$80,000 — that’s rich?

$80,000 — that’s rich?

EDITOR:

“Thank you for your service,” the Veteran’s Administration representative in Lisbon said to me right after he told me the VA would not approve my VA medical benefits. Even though I served honorably during the Vietnam war era and after spending three and one half years in the U.S. Army, I was told I am too successful in life to qualify for medical benefits. Seems that in 2003 the VA administrators determined that a veteran that has a combined net worth of $80,000 in wages, savings, checking, 401K, and an IRA shouldn’t be eligible for benefits I was promised in 1968, the year I enlisted. My wife and I have worked our whole lives to build a small nest egg for our retirement. I want to stress the word small. However it seems our small nest egg is over the threshold and I will be denied the benefits I assumed I would have upon enlistment. Billions of dollars are spent to save the wealthy bankers. Millions of dollars to bail out auto companies. Billions of dollars given to welfare recipients that have government paid health care. Welfare and medical care for illegal aliens. But if you’re a veteran of the U.S. military, the government is going to deny your VA benefits if you’re successful at life. “Thank you for your service” has a hollow ring.

TOM HALL

Lisbon