$389,475 - In Retroactive Department Of Veterans Affairs Benefits

[carlie]

"CLINTON — For a 66-year-old Vietnam veteran, the check he received Saturday was a long-overdue thank-you for his military service,

He received $389,475 in retroactive Department of Veterans Affairs benefits, Anderson County Veterans Service Officer Leon G. Jaquet said.

Jaquet told county commissioners about the incident Tuesday during his update on benefits local veterans have received."

Full article:

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/jan/17/anderson-county-veteran-gets-back-payment-for/

[Philip Rogers]

To the best of my knowledge, anyone can write the VA, SSA, etc., and request, under the FOIA, how much we are being paid by them and they must release that info. We have the right to know where our money is being spent. So, if you want to know how much your neighbor is getting from the government, all you need do is ask. This goes for food stamps, welfare, medicaid, etc, etc, etc..

pr

I think it's great he finaly received his claimed award, but is it really a good idea to publish his name, dollar amount, etc??? Is our names and rates of disability free for public release??? I'd just worry for his safety. People come out of the woodwork when things like this are published.

[justrluk]

just,

This was for a news article so I'm sure they had him sign off to list his

personal info in the article.

This is not general info for the public unless for some reason such as this,

we allow it to be.

Maybe we should write him a letter saying we need some financial help because

our mama's - aunt's - cousin's - sister, needs an emergency kidney transplant : -)

No doubt! Could use a little help getting my bathroom fixed!

[john999]

I read about a WWII vet who fought in France and Germany. He suffered severe cold weather injuries. He put in a claim back in 1946 I think. He was denied because his records were lost. He suffered for over 60 years. Finally at age 93 he was granted benefits. I don't think the benefits were retro, however. This is the way the VA and DOD treat the "Greatest Generation". Think about how they treat us.

[broncovet]

PR

Probably not. There is an awkward "balance" between privacy laws and FOIA. RO decisions are not public. While BVA decisions are public, I can tell an attorney my "case number" and he can look it up..its not searchable on my name. Notice BVA decisions that are public use the term "the Veteran" and do not include name and SSN. This is mostly for attorneys to research case law.

I dont think the VA would disclose another Vets retro, medical history, or any thing else. When you calil the 800 number they do a verification, usually by asking the dates and branch of service. Ditto for IRIS.

This Veteran likely allowed his retro amount to be published...whether or not this was a good idea probably remains to be seen. He may regret allowing this to be published already.

According to the VBM, some CAVC cases are NOT made public. I dont know who decides whether they are public or not, I am speculating if there are "sensitive issues" such as MST, they dont publish the CAVC case.

[60-man]

According to the article they did not give out the vets name, only the amount of the retro payment.

[john999]

VSO's should push VA to pay interest on these awards. The poor vet waits maybe 15 or 20 years for an award suffering all the while and gets nothing but what he should have gotten in the first place. The VA has every motivation to delay these awards forever. Does the VA charge interest if they find that you owe them money rare as that is? The VA hounded me for $200 back in the 1970's like you would not believe. They made a mistake in my G.I. Bill. I beat the payback, but it was an ordeal and I was dirt poor.