[mosaicwolf]

This is a reason any veteran will never get psychiatric/psychological help they may legitimately need.

I am a 30 year retired vet and unfortunately see the VA medical system on occasion for several service connected disabilities. On my last few visits I began to notice every doctor, PA, or Nurse Practitioner always asks you how are you feeling. I always say fine but it doesn't end there. They start into the line of questioning like have you felt anxious in the last 30 days? Tired? Have you felt depressed?

I always say, "Listen, I feel fine. The best I have ever felt in my entire life."

Then they get on to the business at hand. It is scary and all vets that are treated at the VA need to be well aware of this strategy.

[IDontLikeToPayTaxes]

I am a 30 year retired vet and unfortunately see the VA medical system on occasion for several service connected disabilities. On my last few visits I began to notice every doctor, PA, or Nurse Practitioner always asks you how are you feeling. I always say fine but it doesn't end there. They start into the line of questioning like have you felt anxious in the last 30 days? Tired? Have you felt depressed?

From my experience, it's a money-making scheme for the counselors.

I just got back from Afghanistan 3 months ago, and during the reverse inprocessing, the mental health counselors seemed a bit too anxious to talk to us.

They called me for several weeks afterwards wanting me to come in for an appointment. I finally had to tell them to stop calling.

They're just trying to justify their jobs, same as every government employee.

[Roccus]

‘Though a Veteran I have never, nor will I ever, seek assistance from the VA medical system. Thus, I am ignorant of procedures so I have a question. If a doctor, PA, or Nurse Practitioner were to suggest that a Vet see a shrink, counselor, whatever, and that Vet were to refuse, would that Vet lose any benefits or the ability to seek medical help from the VA?