Category Archives: News
• 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
VA Aid & Attendance – changes to eligibility requirements:
VA has published their final rules, which will be effective 18 OCT. These rules are not statutory changes to federal laws; rather, they are administrative regulations promulgated by the VA – however, they affect the eligibility requirements for VA “wartime” … Continue reading
VA reexaminations and reductions of veterans disability benefits:
Many veterans currently receiving disability benefits often ask service officers about the possibility of getting their disability benefits reduced. The following tries to answer some of those questions: What Is a VA Reexamination? A reexamination can be a medical examination … Continue reading
Burn Pit Toxic exposure update – Petraeus states: ” It’s Time To Get Serious”:
Retired Army Gen. David Petraeus urged Congress in an interview with Fox News on 3 SEP to make good on its “sacred obligation” to support the growing number of veterans sickened by exposure to burn pits at U.S military bases … Continue reading
GI Bill transferability update – Purple Heart recipient’s exemption:
Purple Heart recipients on active duty will soon be exempt from a new policy barring troops from transferring their post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits to their dependents if they cannot commit to an additional four years of service. The policy … Continue reading