Veteran Benefit Corner

Polk County opens veteran services office

Previously served by ODVA Statewide Veteran Services in Salem, Polk County veterans now have their own local veteran services office. More info: www.co.polk. or.us/vso.

Rural veteran transport program renewed

Oregon counties have received a renewed provision of the federal government’s Highly Rural Transportation Grant, assisting with transportation costs for Oregon’s ten counties which are considered “highly rural.” The half-million dollar grant is leveraged locally to maximize the benefit to veterans.

President signs resolution authorizing National Desert Storm War Memorial

March 31, 2017 — Veterans of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm will soon have their own memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., thanks to Senate Joint Resolution 1. The National Desert Storm War Memorial will honor veterans who served in the Gulf War in 1990 and 1991. Sponsors of the memorial will soon begin the process of fundraising, choosing a location and selecting a design.

VA now providing online daily burial schedules for its national cemeteries

March 24, 2017 — The federal VA now offers a new online schedule for all VA national cemeteries, though some scheduled services may not be included if families opt out of publicly posting the information.

Expansion of mental health care to former service members with other-than-honorable discharges and in crisis

March 8, 2017 — Federal VA Secretary David Shulkin announced that a plan will be finalized this summer to expand provisions for mental health care needs to former service members with other-thanhonorable (OTH) administrative discharges. The plan proposes that former OTH service members would be able to seek treatment at a VA emergency department, Vet Center, or by contacting the Veterans Crisis Line.

VA dental insurance pilot program extended for enrolled veterans

Feb. 2, 2017 — The federal VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP) piloted in 2014, originally set to end in 2017, has now been extended through 2021. Individuals already enrolled in VADIP will automatically receive coverage for 12 months.

VA to recognize tribal organizations as veteran representatives

Jan. 31, 2017 — The federal VA is now allowing eligible tribal organizations to become accredited by the VA so that they may train tribal employees as veteran service officers (VSOs). Tribal organizations must meet the same stringent requirements expected of state and national VSOs.

New rule establishes a presumption of service connection for diseases associated with exposure to contaminants in the water supply at Camp Lejeune

Jan. 13, 2017 — The federal VA has published regulations to establish presumptions for the service connection of eight diseases associated with exposure to contaminants in the water supply at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The presumption applies to active duty, reserve and National Guard members who served at Camp Lejeune for a minimum of 30 days between Aug. 1, 1953 and Dec 31, 1987, and are diagnosed with any of the following conditions: adult leukemia, aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, liver cancer, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma or Parkinson’s disease.

New regulation changes copayment cost of outpatient medication

Jan. 12, 2017 — Effective Feb. 27, the federal VA changed regulations concerning copayments charged to veterans for medications required on an outpatient basis to treat non-service connected conditions. Copayments will be on a tiered system meant to keep costs low for veterans. Veterans who do not currently have a copayment or are exempt by law will not be affected by the change.

MyVA311: One number to call to reach VA

Nov. 14, 2016 — The federal VA introduced a new national toll-free number as a go-to source for veterans and their families who are unsure what number to call. By dialing 1-844-MyVA311 (1-844-698-2311), callers can access information on services, nearby locations, and crisis resources.

Vets.gov adds GI Bill benefits application feature

Nov. 10, 2016 — Veterans and servicemembers are now able to apply for their GI Bill benefits online at www. vets.gov with a simplified, easier-to-use interface. Application processing times are expected to remain 4-6 weeks.

Social Security and Veterans Affairs partnership speeds disability decisions for veterans

Nov. 9, 2016 — Social Security and the federal VA created a partnership to expedite processing of disability cases by obtaining medical records electronically in a convenient and secure fashion.

VA launches nationwide study on the health of Vietnam Era Veterans

Nov. 2, 2016 — In November 2016, federal VA researchers began recruiting participants for the Vietnam Era Health Retrospective Observational Study (VE- HEROeS) in order to better understand the long-term health consequences of Vietnam War service. Volunteers are not being accepted for this study.

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