George Messerschmidt died fighting a 15-year battle with the Veterans Administration.

The former U.S. Army reservist living in Juneau, Alaska claimed because of a bureaucratic mix up, the VA was treating him for hyperthyroidism, not what he believed he had: hypothyroidism.

“They make reference, which they’ve done in the four previous claims that went before the Board of Appeals, they make reference to that being a typo, it’s not their fault, and on and on and on,” Messerschmidt told the Juneau Empire in his last interview. “If that’s not a clear and unmistakable error, I don’t know what is. …

“If this was my mistake, I would admit it, and continue the march. This is not my mistake, and it’s not a typo. Somebody screwed up.”

Because of the misdiagnosis, Messerschmidt believed the VA therefore mistreated him.

“They never had me on proper thyroid replacement meds,” he said.

All told, Messerschmidt filed five appeals to VA rulings. He also sought the assistance of the Alaska congressional delegation.

“I’m getting nowhere fighting (the VA),” Messerschmidt said. “I’ve been in a 15-year fight over the back money, and with the latest medical problems… the condition of my legs have gotten to the point where there is no surface feeling on the legs below the knee. … I could be walking down the street and cut the skin and not know it, and the fluid would start seeping through the skin.”

He had traveled to Seattle June 5th for a biopsy procedure on another medical issue. That’s where he died last week.

But before he left, he said exactly what he thought of the VA: “They treat their vets like sh-t,” he said. “And, yes, I am bitter.”

Messerschmidt is just the latest vet to allege incompetence at the VA.

Last year, KKCO in Grand Junction, Colorado ran a story detailing the plight of two veterans. One bluntly said the VA’s lack of urgency cost him his leg.

Larry Wilkinson said a VA doctor never called him with the test results of a foot infection and after two months of no news, he had to have his leg amputated.

“I feel the VA owes me a leg,” Wilkinson said.

Another VA patient, Richard Worsley, said when he was showing symptoms of a heart attack, he was taken to St. Mary’s even though he wanted to go to the VA Medical Center. He then received a bill for more than $8,000.