For Your Benefit
For and about Hawaii's military
See also: In The Military
VA can forward letter
to vet if address is on fileQuestion: Is it possible to locate a buddy with whom I served in 1956 through the Department of Veterans Affairs?
Answer: The Privacy Act requires the VA, as a federal agency, to protect the privacy of veterans' personal information. Therefore, VA cannot release personal information about a veteran in its records system without that person's permission. VA can, however, forward a message from you to the veteran, if the VA has a current address on record. Write your message to your friend and place it in an unsealed, stamped envelope. Include a note to VA explaining who it is that you are trying to reach and add as much identifying information as you have. Put all of this in another envelope and address it to the VA Regional Office, 459 Patterson Road, Honolulu, HI 96819-1522. If the veteran is in VA records, your message to the veteran will be sealed and the envelope will be sent to the address on file for the veteran. It is then up to the veteran to contact you. If you have any questions, call the VA at 433-1000.
Q: Do I have to travel to the VA Medical Center each time I need a prescription refilled?
A: There are three ways to refill a VA prescription. Request your refill at the front window, second floor of the VA Medical Clinic. Bring in your empty bottle or receipt. Phone in your refill by calling 433-0050. Follow instructions and enter your Social Security number on the phone keypad. You will also need to enter the prescription or RX number. All pertinent information is on the label of the medication bottle given to you by VA. Follow each entry with the "#" or pound sign. At any time, you can dial "8" to speak with someone in the pharmacy. Your prescription(s) will be mailed within 10 working days. Mail in refill slips or write out request. You may use the address label given with your prescriptions. Your prescription(s) will be mailed within 10 working days. Keep in mind that prescriptions not picked up after one business day will be mailed. For more on prescriptions and refills, call 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.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.