For Your Benefit
For and about Hawaii's military
See also: In The Military
Supplies from private
source not coveredQuestion: I am registered with the VA and recently bought a wheelchair from a private company. Will the VA reimburse me for the expense?
Answer: The VA cannot pay for appliances that you or your non-VA physician order directly from private sources. VA can pay for repair of appliances under certain circumstances. If you are eligible for a wheelchair, a VA physician will refer you or your request to the VA prosthetic section at the Spark M. Matsunaga VA Medical Center to obtain the wheelchair from an authorized vendor. If you have questions about glasses, hearing aids, braces, supports, artificial limbs, wheelchairs, or other appliances or supplies, call the VA Medical Center at 433-0590.
Q: I ordered a headstone, and it has not arrived. What should I do?
A: If more than 75 days have passed, contact the cemetery, funeral home or other party responsible for accepting delivery of the headstone or marker. If they have not received it, call the VA applicant assistance unit between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday, toll-free at 1-800-697-6947. By the way, if the headstone or marker is damaged during shipping, the inscription is incorrect, or if the material or workmanship does not meet contract specifications, the VA will replace the headstone or marker. The free replacement also applies if existing headstones are badly deteriorated, illegible or stolen.
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.