Two new medical studies have concluded that:

• Veterans who come home with post traumatic stress disorder are also at GREATER risk for developing heart disease;
• Children of deployed U.S. soldiers are 2.5 times MORE LIKELY to develop psychological problems than kids in the general population.

Please be aware of any symptoms or signs of trouble.  Our mission is to support Veterans and their families when they need it.  A part of that mission is helping them get the medical treatment and health services that they have been promised by our government.  Please contact us if you would like us to be of assistance.

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The VA is overwhelmed by the number of returning veterans in need of its services and programs. But there is relief in sight. If you’re a vet:

• With the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you may be eligible for benefits up to 15 years after leaving service
• The Post-9/11 GI Bill includes an annual book stipend of up to $1000
• Reservists may qualify for 100% tuition reimbursement with the Post-9/11 GI Bill
• With the Yellow Ribbon program, you may be able to attend a private university at no cost to you
• You may be able to transfer your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to your dependents
• VA has programs that can help you with your copay requirements…

Hardship — VA can eliminate future health care debt and qualify veterans for health care without copays and enrollment based on their current year income even if they were previously denied enrollment based on their household income. Medical care hardship may be appropriate if the veteran’s current year income is substantially reduced from the prior year. Personal circumstances such as loss of employment, sudden decrease in income or increases in out-of-pocket veteran or family health care expenses factor into VA’s hardship determination. Veteran’s income information will be subject to verification.

 

If your projected year income is below the Means Test Thresholds or Geographic Means Test Thresholds, you may qualify for cost-free VA medical care.

 

Repayment Plan — Veterans having a problem making copays may contact their VA health care facility to request that a repayment plan be established. If approved, the plan will result in a more affordable monthly payment by spreading their payments over a 12 month period of time. To avoid administrative charges, the veterans must establish a written payment plan within 30 days of the statement date. Veterans would need to notify their VA health care facility if they cannot make one of the monthly payments. If the veteran misses a payment and does not notify VA, the veteran will not able to use the repayment plan option again.

 

Compromise — Veterans who are unable to pay their debt in full or clear the debt in a reasonable timeframe through monthly payments, may request a compromise. A compromise means VA can accept a lesser amount of money as full settlement of the veteran’s debt. VA will consider both the current income and anticipated future income in making this determination. Most offers in compromise that are accepted must be for a lump sum payment payable in full 30 days from the date of the acceptance of the offer.

 

Waiver — VA can waive a veteran’s existing health care debt when there has been a job loss or significant decrease in income or the veteran has experienced significant expenses for funeral arrangements, veteran’s educational expenses or for medical care for the veteran or other family members. Waivers must be requested in writing within 180 days from the date of the statement on which the charge first appears. VA can also waive the Beneficiary Travel mileage reimbursement deductible for eligible veterans.

 

For additional information and qualifications for these specific assistance programs, veterans should contact their local VA Medical Center Enrollment Coordinator. Find your local medical facility with the Facilities Locator. Veterans may also contact VA Health Resource Center at 1-877-222 VETS (8387).

 

Courtesy: www1.va.gov/health/

We all know the devastating effects the battlefield has on soldiers. Beyond the physical wounds, veterans are often plagued with scars that cannot be seen – the emotional scars left by the horrors of war.

 

Unfortunately, the VA is not equipped to handle either type of injury – psychological or physical. The waiting list for treatment is so long that vets can suffer for many months without the medical care they need and deserve. And while waiting to see a doctor, they also wait for their veteran’s benefits. It’s a horrible downward spiral for brave men and women who sacrificed so much for this nation.

 

That makes our work all the more important. We aid vets who have fallen through the gaping holes in the VA system. For instance, we recently provided a grant to a Missouri Veteran who had become ill and suffered from PTSD and couldn’t work for a few months. He needed someone to reach out to him – to give him enough money to get back on his feet. We did just that. We gave him a grant so he could pay for a deposit and rent on an apartment. Because of the people who support us, we were able to support him when he needed us most.

 

We at the Disabled Veterans National Foundation thank you and remember…



Transitioning back to civilian life is never easy for veterans. Women who serve are often separated from their children, making their homecoming even more poignant.   Imagine if coming home also meant returning to an abusive husband. That’s just what happened to a recently discharged hero in Missouri.   She endured many struggles trying to provide for her young children while enduring unimaginable pain.

Following a divorce, she resorted to living in her car with her children. At the same time, she was looking for work to provide them with a better life.   She sought job placement assistance from a veteran representative at the Missouri Career Center, who contacted DVNF after learning of her situation. DVNF provided this brave veteran with a grant to allow her to pay a deposit and first month’s rent on an apartment.   Thanks to our loyal supporters, this mother was able to protect her children and herself. She continues to work with the Career Center, and her future looks much brighter as a result of DVNF’s grant.   You can be a part of a success story just like this.

James Webb waited 11 months for benefits and began living on the streets. Now he lives at his parents’ house with his son, Christian.
WASHINGTON, March 8 - Staff Sgt. Gregory L. Wilson, from the Texas National Guard, waited nearly two years for his veterans’ disability check after he was injured in Iraq. If he had been an active-duty soldier, he would have gotten more help in cutting through the red tape. Read more…