Some veterans organizations across the country bristled when they heard about proposed changes made by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. According to Military.com, proposed rule shifts may create a rift between those filing for veterans benefits through paper and those doing it electronically.
Continue reading “Groups worried VA changes may harm veteran benefits”
The deep backlog the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is currently dealing with has ramifications for the system and country as a whole, but perhaps more importantly, a big impact on the individuals who do not receive benefits.
After serving in Iraq, Xatavia Hughes returned to Chicago in December 2010, according to The Chicago Tribune. Hard times started immediately as she faced living in a homeless shelter and protecting her children. Much like many others who have served in wars, Hughes had a hard time being taken care of by the government she served. Upon return home, soldiers should look to apply for veterans benefits to ensure they can stay afloat through hard times.
Continue reading “Female veterans face hard time upon return home”
Although there has been a lot of lip service paid to veterans being a top priority for the U.S. government, NJ.com reported that at a recent Congressional Budget Office meeting it was suggested that veterans benefits could be scaled back to cut federal spending. Rolling back compensation for categories of veterans and raising TRICARE fees for military veterans were just two of the suggestions given by the CBO.
Continue reading “Congressional office suggests cutting veterans benefits to save money”
Many veterans who struggle with mental health issues stemming from sexual violence have have a deaf ear turned to their concern by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. A report by the Service Women’s Action Network, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the Veterans Legal Services Clinic at Yale Law School titled “Battle for Benefits: VA Discrimination Against Survivors of Military Sexual Trauma,” found that veterans benefits for those struggling after being sexually assaulted during service are harder to come by.
The list of veterans waiting for benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs is growing longer, as a backlog has piled up over the years. VA is experiencing another problem as well, as Bloomberg reported that more than 400 payments were made by the U.S. government to resolve VA malpractice claims. The news source obtained agency records through a Freedom of Information Act request to show that $91.7 million was paid out nearly $92 million, the highest amount in at least the past dozen years.
Continue reading “VA paying out record number of malpractice claims”
The backlog for veterans disability has been growing for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The Los Angeles Times recently reported that there are in excess of 751,000 claims pending, more than 457,000 of which have been waiting for approval for 125 days or more. This does not include the quarter of a million who still have their claims under review. One thing that could help solve this is converting veterans records onto an electronic medical record system, as this would easily allow these files to be pulled up in cases and easily reviewed.
Continue reading “Electronic records may lead to quicker veteran disability approval”
Although having disability qualifying conditions may make life miserable, the Social Security Administration application process mandates having an established assortment of disability supportive medical records. Attorney Harold W. Conick, who practices law across the Chicagoland area and across the U.S., said the most important thing is to have enough medical records to influence a judge regarding the seriousness of a medical condition.
Continue reading “Q&A: The importance of medical records for a disability hearing”
Getting veterans benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs shouldn’t be hard, but veterans will often face long waits due to a backlog. This is especially true for those who do not have a representative, as they may not know the ins and outs of VA as well. The Law Offices of Harold W. Conick and Associates knows what it takes to get these veterans benefits, which can be up to $3,100 for certain veterans.
Continue reading “Veterans can get up to $3,100 per months in disability benefits”
Those who have served in the military are looking for veterans benefits may be able to get up to a year of retroactive disability benefits if they file a “fully developed claim,” according to the U.S. Army’s website. These benefits will be in effect August 6 through August 5, 2015 and are a result of a law passed by President Barack Obama earlier this year.
Continue reading “Veterans filing under FDC can receive retroactive benefits”
