All states do not treat this nation's veterans the same

All states do not treat this nation's veterans the same.
by Chaplain Kathie
Wounded Times Blog
July 17, 2012

How well a veteran is cared for after they served this one nation should never be left up to the judgment of the governors year to year. Texas has problems with claims and taking care of their veterans and so does Florida. Too many states are not living up to the debt they owe veterans but the majority of the citizens remain silent on what is being done to them instead of demanding what needs to be done for veterans.

The American public in general should take a dim view on any politician treating veterans like this.

Politicians keep talking about the deficit but never seem able to understand this is a bill the country owes veterans. Some even dare to consider the VA as a "welfare" program.

Backlog of benefits claims for Texas veterans has doubled in two years
By Jeremy Schwartz
July 16, 2012

TEMPLE — Pending benefits claims for Texas veterans have doubled in two years, the most visible indicator of what state officials on Monday described as a mounting crisis at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

"It's a monumental problem," James Richman, the director of claims representation and counseling for the Texas Veterans Commission, told a Texas Senate committee reviewing the state's massive backlog. "It's an implosion, a perfect storm."

According to the VA, pending claims in Texas have mushroomed from just more than 46,000 in July 2010 to nearly 90,000 this month. More than 76 percent of pending claims in Texas have been sitting for more than 125 days, significantly more than the national average of 66 percent.

State officials painted a picture of a bureaucracy overwhelmed by an influx of aging World War II veterans, Vietnam-era service member claims based on exposure to Agent Orange, and Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, who are filing disability claims at rates higher than their predecessors. The hearing Monday, held at the William R. Courtney Texas State Veterans Home in Temple, was a chance for legislators to gather information ahead of next year's legislative session, when officials probably will ask for more money to hire additional claims counselors.
read more here

Every state is different. This is an example of it. A study was done after Chicago Sun Times did an article on the issue in 2004. This is the result of the investigation. Review of State Variances in VA Disability Compensation Payments

Veterans Affairs Regional Office List is where you can find information on your own state.

STEP 3 – Learn about VA Services and Benefits
VA provides health care and other benefits to OEF/OIF veterans returning from the armed services.

Here are some of the benefits VA provides:
Access this Web site for more information on specific VA benefits available: http://www.oefoif. va.gov.

• Five Years of Enhanced Health Care. Your service member/veteran is eligible to receive enhanced VA health care benefits for five years following his or her military separation date. Whether or not your family member chooses to use VA health care after separation, he or she must enroll with VA within five years to get health care benefits later on.

• Dental Benefits. He or she may be eligible for one-time dental care but must apply for a dental exam within 180 days of his or her separation date.

• OEF/OIF Program. Every VA Medical Center has a team standing ready to welcome OIF/OEF service members and help coordinate their care. Check the home page of your local VA Medical Center.

• Primary Health Care for Veterans. VA provides general and specialized health care services to meet the unique needs of veterans returning from combat deployments.

• Non-Health Benefits. Other benefits available from the Veterans Benefits Administration may include: financial benefits, home loans, vocational rehabilitation, education, and more. Access http://www.vba.va.gov/VBA for information on these benefits.

• Benefits for Family Members. VA offers limited medical benefits for family members of eligible veterans. These include the following programs: Civilian Health and Medical Program of VA (CHAMPVA), caregiver support groups, counseling, and bereavement counseling.

Potential Co-Payments

Some veterans must make small co-payments for medical supplies and VA health care. Combat veterans are exempt from co-payments for the care of any condition potentially related to their service in a theater of combat operations. However, they may be charged co-payments for treatment clearly unrelated to their military experience, as identified by their VA provider.

Conditions not to be considered potentially related to the veteran’s combat service include, but are not limited to:

• care for common colds
• injuries from accidents that happened after discharge from active duty
• disorders that existed before joining the military.

This is a report on the Texas VA budget

Drastic cuts proposed in Texas Veterans Commission budget March 16, 2011
By RICARDO S. SANCHEZ LTG U.S. Army (Retired)

"NEVER LEAVE A FALLEN COMRADE" is part of the ethos embraced by America’s military. This commitment to our fellow warriors is embraced by every young man and woman in uniform and it exemplifies the commitment we make to defend our democratic values. Texas is on the verge of abandoning scores of Veterans if proposed budget cuts are approved.

The Texas Legislature is considering a 20 percent cut in the near $14 million in state funds which the TVC receives to provide veterans services across the state. This cut is, on average, disproportionate to the reductions other state agencies face. If approved, this will drastically reduce the TVC’s ability to provide services. With the proposed drawdown of U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan over the next two years, our returning veterans will need considerable assistance to ensure they access the benefits they have earned. Now is not the time for Texas to curtail the funding for veterans services.

Every day, the counselors and staff at the Texas Veterans Commission work tirelessly as advocates on behalf of our state’s true heroes to ensure they are not left behind.

The TVC staff — 84 percent of whom are veterans themselves — has made astounding progress in the last year helping Texas Veterans access their benefits. Note the following direct impact of TVC efforts:

H 170,795 benefit cases filed, resulting in over $2 billion in monetary benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to Texas veterans and their families;

H 34,038 jobs found for veterans generating $1.8 billion in wages;

H 67,015 veterans approved for post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits totaling $397 million;

H $9 million in grants, funded mostly from the Veterans Cash lottery ticket, to 38 community and faith-based grantees offering a range of services to Texas veterans and their families.

read more here

Florida Gov. Scott wanted to cut the state VA Budget as well.

Scott Administration Offers Budget Details to House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee
Legislators from both sides of the aisle have questions and concerns about governor's proposals
By: KEVIN DERBY
Posted: February 9, 2011

A day after Gov. Rick Scott unveiled his budget, the House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee met to hear how his proposed budget would impact state health facilities in the next two years.

Chaired by Rep. Matt Hudson, R-Naples, the committee listened Tuesday to a presentation from Jane Johnson, a policy coordinator from the Office of Policy and Budget and, while Republicans remained firmly in control of the committee, they did have more than their share of questions about the proposed budget.

Noting that the health and human services appropriations consumed $18.4 billion in FY 2002-03, Johnson pointed out that they were more than $28.5 billion in FY 2010-11. Under Scott’s budget proposal, the costs would increase to $29.17 billion in FY 2011-12 before lowering to $28.01billion in FY 2012-13.

Of the $29.2 billion planned by the Scott administration for health agencies in FY 2011-12, more than $22 billion would go to the Agency for Health Care Administration, almost 76 percent of the entire amount allocated. Department of Children and Families would take 9.5 percent of the total with almost $2.8 billion, just ahead of the Department of Health which would have more than $2.75 billion. Persons with Disabilities would get almost 3 percent with $842 million while Elder Affairs would have 2.4 percent of the total with $690 million. The state Department of Veterans Affairs would end up with $45.5 million, around 16 percent of the total allocated. read more here