Veterans look for answers

By Tim Hodge

U.S. Army veteran Joe Roberson served his country during Vietnam and is now looking toward Uncle Sam for help with a recently diagnosed health condition.

The Columbia resident was told he has apnea — a condition which inhibits breathing and is commonly associated with problems during sleep.

After making several inquiries to the Veterans Affairs’ apnea clinic in Murfreesboro, his calls were never returned. Roberson had trouble finding answers to his questions when he finally did reach someone.

“I have never gotten an answer directly, over there, but I finally got one call back and this lady said, ‘There is just no need to come over here. We are just too busy,’” Roberson said.

Three weeks passed, and Roberson visited the VA clinic in Columbia and was advised to seek treatment in Murfreesboro. He was the only patient at the facility, he said.

“They weren’t overwhelmed,” Roberson said. “If they are overwhelmed, it was not obvious when I was there. At the very least, they could at least return a call within a day or two.”

Roberson was one of about 20 local veterans who expressed concerns about the VA system during a Tuesday town hall meeting at the American Legion Post 19 in Columbia.

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