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Women’s Veterans Day
Did you know June 12, 2023 is Women Veterans Day, commemorating the day President Harry Truman signed the Bill enabling women to serve as permanent, regular members of U.S. Armed Forces? Prior to the enactment of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act in 1948, women serving in the military could only enlist as volunteers in clerical positions or work as nurses, and in special, temporary units such as Women’s Army Corps.
Means Test Not Required
Did you know a claim for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) does not require a financial means test? Also, the claim can be made by the veteran’s surviving spouse and dependents if the veteran died on duty, died from a service-connected disability, or had a service-connected disability rating of 100% for 10 years prior to death.
More Veterans Are Now Eligible for Benefits
Did you know the PACT Act grants permanent VA health care eligibility to millions of post-9/11 veterans who may have been exposed to toxic substances during their military service? The PACT Act adds more than 20 new presumptive service-connected conditions related to exposure to burn pits and other toxic substances for veterans who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and surrounding areas.
VBA Will Implememt More Tools
Did you know the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) is looking to accelerate its use of AI generated automation tools this summer to keep pace with its workload and break new records on the number of claims it can process in a year?
Jet Creates Sonic Boom
Did you know residents across Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia were startled June 4, 2023, when an Air National Guard F-16 fighter jet went supersonic in pursuit of an unresponsive civilian Cessna business plane, letting loose a sonic boom? The U.S. military routinely trains near the national capital region, practicing to intercept wayward aircraft and other threats along the East Coast. But those jets rarely break the sound barrier over land unless they face a real-world emergency, to prevent panic among unsuspecting residents on the ground and damage to the community around them.
VA Will Consider Seconday Condition
Did you know when a veteran receives a service-connected disability rating for a primary injury or illness, it is possible for them to receive an additional rating for a secondary condition that arises as a result of the primary condition?
100% Considerations
Did you know the VA will consider rating a veteran at 100% for a service-connected disability that causes severe depression or anxiety? The veteran may also be evaluated for a non-service-connected mental health condition that contributes to their total impairment for the consideration of 100% disability rating.
PTSD Treatment
Did you know after a traumatic event, it's normal to think, act, and feel differently than usual? Most people will start to feel better after a few weeks. However, if your symptoms last longer than a few months, are very upsetting, and disrupt your daily life, you should get help. Whether or not you have PTSD, treatment can help if thoughts and feelings from the trauma are bothering you.
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What Causes Shingles?
Did you know anyone who has had chickenpox can develop shingles? The same virus that causes chickenpox causes shingles. Shingles is a painful recurrence of the original chickenpox infection. Yet not everyone who had chickenpox will develop shingles.
Most Veterans Not Using Benefits
Did you know nearly 60% of all veterans are eligible for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care services? Yet, a new RAND study found that less than half of veterans use VA health care benefits.
Fasting No Longer Required
Did you know overnight fasting is no longer required for most blood testing at VA medical centers and outpatient clinics? Most routine blood tests, including those for managing high cholesterol and diabetes, no longer require veterans to fast overnight for the results to be accurate.
Pre-COVID Status
Did you know VA returned to pre-COVID Beneficiary Travel Self Service System standards for filing travel pay deadlines? Claims for beneficiary travel reimbursement must be submitted within 30 days of the date of the appointment; otherwise, VA will deny the claim.
Benefits Backdated
Did you know veterans who apply for PACT Act-related benefits before August 10, 2023, could have benefits backdated to August 10, 2022, the day the Bill was signed into law.
Free Gulf War Registry
Did you know VA offers eligible veterans a free Gulf War Registry health exam to find possible long-term health problems related to Gulf War service? These veterans may also be eligible for the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry.
Protecting Veterans
Did you know the primary role and relevance of veterans’ disability law is protecting the service member? After active duty service members, and most veterans lack the protection they once had in the civilian world. They find it hard to navigate the justice system and sometimes commit crimes to survive. The case worsens for veterans with total and permanent disabilities. Through veterans’ disability law, they get an umbrella that provides legal protection, making it easier for them to live as civilians.
Homeowners Assistance Program
Did you know the Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP) provides financial aid to qualifying service members who face financial loss when selling their primary homes during PCS (Permanent Change of Station) moves? This program aims to alleviate the financial stress associated with relocation.
Major Richard Star Act Approved
Did you know the House Armed Services Committee approved the Major Richard Star Act, which would ensure service members who medically retire before 20 years have full access to both military retirement pay and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability benefits?
VA Will Start Processing Your Claim
Did you know the VA will not start processing your disability claim until you submit a complete application and all required evidence? During the year you have from your intent to file, you must gather and compile the most compelling and thorough evidence possible. This may include military or personal medical files, buddy statements, service records, etc.
New Emergency Hotline
Did you know veterans and visitors to VA facilities can now report incidents of sexual harassment or assault that occur on campus by calling the Department of Veterans Affairs' 1-800-MyVA411 information line?
Gerald's Law Passed
Did you know the U.S. House of Representative passed Gerald’s Law? The bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide a burial and funeral allowance for a veteran who dies from a non-service-connected disability in a home or other setting at which the veteran was receiving VA hospice care (if such care was directly preceded by VA hospital or nursing home care).