For Your Benefit
For and about Hawaii's military
See also: In The Military
Question: I have a friend who was seriously hurt in Vietnam and has had numerous surgeries because of medical problems related to the accident. He has never filed a Department of Veterans Affairs claim for any kind of compensation. Has he cheated himself out of legitimate VA benefits over the past years, and is there a statue of limitations for filing such service-connected claims? There is no time limit
on claiming disabilityAnswer: VA disability compensation is a monetary benefit paid to veterans who are disabled by injury or disease incurred in or aggravated during active military service.
The benefit can also be paid if a disease or injury is secondary to a service-connected disability.
The amount of disability compensation varies based on such factors as the degree of disability and the number of dependents.
Veterans determined to be entitled to disability compensation from VA receive monthly monetary payments ranging from $103 per month to $2,100 for a veteran who is considered to be totally disabled.
Veterans with a disability rating of 30 percent or more are also entitled to additional compensation for their dependents. In cases where a veteran has suffered certain severe disabilities, there may be entitlement to what the VA calls a special monthly compensation.
Claims for an increase can be made if service-connected conditions increase in severity. Another point to take into consideration is that entitlement to VA compensation can in some cases be a gateway to medical and educational benefits.
There is no time limit to apply for benefits.
Time is important, however, in that the longer one waits, the more difficult it may become to associate the claimed disability with an in-service incident. Unfortunately, your friend will not receive retroactive payments for the past years because claims filed more than one year after leaving active duty are paid from the first day of the month following the date the claim was made. Your veteran friend should submit his claim now. Have him include as much military and medical documentation as possible with the original application.
A benefit counselor at the VA can assist him in filing his claim.
For more information on filing a disability claim, call 433-1000 or check the VA's Web page www.va.gov/hawaii.
Q: As a female veteran, I was wondering what VA services are available to women veterans.
A: Medical services available include health promotion and disease prevention, primary care, women's gender-specific health care -- e.g., hormone replacement therapy, breast and gynecological care, maternity and limited infertility (excluding In-vitro fertilization), acute medical/surgical, telephone triage, emergency and substance abuse treatment, mental health, domiciliary rehabilitation and long-term care. For more information, call 433-1000 or check the VA Web page www.va.gov/hawaii.
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.
