to do on my picks.