VETERANS CHRONICLE MARCH 2022
The Department of Veterans Affairs and other organizations continue to offer helping hands to those who have served our country. LOOK INSIDE for a variety of programs that help with mental health, emergency care, homelessness and more.
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VETERANS CHRONICLE
Department of Veterans Affairs discusses changes to disabilities VETERANS BULLETIN – QUICK TAKES ON CURRENT ISSUES Train for a career in tech
Are you seeking a career in the tech industry? VA’s Veteran Employment Through Technology Education Course (VET TEC) can help you reach your goal. VET TEC not only pays tuition and fees, it also offers a housing allowance to use while you earn your certification. To learn more visit blogs.va.gov/VAntage/96715/ vet-tec-student-veterans-poised-to-join-the-fastgrowing-tech-industry/ or www.va.gov/education/ about-gi-bill-benefits/how-to-use-benefits/vettechigh-tech-program/
Appeal a claim
Do you disagree with VA's decision on your claim? Veterans and other claimants for VA benefits can choose from three decision review options: Supplemental Claim, Higher-Level Review, and Board Appeal. Learn more about your appeal options at www. va.gov/decision-reviews/
Benefits for family
If you’re the surviving spouse, child, or parent of a service member or veteran who died from a service-related injury or illness, you may be eligible for VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). DIC is a tax-free monthly financial benefit. Find out if you’re eligible and how to apply at www.va.gov/disability/dependency-indemnity-compensation/
Ask VA your questions
Do you have a question or want more information about VA benefits and services? Use the new Ask VA online question portal at ask.va.gov. It is an easy, fast, and convenient way to get your questions answered. Local assistance with all of these and other topics can also be found at “How can I get help?” on Page 5 of this publication.
The Department of Veterans Affairs is proposing changes to the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities, specifically pertaining to the respiratory, auditory and mental disorders body systems. The proposed updates to the rating schedule for these conditions will enable VA to incorporate modern medical data and terminology to provide veterans with more accurate and consistent decisions. Veterans who currently receive compensation for a service-connected condition in these body systems will not have their disability rating impacted when the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities is updated. Updating the rating schedule allows veterans to receive decisions based on the most current medical knowledge relating to their condition. By incorporating modern medical data in the assessment of disabilities
and how they impact earning capacity, Veterans will receive evaluations which more accurately compensate them for their service-connected disabilities. PROPOSED UPDATES INCLUDE:
• Modernizing the evaluative rating criteria for sleep apnea, using developments in medical knowledge to evaluate it based on its responsiveness to treatment, bringing the rating criteria for sleep apnea more closely in line with the stated purpose of the rating schedule. • Evaluating tinnitus (ringing in the ears) as a symptom of the underlying disease which causes it, rather than as a stand-alone disability. • Evaluating mental health conditions based on a more robust and holistic approach that assesses how impactful the disability is to cognition, interpersonal relationships, task completion, life activities and self-care. Additionally, the proposed
evaluation criteria include a 10% minimum evaluation for having one or more service-connected mental health conditions and will no longer require “total occupational and social impairment” to attain a 100% evaluation. No change to a veteran’s current rating would occur due to these proposed changes. If the proposed changes are finalized, Veterans who currently receive compensation for a service-connected condition can apply for increased compensation, but no reductions shall be made unless an improvement in the veteran’s disability is shown to have occurred. The public has 60 days to provide comments to VA regarding the two proposed updates via the Federal Register notices located at www.regulations.gov/document/ VA-2022-VBA-0009- and www.regulations.gov/document/ VA-2022VBA-0010-0001.
Spokane, Wash. / Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
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VETERANS CHRONICLE A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW MARCH 18, 2022
VETERANS HELP NET Don Walker Bryan Bledsoe MANAGING EDITOR Joe Butler ART DIRECTOR Anne Potter DIRECTOR OF SALES Scott Baumbach
Read “Did You Know ... ?” on page 4.
IN THIS ISSUE
No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent of the publisher.
Veterans Help Net partners with The Spokesman-Review to publish Veterans Chronicle on the third Friday of every month to increase awareness about veteran issues and to help veterans find hope and help. To share a veteran story or information about resources for veterans, please contact info@veteranshelpnet.com or visit www.VeteransHelpNet. com. For advertising information, please contact advertising@ spokesman.com or (509) 459-5095.
New ways of classifying disabilities.............................................................2 Hey Veterans, Did You Know?.......................................................................4 Learn the history of the VHA.........................................................................5
WE BELIEVE IN
VA FINANCING
How can I get help?..........................................................................................5 Value of respite care.........................................................................................6 Artwork recognizes fallen veterans.............................................................7 Health care for homeless veterans...............................................................8 Benefits of VA care...........................................................................................9 Importance of planning final arrangements.............................................10 Women on the Wall..........................................................................................10 Study shows value of emergency care.......................................................11 Helping by telling..............................................................................................12 Congress moving forward with support.....................................................12
The United States S Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers home loans to active military members, reservists, and retirees, as a benefit of service in our nation’s Armed Forces. Many service members are not aware this earned benefit is available to them; many sellers are not aware of the advantages to VA loans in the transaction process. We encourage all Spokane realtors - to become familiar with this loan type so that we can all join in saying “We believe in VA financing!”
Visit www.spokanerealtor.com to view VA qualified homes in your preferred area
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VETERANS CHRONICLE
HEY VETERANS, DID YOU KNOW ...? ... you may qualify for free hearing aids?
To receive hearing aids through the Veterans Administration, you must first register at the health administration/enrollment section of the VA Medical Center of your choice. The following documents are usually needed at the time of registration: a copy of the Veteran's DD214, driver's license and health insurance (if available). There are several ways to enroll: • In person at any VA Medical Center or Clinic • Online by filling out the Form 1010EZ. • By mailing completed Form 10-10EZ to the Medical Center of your choice (please be sure to sign your application or it cannot be processed for enrollment) Once registered (or if already registered), you may schedule an appointment at the Audiology and Speech Pathology Clinic for an evaluation of your hearing. The audiologist will make a clinical determination on the need for hearing aids and/or other hearing assistive devices. If hearing aids are recommended and fit, the hearing aids, repairs, and future batteries will all be at no charge to you, as long as you maintain VA eligibility for care.
… you may qualify for special job referrals?
In Washington, WorkSource helps thousands of military veterans – including disabled veterans – find jobs each year. As a veteran, you can get priority access to WorkSource services. This includes priority referrals to jobs listed
Learn about the National Resource Directory The National Resource Directory (NRD) is a resource website that connects wounded warriors, Service Members, Veterans, their families, and caregivers to programs and services that support them. The NRD is hosted, managed, maintained, sustained
Online: wsspokane@esd.wa.gov Relay service: 711 Services offered: Hire a veteran: 509-598-9972 Business services: 509-532-3186 Email: talentsolutions@esd.wa.gov
… there are new eligibility requirements for presumptive exposure?
If you are a veteran or survivor who may be eligible for newly established military exposure presumptive conditions, the VA encourages you to apply for benefits. Even if the illness or injury is not a presumptive, every veteran is still encouraged to file a claim for the benefits they have earned and deserve. Visit blogs.va.gov/VAntage/96936/ are-you-eligible-to-file-for-benefitsbased-on-presumptive-exposure/ for more info or seek local help in the “How can I get help?” section on Page 5 of this publication. with WorkSource and other employment services. WorkSource centers offer veterans and military spouses: • Job listings, job referrals and hiring events • Resume, application and interviewing assistance • Use of computers, photocopiers and phones • Skill assessments and referrals to training and other resources At worksourcespokane.com, you can identify yourself as a veteran to make it easier for vet-friendly employers to find
and developed by the Defense Health Agency's Recovery Coordination Program. It provides access to services and resources at the national, state and local levels to support recovery, rehabilitation and community reintegration. Visitors can find information on a variety of topics that supply an abundance of vetted resources. For help finding resources on the
you, and you can search for job openings where employers are giving veterans priority over other applicants. Most WorkSource centers have veteran employment specialists whose sole job is to help military veterans with disabilities and other employment barriers. They’ll assess your skills and interests and help you put together an employment plan that’s right for you. When: Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Where: 130 S. Arthur St., Spokane, WA 99202 Contact: 509-532-3120 (main phone) or 844-704-6784 (fax)
site, visit the How to Use this Site section of the NRD.
Major categories include:
• American Red Cross • Benefits & Compensation • Choose Home • Community Of Care • Education & Training
… there’s help for homeless veterans?
The VA offers a variety of specialized programs for homeless veterans that include housing solutions, employment opportunities, health care, justice- and reentry-related services, and more. If you, or someone you know, is homeless or at risk of homelessness, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-4AIDVET (877-424-3838) for assistance. You can also get info at www.va.gov/ homeless/for_at_risk_veterans.asp or find local help in the “How Can I Get Help?” on Page 5 of this section.
• Employment • Family & Caregiver Support • Health • Homeless Assistance • Housing • Military Adaptive Sports Program
Other services & resources
• Portfolio Of Veterans Benefits (PVB) • Transportation & Travel Find links to all these resources on the NRD website nrd.gov/About-Us For local help see the “How can I get help?” on Page 5 of this publication.
Spokane, Wash. / Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
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VETERANS CHRONICLE
Veterans Health Administration one of largest health care systems in nation VHA an important part of the VA structure
The Veterans Health Administration evolved from the first federal soldiers’ facility established for Civil War Veterans of the Union Army. On March 3, 1865 – a month before the Civil War ended and the day before his second inauguration – President Abraham Lincoln signed a law to establish a national soldiers and sailors asylum. Renamed as the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers in 1873, it was the first-ever government institution created specifically for honorably discharged volunteer soldiers. The first national home opened November 1, 1866, near Augusta, Maine. The national homes were often called “soldiers’ homes” or “military homes,” and only soldiers who fought for the Union Army – including U.S. Colored Troops – were eligible for admittance. These sprawling campuses became the template for succeeding generations of federal veterans’ hospitals. By 1929, the federal system of national homes had grown to 11 institutions that spanned the country and accepted Veterans of all American wars. But it was World War I that brought about the es-
tablishment of the second largest system of veterans’ hospitals. In 1918, Congress tasked two Treasury agencies – the Bureau of War Risk Insurance and Public Health Service – with operating hospitals specifically for returning World War I veterans. They leased hundreds of private hospitals and hotels for the rush of returning injured war veterans and began a program of building new hospitals. Today’s VHA – the largest of the three administrations that comprise the VA – continues to meet veterans’ changing medical, surgical and quality-of-life needs. New programs provide treatment for traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress, sui-
cide prevention, women veterans and more. The VA has opened outpatient clinics, and established telemedicine and other services to accommodate a diverse veteran population, and continues to cultivate ongoing medical research and innovation to improve the lives of America’s patriots. VHA operates one of the largest health care systems in the world and provides training for a majority of America’s medical, nursing and allied health professionals. Roughly 60 percent of all medical residents obtain a portion of their training at VA hospitals; and VA medical research programs benefit society at-large. The VA health care system has grown from 54 hospitals in 1930 to 1,600 health care facilities today, including 144 VA Medical Centers and 1,232 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity. The Spokane VAMC is at 4815 N. Assembly St., Spokane WA 99205. It can be reached at (509) 434-7011. If you know someone that should or could seek a Veteran Medical Center in your area, find one at va.gov. For local help see “How can I get help?” on this page.
Follow current local news about veteran care Although the Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane has been recognized for its cohesive staff and strong customer service, it also has experienced recent technical problems including critical software failures. The facil-
ity recently announced that its electronic data is now considered corrupted and inaccurate. The electronic health records system was even taken offline for a day for until repairs were made. To keep on top of these changing conditions, be
sure to follow stories from Orion Donovan-Smith at The Spokesman-Review. He has covered this topic extensively and plans to continue doing so as this and other offices continue seek more efficiency and automation.
HOW CAN I GET HELP?
Every county and state has a Veteran Affairs office to answer questions about benefits and provide assistance. There are also other useful resources for veterans in the Inland Northwest.
GO ONLINE VA.gov
IN PERSON
Spokane County Regional
The Department of Veterans Veteran Service Affairs website has resources on 1117 N. Evergreen Rd., every topic relevant to veterans. Spokane Valley, WA (509) 477-3690 Apply for emergency services, VA.gov/welcome-kit or have any benefits or service The VA Welcome Guide covers all types of benefits and questions answered by 5 Veteran Service Officers services available for veterans, (VSO) and staff. new recruits, active service members and their families. North Idaho Veteran
DAV9.com
Based in Post Falls, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 9 Fort Sherman shares links and information to both local and national help organizations for veterans.
Explore.VA.gov/benefitsnavigator Explore VA benefits and discover which ones you and your family may be eligible to receive.
Services and Benefits Office
120 E. Railroad Ave., Post Falls, ID (208) 446-1092 Meet with a VSO or staff for help with VA benefits enrollment, claims or other veteran needs.
Goodwill Support Services for Veteran Families (SSVF)
130 E. Third Ave., Spokane, WA (509) 828-2449 SSVF helps homeless veterans and their families find housing and connects veterans with other support organizations.
Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) 504 E. Second Ave., Spokane, WA (509) 435-2019
Provides healthcare and outreach for housing, job opportunities and counseling.
BY PHONE
Spokane County Regional Veteran Service (509) 477-3690
North Idaho Veteran Services and Benefits Office 120 E. Railroad Ave., Post Falls, ID (208) 446-1092
Veteran Crisis Line
1 (800) 273-8255, press 1
North Idaho Crisis Center (208) 625-4884
Washington or Idaho 2-1-1
Dial “2-1-1” for health and human resources referrals.
If you don’t know who to call, VA has a new “Single Access Point” phone number to all VA contact centers 1-800-MyVA411 (1-800-698-2411)
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VETERANS CHRONICLE
Dear fellow caregiver: Why respite care is important What is respite care?
By Sofi Alexander CAREGIVER SUPPORT
Editor’s note: This is the second piece in A Caregiver Support Program Editorial Series. It’s written by Sofi Alexander, caregiver for her husband, Jeff, a U.S. Air Force veteran living with Traumatic Brain Injury. When Sofi first became a caregiver, respite care didn’t seem like a necessity. Now, respite care helps Sofi, Jeff, and their children navigate their new norm. This month, Sofi shares her experiences with the Department of Veterans Affairs, including its Respite Care program. Dear Fellow Caregivers: My family’s new journey began 21/2 years ago when my husband, Jeff, started a new job at the Pentagon after a three-year tour in Japan. He was active duty Air Force, and we’d just relocated to Virginia for a Permanent Change of Station. And when I say we’d just relocated, I mean my husband had been in his new position for precisely three weeks and our house for three days. On the same day we moved into our new house, we received my husband’s bicycle. Three days later, my husband decided to go for his usual morning bike ride. As always, he put on his safety gear: helmet, gloves, and bike light, except this time Jeff didn’t return home. I started to worry as more time passed and checked my Find My Phone app. To my shock his location read INOVA Fairfax Hospital. My heart sank. I called Jeff’s phone, and a police officer answered. The police officer told me to get to the hospital immediately as my husband, “John Doe,” was in critical condition. I loaded up our two kids, 12 and 14 years old, and drove to the hospital. Upon arrival, we were told that Jeff had suffered a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). They were not able to tell us anything except that he was non-responsive.
Respite care pays for care for a short time when family caregivers need a break, need to run errands, or need to go out of town for a few days. Respite care can be helpful to veterans of all ages and their caregivers. Respite care through the Department of Veterans Affairs is offered by the Office of Geriatrics and Extended Care. To learn more about how to be connected to respite care for veterans’ caregivers, contact your local CSP team at www.caregiver. va.gov/ For local resources, see “How can I get help?” section on Page 5 of this publication.
J e f f would stay in the Intensive Care Unit in Fairfax, Virginia, for roughly two weeks before he was transported to Shirley Ryan Mobility Lab, a rehabilitation center in Chicago. Due to the severity of his injury, he was not able to be admitted to any Virginia hospitals. So, there I was with two kids in Virginia who were about to start a new school and a husband severely injured at a hospital in Chicago. I will forever be grateful to Jeff’s family, who helped during this time, and to the Air Force, which made it all easier. We started to move from the Shirley Ryan facility in Chicago to a more permanent home. He was relearning all daily living skills. We knew at this point that his career in the Air Force and being a pilot was over. I researched TBI and poly-trauma facilities and found
out that the Department of Veterans Affairs has some of the top facilities in the country. Armed with this knowledge and family in the area, I sold our house in Virginia and moved to Minnesota. Shortly after that, Jeff was transferred to the VA hospital in Minneapolis to continue his treatment until he arrived home. All of this was happening as the COVID-19 pandemic began. While at the VA hospital, the children and I received training in caring for Jeff at home. The VA staff was very supportive of us and always there to answer questions and teach us as a family, even during the height of COVID. When you are in a new and challenging situation, you don’t always know what questions to ask, but the VA poly-trauma staff anticipated answering all of our questions. Finally, the day came when Jeff was going home. All the training VA gave us was now going to pay off. So many aspects of VA have helped us as a family.
The VA technology department has played an active in improving our lives at the house, as Jeff still has no use of his hands. The VA Caregiver Support Program helped us navigate VA Home Health, including informing me of the respite program. Our respite support social worker, Molly, would call and check in on us frequently to see how we were doing. Molly kept reminding and encouraging me to use the Respite Care program before getting burned out. At that time, I was not feeling burned out, just excited that I had my husband home. But little by little, tiny things started creeping up, and I began to acknowledge my stubbornness. When it started to dawn on me, it was difficult for me to give up control over my husband’s care for my own care. It is easy to say, “if you don’t care for yourself, you cannot care for someone else,” but it is easier to care for others, especially when you feel they need it more than you. As I was getting used to cer-
tified nursing assistants who I trusted to give me some extra time, I started thinking about the other respite care resources that I could use. With two busy children, now 14 and 16, both heavily into sports, we began to use the respite care for Jeff so I could attend their tournaments. During COVID and over the holidays, it wasn’t easy to pin down nursing homes that could help. Still, the dedicated VA Respite Care staff did it. During this time, we were also connected with the Wounded Warrior Project who were willing and able to add some assistance in Jeff’s treatment. Throughout this time, VA provided me with a counselor who helped navigate family relationships and life after a traumatic event. We are still in the early stages of Jeff’s recovery after 2 1/2 years. I don’t know what the future will hold for us, but I do know that without the support of VA, we wouldn’t be where we are. I also thank the staff who kept contacting me even when I thought I was doing great, and at times I was great, and being there when the walls eventually came down. Thank you, Sofi Alexander
Spokane, Wash. / Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
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VETERANS CHRONICLE
METALS OF HONOR
“Above and Beyond” is a sculpture made of veteran dog tags.
DOG TAGS MAKE AMAZING SCULPTURES By Ruth Aresvik
VETERANS HELP NET CORRESPONDENT
Like delicate strands of liquid metal dripping from a chandelier, a massive display of dog tags hangs from a two-story high atrium. Visitors look upward 24 feet to view a 410 square foot rectangular sculpture, and see what they expect to be wind chimes when the shifting air currents gently bring the tags together. It is indeed a wind chime...but one created with dignity and honor. There are 58,307 dog tags here, each showing a name, military branch, and date of death. "Above and Beyond,” currently on exhibit at the Harold Washington Library Center in Chicago, is the only memorial, other than The Wall in Washington, D.C., to list all those killed in action during the Vietnam War.
The exhibit was created over a twoyear period by military veteran artists Rick Steinbock, Ned Broderick, Joe Fornelli, and Mike Helbing. Each dog tag was stamped by hand using a former military Graphotype machine. The exhibition was originally installed in the National Vietnam Art Museum (now known as the National Veterans Art Museum) in Chicago in 2001. Later, the "Above and Beyond" exhibit was boxed up in 2013 and remained in storage until 2016 when it was reinstalled at its current location. The National Veterans Art Museum has a collection of over 2,500 artworks collected over the past 35 years. "Our mission is clear – to share veteran-created art inspired by combat and military service in ways that generate discussion on the meaning and impact of conflict on society."
COURTESY NVAM
The museum staff collects art from all the branches of the military, and from artists who have seen war, military conflicts, and peacekeeping missions. The majority of the NVAM collection is contemporary and covers World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War and current conflicts. The organization continues to expand the collection with additional veteran art pieces to reflect present day history. The impact of combat is apparent and haunting as one looks skyward to "Above
and Beyond". Museum employees use a kiosk and laser pointer to help visitors locate the exact dog tag with the imprinted name of their lost friend or relative. The exhibit also includes a single black dog tag, to serve as a reminder of those who died from conditions related to service during the Vietnam War. Visit www.nvam.org for information on exhibitions and a virtual museum. Follow NVAM on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
La-Z-Boy Salutes Those Who Have Served
Thank You For Your Service
In appreciation for your service we provide an additional 5% off on every La-Z-Boy product 10205 N. Division St Spokane, WA 99218 (509) 465-4380 www.la-z-boy.com
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VETERANS CHRONICLE
Services available for homeless needing health care “Attention Spokane! I am a homeless veteran…I need lots of help. I don’t know who to ask or where to go first. Can you help me?” This is a question that Gordon Graves and his team from Healthcare for Homeless Veterans hears and tries to answer every day. Below you can find his response, which includes sharing info about many local Veteran Service Organizations and how they pool their efforts and resources to help our troubled veterans. It is not just about helping them find housing but helping them get jobs and get healthy so they can stay in their housing. I work for the VA homeless program Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) as the Employment Coordinator. Typically, I have a revolving door of 25-30 veterans referred to me for help finding employment or in connecting to veteran programs, agencies and resources to fulfill various needs. Under normal (non-COVID 19) circumstances I will be meeting with people in the Greater Spokane and North Idaho community giving presentations on what we do as a team and what I try to do individually toward helping veterans. The goal is to help the veteran develop a path out of homelessness and work toward independent living. Along the way I work with and lobby for the veteran to receive help and it’s hard for me to mention ALL the veteran-centric programs out there that contribute but I will do my best. First, hats off to Goodwill with its SSVF (Supportive Services for Veteran Families) program for working with our HCHV program. It also works in close collaboration with Volunteers of America and our GPD (Grant and per-diem) transitional housing program. All of us turn to and refer Veterans to Spokane County Regional Veteran Services so those who are eligible can apply for different types of help which in-
Health care for homeless veterans program
COLIN MULVANY/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW
After a ribbon-cutting, Shannon Dunkin, Healthcare for Homeless Veterans coordinator, on right, gives Spokane’s then-Mayor David Condon and former Director of Veterans Services Cathrene "Cat" Nichols a tour of the new Healthcare for Homeless Veterans building in May 2018. cludes applying for Service Connected or Non-Service-Connected disability claims. I work hand in hand with and as much as possible with Work Source and the veteran representatives there and the Department of Labor in Post Falls. Help comes in different forms through various programs they offer and through them Veterans can also apply for employment related funds from the Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program. Our local veteran community is just so awesome when it comes to pulling together toward helping a veteran and their unique needs. We always encourage our veterans to not be afraid to ask for help and seek to make appointments with our Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center or an outlying CBOC (Community Based Outpatient Clinic) in Coeur d’Alene or Wenatchee.
For combat veterans we make sure they are aware of the Vet Center and the multitude of counseling and therapeutic programs they offer as well as help with claims. There’s also the Combat Vet Riders in Spokane and North Idaho who provide financial help to fill different needs. Other agencies instrumental in helping Veterans are Newby-Ginnings in Post Falls where veterans newly housed can get help with furniture, clothing small appliances and more. I want to mention that our office, is so grateful for hygiene items donated to us, in the form of care packages from Red Cross and other people. We also get food items from Northwest Harvest and other people as well. All of these items are handed out on a daily basis and we try to spread it out among all the veterans we can so everyone in need gets a
share. More agencies that deserve mention are Rotary 21, all the local VFWs and the Elks who recently reached out and want to help newly housed veterans. I also have to mention ALL the employers out there (like Skils’Kin. and Cabela’s) who go out of their way to hire veterans. So after all this, I apologize if I forgot someone, but I want to mention an agency, Operation Spokane Heroes, that has helped me help countless veterans as I’ve gotten to know them better over the years. I’ve approached them for help in getting an airplane ticket to get a veteran over to Seattle and then to Alaska to work on a fishing boat. They’ve put up funds for so many veterans to get auto tabs, driver license renewals and classes if needed. They provided one veteran with funds to get gas, phone minutes and a pro-
Initially serving as a mechanism to contract with providers for community-based residential treatment for homeless veterans, many HCHV programs now serve as the hub for myriad housing and other services that provide VA with a way to reach and assist homeless veterans by offering them entry to VA care. Supportive Services for Veteran Families is a housing stability program serving veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Goodwill partners with Volunteers of America to provide these intensive services to veterans and their families in Spokane, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Kootenai, Ferry, Lincoln, Whitman, and Bonner counties. SSVF assists over 400 veterans each year. If you or someone you know needs help you can find the contact information for these organizations in the “How can I get help?” section on Page 5 of this publication
pane tank last winter because he was living in a trailer with no electricity nor running water. He’s now employed full-time and doing well and when he tries to give me credit for “saving his life,” I just tell him to thank our local veteran community and especially OSH. They have helped with rent, saving several veterans’ storage units and filled a multitude of unique needs which enable a veteran to just “breathe a little easier” as they work to just get back on their feet. They help veterans on a one-time basis to address literally any emergency (up to $300) and they rarely turn someone down. From the bottom of my heart, Gordon Graves
Spokane, Wash. / Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
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VETERANS CHRONICLE
Why I get my health care at the VA
Veterans speak on value of vet centers By Bronwyn Emmet NATIONAL VETERANS OUTREACH OFFICE
Where do you go when you return from combat and need help readjusting to civilian life? These veterans found that Vet Centers – VA’s storefront centers staffed by combat veterans who understand what it’s like to transition – helped them the most. There, they got connected to community resources, VA benefits and services, and found someone to listen to their experiences. Here are some of their thoughts:
most important thing.
Karl
Vet Centers are really the best-kept secret within VA. It’s just one of those community resources that don’t get publicized as much as other programs.
Candace
What I was really experiencing was just a hard time readjusting. I really just needed to talk to somebody, I think.
They’re small. They’re community based. Most of the counselors have also served in a combat zone. When you call, you talk to a live person. You can get in right away. It’s help with no hassle. (Eligibility for Vet Centers has expanded greatly since the interview was recorded. To find out whether you are eligible, go to www.vetcenter. va.gov and click on eligibility.)
Jason
Jeffrey
Candace
I definitely ended up going through a lot of bouts of depression and PTSD. And I definitely had a hard time.
Karl
When I Google-searched “Veterans services” near Los Angeles, the first thing that came up was the Vet Center.
Jeffrey
What I like the most about going to the Vet Center is that I was with like-minded people. I was with people that I know have been through similar things that I’ve been through. Going in and getting counseling from VA…and realizing that you can get help is the
You can have group counseling. If you’re married or you have a significant other, you can have your significant other come in there for free counseling. There’s financial management aid there. They have representatives from different organizations come down there and help you with your claims, or compensation and pension, or any other issues that you’re having.
Candace
Eligibility for a Vet Center is any Veteran who has served in a combat zone as well as their family members, as well as any Veteran – male or female – who has experienced military sexual trauma
CANDACE (or) bereavement, which is the family members of Veterans who have died on active duty. (Eligibility for Vet Centers has expanded greatly since the interview was recorded. To find out whether you are eligible, go to www.vetcenter. va.gov and click on eligibility.)
Peter
The Vet Center is there to serve you. They tell you about your benefits. They provide both physical and sociological guidance.
Jason
It was another Veteran talking to me, so I felt like he understood a lot – where I came from and the combat experience. We had a brotherhood there, being with another Veteran talking to you instead of a therapist that really doesn’t know anything about war and combat.
Candace
Vet Center counselors know what it’s like to adjust and transition back to the civilian world, so they can relate. And sometimes people just need somebody to relate to them.
Dave
I’m taking action for my
JASON well-being.
Jeffrey
You walk into the Vet Center. There’s going to be someone right there. They’re going to ask you what’s going on and they’re going to help you out. Period.
JEFFREY
Apply for VA health care
Enrolling for VA health care is easier than ever before. Explore your eligibility today at www. choose.va.gov/health. The Spokane Vet Center is at 13109 Mirabeau Parkway in
Spokane Valley. The center can be reached at (509) 444-8387 or online at www.va.gov/spokanevet-center/. Bronwyn Emmet is a public affairs specialist for the National Veterans Outreach Office.
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Page 10
Friday, March 18, 2022
The Spokesman-Review
VETERANS CHRONICLE
Surprise costs, legal matters may complicate final arrangements
Veterans should make sure all details are in place By Kelly Richardson VETERANS HELP NET
Did you know that the VA does NOT pay for veteran’s funerals or cremations? In all my years in funeral service and as a volunteer veteran’s advocate, this has been the most common, and most devastating problem I have encountered. The only part of your final expenses that is covered are the cemetery expenses if you are placed in a state or national veteran’s cemetery. The veteran’s cemetery is free, the funeral home is not. Before you arrive at the cemetery, you must be either cremated or in a casket, and the VA does not pay for either. The VA does NOT pay for caskets, embalming, viewings, services, receptions, flowers, memorial folders, urns, etc. Placement in a veteran’s cemetery is not required or automatic. I strongly recommend pre-registering as part of your estate plans. If you plan to be placed in a private cemetery, start making plans now as the prices have increased significantly over the years. VA death benefits are very limited. They are not automatic and only certain veterans qualify. They are a partial reimbursement after-the-fact and will not cover all expenses in most cases. In addition to assuming that the VA “takes care of everything” many veterans and their families neglect to plan for the other aspects of their estates. Wills, trusts, power of attorney, advance directives, beneficiary designations,
funeral or cremation plans, letters of instruction, etc. all need to be created and updated over time. There are many legal problems that can arise from not having your estate plans in order. The two main ones I encounter regularly is multiple marriages and unmarried relationships. Many people assume that getting divorced ends all connections with their former spouse and it’s not that simple. After a life change such as death, divorce, change in health, family, or financial status, etc. all documents and policies must be updated to reflect the current situation. Did you know that your life insurance policy is not part of your estate? Your Last Will may state that you want everything to go to a particular person or persons, but someone else is named as the beneficiary of your life insurance policy. The person named will receive the money, not your new spouse or other person that you want it to go to. You must deliberately and specifically add and remove people from your policy. It’s not automatic after a divorce or other life event. Did you know that you
are not related to your step-family or significant other? It’s important to understand the difference between your legal family tree and your emotional family tree. Each state has its own laws pertaining to common law marriages, which may apply while you are alive, but after your die, everything changes. I strongly recommend having your estate plans in order long before the need arises. Aside from death, you also need to plan for incapacitation. Losing the ability to speak, sign documents or make decisions can cause similar (sometimes worse) legal and financial problems for you and your beneficiaries and caregivers. Having your legal, financial, family, and funeral plans in place far ahead of time will make a world of difference for your survivors. Pre-planning is not an event, it’s a process that requires attention to detail and lifelong maintenance. It can be complicated and overwhelming. You may be wondering “Where do I start?” Six years ago, I created a course/seminar entitled “Final Arrangements 101.” The course ranges from a 20-minute overview up to a four-hour comprehensive seminar covering dozens of issues and situations. I am available to meet with individuals and groups, including veteran’s organizations, churches, civic organizations, social workers, and caregivers. For more information, call (509) 714-7482 or visit www.finalarrangements101.com.
WOMEN ON THE WALL
By Wesley S. Anderson VFW POST 51
A short distance from The Wall stand three women. Who are they? We may never know but they are there tending their charge and overlooking The Wall. Who were they? They were called Mother, Daughter, Wife, Girlfriend when the wounded and dying called out. “These women were the last people those guys saw or talked to before they died." For theirs was a duty that touched the lives of all who came in contact with them. Giving comfort to all and asking for nothing in return. What were their names? We do not know their names, we never asked. They were the Nurses, the Female Corpsmen and Medics who volunteered to be there. They do not
COURTESY OF WASHINGTON.ORG
look at The Wall; they are looking after their charges doing their best to ensure his name does not go on that black granite in front of them. These women were the youngest group of medical personnel ever to serve in war time. They did not have to come, but
they did. They endured the same hazards we all endured. Eight of them are forever enshrined on that black granite wall in front of them. But these three will forever stand in mute testament to all those that chose to be there, and for that we shall always be grateful.
Spokane, Wash. / Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
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Friday, March 18, 2022
VETERANS CHRONICLE
Study shows survival advantage for veterans who receive VA emergency care
We welcome help in efforts of ‘Helping by Telling’ By Don Walker
By Chad Kessler
VETERANSHELP.NET
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS ADMINISTRATION
I’ve known for a long time that we in VA have some of the most skilled and dedicated health care professionals in the nation. I also know our hospitals use some of the best technology around, and that our model of integrated care is second to none. Now we have yet another major research study that attests to those facts. This one has to do with an area I am intimately familiar with – emergency care. This is a branch of VA care that is often a matter of life and death for our veterans.
Main finding: 20% or better survival advantage
The new study appeared recently in the prestigious British Medical Journal (BMJ). It was carried out by researchers from VA, Stanford University, Carnegie Mellon University and the University of California, Berkeley. The funding came from VA, Stanford and the National Institutes of Health. The big finding of the study was that veterans who needed emergency care and were rushed by ambulance to a VA hospital, versus a non-VA hospital in the community, had lower mortality rates. Their survival rates were at least 20% better at the one-month mark. The survival advantage was even bigger for minority groups. Black veterans seen in VA emergency care were nearly 25% less likely to die within 30 days. For Hispanic veterans, the survival edge was nearly 23%. The study looked at data on about 583,000 veterans over age 65 who were taken by ambulance to emergency departments – either at VA or non-VA hospitals – between 2001 and
Veteran stories: Why these? Why now?
DWAYNE RIDER/PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER
Dr. Troy Sommerville, right, discusses his “Journey to Discharge” with a veteran at the Hershel "Woody" Williams VA Medical Center. 2018. In all, there were some 1.4 million ambulance rides. All the veterans in the study were enrolled in both VA and Medicare.
Value of integrated care
Another important finding: Mortality rates were also lower for veterans who were taken to hospitals where they had previously received care. This says something about the value of our integrated care system. More than 9 million veterans are enrolled in VA care. Today, more options are available to veterans on where to get care and that’s a good thing. But we still urge veterans to choose VA care. That’s because we believe our 171 hospitals and 1,112 clinics do an excellent job of caring for veterans. Part of that is our amazing staff, many of whom are veterans themselves. Not only are they highly skilled at what they do but they care deeply about
veterans and the VA mission. Besides our people, another crucial factor is our system. Though our network is huge – the nation’s largest integrated health care system – we’re very good at having all the different parts talk to each other. Credit our state-of-the-art information technology, among other organizational factors. Most studies on the topic have shown that veterans who receive all their care – from primary care to specialty care – under “one roof,” so to speak, have better health outcomes. That may help explain, in part, some of these new findings on emergency care.
Learning health system
We’ll use the results of this research to further optimize emergency care for veterans, both within VA and in the community. At our core, we’re a learning
health care system. We put ourselves under the microscope. We study ourselves in an unbiased, rigorous way (Many universities and outside organizations study us as well.) That was the case in this study, funded in part by the VA Office of Research and Development. It has also been the case in many other published studies analyzing VA care and comparing outcomes. To some people’s surprise, we generally outperform, or at least match, the private sector. Whatever the outcomes of any one study, we’re always learning from our success and our failures, striving to do better all the time. We owe it to the veterans we serve. Chad Kessler, M.D., M.B.A., is VA’s national director for emergency medicine and a professor of medicine at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, N.C.
Telling a veteran’s success stories is one of the most effective and impacting methods of getting information out about the help that is available to today’s veterans and their families. A real story can generate interest and inquiries from other veterans, their families or friends. Every story will end with “Does this story sound like someone you know?” and will include a place to contact to get help. People relate to real stories about real people. People that overcome obstacles and find life changing help can open the door for others. It doesn’t matter if the story is part of a newspaper article or told in person in casual conversation. The impacts are huge because the listener/reader is able to put a face to the story (themselves or someone they know). This leads to more inquiries and referrals. By telling a veteran story we are accomplishing three things: 1. It puts a face on veterans with need because the story uses a specific actual person as an example ..i.e. “That sounds like me” or “That could help my friend Henry.” 2. We lead the veteran to seek help by painting a positive and specific result. 3. A veteran story shows our passion and commitment to our veterans and their families. We need more stories. We have all heard them. Many of us have lived them. Send us your stories and help us offer “Hope and Help” to our veterans and their families. Veterans Help Net will help spread the news. We gather these stories for use in our publications, including the Veterans Chronicle for The Spokesman-Review and the Veterans Press for the Coeur d’Alene Press. We also use them on our website and social media sites. Send your stories, ideas and questions to info@VeteransHelpNet.com or go to our website www.veteranshelpnet.com or call (509) 665-9266.
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Friday, March 18, 2022
The Spokesman-Review
VETERANS CHRONICLE
House approves bill to automatically enroll vets in VA health care By Rebecca Kheel MILITARY.COM
Eligible veterans would be automatically enrolled in the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system under a bill passed by the House in late January. The House voted 265-163 to approve the Ensuring Veterans' Smooth Transition, or EVEST, Act. The vote fell largely along party lines, though 44 Republicans joined Democrats to support the bill. Right now, veterans must proactively apply for health care benefits at the VA. The bill approved would require the department to instead automatically enroll veterans who meet existing eligibility criteria for VA health care. The VA would also have to provide a way for
veterans to opt out of coverage. The bill, which does not change who is eligible for VA health benefits, would apply retroactively to veterans discharged 90 days before it becomes law. The bill must still be voted on by the Senate before being sent to the president to be signed into law. Supporters of the bill touted it as a common sense measure that will help ease the transition from the military to civilian life. "We know that the months following transition out of the military can be very stressful and particularly risky for new veterans in terms of mental health," House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Mark Takano, D-Calif., who sponsored the bill, said on the House floor. "This helps sim-
plify the process and prevents veterans from potentially missing out on lifesaving care. It also keeps veterans from having to opt-in to VA care later and attempt to navigate a new bureaucracy on their own." The bill could affect about 58,000 veterans annually who might otherwise not enroll in VA health care, according to estimates from the Congressional Budget Office, or CBO. The bill could cost about $3.1 billion over the next five years, the CBO estimated. In a statement last week, the White House said it supports the "goal" of the bill of "seamless enrollment in health care coverage." But the White House also expressed concern that "there may be challenges implementing this bill as drafted," adding that the ad-
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U.S. House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Mark Takano gives opening remarks at Quantico National Cemetery in Triangle, Va., on May 28. ministration "looks forward" to working out the issues with
Congress. Republican opponents of the bill pointed to the White House statement as they argued automatic enrollment could exacerbate existing issues with VA health care, such as long wait times and staffing shortages. "Leaving the military wasn't easy," Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., the ranking member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee and a Marine veteran, said on the House floor. "It can leave new veterans feeling adrift and alone. I've been there." Bost said he wants troops to get the services they need in a "seamless manner" when they end military service. "I am not at all confident that this bill will accomplish that goal without harming services to other veterans and adding to the national debt," he said.
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