texasvet

Thanks Camper!! I think that for the basic DIC, Bronco is right. I have 10 more months to meet the 10 yr requirement for DIC. I’m in ok health now, but who knows when the Lord will call any of us. Thanks

Thanks Bronco, I also see that there’s an 8 year requirement here: https://www.va.gov/disability/survivor-dic-rates/#surviving-spouse-rates-if-the- Am I reading someting wrong?

Hi All, What is the timeline for DIC? Some of the VA information that I’ve seen says 8 years and some says 10 years. Anyone know? Thanks, Texasvet

I should have put the reason that my wife wants a copy of her brother's death certificate in my OP. She would like to get Gold Star Family plates to honor his memory. As far as I know, Gold Star plates in Texas don't come with any special privileges, it's just something that she has seen on vehicles through the years and she has decided to pursue getting them. texasvet

Hello All, My wife's brother was killed in Vietnam and she would like to get a copy of his Death Certificate. Her dad is still living at 94 and he does not have one, nor does he remember getting one. She contacted Ft. Sam Houston, where his gravesite is, and they had no record. She contacted Bexar county and they no record. Any advice on where I could start? Thanks, Texasvet

Thanks!!! texasvet

How do I log on to hadit.com? Nothing looks familiar. Where are all the old posts? is the old website format gone? texasvet

My mother-in-law has final stage Alzheimer's where she needs constant care and watching or she will get out of the house and wander off: once she was only wearing sandals. She can feed and dress herself, but you never know what she will eat or what she will wear. She can bathe herself if she is reminded to bathe. My 90+ year old father-in-law is retired AF with a 60% VA disability and in poor health with COPD. My wife spoke to either someone in the Veteran's Claims office or a VSO, she's not sure which, and she was sent a VA Form 21-2680, "Examination for housebound status or permanent need for regular A&A" for my MIL's doctor to fill out. All of this is in hope of getting some benefits, either financial or medical for my MIL. My MIL's Primary Care doctor examined my MIL & filled out the 21-2680, but we need guidance on Section 14, "Benefit you are applying for." The choices are SMC or SMP, but both say "survivors" and my MIL is still kicking. So, which is correct, SMP or SMC? Can someone help me or direct me to a resource? Thanks

If you have been working with a VSO, I would give them a holler. If not, find one & they will be happy to talk to you. I am fortunate in that there is a VA regional office within driving distance of where I live. When I was developing my claim, I met a very nice DAV representative that really helped me out. On a sidenote, I am 100% P&T and I have VA diagnosed sleep apnea, but nothing in my records indicate that I had it while on active duty, so I’m not pursuing it as I don’t want to rock the boat. I’m very thankful for the 100% rating and the care that the VA gave me when I needed it most. texasvet

Thanks John!!! May I ask if you are 100% P&T and are you an older vet like me? Also, have you been seeing the same therapist for 25 years? If so, that is remarkable. Till I stopped seeing mine because of Covid, he was the third therapist that I had seen. The first one told me that her specialty was not PTSD and that she was not the best one to help me So, I was assigned another one that was fresh out of college, a non-veteran, and she didn’t know jack squat. She really ticked me off when she would take phone calls during my sessions. I then asked for another therapist that specialized in PTSD and I got a great one. I’ve been with him for 10 years and It’s been a year since I’ve seen him face-to-face and he had been hinting at retiring. With that in mind, I decided there was no way that I was gonna break another therapist in. So, since I am 66 years old and 100% SC and P&T, I think that I’m OK as far as benefits go. Additionally, I have spoken several times to a priest friend of mine that has done a lot of counseling and he has helped me quite a bit. So I still have someone that I can talk to and that I can trust. God Bless, texasvet

I agree with staying with an outside doctor. After a cornea transplant, a retinal detachment and what’s called “complicated cataract surgery” where the replacement lens had to be sewn into the sulus of my eye, I can’t just have any run-of-the-mill doctor taking care of that eye. I’m already service-connected for the problems I’ve had in that eye and fortunately, my other eye does not have any bad problems. The glaucoma drops are around $10 a month, so I’ll just buy those myself. Still, my new PCP is not going the extra mile to help me like my old PCP would. Thanks, texasvet

GB, The best VA doc that I had was a DO. She got fed up with all the administrative work that had been dumped on her and she left the VA for private practice. My PCP that followed her voiced the same complaints and he left also. My new PCP seems pretty good, but when I asked him if he could refill an eyedrop prescription for me, he told me that I would have to see a VA eye doctor. I stated that my last VA doctor didn’t have a problem doing it and he told me that he didn’t work like that and that it was wrong for my prior doctor to refill my glaucoma drops since he’s not an eye doctor. We are talking simple an expensive glaucoma drops here, not some thousand dollar per month medication. My thinking on the subject is that since I see a non-VA doctor for my eye problems, why should I tie up an hour’s worth of a VA eye doctor’s time when the appointments are hard to get & another veteran can be seen that maybe doesn’t have an outside doctor. I also can’t trust that a VA doctor can see me on a moments notice 24/7 like my outside Dr. can. Thanks

Thanks GB!! I’ve continued to see my PCP since Covid started. I like the bloodwork that the VA does more than the 31-year-old doctor that I see once a year on the outside, who doesn’t know squat. What I don’t like is that he is the fourth PCP doctor that I’ve had in the last seven years. They keep retiring or moving on. I also see the VA dermatologist once a year and the VA dentist every six months. So, the only thing that I’ve put on hold is my therapist and to be honest, we’ve been at a plateau for so long on my PTSD, that the sessions seemed perfunctory at times I think that he is tired of me saying that avoidance works best for me. Still, he did help me a lot as far as understanding PTSD and why I have the panic attacks & nightmares as often as I do. Also, he’s been a good cheerleader saying that PTSD stinks, but I should look at the good things that I have a life. thanks

Thanks Hamslice, One thing that the family either doesn't know or won't say is whether the estate has been put in a "revocable" trust or an "irrevocable" trust. I was the executor of my brother's estate and a large part of his trusts were "revocable" trusts because he didn't think that he was going to die any time soon and he wanted full access to his small fortune. When he passed unexpectedly, the trust accounts stayed outside of the will and his kids simply took possession of the money. texasvet

Thanks Berta, We visited the in-laws a couple of weeks ago and my wife approached the grandson and he won’t say much except “talk to grandpa. So, my wife asked her dad and he basically told her not to worry about anything now & that it’s all taken care of. The grandson is smart enough to know that all is in the trust. We just pray that my mother-in-law gets the care that she needs. My mother-in-law‘s Alzheimer’s is quickly getting worse, so I’m expecting this to all either resolve or blow up within the next year. We’ve done all that we can do at this point. thanks

Hello All, Update on my in-law's situation: My wife and I have been basically told that everything that my in-laws own has been put in a trust with their favorite grandson. He will assume control over everything when they pass. From my experience as an executor for my brother, all of the trust is outside of a will, which I don't believe exists, and it will be up to that grandson to pay for their expenses for the next few years of their lives. Then, he will probably never have to work again. We tried our best, but my wife's siblings and the grandson say that they have everything covered. So, for now, we have stepped away and hopefully things will run smoothly until their demise. Thanks, Texasvet

Hello All, It's been a while since I got on Hadit and I want to again thank everyone for their answers to my question about any requirement to continue seeing my VA therapist. A couple of months ago, I remembered that through my wife's job, she knew a young man that went to work for the VA. I contacted him and he was nice enough to answer my question about whether or not I had to continue seeing a VA therapist for my PTSD. He told me that since I was rated at 100% P&T, there was no requirement to continue therapy with a VA therapist. He said that it was my choice whether or not I saw a VA therapist or an outside therapist or no therapist at all, my choice. So for now, I'm going to continue not seeing anyone and use the coping skills that work best for me, namely "avoidance." If I end up in a "dark hole" there is always the VA Crisis Line that I've used a few times. Thanks, Texasvet

Thanks Buck, I’ve told my VA therapist many times that I feel guilty taking up his time, because I know that younger guys that are suffering from PTSD need help. I’ve told him that after 10 years of therapy, the best thing that I can say is that I understand PTSD now and how/why it changed my life. So in that respect, therapy has helped me. It has not stopped the panic attacks or the nightmares or feeling of guilt & remorse whatsoever. And to be honest, I worry that one day my wife will say that she’s had enough. That’s why I hide things as much as possible from her. As I’ve told my therapist many times, “You can’t unring a bell.” Thanks, texasvet

Thanks Marine Corp, I’m 100% P&T and 66 years old. My award letter says “No examinations will be scheduled in the future for your Permanent and Total disability.” A family friend is a VSO. I’d like to ask his opinion, but I really don’t want anyone to know about my problems. I live in constant fear that my children will learn about my PTSD and panic attacks and limit my time with my grandchildren. Thanks, texasvet

Hello broncovet, I’ve been having a particularly bad day and I decided to re-read my posts for some enouragement. It looks like I did not thank you for your answer about my benefits so “thank you.” I greatly appreciate your’s and others replies. I haven’t seen my therapist since Covid started, but interestingly enough, I received a VA letter saying that they have been trying to get a hold of me to schedule a video conference. What’s interesting is that they have my cell phone number and they have never called me nor have they sent me a letter. For the time being, I’m going to ignore the letter i’m disappointed with my longtime VA therapist, because both me and my wife believe that he should’ve called me a long time ago to check on me given that we had to stop face-to-face meetings. He did that once when he knew that some events that were happening in our nation would be triggering me. I feel that if I sit down in front of my therapist now I’ll cry for a solid hour with all the difficulties that Covid has brought to all of us and to our family. For one, I’m tired of being lied to about all of it. Wear a mask, don’t wear a mask, wear a mask, it’s all insane. I’ve never seen so many people in my life worry about dying when there’s a 99% plus survival rate. There are worse things than dying like losing your job, as friends of mine have & watching your families fall apart. The young couple across the street for me that I’ve known for many, many years are getting a divorce & Covid insanity has played a part My wife is a saint for sticking with me through all of this!!! Thanks, texasvet

Thanks Berta, My wife and I live 3 hours away and we plan on seeing him in a few weeks. I’ll update everyone after that meeting, if he allows it to take place. My wife says that if he win’t talk about it, she’s going to be really ticked. I’ve seen her mad. It’s not pretty. texasvet

Hi All, my wife just told me that her 91 year old father was indeed stationed in Korea for a year. Are there any presumptive diseases that are associated with time served in Korea? As I said my OP, my father-in-law has bladder cancer & COPD. Thanks, Texasvet

Thanks Berta, I sure hope that my Father-in-Law is willing to open up to me. Like I said, he is a very private person. Texasvet

Thanks to all. Yes, I’ve got a lot of stuff to do and there’s a big IF involved. My father-in-law is a very private person and I’m not certain that he will sit down with any of his family or myself and let us see what all of his finances are. I believe he has a will, but it is the basic will that was drawn up when he was in the Air Force many, many years ago. I was recently the executor of my older brother’s estate and even though he thought that his will spelled everything out to make my job simple, it was an absolute mess. It took nine months of my time & $17,000 in attorney fees to settle his estate. He had 26 different financial instruments, some were in the will, some were not. All it takes is one unhappy beneficiary to screw things up and unfortunately I had one. He was the reason that the attorney fee was so high, but everything finally was done to my brothers wishes. As far as my text goes, I was having Internet connectivity issues so I used the notepad on my iPhone to dictate my text and then pasted it over to hadit. It looks like it appeared much larger, which I like since I need reading glasses. . Thanks Texasvet

Hello All, My 91-year-old father-in-law is getting weaker by the day with all kinds of medical problems from COPD to bladder cancer to just being old. I’m pretty certain that he told me years ago that he is 40% compensated for hearing loss due to his 20+ year career spent as a jet engine mechanic in the Air Force. His 81-year-old wife, that he’s been married to for 60+ years, is in the middle stages of Alzheimer’s and I’m going to make an effort to see if I can get him to sit down with me and go over his VA benefits and his finances and see if he has a will with an executor assigned. I’ve got a number of questions and I’m sure more will come up as the months pass by. Here goes: 1. Since he has Tri-Care how are his wife’s health benefits affected when he passes? 2. Will Tri-Care pay any benefits if she moves into a 24/7 Alzheimer’s care facility. 3. Will Tri-Care pay for any Alzheimer care facility costs? 4. She gets a few hundred dollars a month from Social Security and since her husband gets a bigger Social Security check, will she be entitled to part of it? 5. Will her or his Social Security pay any additional for Alzheimer’s care? 6. Since he has had his VA rating for over 10 years, will she be able to collect any DIC monthly benefit when he dies? 7. At this point, I don’t know if either one of them has Medicare insurance. If they do, does that help or if they don’t, does that help? Again, I’m going to try and meet with him in the next month or so and start formulating a game plan because when I saw him a few days ago, he told me he did not know what was going to happen to his wife should he die first. I’d like to get some thing in the works to ease his mind. He has enough to worry about. Thanks, Texasvet