Veteran's Benefit Guide

PTSD

2012-06-25T11:44:00.002-07:00

Learn about other health and wellness issues at MyOnlineHealthGuide.com!

How to Identify Suicide Risk and Help a Veteran in Need

2012-02-15T11:14:00.000-08:00

A veteran commits suicide every 80 minutes, according to a study cited by the Huffington Post. In response to continually high rates of depression and suicide among veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs has announced expansions to its crisis line services.

The crisis line gives veterans (and the veteran's family and friends) confidential access to a concerned and qualified responder. These responders are professionals who have been trained to help veterans of all ages and circumstances who are in emotional distress. In its five years of operation, the Veteran's Crisis Line has helped more than half a million veterans. More than 18,000 life-saving rescues have resulted from use of its services.

There are three ways to contact the Veteran's Crisis Line:

1. Call the toll-free hot line at 1-800-273-8255. Press 1.
2. Send a text message to 838255.
3. Chat online.

All three of these services are available 24/7/365 to assist veterans and their friends and family.

Even if you don't think that you or your veteran are depressed or at risk of suicide, it is always wise to know the symptoms of depression and the signs of suicide risk. If you are or know a veteran who is showing ANY warning signs, you are strongly encouraged to contact the Veteran's Crisis Line immediately.

Signs of depression/suicide risk include:

Chronic sadness and clinical depression
Loss of interest in activities including hobbies, work, school, etc.
Trouble sleeping and eating that doesn't go away or gets continually worse
Anxiety
Self-neglect
Withdrawing from people and activities
Sleeping all the time
Frequent/dramatic mood swings
Excessive guilt or shame, feelings of failure
Hopelessness
Acting like they have a "death wish" (engaging in risky or reckless behavior)
Violent behavior and uncontrolled anger
Giving away treasured possessions, making a will, putting affairs in order

If you are unsure if you or your veteran really needs help, the VA also offers a confidential self-check quiz that can help evaluate your condition.

Veteran suicide is a very serious issue and should never be taken lightly. Do not ignore the warning signs, because once suicide happens it's too late.

A Caregiver's Sacrifice

2012-02-08T12:49:00.000-08:00

Caregivers of disabled veterans make amazing sacrifices to care for their loved ones. In some cases, the sacrfices are greater than others. This article in the Wall Street Journal tells the story of a wounded hero, Ian Welch, and his amazing girlfrield Katie Brickman. It is an inspirational story of love and sacrifice, tragedy and hope.

If you provide care to a Post-9/11 veteran, be sure to check out the VA's caregiver website and determine your eligibility for caregiver benefits. You may be eligible for a monthly stipend, health care benefits and more.

COLA Raises Benefit Payments by 3.6%

2012-02-01T07:46:00.000-08:00

Today's VA payment should reflect a 3.6 percent increase in benefit payments due to a cost of living allowance(COLA) increase. In addition to disability compensation, this COLA rate also applies to death pensions, survivors receieving Dependency and Idemnity Compensation, automobile and clothing allowances and other benefits. Although not provided by the VA, Social Security benefits have also been increased by 3.6 percent.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns about this increase, please contact the VA at 1-800-827-1000.

The VA Gave Ancestry.com the SSNs of 2,200+ Veterans -- Were You Affected?

2012-01-30T07:39:00.000-08:00

More than 2,200 veterans are eligible for free credit monitoring services after the VA mistakenly released tehir social security numbers to Ancestry.com following a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. Under the FOIA law, the VA is required to release information about deceased veterans. This information includes the veteran's name, social security number, date of birth, military branch assignments and more.

Somehow, information about more than 2,200 living veterans was included with the requested information about deceased veterans. No health-related information was provided to Ancestry.com.

This information was provided to Ancestry.com on March 18, 2011 and posted on that site on December 13, 2011. When the errors were discovered, the information was promptly removed.

Veterans who believe they may have been affected can verify this information by writing to:

ATTN: Garnett Best
The Department of Veterans Affairs, OIT Privacy Officer (005R1A)
810 Vermont Ave. NW
Washington DC 20420

Veterans can also request a free credit report by calling 1-877-322-8228 or on http://www.annualcreditreport.com/.

New Site Offers Job Opportunities, Benefits Advice and More to Veterans & Servicemembers

2012-01-27T05:44:00.000-08:00

Connect with other veterans and veteran supporters on the new veteran portal at VeteranCentral.com. This site gives users access to a social media network, job bank, and "buy veteran" PX.

Veteran Central was created in response to the dramatic suicide rates among US servicemembers and veterans. The goal of the site is to connect servicemembers and veterans with a support network. According to the About Us page, the purpose of Veteran Central is "to develop a one stop support structure that would centralize efforts to alleviate these challenges including: improving community support, providing Veterans employment opportunities, and collecting programs and services from across the government and private sectors in one, easy to access location."

Sign up at VeteranCentral today to connect with these wonderful resources.

Chaplains Protect Veteran's Religious Freedoms

2012-01-25T02:28:00.000-08:00

Veterans have access to hospital chaplains at VA medical facilities. Although many veterans may be unfamiliar with this service, chaplains exist to ensure that all veterans have access to 'clinical pastoral care' and that inpatient veterans have their right to free exercise of religion protected. The chaplains also ensure that the veterans do not have religion imposed on them.

Chaplains are available every hour of every day in every VA medical center. They can help you contact members of your local clergy. They can also help you find the chapel or meditation room in the medical center or provide you with spiritual/religious literature at your request.

Every veteran has the choice to see a chaplain or not. Inpatients at a VA medical facility are usually visited by a chaplain during their stay, but these visits can be avoided if the veteran indicates that they do not want one.

You can learn about the history of VA chaplains, as well as find your local chaplain, on the VA National Chaplain Center Home.

Non-VA Emergency Care Rule Change

2012-01-23T14:15:00.000-08:00

This month, the VA announced a change in the emergency payment procedures for eligible veterans who recieve treatment in non-VA facilities. Although the VA currently operates 121 emergency departments and 46 urgent care units across the country, not all veterans are able to go directly to a VA emergency facilty.

Until this change, non-VA emergency room visits could be costly to veterans. The rules about VA reimbursement were very unclear. Now, eligible veterans will be able to be reimbursed for care provided at non-VA facilities until the veteran can be safely transferred to a VA facility.

The new rules will benefit more than 100,000 veterans and will cost approximately $44 million per year.

ALS Diagnosis = 100% Disability Rating According to New VA Rules

2012-01-18T10:55:00.000-08:00

There's good news for veterans with ALS, often called Lou Gehrig's disease. Beginning tomorrow (January 19, 2012), veterans will be immediately granted a 100% disability rating upon diagnoses with this progressive, fatal disease. (More here.)

Many veterans with ALS have died waiting for their benefits. Last June, Barry Mangan of Tacoma recieved his check for home modifications (in the amount of $63,780). Months and months of delays had forced him to move into a nursing home. His wife was overjoyed to recieve the check and started making arrangements. Just thirty minutes after the check arrived, the nursing home called to inform Mrs. Mangan that her husband had passed away, alone, in a nursing home. He would never be coming home. (For more information, visit the original article here.

This is a story that happens all to often for veterans with ALS. Thankfully, tomorrow's rule changes will help prevent these tragedies in the future.

USA Together Helps Veterans Pay Their Bills

2012-01-13T06:29:00.000-08:00

If you are a veteran (or know a veteran) who is struggling in this economy, there is hope. Several organizations exist to help veterans in their time of crisis and need.

One of these organizations is "USA Together."

USA Together matches veterans in need with people who want to help. Although the site does not and cannot guarantee that every need will be met, USA Together does have a tremendous success rate. "Virtually all requests" have been met--sometimes within just a few hours of posting.

To qualify for help, veterans must be a current or honorably discharged member of any branch of the military and have a documented and verifiable service-connected disability. Evidence of this must be submitted before the help request will be met. Relatives of servicemembers killed in action may also qualify. USA Together pays bills directly to the person you owe, so be prepared to offer them that information as well.

In today's economy, everyone is struggling. Veterans seem to be the hardest hit--especially young and female veterans. Check out these unemployment statistics from the end of 2011.

Unemployment rate for veterans 18-24 years old: 33.2%
Unemployment rate for civilians 18-24 years old: 14.9%
Unemployment rate for female veterans: 16.8%
Unemployment rate for female civilians: 7.8%\
(Statistics taken from this article.)

Over the course of the next few weeks, we will be discussing other charitable organizations that help veterans. If you have a specific need or question, please let me know in the comments and I will help connect you with the resources you need.

Simple Steps to Expedite Your Claim

2012-01-11T06:19:00.000-08:00

The VA is currently facing a severe backlog in claims. If you are in the process of filing a claim or submitting evidence, follow these simple rules to help the VA process your claim easier and faster.

1. Never staple your paperwork. If you staple them, the VA has to unstaple them before the papers can be scanned. Save everyone time--and save some staples! Never use any adhesives on your papers, either.

2. Submit pharmacy summaries, not labels. Go to the pharmacy and ask for a printout for a specific date range.

3. Use 8.5 by 11 inch paper only.

4. Put the patient's name and social security number on everything! Include middle initials or names if you have a common name or if you know of someone with the same first and last name in the VA system.

Your Senator Can Help You with Your VA Claim

2012-01-09T18:18:00.000-08:00

Hello readers, we're back!
I know it's been a long time since I've updated and I sincerely apologize. Posting should resume it's normal schedule now that we've entered the New Year and things are settling down after the holiday rush.

If you have a claim open with the Department of Veteran's Affairs right now, you've probably realized that it is taking a really, really long time to process. You aren't alone. We submitted a claim for an additional dependent a year ago and we are still waiting on a decision.

In November, Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Patty Murray sent a letter to the Department of the VA Secretary urging the VA to address the extreme backlog facing the VA. The content of that letter can be found here.

Veterans who are currently waiting for a decision from the VA can contact a Senator from their home state for help. Each Senator has professionals on staff to assist constituents with the VA process. You can find your Senator's contact information here. To see if your Senator is currently serving on the Senate Committee on Veteran's Affairs, view the membership list.

If you have an open claim, how long have you been waiting?

DoD Reconsidering Determinations for Some Veterans

2011-09-16T00:44:00.000-07:00

Good morning!

Certain eligible veterans who received medical discharges and were rated by the Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) or Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) may be able to apply for a re-evaluation. The Department of Defense’s Physical Disability Board of Review (PDBR) is re-opening some cases for certain veterans who were medically separated between September 11, 2001 and December 31, 2009 to verify that a correct decision was made.

To be eligible, veterans must have received a combined disability rating of 20 percent or less and have been found ineligible for retirement. Former reserve members with more than 20 years of total federal military service but fewer than 20 years of active duty can also apply if they meet the other eligibility requirements.

Questions can be directed to PDBRPA@afncr.af.mil or visit this link to learn more.

Any questions/comments/concerns? Let us know below! Thanks!

PTSD: A Real Problem

2011-09-14T00:41:00.000-07:00

Good morning!

Most of us are familiar with the term PTSD, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. In many cases, we think of it in terms of our comrades or friends, but not in terms of ourselves. However, PTSD is a real problem that requires real treatment. If you think you may have PTSD, or are struggling with other anxiety or depression problems, I encourage you to ask your primary care physician (PCP) for a referral to Mental Health. Many CBOC clinics have mental health providers on staff.

PTSD is a mental health disorder caused by trauma, which is when something horrible or scary occurs. Common types of trauma that lead to PTSD include combat/war, sexual/physical abuse, terrorist attacks, serious car accidents, or natural disasters. These events leave a residual feeling of fear, confusion and anger. Often, these emotions will fade and resolve over time. If they do not, or if they become progressively worse, you may have PTSD. PTSD can become very debilitating, even preventing you from completing normal daily activities.

There are treatments for PTSD that can alleviate the debilitating symptoms of PTSD and help you regain control of your emotions. However, no treatment can erase your memories. Treatments for PTSD include counseling and prescription medicines.

If you have PTSD, you can obtain treatment from the VA. You can also file a claim for compensation for PTSD. I will include this information in a later post.

Until then, consider these facts about PTSD:

· About 7-8% of the population will have PTSD at some point during their lifetime

· 11-20% of veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are affected by PTSD

· About 30% of Vietnam Veterans are affected by PTSD

· 60% of men and 50% of women experience at least one traumatic experience in their lives, but not all will develop PTSD

· About 5.2 million adults suffer from PTSD during a year

Do you have any questions, comments or concerns about PTSD? Please leave us a comment below!

The Crisis Line: A 24/7 Service

2011-09-12T00:38:00.000-07:00

Good morning!

Last week was National Suicide Prevention week. Although I am late in sharing this information, I hope that it may be useful to you if/when you need it.

The Army Times estimates that 18 veterans commit suicide each and every day. This is such a tragedy! Each and every life has meaning, and there is hope for each and every veteran.

If you or a veteran you know is ever struggling with severe depression, thoughts of suicide or severely harming oneself or others, please call the VA’s Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 and press 1. This will connect you with friendly, helpful people who will do everything they can to help you. Don’t suffer alone—please, please call the wonderful people at the VA Crisis Line who can help you through your times of struggle. They are trained and experienced in assisting veterans. Since 2007, the Crisis Line has answered approximately 500,000 calls and made more than 16,000 rescues.

Another way to connect with the VA Crisis Line is through their 24/7 online chat.

Here are some warning signs that may warrant a call to the crisis line:

· Hopelessness

· Anxiety, agitation, sleeplessness, mood swings

· Feeling like there’s no reason to live

· Rage, anger

· Thoughtlessly engaging in risky activities

· Increasing alcohol/drug use

· Withdrawing socially

If you notice any of the following signs, call the line immediately.

· Thinking about hurting/killing yourself

· Looking for ways to kill yourself

· Talking about death, dying or suicide

· Self-destructive behavior

You do not have to be a veteran to call on behalf of a veteran. Friends and family members are encouraged to call.

For more information, check out this link.

Do you have any questions, comments or concerns about the Crisis Line, or anything else? Please leave a comment below!

Caregiver Programs: Helping Those Who Help Veterans

2011-09-08T00:41:00.000-07:00

Good morning!
Discovering the VA’s Caregiver Program was an immeasurable blessing to my family. My husband’s disabilities render him incapable of working, leaving me to take care of him… and our four young children… and keep the house clean… and the yard manicured… and the bills paid (which required me to work full-time hours). In addition to this, I was supposed to somehow also take care of myself. Yeah, right! It didn't work.

Thankfully, the VA recognizes that taking care of disabled veterans is hard work!

This amazing program, which launched in May 2011, provides health care, a monthly stipend (payment), mental health services, counseling, and caregiver training for eligible family caregivers of eligible veterans. The caregiver is also given access to respite care services, which allow the caregiver to place the veteran in the VA's care where round-the-clock caregiving services will be provided for free. Respite care is granted for a certain number of days per year, which cannot be exceeded but does not have to be used, either.

To qualify, veterans must have sustained a serious injury (including brain injury, psychological trauma or mental disorders) that were incurred or aggravated in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001. These veterans must also require personal care services because their injury renders them inable to perform one or more activities of daily living or causes symptoms/impairments that require the veteran to have supervision and protection. Veterans must also be enrolled in VA health services.

Determine your eligibility using the VA's online questionnaire tool at
http://www.caregiver.va.gov/. You may also call the Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274.
Eligible veterans can designate one primary Family Caregiver and two secondary Family Caregivers, but only one stipend amount will be issued. The amount can be divided among the Caregivers. The stipend amount varies depending on your location and the amount of assistance that the veteran requires.

If you believe you may be eligible for these benefits, I strongly urge you to apply. They can change your life. For Caregivers who sometimes have to do everything themselves, the Caregiver Program is a sanity saver.

For more information, please visit http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/caregiver/. The application can then be downloaded, printed, filled out and mailed. Once the application is filed and processed, a Caregiver Support Coordinator will call. The veteran will participate in a phone interview or in-person examination where the veteran's needs will be assessed. If the veteran appears to be eligible, the Caregiver will need to complete a training program organized by the Easter Seals. This training program can be completed online, in a class, or with a DVD and workbook. When the course is completed, a test will be administered. When the test is passed, an in-home visit with a nurse will be required. The nurse comes to the house to evaluate the veteran and the safety of the home. The nurse will make recommendations to the VA's Occupational Therapy department about modifications that can be made to assist the veteran. When the nurse's report is complete, the application will be processed and approved, if appropriate. Shortly after the approval, a check for the stipend will be issued that back pays to the date of your original application. Health care and other benefit information will also be provided.

Veteran's Service Organizations: An Introduction

2011-09-06T00:37:00.000-07:00

Good morning!

Filing a claim with the VA can be a headache and a half. There are lots of forms to fill out and evidence to provide. It can be very intimidating and very, very frustrating. Fortunately, there are organizations that exist to help you with that process—and they’re free.

These organizations are called "Veteran Service Organizations" or VSOs. There are many different VSOs to choose from. They include Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), American Legion, etc.

Getting help from a VSO is as easy as visiting the office. When the VSO helps you, they will file a form that informs the VA that they are now representing you. Any interaction you have with the VA will then occur through the VSO. They will help you file the forms to file your claim and will inform you of any further requirements you need to fill, such as providing evidence. If your claim is denied, they will also help you appeal and, if necessary, assist you with a hearing.

VSOs are a wonderful resource for veterans and they are free, so that every veteran can use them. If you haven’t already, I strongly recommend that you choose one and visit their office. My husband is represented by the DAV and they have been very helpful to us. They filed our very first claim and have helped us file additional claims and appeals. They have informed us of programs we weren't aware existed, and have given us valuable advice.

In future posts, I will share more information on the different VSOs and the services they provide.

Share your experiences! Are you represented by a VSO? Which one? If not, why not? I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Patient Advocates: The First Step To Resolve Complaints

2011-09-02T00:34:00.000-07:00

Good morning!

There are a lot of reasons that someone may want to complain about the VA. Maybe an employee treated you rudely. Maybe a doctor did not fully listen to your problem. Maybe you feel like your treatment Is inadequate or you are frustrated with the processing time for a claim. This can be frustrating, because it can be hard to find someone who will take your complaints seriously.

Believe it or not, there is someone who will listen. Each VA medical center is staffed with a patient advocate who is responsible for listening to your complaints and mitigating the situation. These advocates are very nice people who genuinely do their best to serve the veterans who visit the VA.

From major complaints about physicians to minor complaints about your treatment at the travel pay window, the patient advocate exists to listen and help you have the best experience possible at the VA.

If you are going to visit the patient advocate with a complaint, it is always best to have as much information and detail as possible. For example, if an employee mistreats you, you should try to supply the patient advocate with the date, time and place of the incident, as well as the employee’s name and role. You should also describe the offense in detail.

Please share your experiences with the patient advocate in the comment fields below! Have you ever visited the patient advocate? Did you even know there was one?

Learn more about the Patient Advocate at http://www.patientadvocate.va.gov/index.asp

Travel Pay

2011-08-31T00:11:00.000-07:00

Good morning!

Veterans are usually most familiar with the VA’s medical coverage. Many veterans live a long way from a medical center of community based outpatient clinic (CBOC) and have to drive long distances to attend appointments. This can be a big nuisance—especially when you are living on a small amount of disability compensation. I know firsthand—my husband and I live an hour away from his primary care at the CBOC and an hour and a half away from the nearest VA Emergency Room. Add that to the fact our only vehicle gets a meager 10 miles to the gallon, and we’re in a real bind when it comes to getting to appointments!

Thankfully, the VA offers travel pay to eligible veterans. Travel is compensated at a rate of 41.5 cents per mile. For scheduled appointments, the VA multiples the per-mile rate by the number of miles traveled from your home to the VA and back. For unscheduled appointments, such as emergency room visits, the VA only pays for the return trip.

To be eligible for travel pay, you must meet at least one of the following criteria:

Veteran with a service-connected rating of 30% or more, for any appointment
Veteran with a service-connected rating of 30% or less, for appointments related to the service-connected condition
Veteran attending a Compensation and Pension (C&P) examination
Veteran who recieves VA pension benefits
Veteran with annual income below the maximum applicable annual rate
Veteran who provides clear evidence that they cannot afford the cost of travel

Travel pay is obtained at the travel pay window of your local medical center. Unfortunately, that means that you cannot pick up travel pay if your appointment is at a CBOC. However, CBOC appointments are still eligible for travel pay! You must mail in a form (which can be provided to you at the appointment) or drive to the medical center to pick up the payment within 30 days. Since it can take several weeks (even several months!) to receive a reimbursement travel pay check from the VA, my husband and I usually pick ours up at the medical center when we are in the area. My in-laws live near the medical center, so we find ourselves in the area every few weeks.

A portion of the travel pay ($3 each way) may be deducted unless you qualify for and submit paperwork for a waiver based on a "means test" evaluation. If you qualify, submit this paperwork as soon as possible. If you are not eligible to have the deductible waived, remember that the rate is only $3 each way, or $6 per round trip. There is a monthly deductible cap of $18, meaning that after six one-way trips (three round trips) in a calendar month the VA must stop deducting from travel pay.

Have a great day! Check back again soon for more information about the VA!

For more information on travel pay, please visit http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/library/faqs/benetravelfaq.asp

Hello and welcome to the Veteran’s Benefit Guide!

2011-08-30T12:11:00.000-07:00

Most veterans are at least vaguely familiar with the bureaucracy of the VA (Department of Veterans Affairs). Although the VA is a wonderful agency that provides valuable benefits to our veterans, the VA is also a tangled mess of red tape. It can be very difficult to find the VA benefits you need and qualify for. It can be even harder to figure out how to apply for and get those benefits.
I’m here to help!

I have years of experience with the VA. My husband was injured while in training and received a medical discharge in July 2007. When we first began filing claims and working with the VA system, we did not have a clue what we were doing. As a result, we missed out on some valuable benefits.

Dealing with paperwork and claims forms and examinations can be a headache for veterans and their families who are already coping with disabilities. It is my hope that our experiences can benefit you in some way.

Please check back often for information. I plan on posting new information at least once a week. In the future, expect to see posts about:

Travel pay
Patient advocates
Veterans Service Organizations
Caregiver programs
Educational benefits
Benefits for surviving or un-remarried spouses
Crisis Line
Claims

And much, much more!

If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please feel free to comment on any of my posts. I will be happy to help you in any way possible.

I wish you the best! Have a great day!