Veteran’s Affairs
April 2010 Report By Chair Jack Ryan
A word of thanks to all the N.Y. State Units that have continued to support the Wounded Warrior Project, Fisher House and Christmas Trees for G.I.s
For Veterans who have misplaced their DD214, you can now go on line at www.Vetrecs.archives.gov and get a copy.
AGENT ORANGE RETRO CLAIMS ALLOWED
About 86,000 Vietnam War veterans, their surviving spouses or estates, will be eligible for retroactive disability compensation from the Department of Veterans
Affairs—an average of 11.4 years for veterans and 9.6 years for survivors—under a draft VA rule to be expanded by three the number of diseases presumed caused by herbicide exposure in the war. The 86,000 are beneficiaries who can reopen denied claims for these conditions: ischemic heart disease, Parkinson’s disease and chronic-cell blood cancers including hairy cell leukemia. Another 29,000 claims are expected to be approved this year for Vietnam Veterans suffering from these diseases but applying for benefits for the first time. VA plans to hire 1772 new claims processors, starting in October of 2010, to be able to handle these claims. When the final rule is published on April 26, 2010, VA claim offices across the country can begin making payments. To file claims on line visit: http://vabenefits.vba.gov/vonapp/main.asp. Veterans without computers can call a toll free hot line at 800-749-8387.
HOUSE VOTES TO GIVE CAREGIVERS OF VETERANS FINANCIAL SUPPORT
The House has approved new benefits and financial support for the primary live-in caregivers of seriously wounded veterans who served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This aid to caregivers is part of a more comprehensive legislation that would permit the Department of Veterans Affairs to expand its assistance to family members of veterans generally. Among other things, the bill calls for seven days of post-delivery care for female veterans’ newborns and more accessible health care for veterans living in rural areas. Under a compromise between the House and Senate, caregivers of veterans from more recent wars would be eligible for health care benefits and a monthly stipend to be determined by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that would be commensurate with commercial rates for home caregivers. Provisions are also made for these caregivers to receive training, education and mental health services. Arrangements can also be made for supplementary care aid for up to 24 hours if the primary caregiver needs to take a break from caring for veterans who would not be able to live at home unassisted. Care givers of veterans from other eras would be eligible for a more limited range of benefits for now, but Congress could vote to cover them with similar assistance within the next two years.
VA IS WORKING TO FIX GLITCHES IN THE NEW GI BILL
Veterans trying to get an education under the new GI Bill face delayed checks, erroneous payments and uncertainty about what their actual benefits are. The Post 9/11 GI Bill has added a number of incentives, among them, certain service members can transfer their educational benefits to a spouse or child. Members of the armed services are automatically enrolled in the Montgomery GI Bill and must take an extra step to opt into the benefits of the Post 9/11 bill, which took effect on August 1, 2009.
PRIORITY GROUP 8 BENEFICIARIES
Up to 266,000 veterans from Priority Group 8-those with lower to middle incomes and no service related medical conditions-became eligible to enroll in the VA health-care system on June 15, 2009 when the qualifying-income threshold was raised by 10 percent. The new national-means threshold became $32,342 for a veteran with no dependents and $38,812 with one. For four dependents the benefit is $45,478.
FYI
There is a very useful government web site that can be of interest to all our members. It is USA.gov. The site contains information on benefits and grants, consumer guides, environment, energy and agriculture, health and nutrition, jobs and education and many other topics of current interest. There is also a U.S. Military and Veterans link that contains information for active duty military, family support and veterans benefits. It also contains a veteran’s link that outline many of the benefits that I have previously mentioned. Take a look at this site. I believe that there is something here of interest to everyone.
Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you;
Jesus Christ and the American Soldier.
One died for your soul;
The other for your freedom.
If you can read, thank a teacher. If you can read it in English, thank a Veteran.
Keep our soldiers overseas and all our Veterans in your prayers. God Bless America. I am yours in the spirit of our Motto,
John M. Ryan
Chairman
Veterans Affairs
Veteran’s Benefits
Telephone Numbers
Education (Post 911 GI Bill also) 1-888-442-4551
Headstones and Markers 1-800-697-6947
Health Care Revenue Center 1-877-222-8387
Life Insurance 1-800-669-8477
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255
Special Health Issues 1-800-748-8307
Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (TDD) 1-800-820-4833
VA Benefits 1-800-827-1000
Web Sites
Post 911 GI Bill
Burial and Memorial Benefits
Department of Defense
Education Benefits
Federal Jobs
Health Care Eligibility
Home Loan Guaranty
Life Insurance
Mental Health
Records
Returning Veterans
Veterans Employment and Training
Veterans Preference
Voc Rehabilitation & Employment
VA Benefit Payment Rates
VA Forms
VA Home Page
PDFs
Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents
Blue Water Agent Orange Navy Veterans April 2009
