Nov 13, 2007 11:01 pm US/Central
Family Fights VA For Pulling Chaplain's Benefits
(WCCO)
-
-
Father Tim Vakoc, who was critically wounded in a roadside bomb attack near Mosul, Iraq in May 2004.
CBS
Twin Cities Army Chaplain Father Tim Vakoc was critically wounded by a roadside bomb in Iraq three years ago.
His family is speaking out because the Veterans Administration has pulled his benefits for speech and physical therapy.
VA doctors have told the family that Vakoc was not making enough progress to qualify for the benefit.
Vakoc lives at St. Therese Nursing Home where he can communicate through the use of a computer. He can say a few words including "thanks".
His family was originally told he would never be able to communicate or have any brain function.
"You don't meet the criteria for therapy, they pull it," said Jeff Vakoc, Tim's brother. "He no longer qualifies for therapy, that's a very wrong thing."
Vakoc's family likes to say that providence plays a role in his recovery. At the very time that the VA yanked his therapy benefit the state, through a grant, set up a new therapy program at St. Therese nursing home.
"He's still got some brain function problems and he probably always will but if there is any hope in him coming back he needs these therapies," said Jeff Vakoc.
Vakoc is in the new therapy program that has state funding for two years. His brother knows other vets aren't as lucky.
"A brain injury can take five or 10 years to heal. We've seen it happen," said Jeff Vakoc. "If these things are not taken care of then we've failed in our commitment to our vets."
Vakoc's brother is speaking out because he believes the VA needs to change its policies regarding therapy for brain injuries.
The Pentagon has refused to release the number of brain injuries suffered in the Iraq war.
The Veterans Administration declined to discuss this specific case citing privacy laws.
They said, in general, if a patient does not appear to be making progress, another treatment plan may be considered or treatment may be discontinued. Patients are constantly reevaluated.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
