Category Archives: Veterans Benefits

Featured Link — Checks for Vets Blog

Written On January 2, 2010 By Bob Kraft

The Checks for Vets blog is written by Joseph S. McCarthy, who is also the author of the book Checks for Vets. Mr. McCarthy writes about various benefits to which wartime vets are entitled, especially Aid and Attendance benefits. Here are Mr. McCarthy’s goals in writing his book:
Get the word out to wartime service veterans [...]

Posted in Featured Link, Veterans Benefits

Long Term Care for Senior Veterans

Written On November 11, 2009 By Bob Kraft

In the year 1919 President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11 as Armistice Day to honor those Veterans who served during World War I. On November 11, 1954, Armistice Day was proclaimed a legal national holiday and the name was changed to “Veterans Day” to honor all veterans of all wars.
Every November 11, ceremonies are held [...]

Posted in Veterans Benefits

Veterans Day

Written On November 11, 2009 By Bob Kraft

Today is Veterans Day in the United States. Please take the time to thank anyone you know who has served in our armed forces, and also take a few minutes to think about those who served and now are not here with us to be thanked.

Posted in Veterans Benefits

Wounded Troops Face Too Much Bureaucracy

Written On October 29, 2009 By Bob Kraft

In a speech this week Defense Secretary Robert Gates gave his opinion that troops injured in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan continue to face too many bureaucratic hurdles. This is true of course, but applies equally to all veterans applying for medical care and disability benefits, and not only to those who have served in [...]

Posted in Veterans Benefits

Obama Proposes Extra One-Time Payment to Social Security Recipients

Written On October 15, 2009 By Bob Kraft

As a follow-up to the last post, the press is reporting today that President Obama is proposing a one-time payment of $250 to Social Security recipients and others to partially make up for the lack of a cost-of-living-adjustment in 2010. The payments would be made sometime next year, and would go to all Social Security [...]

Posted in Government, Social Security, Social Security Disability, Veterans Benefits

PTSD and Social Security Disability

Written On September 2, 2009 By Bob Kraft

A number of our Social Security Disability clients suffer from post-traumatic-stress-disorder or PTSD. Individuals suffering from this disorder frequently experience the following symptoms:

re-experiencing symptoms (for example, a car backfire reminds a veteran of gunfire from battle),

avoidance of situations that remind a person of the traumatic event (for example, avoiding television shows with natural disasters [...]

Posted in Disability, Medical and Health Resources, Social Security Disability, Veterans Benefits

Negligence Suits Likely Over VA Procedures

Written On August 24, 2009 By Bob Kraft

As reported today in the Washington Post, the Department of Veterans Affairs is facing the possibility of a series of negligence lawsuits over contaminated medical equipment used in colonoscopy and endoscopy procedures. Here are excerpts:
Army veteran Juan Rivera reported to the veterans hospital in Miami for a routine colonoscopy in May 2008. Almost a year [...]

Posted in Medical Malpractice, Veterans Benefits

Featured Link – NewGIBill.org

Written On August 15, 2009 By Bob Kraft

The Post 9/11 GI Bill is the largest investment in veterans’ education since World War II, covering the full cost of an undergraduate education at any public university or college in the country and many private schools for our nation’s newest generation of veterans. Here is the list of Frequently Asked Questions about this new [...]

Posted in Featured Link, Veterans Benefits

Schumer to Introduce Veterans’ Malpractice Bill in Senate

Written On June 25, 2009 By Bob Kraft

New York state’s Times Herald-Record reports, “Sen. Charles E. Schumer announced Wednesday he is introducing the Carmelo Rodriguez Military Medical Accountability Act, which will give military service members the right to pursue civil actions against the military for medical negligence experienced while receiving treatment for injuries unrelated to their service.”
From the American Association for Justice [...]

Posted in Medical Malpractice, Veterans Benefits

Family Fights For Right To Sue Military Over Medical Malpractice

Written On March 25, 2009 By Bob Kraft

The CBS Evening News (3/24, story 5, 3:40, Couric) reported, "About a year ago, we brought you the tragic story of Marine Sergeant Carmelo Rodriguez. Military doctors noticed he had melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer, but they left it untreated and Rodriguez died." Under the "Feres Doctrine, a 1950 Supreme Court ruling" his [...]

Posted in Government, Medical Malpractice, Veterans Benefits

Little-Known Government Program Pays the Cost of Elder Care

Written On March 17, 2009 By Bob Kraft

WHAT IF 33% OF ALL SENIORS IN THIS COUNTRY could receive up to $1,949 a month in additional income from the government to help cover their elder care costs? THEY CAN!

Under
the right circumstances, a little-known federal program will pay
additional income to cover long term care costs for at least 1/3 of all
US senior [...]

Posted in Veterans Benefits

Veterans’ Clinics Closing For Holiday In Central Texas

Written On December 21, 2008 By Bob Kraft

The outpatient clinics of the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System will be closed Thursday and Friday, December 25 and 26.. All clinic appointments that were scheduled for Friday will be rescheduled.
The closings will include the Waco VA Medical Center and the Olin E. Teague Veterans’ Center in Temple.
For more information, please call (254) 743-2376.

Posted in Veterans Benefits

Featured Link – IAVA.org

Written On December 2, 2008 By Bob Kraft

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America is the nation’s first
and largest group dedicated to the Troops and Veterans of the wars in
Iraq and Afghanistan, and the civilian supporters of those Troops and
Veterans. Please visit the site and consider making a donation.

Posted in Disability, Featured Link, Veterans Benefits

Veterans Groups Sue Bush Administration Over Delayed Benefits Claims

Written On November 11, 2008 By Bob Kraft

As reported in U.S. News, two groups have filed suit in order to speed up the process of deciding veterans benefits claims. As is, the procedure takes an unacceptably long time – as much as 4-5 years from start to finish. In the meantime, the disabled vets are losing their homes and other assets, while [...]

Posted in Veterans Benefits

Iraq Veterans Suffer Increase In Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Injuries

Written On May 29, 2008 By Bob Kraft

The Chicago Tribune reports an increase in the number of post traumatic stress disorder injuries suffered by military personnel in Iraq, coinciding with the "surge" in troop strength. This is doubly tragic for our brave vets — they suffer terrible injuries, and then we mistreat them by failing to provide proper diagnosis and treatment in [...]

Posted in Veterans Benefits

Link of the Day – Texas Veterans Commision

Written On November 12, 2007 By Bob Kraft

Yesterday was Veterans Day, but because it fell on a Sunday this year, government offices and some businesses will recognize it today. In addition to pausing to thank all the veterans who have served to protect us, we should also think about the great difficulties veterans face when trying to receive the benefits they have [...]

Posted in Link of the Day, Veterans Benefits

Link of the Day – Help Support Our Troops And Their Families

Written On July 2, 2007 By Bob Kraft

Regardless of your position on the war in Iraq, I know we all want to offer support and comfort to the brave men and women who have been sent there to fight and to suffer. One local organization that provides for the troops is DFW Marine Corps Families. Here is information from their Web site:
DFW [...]

Posted in Government, Link of the Day, Miscellaneous, Veterans Benefits

Link of the Day – Veterans Administration

Written On May 7, 2007 By Bob Kraft

The starting point for a question about veterans’ benefits or any other aspect of our government’s treatment of veterans is the Web site of the Veterans Administration.
The stated goal of the Veterans Administration, which seems somewhat laughable in light of recent news reports is this:
Our goal is to provide excellence in patient care, veterans’ benefits [...]

Posted in Government, Link of the Day, Veterans Benefits

Should Wounded Vets Have The Right To Hire Lawyers?

Written On March 6, 2007 By Bob Kraft

Please read this important story about the possible denial of the right of wounded veterans to have attorney representation. The story is posted on VA Watchdog. Here are a few excerpts from the article:
Last year, Congress passed "Attorneys for Veterans" legislation that would have allowed vets to hire an attorney to represent them in the [...]

Posted in Government, Insurance Company or Government Misconduct, Veterans Benefits

Valor And Squalor

Written On March 5, 2007 By Bob Kraft

New York Times columnist Paul Krugman has an excellent article in today’s paper about the mistreatment of our wounded veterans as they try to get the health care they deserve. Here are excerpts from the column:
When Salon, the online magazine, reported on mistreatment of veterans at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center two years ago, [...]

Posted in Government, Insurance Company or Government Misconduct, Veterans Benefits