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Feds probing roughly 5k pilots suspected of withholding major health issues

businessinsider.com

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Re: Feds probing roughly 5k pilots suspected of withholding major health issues

#11

Post by mattw2121 »

23B1 wrote: post #6
mattw2121 wrote: post #2

"The pilots who have had their records examined are military veterans who informed the Federal Aviation Administration that they were suitable to fly, but didn't disclose that they were also receiving veterans benefits for various disabilities that could prevent them from effectively sitting in a pilot's seat." This is just my anecdotal observations, but I've seen that military veterans are extremely adept at gaming…

Am a military veteran. While I know there's plenty of grift on this front, I'd like to point out that you have to become extremely adept at gaming the system even if you have a legitimate injury/disability. The games the VA plays to deny benefits are just as cynical and brazen as many other things the government writ large has done to conceal dangers to veterans – dangers that can have far, far-reaching health conseq…

I am well aware of Agent Orange and am also aware that anyone that was anywhere close to Agent Orange figures out a way to correlate every single health issue they experience to Agent Orange.

I'm not saying that Agent Orange wasn't a problem and, of course, it caused health issues for many people. What I am saying is that a 80 year old man, that is 100 pounds overweight, who develops diabetes didn't necessarily get diabetes from Agent Orange exposure.

Re: Feds probing roughly 5k pilots suspected of withholding major health issues

#12

Post by CobaltFire »

I had a lifelong dream of becoming a pilot, but after my discharge physical and VA rating I realized I’d likely never be able to due to the diagnosed issues.

This whole saga frustrates me (it’s been going on for a while) because if you actually have the problems you’ve gotten the VA to acknowledge, and the FAA says they are an issue… Well you are lying and gaming the system on one side or another. I’m not a fan of that at all, and as someone who got rated without gaming the system I get to deal with the fallout of being painted with the same brush.

So for those who have that view of vets, please do remember that there are some with less visible disabilities that are honest and doing their best to adapt and not game the system.

Re: Feds probing roughly 5k pilots suspected of withholding major health issues

#13

Post by motohagiography »

Benefits fraud is a serious issue, but using personal health information to fish for and detect it is a disincentive to people seeking medical help. The whole point of privacy legislation was to protect PHI from being abused like this so that people would actually trust the systems enough to use them.

Re: Feds probing roughly 5k pilots suspected of withholding major health issues

#14

Post by Geisterde »

nickpeterson wrote: post #5
mattw2121 wrote: post #2

"The pilots who have had their records examined are military veterans who informed the Federal Aviation Administration that they were suitable to fly, but didn't disclose that they were also receiving veterans benefits for various disabilities that could prevent them from effectively sitting in a pilot's seat." This is just my anecdotal observations, but I've seen that military veterans are extremely adept at gaming…

I’m not a vet, but I wonder if it comes from working in an environment that is so massive, at times wasteful, and your contributions feel insignificant. I think a lot of people could convince themselves that if they don’t take advantage of something, someone else will.

The moment you realize debt is devalued over time and begin taking on debt to acquire hard assets, like anybody who is smart with their money, you are gaming the system. Its not to say people aren't legitimately creating value or building good businesses, but those businesses necessarily must pay the minimum required taxes to be competitive in the market against someone else who will. Politicians invest in stocks that their forthcoming policies will predictably pump. The whole of it all is gaming the system in one way or another. I'm a vet and I need to get back to spamming the VA to increase my disability benefits even though I feel the best I ever have now.

Re: Feds probing roughly 5k pilots suspected of withholding major health issues

#15

Post by Geisterde »

millzlane wrote: post #3

I wouldn't call it harassment. It's clear it's just easier to catch the vets because they also lied to the VA. I admit they VA has it short comings. But there more vets in need then there are not,embellishing your condition to get more benefits is dishonorable. What's not surprising is pilots who lie about their health to keep making money. Especially in this economy.

Dishonorable? Lying us into wars is dishonorable. Stop putting government bureaucrats in charge of so much money, its obvious they can't spend it appropriately, I could get a hell of a lot more bang for my buck out of spending my own money.

Re: Feds probing roughly 5k pilots suspected of withholding major health issues

#16

Post by 23B1 »

mattw2121 wrote: post #11
23B1 wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Am a military veteran. While I know there's plenty of grift on this front, I'd like to point out that you have to become extremely adept at gaming the system even if you have a legitimate injury/disability. The games the VA plays to deny benefits are just as cynical and brazen as many other things the government writ large has done to conceal dangers to veterans – dangers that can have far, far-reaching health conseq…

I am well aware of Agent Orange and am also aware that anyone that was anywhere close to Agent Orange figures out a way to correlate every single health issue they experience to Agent Orange. I'm not saying that Agent Orange wasn't a problem and, of course, it caused health issues for many people. What I am saying is that a 80 year old man, that is 100 pounds overweight, who develops diabetes didn't necessarily get d…

Yes, that is exactly the same logic the VA uses to deny claims to people who did in fact get diabetes from Agent Orange exposure.

Looks like you have a bright future in claims adjustment! ;-)

Edit: There's plenty of evidence connecting Agent Orange exposure to a whole host of illnesses that only manifest later in life – including Diabetes. It's even on the VA's own site: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/publications/agent...

Re: Feds probing roughly 5k pilots suspected of withholding major health issues

#18

Post by kotaKat »

mattw2121 wrote: post #2

"The pilots who have had their records examined are military veterans who informed the Federal Aviation Administration that they were suitable to fly, but didn't disclose that they were also receiving veterans benefits for various disabilities that could prevent them from effectively sitting in a pilot's seat." This is just my anecdotal observations, but I've seen that military veterans are extremely adept at gaming…

It's the FAA's normal mental health brigade horseshit, except this time it's the FAA snooping around in VA records just because they can.

It looks like the veterans being targeted have various concerns like PTSD, which the FAA finds that as soon as you even think you're depressed, they want to revoke your pilots license because they think you'll immediately pull Some Shit in the air.

The average person has no clue how bad mental health is in the aviation sector and how hard it has to be hidden so they can actually keep doing what they love -- to fly.

See also: https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/pilots-crying-out-help...

> the FAA has subjected him to costly frequent drug tests, and doctor's visits with FAA-approved experts who don't accept insurance

> the FAA wouldn't accept other doctor's notes saying that he was perfectly fine to fly a plane

The FAA throws up some massive gates as soon as you get flagged like this and forces you to go to a battery of doctors and psychs that only they can apparently decide your fate.

Re: Feds probing roughly 5k pilots suspected of withholding major health issues

#19

Post by goodbyesf »

nickpeterson wrote: post #5
mattw2121 wrote: post #2

"The pilots who have had their records examined are military veterans who informed the Federal Aviation Administration that they were suitable to fly, but didn't disclose that they were also receiving veterans benefits for various disabilities that could prevent them from effectively sitting in a pilot's seat." This is just my anecdotal observations, but I've seen that military veterans are extremely adept at gaming…

I’m not a vet, but I wonder if it comes from working in an environment that is so massive, at times wasteful, and your contributions feel insignificant. I think a lot of people could convince themselves that if they don’t take advantage of something, someone else will.

> I’m not a vet, but I wonder if it comes from working in an environment that is so massive, at times wasteful, and your contributions feel insignificant

Simple formula ( greed + opportunity ). Everyone from politicians to doctors to lowly grunts game the system if they can. Just because you are elected, are educated or wear a uniform doesn't change your innate human nature. You just hide it better. If you can get disability and work too, why wouldn't you. It's like eating your cake and having it too.

> I think a lot of people could convince themselves that if they don’t take advantage of something, someone else will.

Not themselves. Others. They will try to convince you with that rationalization.

Re: Feds probing roughly 5k pilots suspected of withholding major health issues

#20

Post by dghughes »

mattw2121 wrote: post #2

"The pilots who have had their records examined are military veterans who informed the Federal Aviation Administration that they were suitable to fly, but didn't disclose that they were also receiving veterans benefits for various disabilities that could prevent them from effectively sitting in a pilot's seat." This is just my anecdotal observations, but I've seen that military veterans are extremely adept at gaming…

> I've seen that military veterans are extremely adept at gaming the system to their benefit. They are able to maximize disability benefits as well as GI Bill benefits.

I'm not in the USA but really to me that's just seems like they are getting what they should. Any citizen of any country should get medical care free of charge. Military veterans whether their issue is from combat or not I think should get all the care they can. If the system is working against you and you can find ways to fight back and help others that is OK with me.

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