Author Archives: ron
DoD/VA CWA planning effort – chemical warfare agent exposure:
VA and the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Veterans Administration (VA) are currently engaged in a joint effort to develop long-term plans for addressing chemical warfare agents (CWA) and weaponized toxic industrial chemical exposure, including plans for medical follow-up, … Continue reading
VA mobilizes federal agencies to offer free legal services to help Veterans:
On November 5, 2018 the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) together with representatives from the departments of Labor, Justice, Defense, Homeland Security, the U.S. Navy and others, signed a joint statement aimed at improving access to free legal services … Continue reading
Veterans, military retirees will see a 2.8 percent COLA boost for 2019:
Veterans receiving disability pay and military retirees will see a 2.8 percent cost-of-living boost starting in December, their largest increase in six years. Social Security Administration officials announced that the cost-of-living adjustment for 2019 for their beneficiaries will be 2.8 … Continue reading
• VA burial benefits – burial & plot interment allowance:
Many VSO service officers receive questions regarding burial allowances from either veterans or their surviving spouse. Following is, hopefully, an answer to your questions (you may want to keep this in a secure location). VA burial allowances are flat rate … Continue reading
• VA Aid & Attendance – determining eligibility; means & evidence:
Although VA pension benefits are “means-tested” (i.e. the applicant’s income and assets are considered in determining eligibility), there was previously no specific asset limitation, and applicants were assessed on a case-by-case basis. The new rules provide a countable asset “cap” … Continue reading
Nearly 20,000 veterans subjected to unnecessary medical exams:
A Department of Veterans Affairs watchdog has discovered the agency spent about $10 million in unwarranted medical exams for military veterans, and warned another $101 million could be lost from similar procedures in the next five years. Last year, the … Continue reading
Roe Statement on the Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2018:
While Social Security benefits are automatically adjusted annually to keep pace with inflation, Congress must pass legislation every year to increase the rates of veteran disability compensation. The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2018 would increase the rates of … Continue reading
Blue Water bill hits rough seas in Senate:
Passed by the House unanimously in June, the bill hit rough waters at an August Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing. Paul Lawrence, the new VA undersecretary for benefits, said :VA strongly opposes extending Agent Orange disability benefits and health care … Continue reading
Traumatic Brain Injury update – Headache treatment:
Veterans with a history of polytrauma or traumatic brain injury commonly experience headaches. Headache management for Veterans with TBI and multiple co-morbid conditions is challenging and is best managed by an interdisciplinary team. That’s precisely what CHAMP has been doing … Continue reading
GI Bill update – VA having problems implementing Forever GI Bill:
The VA is once again experiencing growing pains while trying to implement changes to the GI Bill. A major part of the GI Bill was changed by a law passed more than 12 months ago, and despite being supposed to … Continue reading