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Quit Messing with Veterans Benefits |
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Written by Dr. Ada Fisher
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Friday, 07 August 2009 17:59 |
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Abraham Lincoln stated during the Civil War, this nation’s commitment “to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan.” There was so means test of who should get service just as there was none for who should go into battle to protect and defend this great nation when the soldiers stepped forward to answer a call to serve. But there is now and it is past time that those who know the truth spoke up, spoke out and demanded that we treat our veterans fairly. War is hell. If you lost a limb or have become impaired in some manner as to lose your livelihood, the wages of war are even more tortuous. We send young men to do battle on our behalf teaching them to extinguish the flames of life from those pegged our enemies. We have not fully appreciated the likelihood that those who have taken a life are most at risk for the development of Post Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD’s) and violence when they return. We don’t want to talk about this side bar of battle. War is hell. Too many are they who have never served, who blazingly anxiously talk about war in glorifying terms having never tasted the waters of battle that we send our troops to face. In this need to take on everyone always remember our sons and daughters may be collateral damage.Benefits to veterans are being cut daily with a callous quiet slickness designed to minimize as well as disguise what is actually being done: -Remember the GI Benefits which allowed so many back home to buy their first house, go to school and move from poverty to the middle class. They have changed this, now asking soldiers to put up monies for a government match in order to pay for an education. Is this right when soldiers put their lives on the line for this nation and often deferred their dreams that we might be free and safe? The monies being saved may not cover the full cost of many public and private universities. That is not fair. -Health Care is now done on a priority basis within the VA with only those having 30% or more of a service connected disability guaranteed care. Others who served are classified in one of eight categories and may have to pay based on their income and other insurance coverage. As cut backs continue, VA Hospitals are being closed and soldiers sent to community hospitals where the waits can be long and the appreciation for their unique needs not had. Ask Congress how many of them have to pay for their care? This is the same group that now wants to socialize our health care. Don’t you trust them! -The greatest generation of WWII veterans still hang in there, but may be denied care in VA nursing facilities based on income. We didn’t have a means test when soldiers were asked to serve and there should not be a means test on care they receive post service. Veterans who make too much money in retirement may see their benefits, social security and other income used against them if receiving service connected consideration. Why is it that Congress where less than 40% have ever given military service has established for its retirees of few years in government tremendous payouts which often exceed their salaries as congressmen? Why can Presidents, Senators and others double dip and triple dip without penalty; however, veterans are put to a means test to get what should be their due? Merchant Marines who served during the wars have not been adequately recognized or reimbursed. A bill sits in inaction waiting for this nation to do the right thing by people who put their lives on the line for us. To date many of my black male friends who served in Vietnam have told me they hadn’t received a notice that prostate cancer has an association with exposure to Agent Orange. Is the VA meeting its duty to inform? Once in trying to get a benefits handbook for a veteran, I was told the veterans had to pay for it or go to the web site. What happens to those who don’t have computers or the money to spare? Trying to help deserving veterans get the benefits they deserve has been a minimally reimbursed avocation and labor of love for me for more than ten years. Each case may take hundreds of hours in writing letters, dealing with appeals boards and suffering the frustration of waits that sometimes take several years to resolve. Those cases which are most interesting have mysteriously received letters noting medical records have been lost or a fire occurred in a St. Louis storage facility so no action is being taken. The law clearly states if the veteran says its so and the VA system has no evidence to contradict his account, the veteran has to be given the benefit of the doubt. Don’t you believe it. DD214 forms issued at discharge don’t show wounds and injuries incurred in the service making it difficult for veterans to prove service connection to their claims. Veterans in dire financial straights have had to wait years for a decision. I reviewed the 2009 handbook of VA benefits and see even more negative subtle changes in benefits through the Veterans Affairs system. These changes will deprive many of those who can least afford it, but deserve it most, the support of a grateful nation for what they have done in the cause of our freedom. Cut congressional benefits and give them to our veterans with parity please. Dr. Ada M. Fisher is A Licensed Secondary Educator for Mathematics and Science, Previous County School Board Member, Physician as well as the NC Republican National Committee woman. Contact her at P. O. Box 777; Salisbury, NC 28145; telephone (704) 223-2321;
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July 4, 2009
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 11 August 2009 11:29 |
