To the Editor:

I am a 61 year old 90 percent service connected disabled veteran.

On Mar. 31 I was admitted to a local hospital for what was believed to be a heart related issue. I was released the following afternoon and given a follow up appointment at the local VA clinic April 7.

The provider I met with recommended I have an echo-stress test done and sent the request to Syracuse VAMC. On April 11 I received my appointment date of June 4 in Syracuse.

Attached to the appointment letter was another letter explaining that because my appointment was over 30 days out I could use the Veteran’s Choice program for a local appointment. I began calling the number on the card the following Monday. After four separate calls in a three-week span and four different answers, I finally received a local appointment for June 25.

Now my stress test is not more than 30 days it’s now more than 60 days. I was under the impression this program was implemented for expediency.

I have been enrolled in the VA system since 1999, I live more than 150 miles from the nearest VAMC and my appointment was over 30 days out. I met all of the criteria required yet it still had to be sent to an eligibility board.

On May 15 the choice program canceled the June 4 appointment so that option was taken away and I am now waiting an extra 21 days. This choice program is just another series of hoops for veterans to jump through to get the care they need and deserve. Nothing at the VA has changed it’s still messed up.

Frederick Cockayne

Potsdam