New York congressman rips into VA over veteran’s benefits denial

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Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) this week requested Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald issue an apology after his deputy undersecretary for field operations, Beth McCoy, in a House Committee on Veteran Affairs’ subcommittee hearing refused to acknowledge the military service of a veteran who suffered a traumatic brain injury and was wrongfully denied Veterans Affairs benefits.

The Daily Caller has the scoop:

[Veteran John Mitchell] applied for special monthly compensation owed to vets who have TBI, and Mitchell’s physician supplied all the requisite information to the VA, but the VA refused to take that information into consideration when denying Mitchell benefits. In other words, as far as the VA is concerned, Mitchell’s injuries are “disabilities that have not been determined to be related to his military service.”

That benefits denial – and subsequent refusal to admit Mitchell even served – enraged Zeldin, who let McCoy know just how shameful her statement was.

“Imagine if you’re at home and after serving your country for literally decades and deploying into combat, you can’t even get the Department of Veterans Affairs to acknowledge that you served, let alone the fact you have to live your entire life with Traumatic Brain Injury from a parachute fall and a military vehicle accident,” Zeldin said. “I’m offended on behalf of my constituent. I thank him for his service.”

The incompetence at the Department of Veterans Affairs is beyond abysmal. The men and women who have served in our armed forces deserve so much better. Click here to help Tea Party Patriots urge lawmakers to clean up the big-government corruption at Veterans Affairs!