Cape Coral veteran denied X-ray at VA due to service dog policy

CAPE CORAL, Fla. (WINK) — A local veteran says he was denied an X-ray at a VA facility because of his service dog.

Andrew Barrow, a combat veteran with 27 years of service and four combat tours, went to the Bay Pines VA facility in Cape Coral along Diplomat Parkway on Dec. 31. His service dog, Auggie, accompanied him.

Barrow says he saw a doctor who acknowledged a respiratory issue and ordered a chest X-ray. But when it came time for the procedure, the head nurse told him they had a policy prohibiting service dogs from entering the radiology department.

"I mean, it's probably the most egregious violation I've ever run into," Barrow said.

Barrow says he was unable to obtain the X-ray with Auggie present. Barrow said the situation brought out strong emotions.

"And to be quite honest, at that point, actually, Augie had to help me, because it really brought out a lot of strong emotions with me," he said.

Auggie is more than just a companion. The Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes the dog as a necessary prosthetic for Barrow.

"My dog is even recognized by the Department of Veterans Affairs as a necessary prosthetic," Barrow said.

Barrow explained what Auggie does for him. "What Augie does is he keeps me grounded. I would get very anxious, and sometimes you have a lot of U.S. veterans, and I have this also. I have dissociative episodes where I dissociate from reality. It's kind of like a flashback," he said.

WINK News spoke to Daryl Sager, the veteran program manager at Canine Companions, the organization that paired Auggie with Barrow. Sager said service dogs should be treated like any other medical device.

"Yeah, generally, just consider the dog the same as a wheelchair, right?" Sager said.

Sager, a disabled veteran himself, suggested a simple solution. "Being a veteran myself and disabled, I know when you go into veterans hospitals, and there's a ton of folks that volunteer in there," Sager said. "Why not ask one of those guys? You know, Hey, would you mind holding Auggie for a second while he does his X-ray?"

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, service animals are not allowed in sterile areas and where barrier protective measures must be taken. A Bay Pines spokesperson said they follow the national policy and that VHA facilities remind patients with a scheduled X-ray appointment that they cannot bring their service animal into the VA unless they bring someone else to watch the animal.

Barrow said he has had MRIs and X-rays before without issue. "I've had MRIs, X-rays, and it's very simple, if you know, obviously, when you're getting an X-ray or whatever, the X-ray technician normally stands behind a wall or wherever. That's where I put Auggie, if I'm getting an MRI," he said.

This was the first time Barrow encountered this problem. "I have never run into this problem," he said.

The bond between Barrow and Auggie runs deep. "He and I are protective of each other as much as he protects me, you know, I protect him also," Barrow said.

Barrow is now trying to get the policy changed so Auggie can always stay by his side.

He has filed formal complaints with Bay Pines VA.

Here is the full statement from Bay Pines VA:

Privacy laws prevent VA from publicly discussing the treatment of anyone without the written consent of the patient or a representative of the patient.

In general, VA’s national policy [VHA directive 1188 paragraph 5.a(3)(b)] prohibits service animals from areas of VA facilities where protective clothing must be worn, including x-ray rooms. The goal of this policy is to minimize animals’ exposure to radiation. Additionally, when X-rays are taken, no one but the patient is allowed in the room.

That same policy [VHA directive 1188 paragraph 5.a(2)], prohibits VA staff from caring for or supervising service animals while they are on VA property. If the Veteran needs to be separated from his or her service animal, a non-VA employee, such as a family member or a friend, must be available to watch the service animal. To view this national policy in its entirety, please click this link:VHA Directive 1188 - Animals on Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Property.

Because of these policies, Bay Pines VA and other VHA facilities remind patients who have a scheduled x-ray appointment that they cannot bring their service animal into VA unless they bring someone else who can watch the animal. If they arrive for their imaging test without someone who can watch their service dog, they are asked to come back for the exam another day.