For Your Benefit
For and about Hawaii's military
See also: In The Military
Veterans Affairs
compensates
some 25,000 vets for
service-related disabilitiesQuestion: I suffered a spinal cord injury as a result of my military service. Does the Department of Veterans Affairs compensate for this type of injury?
Answer: Yes. The VA pays disability compensation to about 25,000 veterans for service-related disabilities in which the spine column or nearby structures are affected. About 60 percent of veterans with spinal cord injuries are eligible not only for health care, but also for monetary or other benefits because their injuries occurred or worsened during military service.
A veteran rated by VA as 100 percent disabled may receive additional compensation if the injury resulted in loss of use of hands or feet or in other disabilities. The 100 percent disability rating may include consideration of other service-connected disabilities not related to their spinal injury.
Many veterans with service-connected disabilities are also entitled to vocational counseling, grants for adapted housing and automobiles, clothing allowance and payment for home and attendant care.
VA coverage for spinal care is quite comprehensive. It integrates vocational, psychological and social services within a range of care and addresses changing needs throughout the veteran's life. VA also provides supplies, preventive health care and education for veterans with spinal cord injuries and also maintains their medical equipment.
Veterans with spinal cord injuries need to contact the VA's benefits section at 433-1000 to start the disability claim process.
Q: Is there a web site where I can go to read up on VA benefits?
A: Go to www.va.gov/hawaii. This site presents a comprehensive overview of VA health and benefit services. The overview includes the showing of services and physical location, specialty services, contact information, what's new, patient education classes, a calendar of events and much more. In addition, the site provides a list of links to National VA, state Office of Veterans Services, Disabled Veterans Resources, Vet Centers, National Cemetery and others. You can also register online by downloading the forms and filling them out in your own home, and then mailing or bringing them in person. Of course, you can access the National VA directly through www.va.gov.
If you have questions about your benefits as a veteran,
call Fred Ballard at the Veterans Affairs at 433-0049
or the Star-Bulletin at 529-4747.Gregg K. Kakesako, who covers military affairs for the Star-Bulletin,
can be reached by phone at 294-4075
or by e-mail at gkakesako@starbulletin.com.
