VSO Talk Radio

Karen Smietanski, Assistant Superintendent Veterans Assistance Commission of Kankakee County, IL

VA Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits provide monthly payments added to the amount of a monthly VA pension for qualified Veterans and survivors. If you need help with daily activities, or you’re housebound, find out if you qualify.

We will discuss a couple of topics that came to us from you, our listeners.  The first topic is Individual Unemployability, a program that allows veterans to receive 100% compensation even if their service-connected disabilities are not rated at that level and BDD Claims also known as Pre-Discharge Claims.

The Massachusetts Senate passed the Hero Act and added a few amendments to enhance the house passed bill.   We discuss the content of the bill and the amendments.   
This is one of the largest Veterans enhancement bills in decades. 

The VA is including three new cancer types in the list of presumed service-connected disabilities due to military environmental exposure under the PACT Act.  We also discuss the proposed changes coming to the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities,   specifically pertaining to the respiratory, auditory, and mental disorders body systems.  

You could owe the VA money for different reasons. These are 2 of the most common reasons:

Copayments. You received care at a VA health facility and you're in a priority group that requires you to pay copayments.

Benefit overpayments. The VA paid you, or your school, more than you were eligible to receive for a VA benefit payment. The VA often refer to this type of debt as an overpayment.

VA's Fiduciary Program was established to protect Veterans and other beneficiaries who, due to injury, disease, or due to age, are unable to manage their financial affairs. VA will only determine an individual to be unable to manage his or her financial affairs after receipt of medical documentation or if a court of competent jurisdiction has already made the determination.

This week as we prepare to honor those lost in war in Memorial Day Observances, We talked with Gold Star Mother Tracy Taylor who lost her son Spc Kenneth J. Iwasinski KIA 10.14.2007.  

My HealtheVet is a web-based personal health record that gives Veterans information and tools to improve their health. Registration is required to have full access to all features like, Secure messaging, Prescription refills and tracking, and more.

Did you know…..

If you’re an eligible Veteran, you can get urgent care at VA medical centers and in‑network urgent care providers near you.

This week on #VSOTR #VSOTalkRadio we discuss VA Urgent Care Coverage and Getting emergency care at non-VA facilities