Emails from Secretary of Defense Ash Carter’s personal account show a non-profit group bitterly complaining about the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) continually failing its patients.
Emails from Carter’s personal account released in late March show correspondence from an unnamed individual at Warriors First Foundation (WFF), a non-profit group supporting veterans.
That unnamed individual had what appears to be a close relationship with Carter, and on July 18, 2015, wrote, “[E]very time we try to engage or have a new experience with the VA System they always failed our request or don’t have the care we need.”
“This time I was so excited to start a new relationship with the confidence to receive a great welcome and do what they supposed to do, “Take care and provide the best quality of care and treatment to our soldiers” but again, here I am disappointed!! We can’t trust the system and we can’t believe what they said. Actions speak louder than words,” the individual added.
Apparently the particular issue, which is somewhat unclear due to redaction, merited the attention of Carter since even a referral from Dr. Paul Pasquina, whom the individual names as one of the best physical rehabilitation doctors, did nothing to mitigate how “difficult and complicated” it is to “navigate the system.”
Carter’s response email, though heavily redacted, stated, “you have the entire nation behind you and him. The military health care and VA medical system exist for this primary mission and it is truly an honor to take care of those who have sacrificed so much.”
It’s unclear whether the issue was ever solved, but the criticism expressed in the email is depressingly common. This time, even Carter had to hear about it. The VA has taken constant flack over the past several years for endless wait times, manipulated wait times and generally poor service.
The individual from WFF also sent another email to Carter Sept. 13, 2015, asking Carter if he could take the individual and another person to see Pope Francis when he conducted his U.S. trip.
Warriors First Foundation did not return a request for comment from The Daily Caller News Foundation.
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