Department of Veterans Affairs- DVA

[Automatic Slim]

My wife was in the Nat. Gd. for almost 6 years.

She went to Afghanistan, for around 10 months, and got an honorable discharge(medical).

She went to school for about 2 years afterward, and was approved by the VA for the money.

They suddenly changed their minds and decided that she was never qualified for benefits, and now we "owe" the VA all the money back from the 2 years she went to school.

Somebody PLEASE explain how this is right.

[Ed Ely]

You mention that she served nearly six
years w/ 10 months on active duty.

Perhaps, her contract was for a full six
years!

Another thing: if she was medically discharged,
that meant that she had to have at least a 30%
disibility of some nature, which was rated by the
military.

The military and VA rating systems are different,
but are being updated, whereby the VA will do
all the evaluations of disabilities incurred while
in the military.

Does your wife have a VA disability rating and
drawing compensation from that?

Also, if she does not draw VA compensation,
and took a lump sum payment from the military
upon discharge for her disibility, she will have
to repay that first before her VA compensation
kicks in.

If she was in a state of limbo, meaning that she
had drawn a lump sum from the military and also
had a claim into the VA for compensation, which
took a period to perfect, when she did get the
VA compensation approved for the disibilities incurred,
then she would have to pay back the monies that
the military spent putting her through school.

Complicated! yes. However, once it is paid back, then
she can file for payment to the VA to re-imburse her
for schooling, which they should be responsible for.

I suggest that you put this into the hands of a good
service officer.

Ed

[Shinmen]

In addition to helpful info given in this thread, I would like to add that if you are having difficulty with the VA in the claims process like I did, you can seek free help from an organization called The order of the Purple Heart. They are staffed by very knowledgable people who really seem to care. They helped me with my disability claim.

[bigun]

There are many Vets rights organizations around, many will be within a mile or so of the local VA hospital. Use them Use the VA whenever possible, funding is based on patients seen and their ailments.

[getusumtx@yahoo.com]

Hi, I just got out of the army(honorable) in November. I just last week finaly got my C&P physical at a VA hospital. I think my paperwork is going through the DAV but im not really sure.Anyways, I just wondering if anyone knows do find out how long it takes or what perecentage ill be?I had 2 surgerys and have stapples and screws in my right (dom) hand. thanks

[Ed Ely]

Patience is the word of the day.

The VA is backlogged about 600,000
claims. One thing you have going for you
however is that you are recent vet.

The VA is pushing forward on all new vet
claims.

There is a rating board at the Regional
Office where your claim will be attended
to. From what you describe, it will be rated
on limitation of motion/usefullness.

It takes time. Please do not spend any
money before you get it! I say that because
a lot of vets whom I have dealt with and
know personally, see BIG $$$$ signs and
are very let down when the check does
finallly come in.

Thanx for your service to our country.

Ed

[bigun]

Originally Posted by getusumtx@yahoo.com

Hi, I just got out of the army(honorable) in November. I just last week finaly got my C&P physical at a VA hospital. I think my paperwork is going through the DAV but im not really sure.Anyways, I just wondering if anyone knows do find out how long it takes or what perecentage ill be?I had 2 surgerys and have stapples and screws in my right (dom) hand. thanks

My claim took 6 months to process, if they give you a run around don't be shy about contacting your Senators office. They really are working hard to process the claims but the system is currently overloaded so it may take a while.

[W7ACT]

Originally Posted by Automatic Slim

My wife was in the Nat. Gd. for almost 6 years.

She went to Afghanistan, for around 10 months, and got an honorable discharge(medical).

She went to school for about 2 years afterward, and was approved by the VA for the money.

They suddenly changed their minds and decided that she was never qualified for benefits, and now we "owe" the VA all the money back from the 2 years she went to school.

Somebody PLEASE explain how this is right.

You made two statements. You said, she spent in country, 10 months in a Combat zone, Afghanistan. That should qualify her right there for the GI Bill.

The second was She received a Medical Discharge. Was it from the service as a patient from an Army Hospital while she was still on active duty and if so was the medical discharge for an injury while on active duty ? If so it's Service Connected have the wife go to one of the Service Organizations DAV, VFW, American Legion, or AMVETS and talk with their Service Officers as she should be entitled to some percentage of disability have them file a claim for her as it won't cost her anything and if she get's rated it's added TAX FREE income, plus it opens up the doors to a whole lot of benifits once she gets the award letter from the VA. Also get her to the nearest VAMC with her DD214 and get her enrolled into their Medical System and start building a file on her medical condition for documentation.

Been there done that as I am a 60% disabled vet rated at the 100% level due to age and unemployable. recieved the the rating in 1996 and was paid back to 1991. After you've had the rating for ten years you are "grandfathered" in and they can't take it away from you. A lot of veterans didn't know that and when the Democratic Congress made the VA send out Termination Notices during the Reagon years, they didn't go in to see why they were terminated and lost their rating.

[rangerjon]

Hello, new here.
anyone who qualiies should apply for the vocational rehabilitation program. The VA has been great to me since ive retired.

[Zib]

The VA's not too bad here in Fla, but I've had my share of probs with them. I'm 30%, 10 for my left knee, which includes a bullet hit, 5 surgeries and now I'm looking at a total knee replacement. I got out in 95 with 20% from the Navy, 10 shy of military med retirement. The VA promptly lowered me to 10 on my knee. I just put in for an increase of benefits.
I feel I should be at least 50%.

The constantly screw up and charge me for service connected meds, no big deal, but a hassle calling and getting it cleared up. Now, to top it all, my new doc wants to Piss test me every 6 mos, again no big deal. I don't use illegal drugs, I'm on enough prescription RX's. Any of you guys ever try to stop taking vicodin, you might as well be shooting heroin. No fun, thanks VA.

Why does everyone on this site list their weapons? I have way to many to list.