JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — An Action News Jax investigation is revealing new problems with the Jacksonville Veterans Affairs clinic and local veterans left in limbo.
For the last year, we've been giving a voice for vets waiting for both disability and medical services.
A former sailor tells us she's being shut out of medical care.
Lavinia Gray served six years in the United States Navy, the proudest moments of her life.
"I loved serving my country," Gray said.
Gray, a master electrician, was medically discharged for an injury not service related.
Like many local vets, Gray chose to get her medical care at the VA's Jacksonville outpatient clinic. But recently, Gray said getting to see her doctor has been a challenge.
"It takes them days to get back to me and then it takes months to get an appointment and it shouldn’t be like that, especially when there's something ailing you at that moment," she said.
Gray wanted to see a dermatologist; she showed us a dozen emails chronicling her frustration over the wait and the red tape.
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After more than a month, an email came, saying she had to show her skin issue was service-related before an appointment would be made but we've learned that's not true.
A VA representative told us veterans do not have to be service-connected to be seen for any condition at the VA, except for dental care. We also learned the average local dermatology wait is 32 days.
Gray said she has no idea why she seems to be getting the runaround.
"You don't know what you’re doing when you tell a veteran no, or when you upset a veteran, and you are constantly doing the same thing," she said.
Despite Gray’s experience, Jacksonville’s VA clinic has improved wait times, which at one point were the worst in the country.
According to the latest numbers, so far in November, of the 52,977 appointments made, 89 percent were scheduled in 30 days or less. Compare that to December of 2014, when that number was 74 percent.
We have reached out to the local VA on Gray's behalf and were told someone from the Jacksonville outpatient clinic would reach out to help.
Gray said it should never have gotten this far and that local veterans deserve better.
"You don't know what they've been through, you don't know what place you're putting them in," she said.
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