This is a great deal at no cost to you. I encourage you to take advantage if only for the LinkedIn Learning courses. They are excellent and the topics are endless. Learning something new at no cost to you.
In collaboration with SheerID, LinkedIn offers eligible members of the U.S. military community one year of access to LinkedIn Premium. You’ll also get unlimited access to more than 10,000 courses through our LinkedIn Learning platform as a part of the program.
Grow your skills. Learn in-demand skills with 20,000+ online courses taught by real-world professionals.
The Honoring American Veterans in Extreme Need Act of 2018 (“HAVEN Act”)provides disabled military veterans and their families with greater protections in bankruptcy proceedings by allowing the exclusion of Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) and Department of Defense Disability payments from the calculation when doing means testing and disposable income calculations. The Haven Act places military disability benefits in the same protected category as Social Security Disability Benefits.
Note: Benefits to current service members may still be included. For example, monthly special compensation from the Department of Defense (DOD), and retirement pay for people on the temporary disability list.
Chapter 7 Applicability Veterans or their family members should exclude income covered by the Act from the calculation of CMI under Chapter 7.
Chapter 13 Applicability Veterans or their family members should exclude income covered by the Act from the calculation of CMI, which may affect the determination of projected disposable income available under a Chapter 13 Plan.
If you are inclined to volunteer, let me know if any of this looks interesting or if you have something in mind. If you can, great if you can't, no hard feelings.
Content Creator - You need ideas and knowledge to share and a spark of creativity. On top of that, you need to enjoy learning and have the patience and fortitude to keep going.
Yes, other skills can help. If you plan on producing written content, then being a great writer helps. If you are putting out a podcast, the audio editing experience is advantageous. However, production skills can be learned or hired out.
Truly, anyone with content to share and a willingness to learn along the way can become a successful content creator.
Some Items You Will Create (We will show you how to find content and provide the tools you will need)
Newsletters - We will show you how to gather stories and how to create the newsletter and send it out
Blog Content - Either by yourself or with a research and graphics person, create new content for the hadit.com site
Podcasts We have content ideas, but we will need support
YouTube Videos We have content ideas, but we will need support
Social Media Post content to Social Media. We will show you how to find content to post and how to create a graphic to go with the post, hashtags, and mentions. We will provide any tools you need and don't have.
Community Content - Reading the community boards, topics will start to pop out at you that seem to be repeated. Take the initiative and write that post.
Copywriter - We have many posts already. But they need to be proofread and rewritten for clarity. Reference update, Check that the links work. Tweak the SEO and then send it to Social Media
Social Media Management Popular questions from the community and posts from the blog. Items in the news related to veterans’ disabilities, compensation, benefits, etc.
Research
And any other skill or item you think would be useful and have time to help out.
2024 VA Disability Compensation Rate COLA Increase: The 3.2 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to Social Security beneficiaries and veterans receiving VA Disability Compensation in January 2024. Source: VA Disability Rates
Compensation rates for Veterans with a 10% to 20% disability rating.
Effective Date 12/01/2023
Note: If you have a 10% to 20% disability rating, you won’t receive a higher rate even if you have a dependent spouse, child, or parent.
If you qualify for SMC-K, we add this rate to your basic disability compensation rate for any disability rating from 0% to 100%. We also add this rate to all SMC basic rates except SMC-O, SMC-Q, and SMC-R. You may receive 1 to 3 SMC-K awards in addition to basic and SMC rates.
SMC-Q
67.00
This is a protected rate that we haven’t awarded since August 19, 1968. If we awarded you an SMC-Q designation, we pay this rate in place of your basic disability compensation rate.
Sometimes you have more to say that doesn't fit a community discussion. Maybe you are passionate about fishing, cooking, reading, it's your choice. The same guidelines apply to the blogs that apply to the community. The two biggest are no politics and no religion. Facebook or someplace else is the place for that, it is not here. Creating your blog allows you to expand on what you have to say.
Do you find yourself typing the same content again and again?
Create a blog post with that content and then all you have to do is link to the blog post.
This gives you two main advantages
You only have to type the content once, a great time saver.
If your content changes due to law or regulations or for whatever reason, you only have to update your blog, and wherever you link to that post will be linking to the most current information.
Check out the video below.
Have questions? Ask it in this topic and I will do my best to answer.
Question Posed: What does compensation issue mean?
Quote
Hi everyone,
So my appeal was closed on July 15. I haven’t received my letter yet, but under the issues tab on va.gov, where it used to say the items I was appealing, it now says “compensation issue.” Is that normally what it says just when they close the review? Has anyone seen any other terminology in that section?
Thanks for your input.
Compensation issue means your claim is for disability compensation instead of some other kind of claim. Maybe upgrade for discharge, for example. Most claims that are submitted are designated compensation issues. Nothing to worry about.
We closed the notice for request 1. VA message states Closed the for Request 1 or 2 or some #. What does it mean? It is a status message that doesn't tell you where your claim is in the process.
Logged into eBenefits today, and my (migraine/headache) claim went from PFD back to GOE. The estimated completion dates have been moved back to another 4 to 6 months again! The message states, “We closed the notice for Request 1,” which was aC&Pexam. It states the developmental letter sent.
The previous post says this means and C&P exam has been scheduled, while another vet posted this means a C&P is not needed bc I have enough evidence. Any feedback?
We closed request # (x) only means that the VA reviewer saw that some action has to be done, and put in a "request" to get it going. For example, request a C&P exam be initiated. Once the "request", not the actual physical, is inputed to say request VES do a C&P, that "request" is closed. It really doesn't mean anything to you, and, Shrek is right on. You don't need to watch ebenefits move stuff around; it can drive you up a wall. Posted January 13, 2021 - GBArmy Tweet
Related Information
Supplemental Claim status
Status
What it means
A reviewer is examining your new evidence
We received your Supplemental Claim and assigned it to a reviewer. They will determine if we need any more information from you.
We made a decision
We sent you our decision on your Supplemental Claim.
Your Supplemental Claim was closed
We closed your Supplemental Claim. This may be because you didn’t take an action VA requested.
Higher-Level Review status
Status
What it means
A senior reviewer is taking a new look at your case
We received your request for a Higher-Level Review and assigned it to a senior reviewer. They will determine if we need any more information from you.
We are correcting an error
The senior reviewer found an error that must be corrected before they decide your case. We’ll contact you if we need more information.
We made a decision
We sent you our decision on your Higher-Level Review.
Your Higher-Level Review was closed
We closed your Higher-Level Review. This may be because you didn’t take an action VA requested.
Board Appeal status
Status
What it means
You’re waiting for your hearing to be scheduled
We received your request for a hearing but haven’t scheduled it yet.
Your hearing has been scheduled
We’ve scheduled your hearing. You’ll receive the hearing information by mail. You can also find information about your hearing in the claim status tool. Check your VA claim status
Your appeal is waiting to be sent to a judge
Your appeal is at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals. We haven’t assigned it to a Veterans Law Judge yet.
Your appeal is with your Veterans Service Organization
Your Veterans Service Organization (VSO) is reviewing your appeal to prepare additional arguments to support your case.
A judge is reviewing your appeal
A Veterans Law Judge at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals is reviewing your appeal.
The judge is seeking more information before making a decision
The judge is getting more evidence or an outside opinion from a legal, medical, or other professional. This additional information will help them make a decision about your appeal.
The Board is waiting until a higher court makes a decision
A higher court is reviewing a group of appeals. The Board of Veterans’ Appeals is waiting for their decision because it may affect your appeal.
The Board made a decision on your appeal
The Board of Veterans’ Appeals sent you a decision letter about your appeal.
Your appeal was merged
The Board of Veterans’ Appeals merged your appeal with one of your older appeals that was closer to receiving a Board decision. The Board merges appeals so that you can receive a single decision on as many appeals as possible.
Your appeals file is open for new evidence
The Board of Veterans’ Appeals is holding your case open for new evidence for 90 days.
We corrected an error
A judge at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals either:
Found an error and had it corrected, or
Made a decision that changes your disability rating or eligibility for benefits
We sent you a corrected decision.
The Board made a decision on your appeal
The Board of Veterans’ Appeals sent you a decision letter about your appeal.
We granted your appeal
We decided to overturn the original decision.
You withdrew your appeal
You told us not to continue your appeal.
Your Motion for Reconsideration was denied
The Board of Veterans’ Appeals decided not to reopen your appeal.
The appeal was closed
VA records show that the Veteran filing the appeal is deceased, so we closed this appeal.
Your appeal was closed
We dismissed or closed your appeal. Please contact your Veterans Service Organization (VSO) or representative for more information.
Legacy appeal status
Status
What it means
A Decision Review Officer is reviewing your appeal
We received your Notice of Disagreement and assigned your appeal to a Decision Review Officer. They will determine if we need any more information from you.
Please review your Statement of the Case
We sent you a Statement of the Case (SOC) that explains why we can’t grant your appeal. To continue your appeal, you have 60 days to take one of these actions:
Submit VA Form 9 to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, or
The Decision Review Officer is finishing their review of your appeal
We received your VA Form 9. The Decision Review Officer is reviewing all the evidence in your appeal.
Please review your Supplemental Statement of the Case
We sent you a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) because:
New evidence was added to your case, or
We’re requesting more evidence, or
We can’t grant your full appeal
You’re waiting for your hearing to be scheduled
We received your request for a hearing but haven’t scheduled it yet.
Your hearing has been scheduled
We’ve scheduled your hearing. You’ll receive the hearing information by mail. You can also find information about your hearing in the claim status tool. Check your VA claim status
Your appeal is waiting to be sent to a judge
Your appeal is at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals. We haven’t assigned it to a Veterans Law Judge yet.
Your appeal is with your Veterans Service Organization
Your Veterans Service Organization (VSO) is reviewing your appeal to prepare additional arguments to support your case.
A judge is reviewing your appeal
A Veterans Law Judge at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals is reviewing your appeal.
The judge is seeking more information before making a decision
The judge is getting more evidence or an outside opinion from a legal, medical, or other professional. This additional information will help them make a decision about your appeal.
The Board is waiting until a higher court makes a decision
A higher court is reviewing a group of appeals. The Board of Veterans’ Appeals is waiting for their decision because it may affect your appeal.
The Board made a decision on your appeal
The Board of Veterans’ Appeals sent you a decision letter about your appeal.
Your appeal was merged
The Board of Veterans’ Appeals merged your appeal with one of your older appeals that was closer to receiving a Board decision. The Board merges appeals so that you can receive a single decision on as many appeals as possible.
You requested a decision review under the Appeals Modernization Act
You asked to continue your appeal through the decision review process.
Your appeals file is open for new evidence
The Board of Veterans’ Appeals is holding your case open for new evidence for 90 days.
We corrected an error
A judge at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals either:
Found an error and had it corrected, or
Made a decision that changes your disability rating or eligibility for benefits
We sent you a corrected decision.
The Board made a decision on your appeal
The Board of Veterans’ Appeals sent you a decision letter about your appeal.
We granted your appeal
We decided to overturn the original decision.
You withdrew your appeal
You told us not to continue your appeal.
Your Motion for Reconsideration was denied
The Board of Veterans’ Appeals decided not to reopen your appeal.
The appeal was closed
VA records show that the Veteran filing the appeal is deceased, so we closed this appeal.
Your appeal was closed
We dismissed or closed your appeal. Please contact your Veterans Service Organization (VSO) or representative for more information
Summary: The VA Disability Calculator uses a unique "VA Math" method to compute combined impairment ratings for veterans with multiple service-connected conditions. Instead of simply adding up the percentages of each condition, the VA uses a combined rating table and a concept of "Whole Person Remaining." Each subsequent rating is a reduction of the whole person remaining. For instance, if a veteran has a 30% rating for one condition and a 40% rating for another, the total rating is not 70% but 60%. This is because the 30% rating is applied to the 70% of the person who is not already disabled by the first condition.
In short.
If the VA finds that a Veteran has multiple disabilities, the VA uses the Combined Rating Table below to calculate a combined disability rating.
Disability ratings are not additive, meaning that if a Veteran has one disability rated 60% and a second disability 20%, the combined rating is not 80%.
This is because subsequent disability ratings are applied to an already disabled Veteran, so the 20% disability is applied to a Veteran who is already 60% disabled.
If you have multiple service-connected conditions — VA will combine them using VA Math.
Here's how it works:
VA starts with the premise that every veteran is 100 percent efficient or not disabled.
So, if a veteran has a disability rating of 20 percent, the VA sees them as 80 percent non-disabled and 20 percent disabled.
To include another disability rating of 10 percent, the VA will take 10 percent of the 80 percent non-disabled portion and add it to the existing 20 percent rating.
This brings the veteran’s total disability rating to 28 percent, which will be rounded to 30 percent.
This process continues with each disability rating the veteran has.
How does the VA calculate a Veteran's percentage of disability? In this episode of theSITREP, Paul Corbett explains "VA Math" with a simple, step-by-step example.
Transcript
0:00 Hello and welcome to another episode of the SITREP. I am a Marine Corps Veteran,
0:04 Paul Corbett, and a topic that tons of you out there have emailed us about
0:09 is how does VA calculate your percentage of service-connected disability, or what many
0:15 refers to VA math. We are going to break it down Barney-style with a very simple process to follow,
0:22, but first, do me a favor and hit that like button and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss
0:27 future episodes, and you can help us reach as many Veterans as possible. So, VA math: how is it,
0:35 Hypothetically, a Veteran can receive 40% for their back, 30% for their knee, and 20%
0:42 for hearing loss, which all adds up to 90%, but VA awards you with 70% service-connected disability
0:50 instead? The answer isn’t really that difficult to figure out. When calculating disability, you
0:56 want to first begin with the largest and work your way down to the smallest, as seen on the screen.
1:03 Starting with the back, we are going to take 100%, which is the current remainder
1:08 and will make more sense in a minute, and subtract the sum of 100% times 40%. It is important that
1:15 we remember the order of operations, where we calculate what is in the parenthesis first,
1:21, which equals 40%, we then subtract that from 100%, and we end up with a remainder of 60%.
1:28 Now, with the knee, we want to start with the remainder, which is 60%. So, much like the
1:34 equation above, 60% minus the sum of 60% times 30%, which is 18%, equals a remainder of 42%.
1:45 We continue this process for hearing. We begin with the remainder of the previous line,
1:50, so we have 42%, minus the sum of 42% times 20%, which is 8.4%, and gives us a remainder of
1:59 33.6%. Now that we have calculated each one of our disabilities, we want to subtract the remainder
2:06 from 100%, which would be 100% minus 33.6%, equals 66.4%. However, VA always rounds to the nearest
2:18 10, so in this case, your disability rating would be rounded up to 70%. This is important
2:24 to keep in mind, though, yes, you are rated at 70% disability, but your actual rating is 66.4%.
2:32 Say you later receive a 10% rating for your shoulder. The current remainder is 33.6%
2:39, and when you follow the same process as the other disabilities we calculated, you end up with the
2:44 It is exactly the same disability rating as before. So again, remember, just because you are awarded a new or
2:51 slightly higher percentages of disability, it does not mean that your rating will change - it may
2:57 stays the same. One last thing: there are special circumstances where a Veteran’s disability may be
3:04 calculated completely differently. Such is the case with Veterans who are permanently disabled,
3:09 have bilateral injuries or other circumstances. To learn more about about this topic,
3:14 look for links in the video description below and, more importantly, be sure to check out all
3:20 of our YouTube playlists that cover VA disability, pensions, health care, home loans, and much more.
Chris Attig of the popular Veterans Law Blog explains it.
“Chris, if you add up all my VA Ratings for all my disabilities, I’m over 250% disabled. Why am I still getting paid at a 90% level?”
This question – or one like it – pops into my inbox several times weekly. The short answer is this: when you have multiple ratings for multiple medical conditions, the VA doesn’t ADD them together – it COMBINES them. The VA Combined Ratings Formula causes Veterans – and frankly, many VSOs and attorneys a lot of angst. And it did for me, too, until I learned one thing: the Secret behind VA Math. Before I tell you the Secret to Understanding Veterans Affairs Math, let me show you the easy way to do combined ratings. From Chris Attig, The Veterans Law Blog
VA Math It’s Not Your Mother’s Arithmetic
“VA Math” is how the VA computes combined impairment ratings for multiple conditions in a Veteran’s compensation benefits claim – and it requires that you unlearn real math. When a Veteran has multiple medical conditions that are service-connected, and the Veterans Affairs rates each at a different percentage, it would seem that they should add up your percentages to get to a total body impairment rating.
The Easy Way to Do Combined Ratings.
The VA publishes a combined rating table to assist in these calculations. The VA Combined Ratings Table is a table that shows your total impairment percentage when you have more than one disabling service-connected condition. List your disabilities, highest to lowest, with the percentage of impairment next to it. Start with the highest, and then one by one, use the above linked combined rating table to combine your remaining rating.
The Secret Behind VA Math and the Combined Ratings Table.
“VA Math” is how the VA computes combined impairment ratings for multiple conditions in a Veteran’s compensation claim – and it requires that you unlearn real math. When a Veteran has multiple medical conditions that are service-connected, and the VA rates each at a different percentage, it would seem that they should add up your percentages to get to a total body impairment rating. Things are not as they seem. If a Veteran has a 30% rating for condition A and a 40% rating for Condition B, the total rating is NOT 70%. The VA does not add multiple ratings to get a total rating; instead, they use a formula to get a combined rating. The VA computes the combined rating by considering each disability in order of severity, beginning with the highest evaluation. In the above example, the VA Combined Rating for the two conditions is 60%, not 70%. Here’s the secret to understanding the VA Combined Ratings Table. Your ratings are combined based on the concept of “Whole Person Remaining.” The idea is that if you have NO disabilities, you are a 100% whole person. If you have a 30% disability, you are 30% disabled and 70% whole. Each subsequent rating is a REDUCTION of the whole person remaining.
The VA Combined Ratings Table in Practice.
How does the VA get that combined rating? For example, where Condition A is rated at 30%, and Condition B is rated at 40%,
the VA math works like this: Most severe rating: 40%. Second most severe rating: 30%. Combined rating: 60%. Here’s how we got there: the second rating of 30% is multiplied by the % of the whole person remaining after the 40% rating. In this example, 30% (second rating) is multiplied by 60% (percent of the whole person remaining after 40% rating). This means that while condition A limits the person to a 30-degree rate, it only limits 30% of the WHOLE person. So if the person is 0% impaired (with a 100% whole person value remaining), the condition limits them to 30%. But if the person is already 40% disabled by another condition, Condition A can only limit the “whole person that remains.” It’s a tough concept to grasp, but in a way, it makes some sense. So, in our example, the second rating of 30% adds 18% to the initial rating of 40%, yielding a combined rating of 58%. The 58% rating is rounded up to 60%. Does this make sense? I don’t think so – this type of formula is a 50+-year-old calculation used by insurance companies in, commonly, workers’ compensation claims. Regardless of the archaic and non-sensical formula, here’s the deal. It’s the way it is. And in the great mess of tangled red tape that is the VA Bureaucracy, there are many fights we need to fight and win before going after this one.
Combined Ratings
Example of Combining Three Disabilities
If three disabilities are ratable at 60 percent, 40 percent, and 20 percent, respectively, the combined value for the first two will be found opposite 60 and under 40 and is 76 percent. This 76 will be found in the left column, then the 20 rating in the top row. The intersection of these two ratings is 81. Thus, the final rating will be rounded to 80%.
If the VA finds that a Veteran has multiple disabilities, the VA uses the Combined Rating Table below to calculate a combined disability rating. Disability ratings are not additive, meaning that if a Veteran has one disability rated 60% and a second disability 20%, the combined rating is not 80%. This is because subsequent disability ratings are applied to an already disabled Veteran, so the 20% disability is applied to a Veteran who is already 60% disabled. Below are the steps VA takes to combine ratings for more than one disability and examples using the Combined Rating Table to illustrate how combined ratings are calculated.
The disabilities are first arranged in the exact order of their severity, beginning with the greatest disability and then combined with the use of the Combined Rating Table below.
An Examiners' perspective relating to psychiatric compensation and pension exams. It is still a good guideline for all exams.
A Guideline for your VA compensation and pension exam
A VA Compensation and Pension Examiners’ perspective relating to psychiatric exams. It is a good guideline for all exams, but they only did psych exams.
The VA has examined me for multiple problems, and this is my format when I go to be examined. A little common sense and clarity of thinking will go a long way toward getting you what you are entitled to. Written by: Steve A. Neff MSW
This person is going to judge you. It’s their job, and that is why you are there. To be adjudicated fairly. How would you like to be remembered? A skuzzy stereotypical veteran? Or a troubled one who is doing the best they can? – Steve A. Neff MSW
Do not talk about alcohol or drug-related issues. You are not there to be assessed for those problems. You are there to be evaluated for your psychiatric functioning as today relates to your service history. If the examiner asks about alcohol or drugs, politely remind them that you are not there for those issues if you’ve ever had them, but for how impaired you are in your daily functioning. It’s best to avoid even talking about them. Got a VA horror story? I can tell you a worse one. Don’t waste your time with how badly you believe you’ve been mistreated. The examiner only has a short time to figure out how impaired you are, and they need the facts. Incoherent, concise sentences, and not rambling rants that lead nowhere
Answer the questions to the best of your ability. If you don’t know, say so. This is nearly a no-brainer but be honest. Don’t embellish your stories with fanciful tales. Just the facts, please.
Be able to document everything you tell the examiner. If possible, have letters from people you served with, unit diary copies of incidents during your time and space, and letters from family members. You may run into someone like me who checked stories out.
Family member letters usually don’t add much weight to your case because families are there to support you, and examiners understand that.
If sleep is a problem, don’t sleep the night before. Go in on the ragged edge of tired out. But do your best not to be rude and insensitive. Payback in a VA C&P exam is you lose. Not all examiners are that way, but I have met a few that should not have been examiners.
When responding to examiners, you need to pick the worst moment relating to that question. You need to be rated for the worst times you have had. I always chose a really bad day and related all of my answers to that day. The day I could not sleep, was anxious and startled easily, was grouchy to my wife and friends, felt like my heart was coming out of my chest, and nothing went right for me. That day should have been in the last 30-90 days. If it was a year ago, you might not need to be having this exam. The questions you are being asked are on a script in front of the examiner. After examiners do this for a while, they get a sense of what is in front of them. It’s not too difficult to determine when someone is lying and struggling with memory. The above does not mean that examiners cannot be scammed because they can be.
What to Expect during the Medical Examination
You should expect the examiner performing your medical examination to evaluate the condition(s) listed on your claim for benefits. Depending on the number and type of disabilities claimed, the length of the examination will vary. Psychiatric examinations or exams for multiple disabilities require more time to evaluate. If necessary, the examiner may ask more questions about your disability history, review pertinent medical records, or order additional testing or examinations.
I discovered veterans lying and dealt with them by reporting this to the proper authorities at the VA. It’s a Federal criminal act to lie to gain monetary compensation. And the odds are you will be prosecuted. It simply isn’t worth it.
Examiners are generally good people trying to do a challenging job. Make it easy for them. I always advocated having the individual’s husband/wife in the room with me during the exam. As an examiner, I enjoyed having someone’s spouse with them. Husbands and wives can tell the truth much better than veterans. Ask your wife how well you’ve done in the past ten days versus your opinion of how you’ve been doing. Quite a dramatic difference if you are truthful!
Remember to report how you REALLY are doing and not how you’d like to be doing. One of the questions I always had a hard time asking was, “How are you doing today?” Most veterans want to be doing MUCH better than they really are. It’s like we know we can be doing better, and have done better, but our pride does not want to let anyone know how badly we really are doing. Veterans would answer the above question: “Well, I’m doing pretty good.” Should I write, “The veteran reports that he is doing pretty good?” Not if you want your claim adjudicated fairly.
The best answer I ever got from a veteran was from a former Marine Vietnam Veteran who said,
If I’m here, I can’t be doing very well now, can I? I haven’t been able to sleep for the past ten days over worrying about this exam, and my wife says I’m really grumpy, and the bill collectors call all of the time."
This veteran just told me he couldn’t sleep due to anxiety, the heart of PTSD, was depressed (remember grumpy?), another critical facet of PTSD, and he’s had problems with his work history if he can’t pay his bills. He wasn’t angry about what he said. He was so matter of fact it took me a bit to realize what he had said. He could have been talking about having a cup of coffee for all of the emotions he expressed.
These are things I can explore further with the veteran. I don’t have to hunt or pull teeth for information. This veteran controlled the exam because he knew clearly about his problems and what he wanted to say. I spent some extra time with him. He ended up 100% service-connected for PTSD. He had his ducks in a row, paperwork all present, and had done enough clinical work before the exam that he knew his problems and, more importantly, how to express them to another person.
The Reasonable Doubt rule is one of the most important liberalizing rules that the VA uses to grant veterans benefits and is defined under 38 CFR, §3.102. The Reasonable Doubt rule means that when there is an equal balance of evidence for and against the claimant, the claimant is awarded their claim.This is like in baseball, as the “tie goes to the runner.” Keep in mind this doesn’t mean that just because there are ten pieces of evidence for your claim and ten against that, you will be granted your claim. It means that after consideration by the decision maker at VA, they have weighed the evidence, and there is an equal balance in their judgment. Theymust resolve reasonable doubt in the claimant’s favor. It also doesn’t mean that if, for example, there are five pieces ofevidence in favorof a claim and only one against it, a claim will automatically be granted because there is a preponderance of the evidence (meaning more evidence in favor of the claim than against) in your favor. The decision maker must still weigh theprobative value of each piece of evidencedetermine the weight of each piece in relationship to each other and the claim, and then decide whether there is a balance of evidence for the claim and against the claim based on the weight given to each of that evidence.
Note: The resolution of the Reasonable Doubt doctrine can not be the basis for aClear and Unmistakable Error(CUE). Since the Reasonable Doubt doctrine is based on Judgment made by a decision maker, it cannot be a basis for a CUE.
Independent Medical Opinions by Your Private Physician
An Independent Medical Opinion (IMO) from a treating physician is often a critical part of aveteran’s disability compensation claim. An IMO may sway the “benefitof the doubt” in favor of aveteran’s claim, or it may be the missing ‘link’ or nexus in a claim. When a veteran asks his or her physician to compose an IMO, a couple of things should be noted. One of the most important things that should be done and mentioned in the IMO is that themedical professional has reviewed the entire medical record, including the veteran’s SMRs. The medical professional should also state his or her expertise and additional training.
“is due to” (100% sure)
“more likely than not” (greater than 50%)
“at least as likely as not” (equal to or greater than 50%)
“not at least as likely as not” (less than 50%)
“is not due to” (0%)
The phrase “at least as likely as not” is the legal phrase that is needed for the VA to awardservice connection for a particular disability based on the “Benefit of the Doubt” when an IMO should be the deciding factor in the evidence of record.
For example, if the doctor is board-certified in radiology, they should state that, especially when rendering any comments regarding radiological film studies. Also, the physician must give their rationale as to why they have reached a certain conclusion. When giving his/her rationale, the physician should also cite any relevant medical literature that may support the findings. By doing all of this, the IMO becomes probative. There is also certain language the physician needs to use when opining whether or not the disability(ies) at hand is/are related to the veteran’s service.
VA Disability rates listed below are used to calculate your retroactive pay once you win your claim. For example, if you were awarded 50% from 1997 to the present, you will be paid at the 50% rate for the corresponding years.
VA disability compensation (pay) offers a monthly tax-free payment to Veterans who got sick or injured while serving in the military and to Veterans whose service made an existing condition worse. You may qualify for VA disability benefits for physical conditions (like a chronic illness or injury) and mental health conditions (like PTSD) that developed before, during, or after service. Find out how to apply for and manage the Veteran’s disability benefits you’ve earned.
VA Manuals - Manuals interpret the law from the Code of Federal Regulations and tell the VA how to apply it.
U.S.C. - The United States Code is the law, and the U.S.C. is the government’s official code copy.
First, your disability is listed in the law38CFR4 Schedule for Rating Disabilities. This document is dry reading but read it anyway. It will list your disability/diagnosis and tell you what symptoms equal what percentage.
Now, the compensation and pension exam doctor will examine you and make notes indicating your disability and limitations. Then, a VA rater will look at the doctor’s results, look at the evidence, look at your claim (contentions) look at the law and then make a decision. So, the moral of the story is to spend some time looking at the38CFR4 Schedule for Rating Disabilities. This will provide valuable information on how the VA views and rates your disability.
While I’m here, check out theside effects of any medicationsyou are on for your service-connected condition. Those can be claimed as secondary to your service-connected disability. You are your best advocate.
We closed notice for request 1. VA message states Closed the for Request 1 or 2 or some #. What does it mean? It is a status message it doesn't tell you where your claim is in the process.
Logged into eBenefits today, and my (migraine/headache) claim went from PFD back to GOE. The estimated completion dates have been moved back to another 4 to 6 months again! The message states, “We closed the notice for Request 1,” which was aC&Pexam. It states the developmental letter sent.
The previous post says this means and C&P exam has been scheduled, while another vet posted this means a C&P is not needed bc I have enough evidence.
"We closed request # (x) only means that the VA reviewer saw that some action has to be done, and put in a "request" to get it going. For example, request a C&P exam be initiated. Once the "request", not the actual physical, is inputed to say request VES do a C&P, that "request" is closed. It really doesn't mean anything to you, and, Shrek is right on. You don't need to watch ebenefits move stuff around; it can drive you up a wall. Posted January 13, 2021
Related Information
Supplemental Claim status
Status
What it means
A reviewer is examining your new evidence
We received your Supplemental Claim and assigned it to a reviewer. They will determine if we need any more information from you.
We made a decision
We sent you our decision on your Supplemental Claim.
Your Supplemental Claim was closed
We closed your Supplemental Claim. This may be because you didn’t take an action VA requested.
Higher-Level Review status
Status
What it means
A senior reviewer is taking a new look at your case
We received your request for a Higher-Level Review and assigned it to a senior reviewer. They will determine if we need any more information from you.
We are correcting an error
The senior reviewer found an error that must be corrected before they decide your case. We’ll contact you if we need more information.
We made a decision
We sent you our decision on your Higher-Level Review.
Your Higher-Level Review was closed
We closed your Higher-Level Review. This may be because you didn’t take an action VA requested.
Board Appeal status
Status
What it means
You’re waiting for your hearing to be scheduled
We received your request for a hearing but haven’t scheduled it yet.
Your hearing has been scheduled
We’ve scheduled your hearing. You’ll receive the hearing information by mail. You can also find information about your hearing in the claim status tool. Check your VA claim status
Your appeal is waiting to be sent to a judge
Your appeal is at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals. We haven’t assigned it to a Veterans Law Judge yet.
Your appeal is with your Veterans Service Organization
Your Veterans Service Organization (VSO) is reviewing your appeal to prepare additional arguments to support your case.
A judge is reviewing your appeal
A Veterans Law Judge at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals is reviewing your appeal.
The judge is seeking more information before making a decision
The judge is getting more evidence or an outside opinion from a legal, medical, or other professional. This additional information will help them make a decision about your appeal.
The Board is waiting until a higher court makes a decision
A higher court is reviewing a group of appeals. The Board of Veterans’ Appeals is waiting for their decision because it may affect your appeal.
The Board made a decision on your appeal
The Board of Veterans’ Appeals sent you a decision letter about your appeal.
Your appeal was merged
The Board of Veterans’ Appeals merged your appeal with one of your older appeals that was closer to receiving a Board decision. The Board merges appeals so that you can receive a single decision on as many appeals as possible.
Your appeals file is open for new evidence
The Board of Veterans’ Appeals is holding your case open for new evidence for 90 days.
We corrected an error
A judge at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals either:
Found an error and had it corrected, or
Made a decision that changes your disability rating or eligibility for benefits
We sent you a corrected decision.
The Board made a decision on your appeal
The Board of Veterans’ Appeals sent you a decision letter about your appeal.
We granted your appeal
We decided to overturn the original decision.
You withdrew your appeal
You told us not to continue your appeal.
Your Motion for Reconsideration was denied
The Board of Veterans’ Appeals decided not to reopen your appeal.
The appeal was closed
VA records show that the Veteran filing the appeal is deceased, so we closed this appeal.
Your appeal was closed
We dismissed or closed your appeal. Please contact your Veterans Service Organization (VSO) or representative for more information.
Legacy appeal status
Status
What it means
A Decision Review Officer is reviewing your appeal
We received your Notice of Disagreement and assigned your appeal to a Decision Review Officer. They will determine if we need any more information from you.
Please review your Statement of the Case
We sent you a Statement of the Case (SOC) that explains why we can’t grant your appeal. To continue your appeal, you have 60 days to take one of these actions:
Submit VA Form 9 to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, or
The Decision Review Officer is finishing their review of your appeal
We received your VA Form 9. The Decision Review Officer is reviewing all the evidence in your appeal.
Please review your Supplemental Statement of the Case
We sent you a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) because:
New evidence was added to your case, or
We’re requesting more evidence, or
We can’t grant your full appeal
You’re waiting for your hearing to be scheduled
We received your request for a hearing but haven’t scheduled it yet.
Your hearing has been scheduled
We’ve scheduled your hearing. You’ll receive the hearing information by mail. You can also find information about your hearing in the claim status tool. Check your VA claim status
Your appeal is waiting to be sent to a judge
Your appeal is at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals. We haven’t assigned it to a Veterans Law Judge yet.
Your appeal is with your Veterans Service Organization
Your Veterans Service Organization (VSO) is reviewing your appeal to prepare additional arguments to support your case.
A judge is reviewing your appeal
A Veterans Law Judge at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals is reviewing your appeal.
The judge is seeking more information before making a decision
The judge is getting more evidence or an outside opinion from a legal, medical, or other professional. This additional information will help them make a decision about your appeal.
The Board is waiting until a higher court makes a decision
A higher court is reviewing a group of appeals. The Board of Veterans’ Appeals is waiting for their decision because it may affect your appeal.
The Board made a decision on your appeal
The Board of Veterans’ Appeals sent you a decision letter about your appeal.
Your appeal was merged
The Board of Veterans’ Appeals merged your appeal with one of your older appeals that was closer to receiving a Board decision. The Board merges appeals so that you can receive a single decision on as many appeals as possible.
You requested a decision review under the Appeals Modernization Act
You asked to continue your appeal through the decision review process.
Your appeals file is open for new evidence
The Board of Veterans’ Appeals is holding your case open for new evidence for 90 days.
We corrected an error
A judge at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals either:
Found an error and had it corrected, or
Made a decision that changes your disability rating or eligibility for benefits
We sent you a corrected decision.
The Board made a decision on your appeal
The Board of Veterans’ Appeals sent you a decision letter about your appeal.
We granted your appeal
We decided to overturn the original decision.
You withdrew your appeal
You told us not to continue your appeal.
Your Motion for Reconsideration was denied
The Board of Veterans’ Appeals decided not to reopen your appeal.
The appeal was closed
VA records show that the Veteran filing the appeal is deceased, so we closed this appeal.
Your appeal was closed
We dismissed or closed your appeal. Please contact your Veterans Service Organization (VSO) or representative for more information.
Awe @Dustoff1970 I'm hanging in for a while. However, so far I am the only one doing the actual work and it is a lot for me I have been doing this for well over 26 years.
It has been my life's work, passion, and purpose so I will always do what I can to help.
Many Veterans are working to improve their health and well-being. For those wanting to make healthy lifestyle changes, VA’s TeleMOVE! program is ready to help Veterans manage their weight, eat wisely and be more physically active. TeleMOVE! care coordinators partner with Veterans to create personalized, monitored health and weight management plans.
Navy Combat Veteran Reid Kochel began TeleMOVE! at the suggestion of his care team at Black Hills VA. Since starting the program, he has lost over 140 pounds.
TeleMOVE!
The TeleMOVE! program within the Remote Patient Monitoring-Home Telehealth program (RPM-HT) matches Veterans with a VA care coordinator for guidance and accountability. It also provides Veterans with at-home health monitoring technologies, such as activity trackers and scales. The 90-day weight management program focuses on making healthy behavior changes to reach health and weight-loss goals. These may relate to a range of health concerns, including diabetes, high cholesterol and sleep apnea.
Kochel met his care coordinator Melissa Treinen during the initial TeleMOVE! home telehealth assessment. Treinen is a registered dietitian and national board-certified health and wellness coach. The pair developed goals and a care plan tailored to Kochel’s needs.
“One thing I like about the TeleMOVE! program is being able to build a rapport with the Veterans I’m working with so they feel comfortable sharing any challenges that may come along with weight management,” Treinen said.
Kochel’s story
During a checkup, Kochel learned that his weight was significantly impacting his health. His VA provider encouraged him to join a weight-loss program.
Though he began losing weight through a popular non-VA weight loss program, he gained it back when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. After consulting with his VA care team, he decided to join the TeleMOVE! program to learn useful strategies for developing lasting habits.
Kochel said the remote aspect of the program was a big driving factor for him to join.
“I didn’t like the idea of having to travel to meetings. It takes up a lot of extra time and money. Melissa mentioned the TeleMOVE! program and I thought, ‘Well I’ll try that.’ Once I got my scale and started writing everything down, I noticed the pounds coming off,” Kochel said.
Kochel attributes the majority of his weight loss to monitoring and tracking his food intake. He said that when he began to lose weight, he noticed he could do more things. For example, he no longer needs oxygen to walk around and he can once again bend over to pick things up or tie his shoes. “There’s a lot of benefits to losing weight. You feel better and you have a more positive attitude towards life because you can do things,” he added.
140 pounds down
Since beginning the program in spring 2022, Kochel has lost 140 pounds and is still working toward his goals. He is currently on his sixth 90-day TeleMOVE! program and plans to take part in five or six more cycles. His goal is to get back to his weight when he served in the Navy. “If I can do it, anybody can do it.”
Kochel has found the monthly conversations with his care coordinator have helped him stay motivated and accountable. He has enjoyed being able to discuss his weight and ask questions of someone knowledgeable about nutrition.
“They definitely have a positive effect with their advice. It does help with accountability, too, because you have somebody other than yourself to answer to. They always have encouraging remarks,” Kochel said.
Treinen has a message for any Veteran looking to make a change toward a healthier lifestyle: “Take it one step at a time. You’ll have a care coordinator to support you along the way.”
For Veterans and transitioning military personnel, Veterans’ preference is a chance to be recognized for your military service in the application process. It’s a tool that you can use to support your application and earn your place serving alongside your fellow Veterans at VA.
When an agency uses a category rating system, as VA does, preference candidates who have a compensable service-connected disability of 10% or more are placed at the top of the highest category on the referral list, unless that position is specifically scientific or professional at the GS-9 level or higher.
Keep in mind that the use of Veterans’ preference does not guarantee a job, and the use of the preference program is not to place a Veteran in every vacant federal job. There are always numerous applicants for VA and other federal jobs, and many ways an agency can fill a vacancy other than by hiring from a list of eligible applicants.
It’s not a cut-and-dry process though, so you’ll have to make sure you’re eligible for Veterans’ preference and that the job you want accepts your preference, too. Luckily, we’re here to help you navigate the ins and outs and make sure your application is ready for our recruiters.
Work at VA
If you’re a Veteran looking to work at VA, or a current military member looking to make the transition to a civilian career, head over to VA Careers and learn more about how you can boost your application with Veterans’ preference.
As we celebrate Veterans Day, it’s key to recognize and pay tribute to the countless women who have served in the U. S. Armed Forces. Women Veterans have made significant contributions throughout American history, often overcoming gender barriers and breaking new ground. Among these remarkable women is Donna-Mae Smith, the first woman bugler in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC).
Women Veterans’ contributions
Women played a vital role in the military since the beginning of our nation’s history. However, their contributions went overlooked, undervalued and often left out of history books. It was only in recent decades that womens’ roles in the armed forces grew significantly, opening them to serve in combat positions. Women Veterans have served as pilots, nurses, intelligence officers, engineers, rangers and various other capacities, demonstrating their dedication and capability in defending our country.
A Day of Remembrance and Gratitude
Veterans Day is a time to honor all Veterans who have served in the military, both past and present. It is a day to express gratitude for their service, sacrifice and unwavering commitment to protecting our nation’s values and freedoms. On this day, we remember the bravery and resilience of women Veterans who have contributed to the defense of our country and paved the way for future generations of women warriors.
Trailblazer, Sergeant Donna-Mae Smith
This year’s VA Veterans Day poster is a beautiful reflection of a male bugler. Did you know that we’ve also had women buglers?
Sergeant Donna-Mae Smith was the first woman bugler. Her historic role in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) represents a significant milestone. When the WAAC was established during World War II, it was intended to recruit women into non-combat roles, freeing up men for front-line duty. Despite resistance and skepticism, she pursued her dream of becoming a bugler, which had been a male-dominated role. Her story is one of women having to stand taller, dig deeper and be stronger in the face of adversity to be acknowledged and accepted.
“She broke ground for a lot of women not only to join the military but to be proud of who they are as women Veterans,” she told TAPSBUGLAR in an interview.
Inspiration and Empowerment
The impact of Donna-Mae Smith’s accomplishments extends far beyond her own personal journey. Her story serves as an inspiration to women who want to serve in the military, proving that they can excel in any role. By defying expectations and pursuing her passion, she empowers other women to follow their dreams and serve their nation through the armed forces in ways that were once unimaginable.
Honoring Women Veterans
As we commemorate Veterans Day, let us remember and honor all of the brave women Veterans who have selflessly served our country. Their contributions have been invaluable, and their sacrifices deserve our utmost respect and gratitude.
Honor
This Veterans Month, and always, we thank you for your dedication and commitment to our country. VA proudly serves all Veterans. VA wants women Veterans to know: You belong at VA. We continue to improve our services to ensure you receive the best care to #BringWomenVeteransHome2VA.
Call or text 1-855-VA-WOMEN to learn more about the comprehensive, gender-specific health care available to you. You served our country, now access the benefits that you earned and deserve.
Raymond Weeks of Birmingham, Alabama, organized an Armistice Day parade for that city on Nov. 11, 1947, to honor Veterans for their loyal service. Later, U.S. Representative Edward H. Rees of Kansas proposed legislation changing the name of Armistice Day to Veterans Day, to honor all Veterans who have served America.
In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill proclaiming Nov. 11 as Veterans Day and called upon Americans everywhere to re-dedicate themselves to the cause of peace. He issued a presidential order directing the head of the then-known Veterans Administration (now the Department of Veterans Affairs) to form a Veterans Day National Committee to organize and oversee the national observance of Veterans Day.
In 1968, Congress moved Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October. However, it became apparent that the date Nov. 11—the end of World War I—was historically significant to many Americans. As a result, Congress formally returned the observance of Veterans Day to its traditional date in 1978.
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
The Veterans Day National Ceremony is held each year on Nov. 11 at Arlington National Cemetery. At 11 a.m., a color guard made up of members from each branch of the military renders honors to America’s war dead during a tradition-rich ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The president or his representative places a wreath at the tomb and a bugler sounds taps. The balance of the ceremony, including a parade of flags by numerous Veteran Service Organizations, takes place inside the Memorial Amphitheater, next to the tomb.
Each year, there is a competition to design the Veterans Day poster. This year, there were more than 60 entries from people ranging from school-aged children to graphic designers with decades of experience. When all ballots were tallied, “The Bugler” by Gene Russell, was selected. Russell is a service-connected disabled Army Infantry Veteran and VA employee.
Here are links to some Veterans Day events around the country.
Edward Hines Jr. VA’s Prosthetic and Orthotic Lab is the first choice for many area amputee Veterans. Just ask James Ritchie, pictured above.
The 73-year-old Army Veteran is being fitted for a new robotic limb after losing the lower half of his left arm 51 years ago in an industrial accident.
Ritchie is one of many Veterans treated at the Hines lab, one of VA’s largest prosthetics services specializing in orthopedic, neurologic, vascular, geriatric, traumatic and general systemic conditions.
But the suburban Chicago medical center was not always the first choice for many Veterans. “When I first started here, roughly 50% of Veterans chose to be seen in the private sector versus at Hines,” said Erik Lindholm, advanced practitioner. “Now we have between 85% to 90% of Veterans coming to Hines for their orthotic and prosthetic needs.”
Over his seven-year tenure, Lindholm said at first no more than two upper limb fittings were occurring at the same time. Now, clinicians are currently fitting ten Veterans simultaneously for upper extremity prostheses.
Joel Heuring, prosthetics chief, credits his 12-person team’s diverse experiences and specialties for the transformation, including certified prosthetists, orthotists, a pedorthist, three residents and a health technician. “With the clinical team we have, there is not much that we cannot handle orthotically or prosthetically,” Heuring said.
“It happened so I could give others hope.”
After years of failed prosthetics in the private sector, Ritchie turned to Hines VA and certified prosthetics orthotist Lea Richer to design a prosthetic arm that could return some of the function he lost decades earlier.
Under Richer’s guidance, Ritchie is learning to function with his new limb with up to four hours of daily training. Ritchie hopes his efforts will aid others. “I experienced depression initially. But I know it happened so I could help others and give them hope,” he said.
Ritchie does this is by feeding people experiencing homelessness in Chicago where they frequently ask him about his prosthetic arm. For him, it is a way to not only serve others and remove stigmas about artificial limbs but also share his VA experience. “It is a blessing that VA is willing to give me a helping hand,” he added.
VA’s universal screening program indicates approximately one in three women and one in 50 men report experiencing military sexual trauma (MST). The National Institute of Health reports continued concerns about the persistence of MST and sexual orientation discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer identities (LGBTQ+) service members.
MST includes sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic or intimate partner violence. Among Veterans, MST is associated with a wide range of mental and physical health conditions that can negatively affect many aspects of their lives. To reduce these burdens on Veterans, families, survivors, caregivers and VA employees, VA has deepened its commitment to ending MST across its network.
VA integrated this pledge in onboarding, training and outreach materials. As of December 2022, more than 300,000 Veterans, VA employees and community partners publicly declared their promise to never commit, excuse or stay silent about sexual harassment. Dr. Shereef Elnahal, under secretary for Health, took the White Ribbon VA pledge during his swearing-in ceremony on July 25, 2022.
“It is simply the right thing to do.”
“White Ribbon VA is a call to action that unifies VA employees, Veterans and our community partners to never commit, excuse or remain silent again about sexual harassment, sexual assault or domestic violence against others,” said Lelia Jackson, VA director of the Assault and Harassment Prevention. “It is simply the right thing to do.”
“HAP is committed to facilitating partnerships and initiatives that foster equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging of all Veterans,” said Chien Chen, HAP chief officer and nurse executive. “Together, with the community, we can advocate for the needs of our Veterans in addressing sexual harassment, sexual assault and domestic violence.”
How you can pledge, too
Individuals are invited to pledge their commitment at White Ribbon VA Pledge. Pledging can be done through various channels: Veterans, VA employees and community partners can complete the pledge online, via social media or during live audience events. VA employees can also document their commitment through the VA Talent Management System module titled “White Ribbon VA: What it Means for Our VA Community.” This multi-faceted approach ensures that individuals can easily make their commitment known and actively participate in the campaign, fostering a culture of respect and safety within the VA community.
Although eliminating MST is a complex and ongoing process, VA is committed to creating a culture of respect and psychological safety. The VA mental health website provides resources and support related to MST and VA services, including MST brochures and fact sheets.
There are videos on MST, its impact on survivors and available VA services. Make the Connection is an online resource designed to connect Veterans and their communities with valuable information, resources and solutions about issues affecting their lives. The website offers Veterans stories about recovery from MST and provides additional resources and support. MST Coordinators at VA health care facilities are prepared to provide guidance tailored to the needs of those seeking assistance.
For more information about HAP, visit https://www.va.gov/HEALTHPARTNERSHIPS/index.asp.
This November for Veterans Month, the National Cemetery Administration is embarking on the largest expansion of the number of Veterans’ pages for its award-winning website, the Veterans Legacy Memorial, since its inception in May 2019. By adding nearly 5 million pages of Veterans interred in private and other non-VA cemeteries who received a NCA-provided headstone, marker or medallion, VLM will host nearly 10 million total Veteran pages.
First launched in 2019, VLM is an interactive online platform comprised of more than 4.85 million individual Veteran profile pages. These pages display military information (service branch, rank, war period, decorations) and resting place details (cemetery name, clickable map, gravesite, interment date), and it allows family members, friends and others to upload a variety of content. People can submit tributes, biographies, photos and documents; create a word cloud that describes a Veteran, and develop a timeline of military and personal achievements. To date, more than 73,000 pieces of content live forever on Veteran pages.
Veterans laid to rest since the VA marker ordering database was created in 1996 are part of the expansion that includes:
More than 80,000 additional pages from interments in state, tribal and territory Veteran cemeteries
More than 4,000 pages from interments in 86 foreign countries
More than 1,000 additional pages from interments in National Park Service-managed cemeteries.
The NCA marker-ordering system automatically generates a VLM page when a Veteran’s eligibility has been confirmed and the order placed by NCA staff.
New VLM pages include:
Charity Adams Earley, commander of the 6888 Central Postal Directory Battalion from WWII, recipients of the Congressional Gold Medal in 2022, interred at Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum in Dayton, Ohio. https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/CHARITYADAMSEARLEY/53251D
Marie Edmee LeRoux Sebastien, member of the U.S. Army Signal Corps Telephone Operators “Hello Girls” from WWI, interred at Fort Lincoln Cemetery in Brentwood, Maryland. Until recently, she was buried in an unmarked grave. https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/MEDMEELEROUXSEBASTIEN/559F47
Arthur Raymond Lewis, U.S. Merchant Marine from WWII, is interred at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. Lewis died at sea aboard the S.S. Steel Vendor in the Gulf of Tadjoura. https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/ARTHURRAYMONDLEWIS/5000D6
David Crockett served as a first lieutenant in Headquarters Company, 355th Labor Battalion, Quartermaster Corps, United States Army. Crockett is interred at Gettysburg National Military Park.https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/DAVIDHCROCKETT/4B974D
Visit www.va.gov/remember, find your Veteran or choose another who has been laid to rest at a cemetery near you, and provide them a lasting memory to help keep their legacy alive.
If you served in the U.S. military between Dec. 7, 1941, and Dec. 31, 1946, a new law makes you eligible for VA health care benefits—including nursing home care—but you have to apply because VA cannot automatically enroll you.
The Cleland-Dole Act was signed into law Dec. 29, 2022. Section 101 of this law expands eligibility for VA hospital care, medical services and nursing home care for Veterans of World War II. If you served during World War II, now is the time to apply for VA health care, even if you applied before and were not approved due to your income level.
VA health care benefits
Medical care rated among the best in the United States
Immediate benefits of health care coverage
Exemption from copayments for inpatient and outpatient care
Enrollment satisfies the Affordable Care Act’s requirement to have health care coverage
No enrollment fees, monthly premiums or deductibles
Low or no out-of-pocket costs
Eligibility for VA Community Care
When enrolled in VA health care, you can use your private providers, Medicare and other health insurance to meet your care needs.
Call 800-MyVA411 (800-698-2411) to speak to a customer service representative, get answers to your questions and start the VA enrollment process. There are many ways to apply for VA benefits, depending on the type of benefit you seek.
Now is the time to enroll in VA health care benefits, even if you previously applied and were not approved.
WWII Veterans’ new eligibility for VA health care
If you served in World War II and are not currently enrolled in VA health care, this recent legislation ensures that you are now eligible for VA health care. WWII is defined as the period beginning Dec. 7, 1941, and ending Dec. 31, 1946.
Apply today, even if you applied before and your application was not approved. Income level and service length do not matter.
WWII Veterans will be at minimum in Priority Group 6. You could be in a higher priority group if you have other eligibilities. Even if you were deferred before, please consider applying again. Please note, you must apply for VA health care if you are not currently enrolled. VA cannot automatically enroll you in VA care.
This new eligibility is just one part of the Joseph Maxwell Cleland and Robert Joseph Dole Memorial Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act of 2022. This law requires VA to expand eligibility, establish pilot programs, ensure the quality of care and access to care, conduct a feasibility analysis for program expansion and other actions.
Apply today and get the VA health care benefits you earned and deserve.
VA makes another historic move to provide coverage for Parkinson’s disease as a neurobehavioral condition under its Camp Lejeune Family Member Program (CLFMP).
Family members of Veterans exposed to contaminated drinking water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. from Aug. 1, 1953, to Dec. 31, 1987, are now eligible for reimbursement of out-of-pocket health care costs associated with Parkinson’s disease.
Eligible family members can apply for assistance under the CLFMP.
CLFMP covers 15 medical illnesses or conditions, including Parkinson’s disease:
Bladder cancer
Breast cancer
Esophageal cancer
Female infertility
Hepatic steatosis
Kidney cancer
Leukemia
Lung cancer
Miscarriage
Multiple myeloma
Myelodysplastic syndromes
Neurobehavioral effects – now includes Parkinson’s disease
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Renal toxicity
Scleroderma
Addressing the Veteran community’s concern over the historic contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune has been an ongoing priority for VA. The decision to include Parkinson’s disease was supported by the result of a review by the National Academies of Sciences commissioned by VA’s Health Outcomes Military Exposures.
“Including Parkinson’s disease as a covered neurobehavioral condition is a big step toward covered care for both Veterans and their families,” said Dr. Miguel LaPuz, assistant under secretary for Health for Integrated Veteran Care. “This decision helps move the needle to get more family members assistance for those affected by the toxic water contamination.
“If you think you might be eligible, the best thing to do is apply now for assistance. If you have questions about your eligibility, submitting claims or how to get reimbursed for medical costs associated with Parkinson’s disease, contact our CLFMP coordinators at 866-372-1144 for assistance. We are ready to help.”
Visit the CLFMP page to understand who is eligible and to apply online.
What family members need to know
For family members of Veterans (spouses, children and those in utero) at the time of the toxic water contamination (Aug. 1, 1953-Dec. 31, 1987), a CLFMP representative will work with you to clarify what additional documentation may be required to fully process your eligibility.
VA may be able to cover previous medical costs for Parkinson’s disease depending on when you were first deemed eligible for the program. For more information, contact VA’s CLFMP coordinators at 866-372-1144 for assistance.
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