[This is a copy of a letter I wrote yesterday to my local congresswoman, asking for help for a dear friend. If his plight moves you too, please share on social media and even write or call Rep. Davis yourself. We need to bring as much attention to this problem as possible. In love and gratitude, LaVonne]
August 25, 2014
Congresswoman Susan A. Davis
2700 Adams Ave., Suite 102
San Diego, CA 92116
Dear Rep. Davis,
Ronnie, a Native American, regularly attends pow wows with his wife, Rhonda.
Let me introduce you to my good friend Ronnie Murphy, one of your constituents in El Cajon, California.
Ronnie is a 64-year-old disabled Marine veteran who served his country with honor in Vietnam until multiple gunshot and shrapnel wounds in 1970 left him with, among other things, severe combat head trauma at the age of nineteen. As you can imagine, Ronnie’s life was forever altered that day but he was never bitter and never regretted his service, for which he was awarded a Silver Star. His 70% disability was reevaluated in 2000 to 100%.
In 2005, Ronnie was informed that he owed the Veterans Administration over $103,000 in disability “overpayments” for benefits he received during the time someone ELSE of the same name was wanted on a fugitive warrant in Texas.
Two different people, but the Veterans Administration completely confused them, in spite of different Social Security numbers and dates of birth.* The VA even compared the fingerprints of the other Ronnie to his own fingerprints, and denied my friend’s appeal based on this error. Ronnie Merrill Murphy, the one in El Cajon, was never fingerprinted.
In spite of repeated attempts, my friend has not been able to clear this up. Various VA offices have told him that this mistaken identity problem has been taken care of and his benefits will be restored and yet, the fingerprint error was used to deny his appeal. To add insult to literal injury, the case was closed in 2010 after notification was sent to the wrong address and Ronnie did not (could not) respond.
Now, his request to reopen the case, based on this latest error, languishes with the Board of Veterans Appeals in Washington, where it’s been for a year. Meanwhile, every month for the past nine years, $851 has been deducted from Ronnie’s only income, forcing him and his also-disabled wife, Rhonda, to struggle to get by.
Ronnie, age 19, shaking the hand of a colonel after many months and multiple surgeries
What will it take to get Ronnie out of this nightmare? Will you help?
Please, ask the Veterans Administration to take immediate action on this case, restore his benefits and repay the thousands of dollars that were wrongly withheld.
Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely,
LaVonne Ellis
San Diego
* Documentation attached to physical letter.
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Good job, LaVonne. If I need someone in my court, I hope it is you.
Haha, thanks Charlene — and you know I’m always in your court. 🙂
Awesome letter, LaVonne. Praying it spurs immediate successful resolution for a problem that should have been resolved years ago. Many blessings to you and Rhonda, and to Ronnie. Thank you Ronnie for your diligent and dedicated brave service to your country on behalf of your comrades and its citizens and residents.
Thank you, Kat!
Btw, I forgot to include a link (since corrected) to Rep. Davis’s contact page. I hope you will take a few moments to call or write her on Ronnie’s behalf. Thanks!
I am writing to Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard of my state, Hawaii. She is a great supporter of Veterans maybe she can assist as well.
John
my letter to Tulsi:
Best regards to you, your family and staff. A friend has brought this situation to my attention and I ask that you assist in the solving of this persons issue.
Here is the text of a letter my friend has sent to Congresswoman Susan Davis:
Let me introduce you to Ronnie Murphy, of El Cajon, California.
Ronnie is a 64-year-old disabled Marine veteran who served his country with honor in Vietnam until multiple gunshot and shrapnel wounds in 1970 left him with, among other things, severe combat head trauma at the age of nineteen. As you can imagine, Ronnie’s life was forever altered that day but he was never bitter and never regretted his service, for which he was awarded a Silver Star. His 70% disability was reevaluated in 2000 to 100%.
In 2005, Ronnie was informed that he owed the Veterans Administration over $103,000 in disability “overpayments” for benefits he received during the time someone ELSE of the same name was wanted on a fugitive warrant in Texas.
Two different people, but the Veterans Administration completely confused them, in spite of different Social Security numbers and dates of birth. The VA even compared the fingerprints of the other Ronnie to his own fingerprints, and denied my friend’s appeal based on this error. Ronnie Merrill Murphy, the one in El Cajon, was never fingerprinted.
In spite of repeated attempts, my friend has not been able to clear this up. Various VA offices have told him that this mistaken identity problem has been taken care of and his benefits will be restored and yet, the fingerprint error was used to deny his appeal. To add insult to literal injury, the case was closed in 2010 after notification was sent to the wrong address and Ronnie did not (could not) respond.
Now, his request to reopen the case, based on this latest error, languishes with the Board of Veterans Appeals in Washington, where it’s been for a year. Meanwhile, every month for the past nine years, $851 has been deducted from Ronnie’s only income, forcing him and his also-disabled wife, Rhonda, to struggle to get by.
Please, ask the Veterans Administration to take immediate action on this case, restore his benefits and repay the thousands of dollars that were wrongly withheld.
Thank you for your attention.
I have no other information other than what is here. I know a case # or similar would be helpful but this all I have. If you need more info call me and I will drive it down.
Mahalo and thanks for all your service to our country and state.
John Bruce
Thank you so much, John! I will find the case number and get back to you.