The VA has not been able to fit Army veteran Brenda Reed, 59, with a woman’s prosthetic foot since her left foot was amputated in 2013. (Edward Linsmier, The Washington Post)
Re: “Female veteran’s quest for a foot,” Sept. 6 news story.
I was astonished, appalled, angry and frustrated when I read that the Department of Veterans Affairs is unable to provide a prosthesis to fit a female veteran who lost her leg serving this country. The VA can only provide a prosthesis to men.
There are hundreds of competent prosthetic makers in this country who make protheses for men, women, children, even dogs and horses. The top people in the VA are totally incompetent and should be replaced by people with brains and the willingness to look for answers. They might even try the yellow pages under prosthesis.
Ann Cook, Pine
This letter was published in the Sept. 11 edition.There is no denying the VA needs to do a better job in the treatment of female veterans. However, Brenda Reed’s problem in obtaining the appropriate foot is not because she is a female but because she is a disabled veteran. Obtaining the appropriate item and unreasonable delays in purchases of new prosthetic items and repairs have been constant problems disabled veterans have been experiencing for the last 10 years. To illustrate the further deterioration of the VA, veterans must resort to resolving issues through the VA secretary rather than the local VA medical center director.
Disabled veterans who lost a body part or the use thereof and came within a breath of paying the ultimate price of serving this great country deserve to have their prosthetic needs provided in a timely manner.
Albert B. Hauer, Arvada
This letter was published in the Sept. 11 edition.
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