Vietnam Vet has benefits restored because reporter cared

A Vietnam Veteran was pushed through cracks with his VA claim. He needed help. A reporter cared enough to tell his story. That reporter was Will Doolittle. Then a worker at the VA read his story and wanted to make sure the VA did the right thing. They did.

"The Post-Star stories, which ran June 5-7, detailed how the Cooleys were running out of money and feared losing their house.

A worker in the VA public affairs office saw the stories online and alerted his supervisors, according to Sue Malley, director of the VA's New York Regional Office."

If the American public knew how many veterans were waiting for their claims to be approved, heard half of their stories, they would be ashamed of what is happening to these men and women. Whenever you hear a horror story coming from a veteran, tell them to take their story to a reporter so they will not only get justice but help other veterans in their situation.

After stories, benefits restored to Vietnam veteran
WILL DOOLITTLE -- will@poststar.com
Posted: Friday, June 17, 2011

FORT EDWARD -- Officials at the Department of Veterans Affairs have responded to a recent series of stories in The Post-Star about the plight of a Vietnam veteran whose benefit payments were cut off by reviewing the man's case, then restoring his payments at a higher level.

The VA also determined the veteran, Charles Cooley, 67, of Tori Trace, was owed five and a half years' worth of back payments. A check for the back payments was deposited Thursday in the bank account of Cooley and his wife, Dolores, 66.

Their first monthly compensation check for $2,800, which is the 100 percent disability level, was also deposited Thursday in their account.

Until last year, the Cooleys had been receiving monthly compensation checks of about $600, a 40 percent disability level, because Mr. Cooley suffers from diabetes and associated complications, including coronary artery disease.
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After stories, benefits restored to Vietnam veteran

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