For Your Benefit
For and about Hawaii's military
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VA seeks out veterans who need care
Question: Is the VA actually calling ill or injured veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq to see if they had contacted the VA?
Answer: The VA has completed making calls to veterans identified as being ill or injured from serving in Iraq or Afghanistan. The emphasis is now on calling more than 500,000 veterans who have been discharged from active duty but have not contacted VA for health care. All potentially sick or injured veterans on the VA's list received an offer to appoint a care manager to work with them.
In a new phase, already under way, veterans who have not accessed health care from VA will be called and informed of the benefits and services available to them. Additionally, military personnel received information about VA benefits when they left active duty, and the VA sent each veteran a letter with this information after their discharge. For five years after their discharge from the military, these combat veterans have special access to VA health care, including screening for signs of post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.
Q: Does the Traumatic Stress Recovery Program offer after-clinic hours especially for our younger and most recent veterans who may be in school or at work?
A: Yes. The program is offering an after-hour clinic on Tuesdays from 1600-1800. For additional information on the Traumatic Stress Recovery Program call the VA Outpatient Clinic at 433-0600.
If you have questions about your benefits as a veteran, call Fred Ballard at the Veterans Affairs at 433-0049 or visit the VA Web site at
www.va.gov/hawaii or the Star-Bulletin at 529-4747.