Hey veterans, did you know?

... VA health care, disability compensation are separate

Just because the VA is paying for your hearing aids does not automatically mean that it has service connected your hearing loss with your military service.

Veterans Services Office staff regularly has to educate veterans on the difference between “Disability Compensation” and “VA Healthcare.”

Disability Compensation is a monetary benefit paid to veterans determined to be disabled due to an injury or illness incurred or aggravated during active military service. It is managed by the Veterans Benefits Administration.

VA Healthcare is an integrated health care system providing health care services similar to other health insurance/care providers. It is managed by the Veterans Health Administration.

If the VA treats a veteran for a particular condition, that condition is NOT presumed to have been incurred or aggravated during active military service. The VA Healthcare System cannot automatically service connect a veteran for a disability while they are being treated. The VA health care system can help develop or provide evidence to support disability claims, but it cannot directly approve disabilities for claims and/or assign disability benefits.

In order for the VA to service connect a disability and then provide compensation, veterans MUST file a disability claim for the condition believed to have originated from military service. Veterans normally would seek a VSO for assistance with preparing and filing a claim.

As part of the disability claims process, the VA will likely require an applicant to receive a C&P (Compensation & Pension) Exam. Because veterans need to see a doctor as part of their disability claim, the line can sometimes be blurred between the C&P and VA healthcare.

To avoid confusion, these exams are considered assessments to help determine the validity of a claim. VA Health Care is treatment.

The condition that causes the most confusion is hearing claims. Because many veterans get their hearing aids from the VA Healthcare, they assume that the VA has accepted that their hearing is service connected because the VA paid for the hearing aids. This is not the case!

Payments are not automatic without a claim being filed and an award being rendered.

Contact the Spokane County Veterans Services Office at (509) 477-3890 for more info, or if you live in Kootenai County call (208) 446-1098 to learn more or to schedule an appointment.

... If you are a Vietnam veteran, heart attacks and disease might be covered

Have you had a heart attack? If so, then you may qualify medical and disability benefits (a monthly check) through the VA. Ischemic Heart Disease is one of the 17 presumptive diseases associated with Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam. If you are diagnosed with these disease you will qualify.

Ischemic Heart disease is characterized by a reduced supply of blood to the heart that leads to chest pain. To find out more contact one of the Veterans Service Officers (VSOs) listed in the “How Can I Get Help” section in this publication.

... How to understand your disability rating

Your disability rating is one of several factors that affects your eligibility for benefits and services. There are a number of services available only to veterans with a disability rating.

VA gives you a rating to describe how much your service-connected disability impacts your daily life, particularly your ability to work. A “service connected” disability is an injury, disease, or condition that resulted from or was made worse during military service. Disability ratings range from 0%–100%. A 0% rating means your disability does not affect your everyday life. Any rating, including a 0%, makes you eligible for certain services. While you might feel your condition is not serious, you should still consider applying for a rating.

You must file a claim for disability. VA determines your rating based on the evidence you provide (which includes medical records and DD214) and the severity of your condition. To find out more about filing a claim, call 800-827-1000 or visit www.va.gov/disability/how-tofile-claim.

What benefits/services can be accessed:

Some benefits and services include: • Disability Compensation • Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) • Enrollment in VA healthcare • Federal hiring preference • VA Home Loan fee exemption • Specially Adapted Housing Assistance

Visit benefits at va.gov/ BENEFITS/derivative_ sc.asp for a comprehensive list of VBA benefits and services.

... Veterans Service Officers want to help

Veteran Service Officers (VSOs) are trained, certified and accredited ADVOCATES FOR YOU! They are not VA employees. Assistance is FREE.

Contact them before you call the VA; it could save you a lot of grief.

Every state and most counties have a Veteran Affairs section, and Veteran Service Organizations such as DAV, VFW and American Legion, also have VSOs. Below are a couple: • In Washington, The Spokane County Regional Veteran Services Center is at 1117 N Evergreen in Spokane Valley. The office has 5 VSOs and a great staff. • In Idaho, The North Idaho Veteran Services and Benefits Office is at 120 E Third Ave in Post Falls. You’ll find two VSOss and a great staff. Need local help or know someone who does? See “How Can I Get Help?” on page 5 of this publication.