November 13, 2024
Filing VA claims today is different, and easier, than what many of us remember. The passing of the PACT Act made changes that make filing for compensation easier to get. If you have not applied for an update, or filed for a claim at all, since the passing of the PACT Act, Re-file Today!
STANDARD CLAIM: The standard claims process assumes that VA will be helping gather information about your case. It is this process that has improved. In the past the VA would pretty much only verify your evidence with your medical records. If there was no nexus between your claim and your medical records, it pretty much was ignored and denied. But now, since the passing of the PACT Act, the VA goes further in validating your claim to include searching beyond your medical records AND making appointments for you via QTC or VES with doctors to evaluate you.
FULLY DEVELOPED CLAIM: The fully developed claim process requires YOU to gather all of the important information. You will have to submit that information as part of your application for disability benefits. This is more in line with how the old standard claims process worked. The VA assumes you have done your due diligence and what you are submitting should be all that's needed. Learn more about the VA Fully Developed Claims program at https://www.va.gov/disability/how-to-file-claim/evidence-needed/fully-developed-claims/
For details go to the VA website at https://www.va.gov/disability/how-to-file-claim/. Below is a list of what you will find there.
Disability Claims video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ORYYo-Q2Jc
Certain illnesses are associated with Gulf War service in the Southwest Asia theater of military operations from August 2, 1990 to present. Medically unexplained illnesses (also commonly referred to as Gulf War illness or Chronic Multi-symptom illness) are a significant concern for some Veterans who served during the Gulf War. VA offers eligible Veterans a free Gulf War Registry health exam to find possible long-term health problems related to Gulf War service. VA also offers health care, disability compensation, and other benefits to eligible Veterans. Their dependents and survivors may also be eligible for benefits.
VA understands that many Veterans are especially concerned about exposure to the smoke and fumes generated by open burn pits. VA encourages all Veterans who are eligible to participate in VA’s Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry (AHOBPR). By joining the registry, you can provide information that can help us better understand the long-term effects of burn pit exposures. Even if you have not experienced any symptoms or illnesses you believe are related to burn pit exposure, your participation could help VA provide better care to all Veterans
VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (VA DIC) is a VA tax-free monetary benefit to qualifying survivors of service members and veterans. If you’re the survivor of a service member who died in the line of duty, or of a veteran who died from a service-related injury or illness, you may qualify.
Do you qualify?
Go to the VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation page to find out. https://news.va.gov/116978/new-dependency-indemnity-compensation-qualify/
Must Apply! Not Automatic
If you’re a qualified surviving spouse or child of a Veteran you must apply using VA Form 21P-534EZ. Enrollment into DIC is not automatic.
VA operates 155 national cemeteries and 34 soldiers' lots and monument sites in 42 states and Puerto Rico. More than 4 million Americans, including Veterans of every war and conflict, are buried in VA's national cemeteries. For Veterans not buried in a VA national cemetery, VA provides headstones, markers or medallions to commemorate their service world-wide and in any cemetery.
https://www.va.gov/burials-memorials/pre-need-eligibility/
NCA developed pre-need eligibility determination to assist veterans and families in planning funeral arrangements. Families no longer need to wait until the time of death to find out if a veteran is eligible for burial in a national ceremony. Pre-need applications require some basic information, such as the veteran’s Social Security number and a copy of the veteran’s DD-214 or other separation documents. Applications can be found on the NCA website. Pre-need is very popular because it gives veterans peace of mind, knowing their family won’t have to search for their military discharge documents after their death. Since pre-need eligibility was established in December 2016, NCA has approved almost 300,000 applications.
https://www.va.gov/burials-memorials/memorial-items/headstones-markers-medallions/
Veterans don’t have to be buried in a national cemetery to receive VA memorial benefits. The VA furnishes, at no charge, a government headstone or marker for the unmarked grave of any deceased eligible veteran in any cemetery around the world, regardless of when they died.
Granite, marble and bronze flat markers and granite and marble upright headstones are available, as well as bronze niche covers to mark columbaria where cremated remains are kept.
For veterans who already have a privately purchased headstone, marker or niche cover marking their interment site, families may receive a government-furnished bronze medallion with the word “veteran” and the appropriate branch of service on it. The VA will mail the medallion along with a kit that will allow the family or the staff of a private cemetery to affix the device to a headstone, grave marker or columbarium niche cover. Since 1973, more than 14 million headstones and markers have been furnished to veterans worldwide.
VLM is the nation’s first digital platform dedicated entirely to the memory of veterans interred in national cemeteries as well as in VA-funded state, territorial and tribal veterans cemeteries. Launched in 2019, the site featured individual veteran profile pages that are populated with military service and cemetery information, including service branch, dates of birth and death, rank, war period, military decorations, emblem of belief and burial location. Interactive features allow family, friends and others to preserve a veteran’s legacy by posting tributes (comments), uploading images, and sharing their veteran’s biographical information and historical documents. Everything uploaded to the site is reviewed to ensure it complies with the VLM User Policy. Since 2019, more than 44,000 contributions have been made to veterans’ VLM pages. The site can be accessed at va.gov/remember.
“The last thing families should be doing after the loss of a loved one is scramble at the last minute to properly honor and lay their veteran to rest,” said DAV National Commander Joe Parsetich. “By planning how best to use your VA memorial benefits earlier, you’ll ensure they won’t be needlessly burdened with these significant decisions while in the grieving process.”
