We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/speaking_of_vet.html Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:21:43 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification From the VA:VETERAN'S PENSIONS Update 01: If you are a wartime veteran with a limited income and you are no longer able to work, you may qualify for a Veterans Disability Pension or the Veterans Pension for Veterans 65 or older. Many veterans of wartime service are completely unaware of the fact that if they are 65 or older and on a limited income they may qualify for a VA Pension without being disabled. An estimated 2 million impoverished veterans and their widows are not receiving the VA pension they deserve because they do not know about it. The VA... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/speaking_of_vet.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/speaking_of_vet.html Fri, 06 Mar 2009 07:58:07 -0600
And, do so, in your case, with the knowledge that the VA has deliberately prioritized new, unrated claims over those of us who are already rated, but are now falling apart at a faster rate.

BTW - I'm a life member of the DAV... when I joined, I don't recall there being any other option, was there?]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/speaking_of_vet.html#comment-85333 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/speaking_of_vet.html#comment-85333 Sat, 07 Mar 2009 08:30:13 -0600
  I applied for an increase in disability rating in November. I am a life member of the DAV and they have a VSO overseeing my case (and many many others). In February, I got all my paperwork returned to me because they wanted me to add an additional comment in a certain section. They were only then 4 months later, getting started on my application. I was told by both the VSO and the VA Claims Officer that it routinely takes 12-18 months for a decision to be made, because of the overwhelming number of new applicants.

 I'm not saying don't do it. Just be prepared to wait.  :)
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/speaking_of_vet.html#comment-85332 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/speaking_of_vet.html#comment-85332 Sat, 07 Mar 2009 08:08:40 -0600
For vets getting older and in need of home modifications, be aware that there are grants available to help with this.  Also, if you are homebound, check on the availability of HOME-BASED PRIMARY CARE----I don't know if it is limited to my VISN, but we send the docs, nurses, social workers and everything else under the sun to the vet........

]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/speaking_of_vet.html#comment-85255 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/speaking_of_vet.html#comment-85255 Fri, 06 Mar 2009 11:36:11 -0600 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/speaking_of_vet.html#comment-85251 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/speaking_of_vet.html#comment-85251 Fri, 06 Mar 2009 11:02:03 -0600
I'm an over-65 'Nam era vet, living in the boondocks, whose only source of medical care is the VA.  Thank you for taking the time to research and provide this vital information to fellow veterans who are far less 'plugged-in' than yourself. 

Good job, kamerad.

Robert





]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/speaking_of_vet.html#comment-85250 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/speaking_of_vet.html#comment-85250 Fri, 06 Mar 2009 10:50:53 -0600
We're looking at putting Legion Employees (paid for by the National Organization) in the two Pension offices........claims are working the local guys ragged.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/speaking_of_vet.html#comment-85247 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/speaking_of_vet.html#comment-85247 Fri, 06 Mar 2009 10:32:44 -0600 Veteran's Service Officer (from whatever organization, and you don't have to be a member of the organization) to get started off correctly.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/speaking_of_vet.html#comment-85244 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/speaking_of_vet.html#comment-85244 Fri, 06 Mar 2009 09:53:00 -0600
If you've served, you earned this.  Take advantage of it.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/speaking_of_vet.html#comment-85242 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/speaking_of_vet.html#comment-85242 Fri, 06 Mar 2009 09:31:33 -0600