Retired Marine Died 2 Weeks Ago

[kris]

Hi Hadit;

There is a young women 44 yrs who just lost her husband (retired marine 21 yrs) to a heart attack 2 weeks ago. This marine did not have any SC problems. The deceased marine was recieving $1800 a month pension for retirement. Wendy (the wife) was told that she will not be able to collect any kind of pension from her deceased husband. Would this be correct. However Wendy and her children are allowed to keep the medical insurance.

Is there some kind of VA rep she can talk to in person instead of over the telephone.

Thank you

Kris

[jbasser]

Berta is as uaual correct. Kris, march those fine folks to the nearest SS office and take a copy of the death certificate along. She should start to draw that rather quickly.

J

[Rockhound]

If the retired Marine had HBP during service, then at the time of his discharge physical, the Marine Corps or in this case the Navy Dr's were responsible to see that he had at least an EKG run. Make sure that when she asks for his medical records, she also specifies a copy of his exit physical.

The failure alone, not giving him an EKG at his age with HBP is like giving a child a loaded gun. My father was SC for his heart condition after he had a heart attack after he was discharged from the service, and he should have had a EKG, but they didn't do one, His claim was approved on this alone, since had they done the EKG, it would have shown an underlying heart condition. also if his heart condition was noted prior to the presumptive period for such condition, he probably was intitled to SC instead of a NSC Pension.

Theirs a lot of info we don't know about that would help us narrow her options down and not be sending her in all directions hoping she will find something and then only to find out she had been looking in an intirely different direction.

[SeattleShay]

Just because the widow is 44, does not mean the veteran was anywhere near that age he could be much old and have retired years ago. We need to know his age and retirement date and just what his retirement physical said.

Unfortunately, it takes SSA awhile to work also. I hope that this vet had life insurance.