For Your Benefit
For and about Hawaii's military
See also: In The Military
WWII vets can get
high school diplomasQuestion: I have heard of a program where Hawaii's World War II veterans, who never had a chance to go back to school after the war, can receive their high school diploma. How do you go about doing this?
Answer: The state Board and Department of Education has announced a program that will allow men and women to receive their high school diplomas if they left school prior to graduation. World War II prevented many Hawaii high school students from completing their studies. After the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, all public schools were closed by the military. Nearly all schools remained closed for one to two months and Oahu public schools did not reopen until Feb. 2, 1942. All veterans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces from Dec. 7, 1941, through Dec. 31, 1946, are eligible for the program. Contact the Board of Education at 586-3334 for more information.
Q: I saw someplace that the VA is providing increased benefits for loss of breast tissue related to military service. Can you explain?
A: The new VA regulation replaces a policy that limited the special compensation to women veterans losing one or both breasts. The new rule liberalizes the benefit to cover those losing 25 percent or more tissue from a single breast or from both breasts in combination. Payments retroactive to Jan. 1, 2003, may be made to eligible women. Women veterans may contact VA to find out if they are eligible under the new provisions. The current special compensation rate of $81 monthly for breast loss is in addition to the underlying disability compensation for a condition arising or worsening while in the military. For further information contact the VA at 433-1000.
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.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.
