Long wait times for medical and mental health care at San Diego VA Medical Centers are Veterans' top complaint, according to NBC 7's initiative asking Veterans how they feel about local services.
Many respondents to an NBC 7 questionnaire include negative and positive comments in their express feedback.
The responses were compiled as part of NBC 7's Listen to Our Veterans initiative. Respondents were asked what's good and not so good in the categories of medical care, civilian transition, and other Veteran benefits.
Nearly a month into the survey, more than 600 veterans have responded and shared their thoughts.
A majority of Veterans said the most important program to them is their medical benefits, but more than half said they are not satisfied with their medical care.
Kayla Carnevale, who served in Iraq as a Marine as part of the 2003 invasion, was one of many who responded to the survey. During her service, she suffered head trauma, nerve damage and, like so many post-9/11 veterans, lives with post-traumatic stress (PTS).
"It is unbearable at times," she told NBC 7.
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While she is thankful the VA exists to provide the care she needs, she, like many who responded, shared her frustration with the system.
While representatives from the San Diego VA Medical Center told NBC 7 that wait times have decreased, Carnevale says she has been waiting 4 months for a mental health visit. More than 75 percent of respondents said wait times are too long.
“I'm pretty sure they'd like to save face and say they've handled it but I'm sitting here and telling you that they haven't,” she said. Her alternative is another wait, one in the VA emergency room, which she says can take up to eight hours.
Several Veterans shared similar experiences in the survey.
One told us it took four months after a shoulder injury to get a diagnosis of a torn rotator cuff.
“I am still looking to wait another six months before I can even see the orthopedic surgeon. Instead of treatment, I was mailed numerous pills for pain," the respondent said.
Seventeen percent of respondents said their service was outstanding, 27 percent said it was good, 26 percent called their service fair, and 31 percent described their service as poor.
Another respondent said: "The education benefits application process was easy and the services quick, staff are also knowledgeable."
Respondents say employees are friendly and helpful and to them, attitude is the most important thing they care about when it comes to staff. They said the programs they have been satisfied with are educational and home loan programs. More than half felt good about transitioning to employment programs.
NBC 7 launched the Listen to Our Veterans Project on Memorial Day with partners Donovan’s Steak and Chop House and HundredX’s Expresit, as well as Veterans organizations across San Diego County, including Support the Enlisted Project and the Armed Forces YMCA.
The goal of the project is to give Veterans and other interested parties an opportunity to share their experiences with Veterans services in San Diego.
The results of the project will be aggregated and published with an objective to provide content and useful insights surrounding Veterans services.
The Listen to Our Veterans Project ends Monday, July 4. This is the last week to participate. If you are a Veteran, or the family member of a Veteran, you can submit your responses here. Please share this article with any friends or family who may be interested in participating.
