Conv-VA Disability Ratings and Pensions

From: John Kafka

Dated: May 2, 2017

Subject: Army: Change to Burial Eligibility Would Expand Life of Arlington

WASHINGTON -- Extending the lifetime of Arlington National Cemetery will likely require further restrictions on which service members and veterans are eligible for burial there, the Army wrote in a report released to Congress.

Tightening the eligibility requirements -- already the strictest of any national cemetery -- is one of several options that the Army outlined in its report, which asks Congress, veterans organizations and the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs for urgency in making decisions about changes to eligibility or the size of the cemetery. Arlington is expected to reach capacity in about three decades if nothing changes, meaning most veterans from recent wars wouldn't have the option to be buried there. "Arlington National Cemetery is at a crossroads," reads the report released Thursday. "When one thinks of ANC, it is natural to envision it stretching on forever -- not only in physical space, but in time. The truth is that ANC is running out of space. ANC and those it exists to serve must... confront the reality that, at some point in the near future, the cemetery will no longer continue to operate as it does today."

The Army, which manages the cemetery, has warned of space issues for years. Demand at Arlington is higher than at the 135 national cemeteries managed by the VA. Approximately 400,000 people are buried at Arlington, and it conducts about 7,000 funeral services each year. Even with the opening of a 27-acre expansion this fall, the cemetery is expected to reach capacity in the early 2040s.

Congress passed legislation last year requiring the Army to produce the report provided Thursday, which cemetery officials said they hoped would start a national dialogue about the cemetery's future.

The report lists seven options for changing eligibility requirements at Arlington, the most stringent being to allow only Medal of Honor recipients and service members killed in action. Officials anticipated the change would allow Arlington to remain active for the next two centuries.

The cemetery now inters approximately 200 service members killed in action or on active duty each year, and fewer than 800 service members have received the Medal of Honor since World War II.

Cemetery officials are anticipating backlash about the idea, stating in the report that some of the ideas to tighten eligibility would "exclude a large number of veterans," "disenfranchise certain veterans' groups" and "be viewed negatively by the public." The cemetery is now open to service members who die while on active duty, retired military and certain other veterans and family members.

"[T]he status quo is not a viable option if the goal is to extend ANC as an active cemetery well into the future," the report reads.

In a statement Thursday, the Army wrote it had not chosen a preferred option for how to extend the cemetery's use. But in the report, it called one of the eligibility changes the "most feasible, acceptable and suitable."

The option calls for stricter criteria for in-ground burials while maintaining eligibility for above-ground inturnments as it is now. For example, in-ground burials could be restricted to service members killed in action, who die on active duty or receive certain awards, while above-ground services would remain open to veterans who meet length-of-service requirements, according to the report.

Officials estimated the option would allow the cemetery to remain active until the middle of the next century.

Under law, the Secretary of the Army has the authority to decide most eligibility requirements for Arlington, and changing eligibility wouldn't require legislation, according to the report.

Army officials presented additional options to help with space limitations, including prohibiting any future use of cemetery space for erecting monuments. That change would require legislation.

Cemetery officials are also seeking a southern expansion of the cemetery. During a congressional hearing in March, Karen Durham-Aguilera, director of Army National Military Cemeteries, showed lawmakers a site that would create approximately 40,000 to 60,000 new gravesites. It would extend Arlington as an active cemetery into the 2050s, she said at the time, but will require various land acquisition deals and approximately $274 million.

Another option in the report is for Congress to establish an entirely new cemetery, separate from Arlington and managed by the Defense Department.

"This would mean building a new cemetery in a suitable place that would offer the same burial honors as ANC," the report reads. "While it is impossible to recreate the aesthetic appeal and history of ANC, this new cemetery could grow to become iconic over time, in the same way that ANC has gradually evolved over the past 150 years."

Creating a new cemetery would take decades, the report states, and work would need to start soon, or else it would not be established by the time Arlington ran out of space. Cemetery officials also offered the idea of "green burials," where a tree is planted above a burial site, to save capacity. In the report, Army officials asked Congress to support and fund a study between the Defense Department and VA to gauge veterans' interest in nontraditional burials.

Instead of asking Congress and veterans organizations to choose one option to extend the use of the cemetery, the Army is proposing several changes implemented in a phased approach.

"The most effective course of action could be a hybrid of multiple options introduced over time," the report reads.

In one example, the cemetery would -- during the next three years -- prohibit monuments, begin a southern expansion and tighten its eligibility, and allow above-ground inturnments to veterans who served two years of active duty. It now allows inturnments for any honorably discharged veteran who served one day of active duty service. More eligibility restrictions and land acquisitions would be added in two more phases during the next 10 to 20 years, in that example.

Speaking to lawmakers last month, Durham-Aguilera conceded limiting eligibility criteria "is a hard topic."

The cemetery's report asks for public meetings where veterans organizations can offer their feedback. The Army also wrote it sought support from Congress and Defense Secretary James Mattis "as difficult eligibility decisions are debated."

"More dialogue and engagement are needed over the coming months and years," the report states. "Discussion on these options and courses of actions should continue at a series of open meetings." It was uncertain Monday when a public meeting about the cemetery would be held, but the report expounded on the need to act quickly.

"If the American people wish to preserve it as an active burial ground, we must act quickly and decisively to shape the future direction," the report states. "Every day and every year that passes without a decision brings the cemetery closer to capacity."

From: AMVETS Legisative Department

Dated: June 15, 2017

Subject: IU Has Been Saved

We at AMVETS wanted to share the fantastic news that the proposal to stop IU payments to those who reached Social Security age has been termed "dead" by VA Secretary Shulkin, which he said after the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee hearing on the VA Budget yesterday. They are no longer coming after IU benefits to fund the Choice Program.
Thank you to the thousands of you who responded to our call to action, and wrote or called your members of Congress. On Monday of this week, nearly 60 members of the House of Representatives sent a signed letter to Secretary Shulkin decrying the outrageous idea to cut IU benefits to fund Choice.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, a team of AMVETS went to the offices of all 100 U.S. Senators and asked to talk with the person who handled veterans issues. They were provided the bipartisan House letter and this flyer. Many impromptu meetings were held, in addition to the many that we had scheduled, including with those on the Veterans Affairs Committee. We want to specifically thank Senator Tester (D-MT) and Senator Heller (R-NV) for asking pointed questions on IU to the VA Secretary at the hearing, and standing strong for IU veterans.
We could not have done this without your support. Every office visited had heard from veterans and veteran advocates on this issue. We are proud of our AMVETS team, which includes you.

Group Conversations
U to Z

From: Bob Peetz

Dated: April 25, 2017

Subject: VA Disability Ratings and Pensions

The VA has rated me at 30% - 20 for diabetes and 10 for hearing & tinnitus – no hearing aids authorized. I applied for another 20% when they put me on insulin but was denied because I didn’t have a note from my Doctor that “regulated my activities”.
I am also retired military and the military side deducts the same amount from my military pay that the VA pays me. That means that the only monetary benefit to me was that the money from the VA is tax-free.
Then Congress passed CRSC – Combat Related Special Compensation. It is for military retired vets rated less than 50%. I applied for the 20% diabetes rating based on exposure to Agent Orange. It was approved and now they deduct the 20% like they did before, but then I get another check from them paying me back – tax-free.
When they approved it, they told me that my hearing rate was also eligible for reimbursement. I applied and it was approved as well. The hearing loss falls under the ‘hazardous exposure’ class.
So now I get my Military retirement pay minus $450 every month. I get $450 a month from the VA – tax-free. And the military refunds the $450 a month that was deducted – and it is tax-free as well.
Same kind of thing applies if you are over 50% rated, but it has a different name.
More contact and other info available on my website: Click Here

From: AMVETS Legisative Department

Dated: May 25, 2017

Subject: Our Most Vulnerable Veterans Need Your Voice

Yesterday, AMVETS shared its deep concerns about the President's proposed budget which calls for rounding down Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) for veterans, and cutting Individual Unemployability (IU) disability benefits for seriously disabled service-connected veterans who are 65 and older.
Cutting IU disability benefits would "save" the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) $3.2 billion in the first year alone. Stealing rightfully earned benefits to fund other parts of VA, including the challenged Choice program, is disgraceful.
VA Secretary David Shulkin disagrees and yesterday defended the cuts, "There are always hard decisions that have to be made. Sometimes that means you have to adjust current programs to support the growth of other benefits. That's what we're seeing here."
Hard decision, or not, our government should never put the basic income of our most vulnerable group of senior citizens on the table; thus putting them at greater risk of homelessness, suicide, and desperation. It is a cruel proposal.
If these veterans have paid into Social Security at all, they will lose their IU benefits, regardless of how small the Social Security benefit is. The VA Secretary further defends this by saying, "I think people can understand paying veterans who are above age 80 unemployment benefits isn't was makes sense to the average American."
That is a flawed form of reasoning. They qualify for IU due to unemployability as a result of being wounded, injured or made ill by their service in the military. IU benefits can meet basic needs, but do not allow for a veteran to sustain savings or grow a nest egg. These veterans are not taking advantage of the system - and they have earned the disability compensation benefit for life.
Today, we are asking you to not be silent on this issue, and to send the prefilled letter to your Members of Congress - or you can delete and write exactly what is on your mind. On this Memorial Day weekend, we honor our fallen - and will fight to ensure that the promises made to those they served beside are kept.
(clicking on this link will take you to our advocacy page where you will have to fill in your zip code/address in order to have the letter sent to your Congressman and U.S. Senators: Take Action)

Please share.

AFVN Group Conversations

From: Steve Sevits

Dated: May 2, 2017

Subject: Army: Change to Burial Eligibility Would Expand Life of Arlington

Personally I think restricting new monuments and a tightening of eligibility requirements makes most sense. Thanks for posting this, I'm going to communicate my views to my congressman.
Steve

Group Conversations
H to M

AFVN Home

From: Brian Truss

Dated: April 24, 2017

Subject: VA Disability Ratings and Pensions

I was a helicopter pilot. The VA gave me FREE hearing aids. They will give them to all Vietnam Vets with hearing loss. I get a 10% disability for tinnitus. Very few get compensation for hearing loss and they had to prove it was caused in combat. I have a 70% hearing loss (service connected) in my right ear and a 60% hearing loss in my left ear (not service connected). Can't figure that out but I get no compensation for any of the hearing loss. Don't let the VA fool you, there is NO means test for boots on the ground Vietnam Vets. My hearing aids were free and they would have cost $8,000 if I didn't have the VA. they are "State of the Art" with Bluetooth built in.

From: Ken Kalish

Dated: April 24, 2017

Subject: VA Disability Ratings and Pensions

Steve and all, if anyone was involved in combat, they face what is essentially a paperwork process because hearing loss is presumptive for some weapons used. That early May bomb at AFVN would be one example, and Joe’s crawling around the Embassy would be another. A single report from a .50 greatly exceeds the permanent hearing loss threshold, and who ever fired just one round from a .50? I have documentation around here somewhere that reports on the information we at Gamewardens gleaned and presented to a Congressional hearing about combat-related hearing loss. If anyone wants it, I’ll try to dig it out.
A side benefit of having he VA assign you military basis for your hearing loss is the very nice hearing aids they use. A new pair every two years, too. For pricing information about the last set I got I checked online and the least expensive source was $1,200. They were still working when I got my new ones, so I donated them to the Lions for reuse.
Ken Kalish

Veterans Administration - Disability Ratings and Pensions

April 2017

From: AMVETS Legisative Department

Dated: May 24, 2017

Subject: AMVETS Deeply Concerned by Proposed Cuts to Veterans Benefits

AMVETS National Headquarters, May 24, 2017 - While AMVETS (American Veterans) is thankful for President Trump's proposed 6 percent increase in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' fiscal year 2018 discretionary budget, AMVETS leadership is deeply concerned by the proposed cuts to earned benefits for perhaps the most vulnerable segment of the veterans population.
The Trump administration's budget proposal contains a provision to cut Individual Unemployability (IU) benefits for seriously service connected disabled veterans aged 65 and older. This would steal a large percentage of a wounded, injured or ill veteran's compensation.
The argument for this cut is that these senior citizens would be eligible for Social Security retirement benefits at age 65. That argument is flawed because these veterans have largely been disabled, out of the work force and not paying into Social Security for many years before reaching 65. Many have been severely disabled as a result of their military service and unable to work since the day of their discharge.
Such a misguided move would wrongly take away about $1,200 a month from a single veteran rated at 90 percent disabled and already determined to be unable to work because or his or her military service. The monetary loss rapidly increases for veterans with lower disability ratings. In all, this proposal threatens to strip benefits from more than 225,000 senior citizen veterans who've been seriously disabled as a result of their military service.
AMVETS strongly opposes this proposed cut and calls for its immediate withdrawal.
This cut, along with cuts to Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) for veterans, is being used to assure funding for a "choice" program that has yet to be adequately

developed, let alone tested and proven.
Link to full press release here

From: Steve Sevits

Dated: April 24, 2017

Subject: VA Disability Ratings and Pensions

There are individual retail hearing aid vendors which will perform a FREE hearing test, in hopes of selling you a hearing aid. I went to Miracle Ear and asked for a printout of the report. Along with the claim prepared by the VFW service officer, we submitted the report of hearing deficit from Miracle Ear. This provided additional evidence. I was rated at 20% disability = $200+/mo.
Let me know if I can assist further.
Steve Sevits

Group Conversations
A & B

From: Brian1Russ

Dated: June 17, 2017

Subject: VA Shelves Plan to Cut Benefit for Elderly Disabled Vets

This is only a temporary stop to taking IU away. The VA has considered this now 5 times. We strill need to inform our Senators and Congressmen how the VA uses "FUZZY" math to calculate our disabilities and how we need to be at least 220% by the simple addition method to get to 100% paid disability. 'Total and Permanent disability due to Individual Un-employability" is the only way most veterans get to 100%. Also unlike Shulkin says, it is not unemployment insurance. It is an actual benefit category. We cannot let up on sending this information just because they are not going to consider eliminating IU today. This may be the old "Bait and Switch" con game.

From: Ken Kalish

Dated: May 6, 2017

Subject: Hearing Lost Letter

Friends:
Here’s that hearing loss letter we use in Gamewardens. Fidget and fix to meet your own needs. Don’t cut out the Congressional hearings part, though. That’s critical to confirming your claim. Modify the weaponry part sparingly. There’s nothing in there about grenades, but you can add that and other goodies as appropriate. If you were Air Force you may want to add something about the alarm used to notify personnel about cocktail hour. (Smile)
Ken Kalish

[NB: The attached letter is not available to the Webmaster. Please contact Ken Kalish if you need a copy.]

Group Conversations
C to G

From: John Kalfka

Dated: May 6, 2017

Subject: Hearing Lost Letter

Thanks, Ken

From: Brian1Russ

Dated: June 17, 2017

Subject: VA Shelves Plan to Cut Benefit for Elderly Disabled Vets

Group Conversations
N to T

From: Steve Sevits

Dated: April 24, 2017

Subject: VA Disability Ratings and Pensions

As we age, many of us experience some degree of hearing loss especially in the higher frequencies. Those of us with a primary broadcast MOS and suspected hearing loss would do well to be tested at the VA. Broadcasters and former broadcasters diagnosed with proved moderate hearing loss may be eligible for a non-taxable monthly disability pension.
The application process may be initiated by a VFW or other agency service officer, located at the VA hospital, who can usually expedite the process. A 20% disability rating may qualify for about $200 or more in monthly payments.
Steve

From: John Workman

Dated: April 24, 2017

Subject: VA Disability Ratings and Pensions

Thanks, I have started this process a month ago, when I applied in 2009 I was denied even though my hearing is really bad especially in higher frequencies and have severe tinnitus.
When I contacted VA for my neuropathy in my feet, I was advised to submit another claim again. Medication & diet controlled diabetes, none in my family history had diabetes.
Will see if I do any better on this go around.
John Workman