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Vietnam Veteran?

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deltaj

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  • HadIt.com Elder

Here's the situation folks. Last week my husband, who has a protected 100% rating for a service connected mental condition, was diagnosed with diabetes. He is not insulin dependent yet. Unfortunately, his DD214 doesn't show service in Vietnam. Furthermore, his list of medals from the National Personnel Records Center doesn't show anything about it. I believe he is telling the truth because he has nightmares about combat. He was in First Experimental Regiment which later shipped out as First Cavalry during the Vietnam War. He rarely discusses his Vietnam service because his records don't show he was there and he is embarrassed by this. He tells me that in about 1962 he was sent to Vietnam with a Special Operations Group where he did one combat mission there. He got stabbed in combat and woke up in a hospital. He doesn't know what hospital he was in. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I could prove he is a Vietnam veteran? Furthermore, there was a letter sent to VARO in 1982 by a special investigator for a county in California concerning the fact that neighbors of this veteran [who has a mental disability] had stated this veteran was "healthy as a horse and our taxes pay for his leisure." The letter inquired whether there was an annual evaluation for this veteran since he was disabled for welfare purposes but was receiving periodic unemployment benefits. Anyway the letter had the notation NAM veteran in a circle and the word NAM was lined through. This 1982 notation leads me to believe that V.A. used to have evidence that he was a Vietnam veteran but shredded the evidence. The scratched out notation NAM reminds me of a recent court case Cushman v. Shinseki where V.A. altered a medical record.

Any suggestions? I know that when my husband dies I will be entitled to DIC under 38 U.S.C. 1318 but service connecting his death could be useful.

Edited by deltaj
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  • HadIt.com Elder

In the late 1950's and early 1960's, some military personnel were sent to Vietnam. This duty was usually called TDY, and was for a limited time. You didn't have to be SF or with a SOG. Some guys were mechanics, technicians, etc. If he was wounded, he would probably have been sent to Clark AFB. Philippines. I remember the story of the bus bombings and the wounding of U.S. service members in RVN,1959.

"it shall be remembered"...

"We few"

"We happy few"

************************

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Delta maybe he should request his records directly from NARA-I know for a fact that they often say the ST Louis fire stuff and it is sometimes just plain BS.

If he does die from DMII contributing to death-then with proof of Vietnam service -you and your daughter would get new Chapter 35 Eligibility awards.

My original Chap 35 award ran out 4 years ago and I paid for rest of degree myself. My daughter still had time on her award.

I sent my recent SC death AO award directly to VA Educational Department as the VA still had not done this since April and in 4 weeks they sent me the new eligibility award-I could pick May 13, 2009 to start the ten years under the new award or date I started college ( Feb 2003 )or any date in between.

My daughter hasn't gotten anything yet from VA Education Dept so I have to send her the award letter and she has to write to them herself.

This is important stuff to know-

Chapter 35 DEA benefits to spouse and children due to 100% P & T can be re determined at the death of the veteran-if service connection caused or contributed to their death.

I wasn't sure how this really worked but I know now-

the VA Educational Dept needs copy of the SC death award letter and, as I found out- it is best to deal directly with them and not wait for the VARO to decide on these benefits.

Somehow in less then one month Chap 35 sent me some of the college tuition they owe me-

with a letter saying to get in touch with my college for a VA form they have to fill out for the rest of what they owe.I was shocked that this went so fast.(Then again I didnt wait for VA Regional office -who should have formally mentioned the new DEA award in the award letter for SC death.Maybe they thought I was so stupid I wouldn't care or even ask for it.

I hope NO vet dies but if your husband is like mine was and how many vets are--- they think of their spouses and children's future after they are gone.And often the VA wont tell survivors what they are eligible for.

Delta maybe he should request his records directly from NARA-I know for a fact that they often say the ST Louis fire stuff and it is sometimes just plain BS.

If he does die from DMII contributing to death-then with proof of Vietnam service -you and your daughter would get new Chapter 35 Eligibility awards.

My original Chap 35 award ran out 4 years ago and I paid for rest of degree myself. My daughter still had time on her award.

I sent my recent SC death AO award directly to VA Educational Department as the VA still had not done this since April and in 4 weeks they sent me the new eligibility award-I could pick May 13, 2009 to start the ten years under the new award or date I started college ( Feb 2003 )or any date in between.

My daughter hasn't gotten anything yet from VA Education Dept so I have to send her the award letter and she has to write to them herself.

This is important stuff to know-

Chapter 35 DEA benefits to spouse and children due to 100% P & T can be re determined at the death of the veteran-if service connection caused or contributed to their death.

I wasn't sure how this really worked but I know now-

the VA Educational Dept needs copy of the SC death award letter and, as I found out- it is best to deal directly with them and not wait for the VARO to decide on these benefits.

Somehow in less then one month Chap 35 sent me some of the college tuition they owe me-

with a letter saying to get in touch with my college for a VA form they have to fill out for the rest of what they owe.I was shocked that this went so fast.(Then again I didnt wait for VA -who should have formally mentioned the new DEA award in the award letter for SC death.Maybe they thought I was so stupid I wouldn't care or even ask for it.

I hope NO vet dies but if your husband is like mine was and how many vets are--- they think of their spouses and children's future after they are gone.And often the VA wont tell survivors what they are eligible for.

Edited by Berta

GRADUATE ! Nov 2nd 2007 American Military University !

When thousands of Americans faced annihilation in the 1800s Chief

Osceola's response to his people, the Seminoles, was

simply "They(the US Army)have guns, but so do we."

Sameo to us -They (VA) have 38 CFR ,38 USC, and M21-1- but so do we.

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