THE VETRANS ADMINIST

THE VETRANS ADMINISTRATION... A follow up story..

Ron Thomas

A few months ago we called on all who had served their country to sign up and get their benefits. We told you it was not necessary that you served in a war time era that those benefits were yours bought and paid for by the American people to make sure that all of their Citizen Soldiers are looked after.

It’s true. I am now signed up with the VA. It took me about 4 months to get processed. However, today we learned that one of our own who was a reserve Marine and Coast Guard person, who thought they would not be eligible was accepted. They went through the process in about a week through the efforts of our local VA advocate (listed in the Newport phone book under Lincoln County VA). Another resident who had been refused but did not know why was championed at the same time by the VA advocate. He actually called Washington DC to get our resident’s claim rolling again.

Another resident visited me yesterday and said he had been refused but did not know why.. I sent him to our 30 year, Navy Marine Recon, Master Chief, Medic (RET). The Master Chief is our advocate and he is getting results for our folks.

If you were in the reserves and saw active duty you are probably eligible. Talk to the Master Chief. The time is very generous ... I think (do not know) it is as low as 90 days.
You have to have at least a general discharge no BCD or DD. You will need a copy of your DD-214. If you  don’t have it the Master Chief can help.

Those that I know who have been using the VA for sometime in the park use both the VA and Medicare and get the benefits of both.

There have been some of you that asked about this and I hope you spend a few minutes with the Master Chief and get started soon.