Lack of VA leadership hurting veterans

Lost in the shuffle of the politicians trying to restrict our constitutional rights, as with gun control, is another highly important issuethat is being ignored — veteran’s rights,

We veterans have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. But yet we are shoved to the background and our issues are only brought up when some politicians are running for re-election and then those politicians use us for “Kodak moments.”

We veterans have defended the rights of the American people and yet when a veteran, who was injured during his or her service and files for compensation, has to fill out 23 pages and then wait and wait and wait, only to receive a note, months later that the claim is being worked on. Months turn into years and still no word from the VA.

Currently, the Chicago District is upwards of 23,000 disability claims behind and nationally the number is at least 20 times that number. This disrespect is beyond comprehension.

The current director of the Veteran’s Administration should be given two choices, resign or be fired. We veterans need a real leader, not a slacker.

We need a leader who will take charge and fix the problem at the VA. The right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness that we have defended should not be denied to us.

Gregory S. Jacobs

Mundelein