Iraq War Veteran Wants Fair Treatment

ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. -- Deval Patel is a decorated Iraq War veteran, who is now in a bureaucratic fight with the Veterans Affairs.

"They refuse to pay my hospital bill," said Patel.

Patel said he was discharged December 2008 and became sick April 2009. "I went to the VA clinic. I had a fever; they told me to go home and drink some water, and they will monitor it," said Patel.

Three days later he said he was rushed to a hospital emergency room, he said, because he was in shock.  "I was in the intensive care unit; for four days I was lights out," said Patel.

The bill for his nine days of hospitalization was $61,000, but the VA so far is only willing to pay $3,700.

The reason: Under VA rule, once you are stabilized, you must transfer to a VA facility for treatment.

Patel was not aware of the rule and is filing an appeal, but he said he has been talking to the VA for seven months and there's still no resolution.

On Your Side contacted Congressman Ander Crenshaw's office. His team said it will help, once Patel signs a privacy waiver. The Florida Department of Veterans Affairs has also agreed to help him resolve the issue. 

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