Honoring our Veterans
Dear Friends,
I thought I would give you an update on Michael's Race For Heroes. First I would like to thank all of you for the most generous support for both of the charities Michael is running for in Philadelphia. The money will go a long way in helping some of the world's best citizens get back on their feet and bring awareness to their great sacrifices. Michael is trying to break 3 hours and 10 minutes and from the picture below, the hills will help him achieve just that. Once again a BIG THANK YOU and I'll keep you posted on the Race results.
Here's a recent ABC news story about Michael click here.
What Every Veteran Needs To Know: The First In A Series
Over the next few months (I presume I'll interrupt myself on more than one occasion over the next few months to report on some veteran related current event) I will share some basic and perhaps not too basic veterans benefits information. This will include information concerning: VA healthcare, other VA benefits, counseling and support, housing, education, employment, burial benefits, and general assistance and advocacy. Having said that, I'll start off this series with some very general concepts that are all too often misunderstood, or not even know by many veterans. What follows in this column, and the rest in the series, is based on VA provided information readily available to any veteran... if they know where to look (!).
Did You Know When you receive VA benefits it does not take benefits away from any other veteran.
There is no time limit to file a claim for VA compensation or pension benefits. Veterans serving more than 60 years ago are being awarded benefits everyday.
The number one and two disabilities granted in the Country are bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing in the ears). Any combat veteran or veteran who had a military occupation that was consistent with exposure to acoustic trauma should file a claim.
Millions of veterans had their records destroyed in the fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, MO in 1973. Lost or destroyed records don't mean you can't be granted benefits. It depends on what information is on your Discharge/Separation-From-Active-Duty document. And, many of the destroyed records are available on microfilm or other backup systems used at that time.
Your Discharge Certificate is not your Discharge/Separation Document. For World War II veterans their Discharge Document is on the back of their Discharge Certificate. This, as most World War II veterans were separated from active duty with out any remaining reserve duty obligation. Subsequently, your Discharge/Separation document was issued at the time a veteran was separated from active duty and is known as a DD-214.
Most veterans who served in the Battle of the Bulge or Chosin Reservoir are granted disability benefits from the VA as a result of cold injuries. If a veteran was exposed to extreme cold temperatures for long periods of time in service they should consider filing a claim.
Any veteran who served on land in Vietnam was exposed to Agent Orange. There are 12 conditions recognized (known as "presumptive causation illnesses") as being related to herbicide exposure. The most common is Type 2 diabetes, prostate cancer, lung cancer and cancer of the larynx. Any of those veterans who have been diagnosed with these disabilities should file a claim for compensation.
Regardless of whether and not the VA had recognized a presumptive causation illness prior to a veterans death, if the veteran dies of a presumptive causation illness or condition aggravated by a presumptive causation illness there is a good chance his surviving spouse or family might be entitled to life-time tax-free compensation.
Receiving compensation affects what you are entitled to from the VA medical center. Any veteran awarded 10 percent is entitled to free inpatient care, outpatient care, eyeglasses and hearing aids at any VA facility. When a veteran is rated 30 percent or more they are entitled to additional monetary compensation for their dependents. When a veteran is rated 50 percent or more they are entitled to free medication for all conditions whether service connected or not. When a veteran is rated 70 percent a veteran can get free nursing care from the VA. Most veterans who are not gainfully employed and who are rated 60 percent or more can apply for a 100 percent evaluation (individual unemployability benefits). Age is not a factor. A veteran can be 90 years old and still be awarded these benefits.
All wartime veterans are potentially entitled to a pension from the VA depending on their income. Any wartime veteran who is totally disabled or over 65 years old or in receipt of Social Security benefits may be entitled to a VA pension depending on their income and medical expenses.
Nursing home care and in-home care are considered medical expenses.
Example: Single World War II veteran needs aid and attendance of another person. His income is $1,500.00 in Social Security benefits. He moves in with his daughter and gives her his income from Social Security to take care of him. His income for VA purposes is reduced to zero because all his income is being used for his care. The VA will award this veteran $1,400-plus a month in pension benefits.
Not all veterans are entitled to VA benefits.
Don't Short Change Yourself - To find out more about what you might be entitled, contact a veterans service officer from the veteran service organization to which you are a member. You can also contact me at the Town of Oyster Bay's Veterans Services Division at (516) 733-8414. The Town of Oyster Bay is located in the VA's NY/NJ Veterans Healthcare Network - VISN 3 (Veterans Integrated Service Network 3). Or if you prefer you can contact the VA directly.
For information on health care benefits and services: Telephone: (877) 222-8387.
For information on monetary benefits (disability compensation, education, loan guaranty, vocational rehabilitation, and insurance): Telephone: (800) 827-1000
Hicksville Trivia
Remember Food Fair at the north-west corner of Mid-Island Plaza? Did your family do their food shopping there? Well. If they did -- circa '63, nights or Saturdays -- then they just might have been checked-out by cashier "yours truly!"
Lest We Forget
Currently there are (at least) 4,725 Veterans of Modern Warfare who no longer will be asking our government for a dime . .
Till next month be well... and remember, 'Let No Veteran Ever Stand Alone!
Walter Reed Holiday Cards
WRAMC UPDATE 12: In response to numerous requests from many well meaning people who want to do something for our "wounded warriors" at Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC), Bethesda Naval Medical Center and all the other military Medical facilities where these brave men and women are receiving care, there are several appeals going around the internet. Please read the below statement taken directly from the Walter Reed website. As you can see there are many other ways to show your support:
"Walter Reed Army Medical Center officials want to remind those individuals who want to show their appreciation through mail to include packages and letters, addressed to "Any Wounded Soldier" that Walter Reed will not be accepting these packages in support of the decision by then Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Transportation Policy in 2001. This decision was made to ensure the safety and well being of patients and staff at medical centers throughout the
Department of Defense. In addition, the U.S. Postal Service is no longer accepting "Any Service Member" or "Any Wounded Service Member" letters or packages. Mail to "Any Service Member" that is deposited into a collection box will not be delivered. Instead of sending an
"Any Wounded Soldier" letter or package to WRAMC, consider making a donation to one of the more than 300 nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping our troops and their families listed on the "America Supports You" website, www.americasupportsyou.mil. Other organizations that offer means of showing your support for our troops or assist wounded servicemembers and their families include:
- http://www4.army.mil/ocpa/tooursoldiers/
- http://www.redcross.org
- http://www.usocares.org/
For individuals without computer access, your local military installation, the local National Guard or military reserve unit in your area may offer the best alternative to show your support to our returning troops and their families. WRAMC will continue to receive process and deliver all mail that is addressed to a specific individual. As Walter Reed continues to enhance the medical care and processes for our returning service members, it must also must keep our patients and staff members safe while following Department of Defense policy. The outpouring of encouragement from the general public, corporate America and civic groups throughout the past year has been incredible. Our Warriors in Transition are amazed at the thanks and support they receive from their countrymen." [Source: NAUS Weekly Update 8 Nov 07 by RAO Bulletin Update 15 November 2007]
--- Walt Schmidt Veteran Services Officer
--- TOBay's Veteran Services Division
---"Let No Veteran Ever Stand Alone!"
--- WorkDayTime: 516.733.8414 & 24/7 Voice Mail
--- Anytime: 24/7 Voice Mail 516.799.8300 - - - -
Website: http://www.waltsdorsai.net/
Ken Sun - Weekly Column: http://experts.longisland.com/veterans
