Help protect this benefit

When a veteran’s disability is rated less than a total 100% evaluation, but he or she is unable to obtain or maintain substantial gainful employment, VA regulations allow the veteran to apply for Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU). It is based on the severity of the individual veteran’s unique disability picture and its impact on the veteran’s ability to obtain and maintain substantial gainful employment. Generally, the veteran must have a single disability rated at 60% or a combined evaluation of 70% to be eligible for TDIU.  In recent years, reducing or limiting TDIU has been the focus of many Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reports as a deficit reduction measure. In December 2018, it was suggested to terminate and cutoff TDIU benefits at the age of 65, and in reports in December 2020 and December 2022, CBO recommended to restrict TDIU once a veteran reaches the age of 67. H.R. 6362, the Protecting Benefits for Disabled Veterans Act, would provide additional protections for TDIU and prohibit the VA from considering the age of the veteran or their eligibility to any retirement benefit, including Social Security, in making such determinations. DAV strongly supports H.R. 6362, as it would ensure the availability of TDIU for all veterans regardless of age or receipt of any other earned federal benefits. Consistent with DAV Resolution No. 445, DAV supports the protection of TDIU as it is not a retirement or pension program. We are calling on all DAV members and supporters to contact their elected representatives and urge them to co-sponsor and support H.R. 6362 to protect veterans and their families now and in the future from these harmful proposals. Thank you for all you do for America’s veterans and their families..
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OKC VA Hosting Community Care Tele-Town Hall

WHAT:Community Care Tele-Town Hall 
WHEN:January 11, 2024, at 11:30am-12:30pm
WHERE:Via Telephone conference call at 1-833-305-1730
WHO:Veterans with Community Care questions and concerns can call into this Virtual Tele-Town Hall and get questions answered. 
  

BACKGROUND:

The Oklahoma City VA Health Care System is inviting the OKC area Veterans to call into the Community Care Veterans Tele-Town Hall on Thursday, January 11th from, 11:30am to 12:30pm.

OKC staff, Health Care Providers and Veterans Benefits Association (VBA) will be on hand to answer questions about Community Care, Travel, VA Benefits, eligibility, Veteran programs, new virtual resources, OKC ongoing improvements and much more.

If you would like to join the call you must dial into the program on 11 January from 1130am-12:30pm by calling 1-833-305-1730 to attend.

This is a chance for Veterans to ask those questions they may have about what Veteran Affairs can do for them.

For questions about the event please contact: Carmen Daugherty at 405-416-0279.

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NORTH OKC PATIENTS CAN NOW GO TO NORTH MAY CLINIC FOR LABORATORY.

NORTH OKC PATIENTS CAN NOW GO TO NORTH MAY CLINIC FOR LABORATORY.

See below graphic for information location for primary care clinics.

Timeline

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Delayed opening for North OKC VA Clinic

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 5, 2023

Delayed opening for North OKC VA Clinic

OKLAHOMA CITY —The Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs Heath Care System is currently notifying local Veterans that the North OKC VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic will be closed between 3 to 6 months due to water damage from a broken water riser valve.

The OKC VA hospital is asking patients that had previously scheduled appointments at North OKC Clinic and are unsure of their new transitioned appointment location, please contact the VA scheduling staff at 405-456-1000, select option 2.

During this temporary closure period, Veterans medical needs are a priority and Veterans will be contacted and redirected to alternative clinic locations around the Oklahoma City metropolitan area.

For any questions or concerns about upcoming scheduled appointments, Veterans can call the Oklahoma City VA to ensure every Veteran previously scheduled at North OKC CBOC has a new rescheduled appointment location.

The OKC VA understands this is an inconvenience and wants to assure Veterans that every effort is being made to minimize the impact on their healthcare experience. They are tentatively targeting January 16, 2024, for confirmation of the new appointment locations.

The building owner is currently working diligently with the insurance company, cleaning crews and construction teams to repair the site as soon as possible.

Again, if you are unsure of your new North OKC appointment location, please contact the VA scheduling staff at 405-456-1000, select option 2.

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What is DOULA ?

Please join DAV in our support of H.R. 6331/S. 2465, the Delivering Optimally Urgent Labor Access (DOULA) for Veterans Affairs Act of 2023. This bill would establish a pilot program within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide pregnant and post-partum women veterans access to doula services in an effort to foster better child and maternal health outcomes. Pregnancy, labor and delivery, and the early days of motherhood, can be difficult in the best of circumstances, but for women veterans, they can be further complicated by physical and mental health conditions related to military service—this includes anxiety, depression, PTSD due to combat or military sexual trauma, musculoskeletal problems and neurological issues. Doulas act as advocates before, during, and after pregnancy, helping expectant and new mothers navigate their birth experience and empowering them to self-advocate for their care, which can be especially important when health care needs are profound or veterans do not have strong, established support networks. This legislation would enhance support services for pregnant women veterans by providing access to doula care within pilot facilities, which is vital as the demand for maternity care services continues to trend upward within VA due to the growing population. By establishing Doula Service Coordinators, this legislation would also help aid in the effort to coordinate care between VA and community providers. In addition, with a focus on health equity, the establishment of the pilot program would be important in addressing poorer maternal health outcomes among minority veteran groups. Consistent with DAV Resolution No. 027, to support enhanced medical services and benefits for women veterans, we support H.R. 6331/S. 2465. Please use the prepared email to contact your elected officials to request their co-sponsorship of this important legislation. Thank you for supporting DAV in the fight for enhanced care for women veterans..
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COLA Update

On June 14, 2023, the president signed into law S. 777, the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2023, which authorizes a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for veterans receiving Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation, clothing allowance, and survivors receiving dependency indemnity compensation (DIC) payments. To view Public Law 118-6, click here.

VA adjusts veterans’ monthly disability compensation amounts based on the yearly change in the cost of living as determined by the Social Security Administration (SSA). Later this year, SSA will announce the exact percentage of increase. We will inform you of the percentage when it is announced. The COLA adjustment will be effective December 2023, and will be reflected in January 2024 compensation payments.

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OKC VA providing Shawnee Veterans with mobile medical assistance 

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK. —A Mobile Medical Unit has been brought in to assist the Shawnee and surrounding community Veterans that have been affected by the April 19-20 tornado and severe weather storms.

The Mobile Medical Unit is located in the parking lot of the Shawnee VA Clinic located at 3700 North Kickapoo Avenue, Shawnee Health Plaza, Shawnee, OK.

What medical assistance is the VA providing?

Veterans can receive limited primary care, be seen as walk-in patients, and answer any questions or concerns that they may have. Again, the Shawnee VA Mobile Medical Unit will be located in the parking lot from May 1 – May 5.  Hours of operation will be 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM. 

Other services will be offered after May 5th, please stay connected with the OKC VA Facebook page for the most up-to-date information (see link below).

Oklahoma City VA Health Care System | Oklahoma City OK | Facebook

For more information about filing your FEMA claim, contact www.FEMA.gov or call
1-800-621-3362 and find out if you qualify.

If you need help rescheduling Shawnee VA appointments, please call the Shawnee VA Call Center at 405-214-1700 (option 2), OKC VA South Clinic at 405-855-6000 or the OKC VA Main Hospital at 405-456-1000.

Shawnee-area Veterans who may need other assistance can contact the OKC VA Disaster Relief Hotline at 405-456-7119.

Veterans needing non-emergency medical assistance they can contact the Tele-Express Care line at 405-456-8353.

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Masking Update

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

March 29, 2023     No. 23-14

Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System Updates Masking Policy

Effective immediately, the Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System is updating its masking requirements for Veterans, visitors, volunteers, and staff at all sites of care. We will continue to ensure the safety of our Veterans, especially those who are most vulnerable, while accommodating individual masking preferences. We will continue to monitor community spread in order to align our masking practices with CDC and VHA guidelines.

While community risk levels are low, as they are now, unmasking will be permitted in low risk outpatient and administrative areas. Masking will still be required in the following high risk areas.

  • Chemotherapy Clinics
  • Infusion Clinics
  • Emergency Department
  • Inpatient Medical/Surgical Units
  • Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit
  • Intensive Care Unit
  • Inpatient Mental Health Unit

Additionally, Veterans and their caregivers who are meeting with staff in clinical and/or administrative areas may request that VA staff wear a mask at any time.

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Remove Copays Act

House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Mark Takano (Calif.) introduced H.R. 7589, the Reduce and Eliminate Mental Health Outpatient Veteran (REMOVE) Copays Act. This bill would eliminate medical care copayments for veterans’ first three mental health visits in a calendar year.    Overcoming the stigma of seeking mental health treatment is in itself a victory. For some service-connected veterans, these copayments are a significant barrier to medically necessary care. Financial obstacles should not be another challenge or deterrent to receiving potentially life-saving mental health treatment. DAV supports this important legislation in accordance with DAV Resolution No. 022, which calls for elimination or reduction of medical care copayments for service-connected veterans and applauds Chairman Takano for his leadership in working to ensure at-risk veterans continue to seek the mental health treatment they have earned. Please contact your representative and ask them to cosponsor H.R. 7589, the REMOVE Copays Act. Thank you for participating in the DAV Commander’s Action Network.
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PACT Act FAQ

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