Re: WANNABE HUNTERS

[<Decaturvlp@aol.com>]

Mike Haas is right about many of the wannabees are really veterans, just 
pumping up their history.  But the VA has actually treated and given 
disability payments to some non-vets due to failure to check things out.  One 
non-vet had become nearly a permanent resident in a VA hospital being treated 
for "PTSD" and his "injured back" based on a DEAD veterans DD214 and military 
records until a ward worker who had been in Vietnam with the (dead) vet saw 
the name and service on some ward print-out and went to visit his "dead" 
friend!
As it turned out, the fake vet had gone to HS with the deceased vet and 
somehow had obtained all his medical records and DD214. The bad back was from 
having been fallen down the stairs in Joliet prison(!!).  The fake vet would 
have also had to have been 13 yrs of age to have been in Vietnam when he 
claimed to be.  There are more horror stories like this, but most don't make 
the news.  This guy wasn't proscecuted, by the way - he was on parole and had 
violated his parole so ended back up in Joliet.  He had collected 50% 
disability checks for 4 months, and I doubt if any effort was ever made to 
get the money back.   I also personally know of a (female) vet who has 30% 
disability for her "back problems" for falling out of her bunk in AF basic 
training from a bad dream.  She did a total of 3 weeks of active service.  
She wasn't put out for disability, but for "inability to be able to handle 
the rigors of military service".  (I have all the codes, old and new,  on 
discharges ) and waited for 7 years to apply for her VA disability.  Of 
course, I have no doubt that there are just as many phoney SS claims that get 
thru that system, too.  I've had pretty good service from the VA, (once I got 
past the initial battle with the "adjudication panel" of all non-medical 
people losing my file twice,and another 3 yrs)   but I understand they've 
improved a bit in the last 10 years or so! 

TONY  NEWCOMB- (SOA-570L) (SFA-450L) (AFIO-5746L) (POVA#168)
State Outreach Coordinator, VETERANS LEADERSHIP PROGRAM of ILLINOIS
"The only easy day was yesterday" - Special Ops -   "You have never lived 
until you
      have almost died. For those that have fought for it, life has a special 
flavor the 
      protected will never know."