The Law Office of Amrit Sidhu

VA OEF/OIF/OND Team Locator

A VA OEF/OIF Team may be located in your community at a local VA Medical Center.  They can help you transition from the military to civilian life, and also help you navigate through the VA.

Learn more about the location of these OEF/OIF teams at this website (http://www.oefoif.va.gov/map.asp) or call the dedicated VA toll-free OEF/OIF (New Dawn) Help Line at: 1-866-606-8216 to get answers to your questions about VA benefits.

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VA Offers New and Enhanced VA Benefits to Caregivers of Veterans

In May 2010, President Obama signed the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 legislation authorizing VA to establish a wide range of new services to support certain caregivers of eligible Post 9/11 Veterans.

For whatever reason, many of these new benefits are restricted by law to the caregivers of the most seriously ill and injured Post 9/11 Veterans.  Those additional benefits include:

• A monthly cash stipend
• Health care coverage
• Travel expenses, including lodging and per diem while accompanying Veterans undergoing care
• Respite care
• Mental health services and counseling

The law does, however, offer some benefits and services to caregivers of Veterans of all eras who are already enrolled in VA care, including:

• Access to VA’s toll-free Caregiver Support Line (call 1-855-260-3274)
• Expanded education and training on caring for Veterans at home
• Support services such as counseling and support groups and referral services
• An enhanced website for caregivers

While some of these enhanced benefits are available now, most will require the issuance of regulations. In other words, don't expect any checks in the mail very soon.  We'll keep abreast of developments and application requirements.

The VA says it will report to Congress in the future on the feasibility of expanding the enhanced services to family caregivers of Veterans of all eras.  But with Republicans like Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R-MN) suggesting we balance the Federal budget in part by freezing VA spending on health care and cutting veterans' disability payments, it seems unlikely that WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and Cold War vets will ever catch up with new, enhanced benefits being offered GWOT vets.  Divide and conquer? 

All we know for sure is, with "friends" like Congresswoman Bachmann ... who needs enemies?

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Kentucky VA facilities denied veteran help before suicide

According to a story in the Lexington Herald-Leader, the young widow and 2-year-old daughter of a Marine Corps combat veteran have sued the federal government for $22.5 million, claiming that Veterans Affairs medical facilities in Lexington turned away the man when he sought psychiatric help hours before he took his own life.

Cameron Anestis, a Marine Corps reservist who spent several months in Iraq, fatally shot himself hours after he left the VA medical facility.

Anestis, who was 21 when he died, had been involved in extensive combat in Iraq and had developed mental and emotional problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder, when he returned to the United States, the suit says.

Cameron's widow says the purpose of the lawsuit is to let people know that things like this are happening with a lot of families.  "Men and women in uniform are not getting help," Tiffany Anestis said. 

Tiffany, who is also a Reservist, says she's getting out so she can care for the couple's daughter.

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VA announces new homeless intervention program

The VA is starting up a new homeless-prevention program which seeks to help Veterans and families who are on the verge of becoming homeless, has moved closer to implementation.  The program marks the first time that VA will fund services for the spouses and children of Veterans at risk of becoming homeless.

The VA is taking applications from private non-profit organizations and consumer cooperatives interested in providing needed services to at-risk Veterans and their families under this "Supportive Services for Veterans Families" program.  The hope is that these community organizations will be better able to provide counseling, training, education assistance, direct time-limited financial assistance, transportation, child care, rent, utilities, and other services to participating Veterans and family members.

This sounds to us like a great idea.  Even better would be the VA getting veterans granted within a reasonable amount of time  for service-connected disabilities or non-service connected pensions.  Putting benefits payments in a veteran's bank account would also go a long ways towards preventing homelessness for at-risk vets and their families.

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 Iraq, Kuwait dust may carry dangerous elements

 Researchers studying dust in Iraq and Kuwait say tiny particles of potentially hazardous material could be causing a host of problems in humans, from respiratory ailments to heart disease to neurological conditions.  After taking samples, scientists found fungi, bacteria and heavy metals - including uranium - that could all cause long-term health effects.

More at http://www.militarytimes.com/news/2010/12/military-heavy-metals-dust-kuwait-iraq-120710w/.

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No big change to VA PTSD Rules

Despite all the attention it's gotten in the news of late, the VA's recent rule change for Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) claims isn't a game changer for most veterans.

The only significant change is that if a veteran was diagnosed with PTSD while still on active duty, the VA now doesn't need to verify the 
stressor.  Everything else stays pretty much as it was.

However, if you've been diagnosed with PTSD since leaving active duty, you should by all means pursue a claim for benefits.  Even if you suspect you may be suffering from PTSD, you should seek medical help from the VA, and file a claim for compensatory benefits.

PTSD is  is a type of anxiety disorder. It can occur after you've seen or experienced a traumatic event that involved the threat of injury or death.

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New Veteran Homeless Assistance Facilities in San Diego County

As part of  Secretary Shinseki's extremely ambitious goal to end homelessness among veterans in five years, the VA has targeted more than $500 million for specific homeless programs.

As a beneficiary of that effort, Interfaith Community Services (with facilities in Escondido and Oceanside) has opened the first recuperative care center of its kind in San Diego County.  The 10-bed complex will house former service members countywide recovering from acute medical conditions, including substance abuse, for up to three months following treatment and a referral from the VA medical center in La Jolla.

The VA has also contracted with the Veterans Village of San Diego to provide a seven-bed facility for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans mainly requiring treatment for mental health and substance abuse issues.

Rest of the story ... 

The package has no clear blockbuster initiative, but improves many benefits including some allowances for disabled veterans and various veterans' insurance options. Employment protections are also toughened for those returning to civilian jobs.

We have about 20 to 25 separate bills in there," said Rep. Bob Filner (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, in a phone interview. "It's an incredible move forward for all our veterans, whether talking about those on the street or those suffering from mental illness or women veterans facing sexual trauma. I mean it touches virtually every issue that we've been working on for several years."

Highlights of the bill include:

• An automobile assistance allowance for veterans who have lost limbs or have other qualifying disabilities will increase from $11,000 to $18,900. It also will be adjusted for inflation on Oct. 1 each year.
• The funeral or burial payment for veterans who die in a VA facility or who are eligible to be buried in a VA cemetery will increase from $300 to $700. This payment too will increase annually for inflation but after 2011,
• Supplemental insurance for totally disabled veterans will increase from $20,000 up to $30,000.
• SGLI coverage for totally disabled veterans will be permanently extended to two years, from 18 months, after they leave service. This change will be applied retroactively to persons separated from service on or after June 15, 2005.
• The maximum loan guarantee amount under the Veterans' Mortgage Life Insurance program will increase from $90,000 to $150,000. It will increase again, to $200,000, on Jan. 1, 2012.
• Individuals who qualify for retroactive traumatic injury protection coverage under SGLI (called TSGLI) will be expanded to include veterans who incurred qualifying traumatic injuries on or after Oct. 7, 2001, but before December 1, 2005, regardless of where the injuries occurred.
• Veterans will be able to increase Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) coverage by $25,000 every five years until reaching age 60.
• The Servicemembers' Civil Relief Act (SCRA) will be modified to:
• Allow service members to terminate cellular telephone contracts when ordered to relocate for a period of 90 days or more to an area not supported by the contract;
  
• Give service members a "private right of action" to file their own lawsuits against those who violate their legal rights. They no longer will have to wait for enforcement action by a federal agency;
• Allow for the Department of Justice to bring a civil action against SCRA violators and those found guilty will have to pay court costs and service members' attorney fees.