Veteran’s death
closes disability file

Answer: According to law, the processing of a veteran's claim terminates with his or her death. If the veteran died as a result of a service-related disability, the widow would be entitled to a widows benefit. For additional information on filing a claim, contact the VA at (800) 827-1000, or ask to talk to a benefits counselor on the first floor, E-Wing on the ocean/Diamond Head side of Tripler Army Medical Center.

Q: I read where the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system is considered a "Bright Star." What is the significance of that designation?

A: The designation was made in the May 18 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association, which examined the progress -- or, too often, the lack of progress -- among private-sector health care systems during the last five years on issues affecting patient safety. VA's health care system "quickly emerged as a bright star in the constellation of safety practice, with system-wide implementation of safe practices, training programs and the establishment of four patient-safety research centers," according to the editorial.

The journal's authors are the latest independent reviewers who have cited VA for the quality of its health care system. A study published in May 2003 in the New England Journal of Medicine compared VA health care and fee-for-service Medicare on 11 specific measurements of quality and found VA patients fared "significantly better" than the private sector

With more than 180,000 health care professionals, VA operates the largest integrated health care system in the country. The VA expects to treat about 5.2 million patients this year.