U.S. Military (Ret.): DAV can lead retirees through benefit red tape - Military Retirement - Navy Times

U.S. Military (Ret.): DAV can lead retirees through benefit red tape

Over the past few years, I have often talked about the challenges that disabled retirees face in maneuvering a complex bureaucratic system to get the benefits they are due.

In the course of many e-mail exchanges on this issue with readers of this column, one veterans group keeps popping up: Disabled American Veterans, which recently celebrated its 90th year of service.

DAV has 88 offices throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico and employs a corps of about 260 National Service Officers, whose sole purpose is to represent veterans and their families who are claiming benefits from the Veterans Affairs and Defense departments and other government agencies.

DAV offers this service free to all veterans — regardless of whether they are active DAV members.

NSOs act as attorneys-in-fact, helping veterans and their families file claims for VA disability compensation and pensions, vocational rehabilitation and employment, education, home loan guaranty, life insurance, death benefits, health care and much more.

This free service is a boon to those who have tried to maneuver through the bewildering VA claims process on their own.

That process starts with a formal claim filed by the retiree using forms provided by VA’s Veterans Benefits Administration. After all the forms are submitted, the retiree must complete interviews concerning his social history (a review of family, work and educational experiences before, during and after military service) and psychiatric status (a review of past and current psychological symptoms and of traumatic experiences during military service).

DAV will help guide you through the process. To find the NSO nearest you, click here.

Disabled veterans coin

The U.S. Mint has released the 2010 American Veterans Disabled for Life Silver Dollar, the first commemorative coin this year.

The coin was officially launched by the Disabled Veterans’ LIFE Memorial Foundation, the group that is raising private funds for the construction of the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The planned memorial will be the first in the nation’s capital dedicated to living disabled veterans across all services and wars.

More information on the commemorative coin, which will sell for $39.95 and go on sale March 23, is available online — click on “Coins and Medals” on the left-hand menu, then click “Commemoratives.”

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Retired Command Master Chief Alex Keenan served 28 years in the Coast Guard. E-mail him at retired@atpco.com.