Veteran plate?

I always love seeing the guy in his early 40s park his big lifted truck in a handicap spot, jump out like it’s no problem and walk into a store. Invariably the truck has a disabled vet plate and a whole ERB worth of stickers on it.

 

Here people take all the handicap spots just because they’re obese (no offense to anyone, but...) and it’s so sad to see these little old men and women driving around looking for a spot while someone rides out in the motorized kart thing with 18 gallons of Mountain Dew and purple hair and chill in the handicap spot smoking a cigarette while the elderly WWII Vet waits to park...

 

One of the reasons I wouldn’t park in those spots. I’d feel like an ass considering I walk fine 90% of the time. Plenty of old folks that need those spots far more then most of us.

Here it’s usually the extremely large “handicap” types that take them if it’s not an older person.

lol samesies

 

No one has to agree but my personal take is that we decide to “serve” and going around being aghast that no one gives you free stuff isn’t serving, it’s taking. If someone freely offers me a discount of some kind I thank them kindly for it. But to go around looking for free stuff just doesn’t feel like something a grown man with self-respect could do. Personal opinion, no one has to agree. Also, take your cammies off after work, people. I can’t tell you how many national guard punks in my hometown are constantly looking for free stuff and attention well after hours in their digi’s haha. I’m super glad the Marines doesn’t allow that idiocy haha.

 

It wasn’t before I retired, still caught career lower enlisted from time to time though.

*note the “career” lower enlisted, nothing wrong with being a joe, unless you make no effort to advance in four to six years.

 

I'm a disabled Veteran and proudly display Marine Corps decals on my rear window of my truck along with a lifetime membership DAV decal and Calif Veterans license plate

I'm currently at 100% after having knee replacement revision surgery . Also being examined for a neurological disorder on my l/ side of my body , possible onset of Parkinson's disease . I do have a Calif disabled placard but I rarely use it

 

I’ve been fighting the VA for 9 years for a diagnosis. Not more pills, not another person not listening, but a diagnosis of why my body is shutting down. If I find out I have cancer or some crazy disorder and they just overlooked it for a decade I’m going to be a little tired of them ha. I can tell you I have zero PTSD or anxiety over Afghanistan or combat and have a whole stinking lot of anxiety every time I deal with the VA haha. I tell them every time I go in I’d rather be dropped off in the Stan than their stinking office

Glad you have some idea of what may be going on but sorry to hear it may be Parkinson’s. My Great Uncle who I’m named after (middle name) had that. Man was a great chess player and good boxer.

Sorry for the digression. Just tired of the VA.

 

The symptoms I'm experiencing have been gradually increasing over the last year or so but finally noticed by Doctors after my knee replacement . I was stationed at MCAS El Toro from 1982 -84 and was exposed to TCE and PCE exposure from Aircraft cleaning solvents

The chemical exposure/ contamination is so bad that the Military installation was torn down and is a Superfund clean up site . Alot of Marines have died from this chemical exposure but the VA won't recognize it as chemical exposure

The strange thing is the VA recognizes water contamination at Camp Lejeune and is treating Vets for exposure but at El Toro they're not rating Vets for exposure

Talked with a County VA representative about Chemical exposure at El Toro and they mentioned you can get rated for exposure but is a lengthy process . I've got a Neurology appt next month for a Nerve conduction test to see how bad my symptoms are . TCE / PCE exposure symptoms are neurological disorders so if the tests show it is related then I can open up a claim for chemical exposure

 

Rarely. Expensive.

VA is just now starting to let me do so if I fight them enough. Finally got some dental work done they said I needed six years ago. They let me go to a local private dentist (service connected). But no, not really.

 

Half of the problem was that I’m pretty nomadic and they’d give me an appointment 6 to 9 months out and I’d tell them I won’t even be in State or country then. Every new state and town meant starting all over like you’ve never been to the VA. They lost my medical paperwork for a year once. They sure don’t document that stuff for you to build a case in your own favor though. They once told me they can’t help me or my wife because it took ME too long to finish filing my paperwork after THEY made me wait SIX YEARS. Fun stuff.

 

Go to your local County VA field office and talk with a VSO about the "VA Mission Act " . The Mission Act allows Veterans to seek either VA health care thru the VA or thru civilian Doctors

This exactly what I did for my Outpatient Physical Therapy after my recent knee replacement surgery . Instead of a 4.5hr 95 mile round trip for PT I now have a 2 mile drive to a civilian PT and all covered under TRI CARE with no cost to me

 

Most people don’t realize it’s illegal for the handicap person to sit in the car while parked in the handicapped spot. If you are handicapped and park in the handicapped spot, you must exit the vehicle to go into the business. It’s in the WVDMV.

 

As I mentioned the VA "Mission Act " is very easy to acquire

Must be registered/ enrolled in VA Healthcare system

Live at least 60 minutes or over 40 miles from a VA medical center or clinic



It's that easy !!!!!

 

Well it’s supposed to be that easy. Still requires your doctor to request community care. If he didn’t the first time, it has to be resubmitted and the wait for approval starts over. Been through this too many times to count with MRIs. Hour and a half drive one way every time I need a new one. I’ve yet to wait less then a month for the approval and another for the appointment. I’ve also yet to have a primary care submit a request for community care MRI, even when I ask before each request.

I’ve only succeeded in having my counseling in the community (lack of providers) and my back surgeon. The latter took over two years to get approval for and use of IG and a congressional. All because the local VA “provided” the care, even though they didn’t have a doctor to do it for over a year.

 

I have Army Veteran plates on my vehicle, and have on everything I’ve driven since 2006. To each their own.

 

I have friends that ask for vet discount all the time- I don't, I don't remember to even think of it most of the time.

I have three cars, only one has a vet plate- I was younger when I got it and I don't regret it as IMO its really gotten me out of some situations. Its a ticket magnet car (sport compact import). The two other rides are pedestrian, a stock luxury sedan and a 2001 Tacoma- might as well have stealth technology, get no looks from the 5-0.

But for the sport compact- totally worth it.

 

i can do that.

but i won't.

 

Tbh, only reason I go there (and hey, look my PCM got reassigned AGAIN) is that their pharmacy prices are better (eg, free) than tricare retail (and their local vendors).

 

Call your Congressman. You earned it.

 

Same here. My wife always reminds me at Lowe’s and Home Depot. We could get a second plate for free but my wife was never one of those wear her husbands rank type and would rather pay a few $ a year for plates vs rocking a dv plate. Can’t blame her, it’s awkward enough for me at times. Hard to pass up not paying $600 though.