Category Archives: Veterans Benefits

History of Veterans Day

Written On November 11, 2011 By Bob Kraft

Today is, of course, Veterans Day in the United States. Please take a few minutes to thank the veterans you know for their service to our country.
Here is the history of Veterans Day from the official Web site of the Department of Veterans Affairs:
History of Veterans Day
World War I – known at the time as [...]

Posted in Veterans Benefits

Should Veterans Have the Right to Sue for Negligence in Military Hospitals?

Written On July 6, 2011 By Bob Kraft

Since 1950, U.S. veterans have been unable to make claims for medical malpractice committed in military hospitals. This seemingly unfair rule was decided in a U.S. Supreme Court case referred to by the Plaintiff’s name, Feres.It is now called the Feres Doctrine.
Many lawyers who represent vets thought there was a chance this 60-year-old rule might [...]

Posted in Medical Malpractice, Tort Reform, Veterans Benefits

Memorial Day — I Fought For You

Written On May 30, 2011 By Bob Kraft

This video seems appropriate for Memorial Day. Warning: It might bring a tear to your eye.

I Fought For You

Sermonspice.com
See Details Buy Now

Posted in Veterans Benefits

No Cost-of-Living Adjustment for Veterans Compensation and Pension Benefits in 2011

Written On December 30, 2010 By Bob Kraft

This was a foregone conclusion, but there will be no increase in veterans pension or compensation benefits for 2011. I wrote previously about no increase in Social Security disability or retirement benefits, and because veterans benefits are based on the same government standard, we knew there would be no increase for those benefits.
However, the official [...]

Posted in Veterans Benefits

“Secret” VA Benefit Available to Many Veterans and Their Spouses

Written On November 11, 2010 By Bob Kraft

Today is Veterans Day, when we celebrate and honor those brave Americans who have served our country and placed themselves in harm’s way to protect our freedom. Of course we should do this every day, not just once each year.
Our law firm tries to show our appreciation for veterans by helping them, and their spouses, [...]

Posted in Veterans Benefits

Contract Reveals VA Knew About Prudential’s Death Benefit Account

Written On September 20, 2010 By Bob Kraft

CBS Evening News (9/14, story 4, 3:00, Couric) said “earlier this summer,” revelations that Prudential, the “country’s second-largest life insurer,” was “profiting from the death benefits of fallen soldiers was news to almost everyone.” Now, however, a “major development” in the story “points out that this was not the case at the US Department of [...]

Posted in Insurance Company or Government Misconduct, Veterans Benefits

Diabetes is Now the Most Commonly-Paid Disability of Vietnam Veterans

Written On September 1, 2010 By Bob Kraft

The Associated Press reports that diabetes is now the most common illness or injury among Vietnam veterans drawing compensation benefits. The reason is a link between Agent Orange and diabetes, even though that link is a bit questionable. In fact, side effects of Agent Orange account for a very large percentage of all disability benefits [...]

Posted in Diabetes, Veterans Benefits

Bill Introduced to Provide One-Time $250 Payment to SS Recipients

Written On August 23, 2010 By Bob Kraft

The Chairman of the House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee, Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D-ND), has introduced H.R. 5987, The Seniors Protection Act of 2010, that would provide a one-time $250 payment to retired and disabled Social Security and SSI beneficiaries (and to veterans) if there is no cost-of- living adjustment (COLA) announced for 2011.
Any COLA for 2011 will be determined [...]

Posted in Social Security, Social Security Disability, Veterans Benefits

Important Help for Vets With PTSD

Written On July 12, 2010 By Bob Kraft

The Obama administration has announced an important change for veterans who are trying to get disability benefits as a result of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Details are available at the White House Web site.
The basic change is that veterans will no longer be required to provide evidence of the specific incident that caused their PTSD symptoms, [...]

Posted in Disability, Veterans Benefits

Veterans Affairs Wants To Be Advocate, Not Enemy

Written On June 21, 2010 By Bob Kraft

The Veterans Affairs Department’s disability claims process can be a nightmare to negotiate, and in my opinion is a real insult to the men and women who have been injured in serving our country. There may be some hope for improvement though. I’ve noted previously that the application form has been reduced to a mere [...]

Posted in Veterans Benefits

New VA Disability Form Now Available on VA Web Site

Written On June 15, 2010 By Bob Kraft

The new veterans disability form I mentioned earlier has now been officially debuted by the VA. You can read the VA press release to get more details.

Posted in Veterans Benefits

New VA Disability Form Available

Written On June 15, 2010 By Bob Kraft

There is a new form available for filing VA disability (more properly called compensation) claims. The new form is only six pages, in contrast with the earlier 23-page form. I don’t think the new one is on the VA Web site yet, but here’s a copy of it.

Posted in Veterans Benefits

Memorial Day History

Written On May 31, 2010 By Bob Kraft

The Web site USMemorialDay.org has an interesting section on the history of Memorial Day. As we pause today to honor our veterans, the history of this day is important. This is the opening section of the Web page:
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our [...]

Posted in Miscellaneous, Veterans Benefits

Texas Agencies Promise Reform After Alleged Abuse at Veterans Nursing Homes

Written On May 19, 2010 By Bob Kraft

Three state agencies have pledged to improve responses to abuse allegations at nursing homes, after legislators raised pointed questions about safety and management at two state-owned facilities for veterans. That is the story published recently in the Dallas Morning News. Here are excerpts:
One of the main changes is for the state agency in charge of [...]

Posted in Government, Medical Malpractice, Veterans Benefits

VA Limits Surgeries at Some Hospitals After Deaths

Written On May 13, 2010 By Bob Kraft

Because of an alarming report of deaths during or after surgeries at one VA hospital in Illinois, the Veterans Affairs Department is limiting the types of surgeries performed at some of its hospitals.
The VA has now given each hospital a “surgical complexity” level. Because of that, hospitals in at least five states will now perform [...]

Posted in Government, Medical Malpractice, 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