04 June 2009Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D.
Governor General of CanadaRideau Hall1 Sussex DriveOttawa, OntarioK1A 0A1RENUNCIATION OF MILITARY MEDALS
My name is Robin Brentnall, a retired Sergeant of the Canadian Forces and a disabled Veteran. I am also the author of a book called A Soldiers Mask (Trafford Publishing, Victoria), a career autobiography of my life in the Canadian Forces.
I am disappointed and disheartened by the lack of support our soldiers and veterans have received when dealing with the financial and fundamental aspects of life after service. To be forced to take the action of returning my medals in order for Canadians and the Canadian Government to understand the plight of soldiers, veterans, and RCMP members, gives me grief. However, I believe it shows you and everyone who shares my concerns, that soldiers do not stop fighting, EVER. I may not be able to fight for Canada anymore, but I will never stop fighting for our soldiers, veterans, RCMP, and the wonderful citizens of this great nation.
My renunciation is based on the following actions and inactions of our Government:
- Inaction on the SISIP Claw Back, which reduces an injured veterans ability to live in
relative comfort, forcing most to work at low paying jobs to make ends meet.
Unfortunately, I cannot work and this has caused me to lose $1800 per month from my
Disability Insurance under SISIP (Manulife), funds that are clawed back due to my DVA,
CPP, and my military pension.
- Inaction on the CPP Claw Back, reducing a veteran's military pension once they start to
receive CPP. Members of Parliament do not suffer this indignity and their pension is not reduced. This has caused me to lose $1000 per month, funds that are clawed back due to my military pension.
- The Minister of National Defence, Peter MacKay, voted against fixing the CPP
Clay Back, Bill C-201.
- The Minister of Veterans Affairs, Greg Thompson, voted against fixing the CPP
Claw Back, Bill C-201.
- The Canadian Forces, on 01 April 2006, ordered it's Doctors (both military and civilian) not to provide any letter, opinion, or support to the soldier when dealing with the Department of Veterans Affairs, virtually making if nearly impossible for a soldier to get compensation for an injury. Doctors were, however, still required to complete all of the paperwork for SISIP and CPP applications. DVA Pensions could be dealt with in-house but the other two dealt with civilian insurance companies and other government departments who refused to allow only a medical file as a medical opinion. Both in turn would be clawed back and changes to the Pension Act would be the only way the government would lose any funds to veterans, changes they were not planning to support.
- The Department of Veterans Affairs has become a quagmire of red tape, causing veterans and soldiers more grief than necessary. Many just walk away without fighting, more are too ill and injured to fight. I have been fighting DVA for nearly three years and only recently was approved for my injuries, even though I still have not received any compensation. CPP has determined that I qualify as 100% disabled. This was due to my doctor being able to support and give written opinion as to my limitations, something that she was not allowed to do for DVA.
If at any time I feel the Government of Canada is once again supporting our soldiers, veterans, and RCMP, I would feel proud to wear my medals once more. I would appreciate it if you would keep my medals in a safe place and allow them to be returned to me upon my request.
I worked hard to earn my medals. My Wife and Daughter are very upset that I have been forced to make this protest and send my medals back but support me in my actions. I know that my example will be understood by many others one day.
Yours in service,
Robin Brentnall, CD
About Me
- Robin Brentnall
- Gambo, Newfoundland, Canada
- I spent 23 years in the military.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
DVA Complaint
Mr. Simms,
It has been nearly 3 years since I suffered a stroke due to medications prescribed and administered by my psychiatrist (who failed to monitor my blood pressure and changed medications without observing the medical practices required by the drug's manufacturer and standard medical practices) and stress involved with my Service at the time due to a Major Depression.
To date, I have not been compensated for the stroke and have had to fight tooth and nail to get the hypertension recognized by DVA as a result of my Service to my country. I was denied claim for the stroke 2 times, the 3rd time they agreed that it was claimable due to being caused by hypertension but changed to name from stroke to Atherosclerosis.
The Hypertension claim was originally denied but overturned due to a letter from another psychiatrist who worked with the first psychiatrist, pointing out the mistakes made by the first psychiatrist who treated me and the known side affects of the medications prescribed.
DVA changed the name/claim for my stroke to Atherosclerosis, without consulting me. The medication for Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) Zocor was denied by DVA, causing me to have to prove it was required by seeing a doctor and getting a letter stating that it was a required drug to fight Atherosclerosis. I don't know why DVA changed to name of the claim but the St. John's office said it was probably to assist me with any other claims I may have due to hypertension/cholesterol. I believe it was to minimize my claim. We will see.
I need your help with the following:
Please find out why I have been waiting so long, where my stroke claim is exactly, the percentage that Dr. Higgins (DVA doctor St. John's) stated I was disabled (CPP has deemed me to be 100% disabled), and why it has taken so long to approve my medication Zocor (it's been nearly 5 weeks).
DVA Ombudsman has not given me any answers even though I have complained to them several times.
This is not the first time I have contacted you with regards to this problem but I do expect it will be the last. Thanks again for your help.
Unfortunately, this is a fight that nearly all of our Soldiers and Veterans are fighting, being cheated out of the very support that our government so proudly states they are giving in their banner Support Our Troops. Please help me and in doing so, help others in the same situation.
It has been nearly 3 years since I suffered a stroke due to medications prescribed and administered by my psychiatrist (who failed to monitor my blood pressure and changed medications without observing the medical practices required by the drug's manufacturer and standard medical practices) and stress involved with my Service at the time due to a Major Depression.
To date, I have not been compensated for the stroke and have had to fight tooth and nail to get the hypertension recognized by DVA as a result of my Service to my country. I was denied claim for the stroke 2 times, the 3rd time they agreed that it was claimable due to being caused by hypertension but changed to name from stroke to Atherosclerosis.
The Hypertension claim was originally denied but overturned due to a letter from another psychiatrist who worked with the first psychiatrist, pointing out the mistakes made by the first psychiatrist who treated me and the known side affects of the medications prescribed.
DVA changed the name/claim for my stroke to Atherosclerosis, without consulting me. The medication for Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) Zocor was denied by DVA, causing me to have to prove it was required by seeing a doctor and getting a letter stating that it was a required drug to fight Atherosclerosis. I don't know why DVA changed to name of the claim but the St. John's office said it was probably to assist me with any other claims I may have due to hypertension/cholesterol. I believe it was to minimize my claim. We will see.
I need your help with the following:
Please find out why I have been waiting so long, where my stroke claim is exactly, the percentage that Dr. Higgins (DVA doctor St. John's) stated I was disabled (CPP has deemed me to be 100% disabled), and why it has taken so long to approve my medication Zocor (it's been nearly 5 weeks).
DVA Ombudsman has not given me any answers even though I have complained to them several times.
This is not the first time I have contacted you with regards to this problem but I do expect it will be the last. Thanks again for your help.
Unfortunately, this is a fight that nearly all of our Soldiers and Veterans are fighting, being cheated out of the very support that our government so proudly states they are giving in their banner Support Our Troops. Please help me and in doing so, help others in the same situation.
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