RateItAll: The Opinion Network

The Disabled American Veterans (D.A.V.) is an advocacy group for Armed Service memebers to use after their release from military service to help guide them through the enigma known as the Veterans Administration.

I have worked with them for some time, but I will tell you from the bottom of my heart that I will NEVER file a claim through them again. They have been rude, condecending and rarely return phone calls. I have found out that they could have done several things to assist me and helped me apply for programs through the VA that they didn't bother doing. They have lost paperwork, lied and were more "out on the road" (translated: Recruiting other Veterans that "need help" to pay the $200+ lifetime due to join the D.A.V.) than working towards claims/returning phone calls.

My former husband, several friends and I have sworn that we "fianally made the last $45 payment" towards our "DAV dues", only to get another bill the next year stating that "we still owe $45". As individuals, we thought that maybe we had read it wrong, untill we got to talking about it and noticed that ALL of us had the same bill, for the same amount after ALL of us thought we paid it off. ALL of us called the DAV office and ALL of us got the same response: "nope, you still owe us $45" and were completely unhelpful when we asked for a record of our payments for us to reconcile with our cancelled checks.

Last month we heard on the local news that the DAV is rated poorly among charities, as only .05 of each $1 actually goes to helping Veterans....sad state of affairs.

Look, if you want help, go to the V.F.W if you participated in a war overseas; the American Legion has had great reviews and I am hearing GREAT stuff about Am Vets (American Veterans). Sway far far away from the DAV..if you don't; don't say you weren't warned.

It is sad to think that men that have answered the call to serve their country are given the run around and our government created a bureaucratic mess so difficult to understand that these men don't get help and many with Post Traumatic Shock(PTS) are living homeless on the street.I'm not just talking about the Iraq war veterans,but especially the Vietnam War veterans.There are still many from that war living on the street.Instead of looking for more capital to bankroll war machines we need to be a responsible nation that not only provides the best medical care for our vets,but housing as well for those who are living on the streets and just happen to be war veterans as well.The people of this nation are shocked that such a thing could happen and not much is done.Yeah ,a whistleblower exposed the Walter Reed Scandal and the nationwide coverage got some help for those men,but I can't help thinking of the young men that fought and served in the Vietnamese war that don't have a voice.

They took good care of my son's father for years. He's had a few "not so good" doctors but for the most part, the physicians and specialists he's been to see seem inteligent and well schooled. As for the previous comment, it seems like they almost always lose a case on the first try. I'm not sure why this is, but, the sqeaky wheel gets the oil, you know. Here, I can also add that, I commend the foreigners who seem more prominent in the VA hospitals of America, where the pay rate doesn't come close to that of standard hospital's physicians. I strongly believe in taking good care of those who fought and put thier lives on the line to care for us.

That DAV is so corrupt. They lost my case. Then they told me to forget about it. Then I find out they take money from QTC Medical, who does quack exams on helpless disabled Veterans.

I will always think highly Of the men who fought for our nation, especially if they gave the ultimate sacrifice or if they were wounded in battle. The Purple Heart is more than just a shiny peice of metal. Both of my grandfathers fought in WWII. Neither, thank God, was wounded in battle, but I still respect them for their actions and their willingness to face the hell of war.

I'm a veteran, and the odds are that one of our American servicemen or women coming back from the Gulf will be missing a limb- and that's what DAV is for. DAV serves as an advocate for disabled veterans at the state and federal level, and provides services for all types of diabled veterans, both combat and non-combat. Great organization, highly recommend donating.