Veteran Issues

Wendy Carr · 02-19-2014, 05:26 PM

I am a volunteer at a VA Hospital and have learned many things since I started. I am also a very active VFW member. I will soon be taking training to be able to assist veterans in the "My Healthy Vet" program.
Some of the things veterans are not told: A spouse can be compensated for taking care of their spouse monetarily. A spouse can receive compensation to help with costs of living in an assisted living facility. My Mom received $1133 a month towards her expenses. This only applies to assisted living and not a nursing home. I urge you to get documentation on everything pertaining to "agent orange" Some claims HAD to be made within 2 years of your discharge. Depending on your type of claim. In Pennsylvania a veteran that receives 100% disability from the VA will no longer have to pay real estate tax, for licenses plates, hunting and fishing licenses.
You state should have a booklet available that explains veterans benefits either at their facilities or the VA located through your state courthouses, Another valuable resource is you Service Officers through the VFW, American Legion, DAV. or any other service connected organization.
Sadly, the length of time to get a claim approved can be quite lengthy. My advice is if you haven't heard in 3 months from the VA, contact the person who filed the claim. I had a veteran that hadn't heard anything 2 years after he filed an soon found out that the service officer had never filed it. YOU MUST BE PRO-ACTIVE with your case. It took my husband 11 months to be approved. You can file the claims online but I recommend having someone that is a trained Service Officer to assist you and if need be they can expedite your claim.
If you have any questions I would be glad to help you or I can direct you to our Service Officer that is the head VSO for the VFW in the state of Pennsylvania. He is a very knowledgeable and sharp young man.

02-19-2014, 05:26 PM	#25
Wendy Carr Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 46 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Veteran Issues I am a volunteer at a VA Hospital and have learned many things since I started. I am also a very active VFW member. I will soon be taking training to be able to assist veterans in the "My Healthy Vet" program. Some of the things veterans are not told: A spouse can be compensated for taking care of their spouse monetarily. A spouse can receive compensation to help with costs of living in an assisted living facility. My Mom received $1133 a month towards her expenses. This only applies to assisted living and not a nursing home. I urge you to get documentation on everything pertaining to "agent orange" Some claims HAD to be made within 2 years of your discharge. Depending on your type of claim. In Pennsylvania a veteran that receives 100% disability from the VA will no longer have to pay real estate tax, for licenses plates, hunting and fishing licenses. You state should have a booklet available that explains veterans benefits either at their facilities or the VA located through your state courthouses, Another valuable resource is you Service Officers through the VFW, American Legion, DAV. or any other service connected organization. Sadly, the length of time to get a claim approved can be quite lengthy. My advice is if you haven't heard in 3 months from the VA, contact the person who filed the claim. I had a veteran that hadn't heard anything 2 years after he filed an soon found out that the service officer had never filed it. YOU MUST BE PRO-ACTIVE with your case. It took my husband 11 months to be approved. You can file the claims online but I recommend having someone that is a trained Service Officer to assist you and if need be they can expedite your claim. If you have any questions I would be glad to help you or I can direct you to our Service Officer that is the head VSO for the VFW in the state of Pennsylvania. He is a very knowledgeable and sharp young man.