Veteran Issues

[Eddies66]

Originally Posted by FED 387

ED-----Mine is a Dept of Veterans Affairs card I got it at Lovell Health Center (VA Hospital) Great Lakes Navy Base it is a white plastic card with my photo on it and underneath the photo it has SERVICE CONNECTED--by the way I am 30%---it has a sort of waving Am flag across the left 2/3rds of the front and on the back it has some phone numbers and a barcode they scan when I use a VA facility---Dick

I am at 50% with a claim pending and it is just a plain white card. But I do have a retiree card. Thanks for the info.

If anyone has a service-connected disability be sure to check with your State Vet Affairs. Some States have tuition waivers for your kids college, reduced rates on fishing and hunting license, reduced or free entry into States Parks. National Parks are free to disabled vets.

[FED 387]

ED --- the next time ya go to the VA hospital health care unit---- (cannot be one of those small clinics(---- ask where the clerk is you want to get a photo ID--- they take your pic right there and it comes in the mail in about a week--- mine is about the same size as a drivers license--- to save you a trip over to the healthcare center you might want to call to make sure they can do it otherwise you probably can find out where you need to go to get one.--Dick

REGARDING DISCOUNTS---- just ask any merchant, lodging place,restaurant,CELL PHONES CURRENTLY ABOUT 15% whatever it can't hurt--- lotsa places give active military/veteran/disabled veteran discountsm they give them to the spouse too sometimes you dont even have to be present at the time of purchase Online can be a problem cuz they want to see that ID --- they are out there--MANY TIMES YOU JUST HAVE TO ASK!!!! all they can say is NO

[Eddies66]

Originally Posted by FED 387

ED --- the next time ya go to the VA hospital health care unit---- (cannot be one of those small clinics(---- ask where the clerk is you want to get a photo ID--- they take your pic right there and it comes in the mail in about a week--- mine is about the same size as a drivers license--- to save you a trip over to the healthcare center you might want to call to make sure they can do it otherwise you probably can find out where you need to go to get one.--Dick

REGARDING DISCOUNTS---- just ask any merchant, lodging place,restaurant,CELL PHONES CURRENTLY ABOUT 15% whatever it can't hurt--- lotsa places give active military/veteran/disabled veteran discountsm they give them to the spouse too sometimes you dont even have to be present at the time of purchase Online can be a problem cuz they want to see that ID --- they are out there--MANY TIMES YOU JUST HAVE TO ASK!!!! all they can say is NO

Dick, Thank you for the info.

[SStockDart]

I filed a claim through the VFW in mid December. I have not heard anything yet, but, I understand that I should not expect to hear anything for about 125 days....Does this sound right?

[FED 387]

Gary--- what kinda claim??? and with who the VA??? not being nosy just trying to get a little info to give ya a heads up on waiting times at least my experience--Dick

[SStockDart]

A disability claim. The VFW filed it with the VA. I have not had an agent orange physical (or what ever it is called)....yet...Claim is for Ischemic Heart Disease, and others that the VFW recommended.

In Phoenix, the first Wednesday of each month, veterans get 10% off their grocery bill. Obviously, we usually do our "heavy" grocery shopping then. Also, using a 15% discount on our T-Mobile service.

[FED 387]

OK Gary--- just to give you a heads up on a time line and how this all works---first the VA will send you a form letter saying that they got your claim and they are working on it. about 6 months from then they will send you another form letter saying that due to the backlog they are still working on it. During this time they will have gotten your complete medical records and hopefully they will have been scouring over them(ya right). Anyway they will in time eventually send the records to their medical review board to look at and make some kind of a determination as to wether you qualify or not. If you do qualify they will give your case a rating as a percentage of disability from 10-100%. Ten is the lowest 100 being the highest. Not sure why you are disabled but if you are missing any limbs or eyes you will be at least 50% to totally disabled which is 100%.the average is about 20-30%
The reason there is such a tremendous backlog is that guys that were in the First Gulf War are now able to apply for benefits from things as PTS(post traumatic syndrome) and chemical warfare exposure and there are about 800,000 people that need to be dealt with. We also have all the people from Iraq/Afghanistan that are applying for benefits. Being optimistic it will probably take you at least 24 months to get your claim approved could be quicker maybe even longer. Do not worry if your claim is approved and you get benefits you will be paid a lump some from the date you applied not the date you are approved. You will get a lump sum payment for all those back benefits!!!! If you are married you get more money than being single, if you have children under I believe 19 or so you will get additional money---THIS MONEYI IS EXEMPT FROM ALL INCOME TAXES BOTH FEDERAL AND STATE!!! but you can claim it as income when applying for credit like car loans, mortgages and others---Just be patient this will take some time. You might want to have the VFW make inquiries every so often as to the status of your claim. Maybe every 4 months or so. THEY WORK REAL SLOOOOOOOOOOOW at the VA so don't expect this to be resolved quickly..Dick Ullrich FED 387

[Eddies66]

Originally Posted by SStockDart

I filed a claim through the VFW in mid December. I have not heard anything yet, but, I understand that I should not expect to hear anything for about 125 days....Does this sound right?

Gary, I spoke with my DAV rep and was told 12 to 24 months from the San Diego VA. If this gets out of hand, let's make a move on the office of the Dept of Vet Affairs (AZ) and your Congressmen. All Congressional inquiries must be answered within 72 hours by the agency.

[FED 387]

Guys I would not contact the Congressman unless absolutely necessary they tend to F things up---I went thru the DAV to get mine---be patient there is nothing anybody can do to speed up the process I waited 27 months to get mine

[FED 387]

Gary --one thing if you were on the ground in Nam you automatically are considered exposed to Agent Orange---not sure if you have children but if you do and they have any problems like birth defects etc. I would check into it and see if you(agent orange exposure) had anything to do with it. I understand you can get a FREE complete physical if you have been exposed to the Agent and you then go into a AGENT ORANGE registry database better check into that... Not sure where you live but I see Arizona and the VA has facilities in Phoenix, Tucson & that you might want to contact them regarding your medical condition---Prostrate cancer treatment is covered as a side effect of AO