Veteran Issues

[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

[Eddies66]

Originally Posted by 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

Had a case right here on Classracer (ChrisOK) where 92 year widow (FL) of a WWII vet had applied for a wartime pension once her husband had passed. She was living off $625 a month Social Security. 14 months waiting and no response from the determination Center (PA). I set a fire under her Congressman and the Director of the FL Veterans Affairs. She got her pension and back pay to the date of the death of her husband. Each situation will differ and I am a firm believer that the approach must also be different in each case.

I am a life-time member of DAV and they proved instrumental in my first claim in 1996 but less effective in subsequent claims.

[Eddies66]

Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Mark Begich (D-AK) will offer the amendment to S. 1982, the Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Pay Restoration Act of 2014, veterans legislation that DAV strongly supports. Their amendment is similar to their bill, S. 932, the Putting Veterans Funding First Act, which the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs approved in a bipartisan vote of 13 to 1 last November. The House Veterans’ Affairs Committee approved similar legislation (H.R. 813) unanimously last August.

VA’s medical care programs already receive advance appropriations since Congress passed, and the President signed, Public Law 111-81, the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act, in October 2009 to provide the budget a year in advance. As a result, during the recent government shutdown while many VA offices and services were closed, VA hospitals and clinics were able to provide uninterrupted health care. By contrast, the shutdown delayed, disrupted and suspended other critical services for veterans.

[FED 387]

As we get older & grayer our perspective on lotsa things change. Many of the "programs" that are in place and the benefits that the "recipients " recieve even tho not deserved but maybe "entitled" to when I look at some of this crap it makes my blood boil!!!!!!!! I served in the Army and when I went in my health was at a "certain " level when I came out of service my health was nowhere near the level that it was when I went in.

The Army had drastically changed my health situation from that beginning level , it can never return to the pre Army level no matter what anybody does. Do I think I should be compensated? YES, do I think I deserve it ? YES..do I think I am being selfish NO, I did my part ,they messed up my health, they promised me they would "help" me if I did get messed up so now its time for them to live up to their part of the deal. End of story.

What has screwed up this whole country is that certain people think they are entitled to benefits even tho not earned they feel they deserve. How they got this mindset is beyond me but it p-sses me off to no end. Certain Social Security, unemployment and work related disability benefits are something that just makes me madder than hell. But that's a whole other dilemma!!!

What needs to change is the meaning of the words "entitlement" and "deserved" and how they are used. It seems that they are used interchangebly. SS we paid into ,at a certain time if certain conditions have been met its time to start paying back the retirement money. If you did not pay into SS at all or very little you should not be "entitled" to a higher amount than what you DESERVE. But along the way they have changed the rules so now if you have a pulse you can apply and get it. Thats wrong plain wrong. Thats why the system is in trouble. But I digress.


Keep us all informed of the many unknown benefits available to Veterans

[Eddies66]

"To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan" (Abraham Lincoln): the Department of Veterans Affairs polytrauma system of care.


Keep the Promise: http://www.military.com/veterans-day...r-promise.html

[Greg Reimer 7376]

Eddie--Thanks for the work you have put into this. Vets need to stick together on this and not count on support from the current batch of politicians, although enough uprising does produce results. Your help and efforts on behalf of the Wounded Warrior projects have been very appreciated for this very worthwhile project.It was great visiting with you at the Winternationals last week, hope to see you at Irwindale.

[Eddies66]

Spent an hour with an Assemblywomen, who is the Chair for the CA Veteran Affairs Committee, today discussing the establishment of a California Transition Assistance Program (CAL Tap) that will address the placement of transitioning Vets into the trades via the apprenticeship programs of the trades. This will include Wounded Warriors. Feel very positive that we will get an endorsement for grant money to make this happen.