- Reaction score
- 1,003
- Points
- 1,160
You are correct. This is a scan of a letter I got from 23 Health Svcs Wpg (some names removed).
PROTECTED A
23 CF Health Services Centre
PO Box 17000 Stn Forces
Winnipeg, MB R3J 3Y5
6680-1-B (CO) CF 2034
31 August 2006
Nicole Caron-Goulet, M.D., F.C.F.P.
Senior District Medical Officer
Manitoba District - Winnipeg Office
PO Box 6050
610 - 234 Donald Street
Winnipeg, MB R3C 4G5
Dear Dr. Caron-Goulet:
RE: DISABILITY PENSION AND DISABILITY AWARDS
PENSION STREAMLINING INITIATIVES - CF STILL SERVING CLAIMS
Further to the direction received in the VAC memorandum of 22 March 2006 from Nancy McRae, Director Operational Guidance and Direction, and an e-mail from Violet Parker on 1 May 06, 23 CF Health Services Centre is no longer required to complete correspondence as requested by Veterans Affairs Canada.
It is DND's responsibility to provide medical diagnoses of any health problems facing still serving members. In response to your letter of 11 August 2006 regarding the subject member, 23 CF Health Services Centre will provide the member's medical records for review by your Organization once an authorization to release information form has been received. Please ensure that the member has signed this form within the last 12 months.
If you are unable to find a specific medical diagnosis on the medical records, please inform the client as outlined in the memorandum of 22 March 2006. The DND physicians may then investigate the member's health problem in order to determine a diagnosis. The member can inform you if and when the medical investigation is completed and the member's medical records can be requested by your Organization at that time.
Should you have any questions, please contact ----------, Health Records Management Team Leader at (204) .
Yours truly,
Major .
Commanding 0fficer
(204) 833-2500 ext 4161
cc: -----------
In May I attempted to get another letter for a final appeal. Although I have not received a written reply, the Doc ( same Doc, civilian contractor)reafirmed the policy - negative, no letter, his hands were tied. On 12 May I sent the following email to (some names removed) with the scaned letter. Cmdre Kavanagh was the then CF Surg Gen.
-----Original Message-----
Sent: May 12, 2007 12:29 PM
To: KAVANAGH.MF@forces.gc.ca; Thompson, Greg - M.P.;
Deputy_Minister@vac-acc.gc.ca
Subject: VAC Appeals and Primary Health Care Provider - Still Serving
Members
The attached letter subject is:
DISABILITY PENSION AND DISABILITY AWARDS PENSION STREAMLINING
INITIATIVES - CF STILL SERVING CLAIMS
I do not know the intent of the CF and VAC with regard this issue, but I
do know the results. There is no streamlining, and no initiative. At the
coal face there is consistent run-around and catch 22.
As a still serving member of the CF, CF H Svcs is my primary health care
provider. I cannot see a civilian health care provider except after duty
hours or in an emergency. VAC requests a specific assessment (other than
current medical records) pertaining for example, to a documented injury
that occurred during past CF service, CF H Svcs refuses to comply,
referencing the subject of the att letter.
Where is a still serving member of the CF to obtain this information to
substantiate/amplify a injury claim? CF H Svcs will not comply. All
medical records are held by CF H Svcs. Still serving CF members are
subject to:
MEDICAL SERVICES EXCLUDED FROM ENTITLEMENT
Unless specifically required by the CF, eligible persons will not be
entitled to coverage for the following items:
a. any examination or service which is not curing or preventing illness,
and, in particular:
I. passports, visas, driving licenses, medicals for non-CF related
activities (VAC ??);
c. any examination, appraisal, testimony, or certification required by a
member or a third party ..... or for any litigation instigated privately
by a member, except in the following circumstances:
ii. a medical-legal examination of a member injured on duty, or related
litigation arising from events occurring while on duty; from events
occurring while on duty.
Would extract c. ii. from the CF H Svcs web page not include complying
with VAC requests? Litigation is a claimant utilizing a lawyer from the
VAC Bureau of Pension Advocates as a representative at the Veterans
Review and Appeal Board.
I will retire in Aug 07 with 45 years of service to Canada. This whole
process of dealing with VAC has been degrading and frustrating. I am
disgusted with jumping through VACs' hoops at every turn, the enormity
of the bureaucracy, and exhausting time line. Compounding this is
obtaining medical information from the CF.
Cmdre Kavanagh, I request that unequivocally, the CF policy with regard
to cooperation with still serving CF mbrs/VAC/CF H Svcs be communicated
to all CF mbrs.
Minister Thompson, Deputy Minister Tining, my one point, at this time is
to request VAC consider the situation that still serving CF mbrs are in,
and the benefit of the doubt be given to the Veteran. Other points to
follow when my appeal process, Jan 04 to ?? is completed.
Received several replys ( emails, phone) from the Ministers office, including a statement that a reply would be sent in 3 weeks.
On 15 Jun I sent the following to the same cast of characters, incl the new CF Surg Gen, BGen Jaeger:
It has been 34 days, and a reply has not been received. I was contacted by VAC who stated I would receive a reply in 3 weeks. Reply not received. Nothing from the military.
I am still in the catch 22 situation, as are many other serving members.
What will be done to resolve this? Time marches on.
Received a phone call from the CF Surg Gen office. The Surg Gen will not change the policy I was told. (and there are good reasons namely lack of Doctors in the CF, which we all know about.) Also received emails from Ministers office. Reply coming.
This is long (cut and paste). VAC knows about this as all of the staff and Advocates have been briefed. So I will wait to see what the Ministers office will say. I DO NOT blame the CF Health Svcs. They have have a focus/mission. My opinion.
PROTECTED A
23 CF Health Services Centre
PO Box 17000 Stn Forces
Winnipeg, MB R3J 3Y5
6680-1-B (CO) CF 2034
31 August 2006
Nicole Caron-Goulet, M.D., F.C.F.P.
Senior District Medical Officer
Manitoba District - Winnipeg Office
PO Box 6050
610 - 234 Donald Street
Winnipeg, MB R3C 4G5
Dear Dr. Caron-Goulet:
RE: DISABILITY PENSION AND DISABILITY AWARDS
PENSION STREAMLINING INITIATIVES - CF STILL SERVING CLAIMS
Further to the direction received in the VAC memorandum of 22 March 2006 from Nancy McRae, Director Operational Guidance and Direction, and an e-mail from Violet Parker on 1 May 06, 23 CF Health Services Centre is no longer required to complete correspondence as requested by Veterans Affairs Canada.
It is DND's responsibility to provide medical diagnoses of any health problems facing still serving members. In response to your letter of 11 August 2006 regarding the subject member, 23 CF Health Services Centre will provide the member's medical records for review by your Organization once an authorization to release information form has been received. Please ensure that the member has signed this form within the last 12 months.
If you are unable to find a specific medical diagnosis on the medical records, please inform the client as outlined in the memorandum of 22 March 2006. The DND physicians may then investigate the member's health problem in order to determine a diagnosis. The member can inform you if and when the medical investigation is completed and the member's medical records can be requested by your Organization at that time.
Should you have any questions, please contact ----------, Health Records Management Team Leader at (204) .
Yours truly,
Major .
Commanding 0fficer
(204) 833-2500 ext 4161
cc: -----------
In May I attempted to get another letter for a final appeal. Although I have not received a written reply, the Doc ( same Doc, civilian contractor)reafirmed the policy - negative, no letter, his hands were tied. On 12 May I sent the following email to (some names removed) with the scaned letter. Cmdre Kavanagh was the then CF Surg Gen.
-----Original Message-----
Sent: May 12, 2007 12:29 PM
To: KAVANAGH.MF@forces.gc.ca; Thompson, Greg - M.P.;
Deputy_Minister@vac-acc.gc.ca
Subject: VAC Appeals and Primary Health Care Provider - Still Serving
Members
The attached letter subject is:
DISABILITY PENSION AND DISABILITY AWARDS PENSION STREAMLINING
INITIATIVES - CF STILL SERVING CLAIMS
I do not know the intent of the CF and VAC with regard this issue, but I
do know the results. There is no streamlining, and no initiative. At the
coal face there is consistent run-around and catch 22.
As a still serving member of the CF, CF H Svcs is my primary health care
provider. I cannot see a civilian health care provider except after duty
hours or in an emergency. VAC requests a specific assessment (other than
current medical records) pertaining for example, to a documented injury
that occurred during past CF service, CF H Svcs refuses to comply,
referencing the subject of the att letter.
Where is a still serving member of the CF to obtain this information to
substantiate/amplify a injury claim? CF H Svcs will not comply. All
medical records are held by CF H Svcs. Still serving CF members are
subject to:
MEDICAL SERVICES EXCLUDED FROM ENTITLEMENT
Unless specifically required by the CF, eligible persons will not be
entitled to coverage for the following items:
a. any examination or service which is not curing or preventing illness,
and, in particular:
I. passports, visas, driving licenses, medicals for non-CF related
activities (VAC ??);
c. any examination, appraisal, testimony, or certification required by a
member or a third party ..... or for any litigation instigated privately
by a member, except in the following circumstances:
ii. a medical-legal examination of a member injured on duty, or related
litigation arising from events occurring while on duty; from events
occurring while on duty.
Would extract c. ii. from the CF H Svcs web page not include complying
with VAC requests? Litigation is a claimant utilizing a lawyer from the
VAC Bureau of Pension Advocates as a representative at the Veterans
Review and Appeal Board.
I will retire in Aug 07 with 45 years of service to Canada. This whole
process of dealing with VAC has been degrading and frustrating. I am
disgusted with jumping through VACs' hoops at every turn, the enormity
of the bureaucracy, and exhausting time line. Compounding this is
obtaining medical information from the CF.
Cmdre Kavanagh, I request that unequivocally, the CF policy with regard
to cooperation with still serving CF mbrs/VAC/CF H Svcs be communicated
to all CF mbrs.
Minister Thompson, Deputy Minister Tining, my one point, at this time is
to request VAC consider the situation that still serving CF mbrs are in,
and the benefit of the doubt be given to the Veteran. Other points to
follow when my appeal process, Jan 04 to ?? is completed.
Received several replys ( emails, phone) from the Ministers office, including a statement that a reply would be sent in 3 weeks.
On 15 Jun I sent the following to the same cast of characters, incl the new CF Surg Gen, BGen Jaeger:
It has been 34 days, and a reply has not been received. I was contacted by VAC who stated I would receive a reply in 3 weeks. Reply not received. Nothing from the military.
I am still in the catch 22 situation, as are many other serving members.
What will be done to resolve this? Time marches on.
Received a phone call from the CF Surg Gen office. The Surg Gen will not change the policy I was told. (and there are good reasons namely lack of Doctors in the CF, which we all know about.) Also received emails from Ministers office. Reply coming.
This is long (cut and paste). VAC knows about this as all of the staff and Advocates have been briefed. So I will wait to see what the Ministers office will say. I DO NOT blame the CF Health Svcs. They have have a focus/mission. My opinion.
