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Veteran Paid $925,000 Due to Mistake at West Haven VA Hospital

Jose Goncalves, 60, is a veteran living in Hartford, Connecticut. On Nov. 1, 2007, Goncalves went into the West Haven Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital for what should have been a routine operation but turned out to have devastating consequences.

According to the complaint, Goncalves went to his local VA hospital for cataract surgery. It was supposed to be routine and outpatient. Dr. Wang, a third-year resident performed the surgery, making critical mistakes that left Goncalves permanently disfigured.

The resident administered the anesthetic incorrectly during the procedure. Instead of placing the needle behind the eye as he was supposed to, Dr. Wang placed the needle directly into Goncalves' eyeball. Without realizing how misplaced his needle was, Dr. Wang then injected the anesthetic. She injected so much, so fast, Goncalves' eyeball exploded.

Due to the physician's malpractice, Goncalves was blinded in his right eye. More specifically, Goncalves no longer has an iris in his right eye, and his right eyelid droops. The procedure itself caused "excruciating pain," which remained with Goncalves for multiple months following the procedure, according to Goncalves' lawyer.

Goncalves was a roofer by trade prior to the "botched" surgery; a job he can no longer perform pursue due to his considerable loss of depth perception. As the case was heading for trial in the U.S. District Court, the parties came to a settlement in which the VA paid Goncalves $925,000.

If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veterans disability rights firm today - 1-888-234-5758.