The Stanley American Legion and VFW held a veterans outreach Saturday, April 12 at 4 p.m. at Martino’s Restaurant in Stanley. Present as well were members of the Boyd Legion, a similar event …
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The Stanley American Legion and VFW held a veterans outreach Saturday, April 12 at 4 p.m. at Martino’s Restaurant in Stanley. Present as well were members of the Boyd Legion, a similar event held at Boyd last year.
As for Saturday, the event which included free pizza featured a presentation by Chippewa County Veterans Service Officer Peter Johnston, who provided information on veteran’s benefits and also answered veteran’s questions.
“What I’m here for is to represent veterans in my county,” Johnston said in introduction. Although his main role is to help with VA benefits, Johnston can also help with things like Society Security as well. Johnston shared more Saturday on what a Veterans Service Officer can help with.
Among developments important to veterans is the PACT Act, which established “toxic exposure” as a covered condition for VA health care and benefits, including from burn pits and Agent Orange.
In order to qualify under the Act, one must be a veteran whose service related toxic exposure impacted their health. This can include peacetime if served with ninety consecutive days, at least one of which was wartime.
Included in the definition of “toxic exposure” under the Act are exposure to jet fuel, asbestos, and radiation.
“Filing a claim now, even it doesn’t go through right away,” can help tomorrow,” Johnston said. Included as possible conditions that might not be otherwise expected is diabetes from asbestos exposure.
The law is that one must file within one year on toxic exposure claims, an exception being made for a “clear and unmistakable error,” meaning one not open to interpretation. The VA won’t file associated claims on a condition unless a veteran files it first. A CVSO like Johnston can help by pulling records and help with claims like disability due to service. Disability claims include a Disability Benefits Questionnaire, with family and friends able to write letters to help with claims. The more documentation, the better.
Also of importance to veterans is the Combat Related Special Compensation Act (CRSC), which can provide tax free payments to retired veterans with combat-related disabilities. In order to be eligible for the CRSC, certain conditions must be met. These include being retired and entitled to or receiving military retirement pay, having a VA disability rating of at least 10 percent, and current Department of Defense (DoD) retirement payments reduced by the amount of VA disability payments . Retirement can include full 20-year as well as those with less than 20-years of service who were med boarded out or medically retired.
Also touched on at the April 12 veterans outreach were mental health issues, including Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
“The biggest thing a veteran needs is a diagnosis,” Johnston said of qualifying for mental health assistance. TBI is determined on the basis of symptoms, due to its nature. Potential hurdles can emerge with lack of documentation in the compensation exam, leading to advice from Johnston.
“Don’t sugarcoat things,” he said, of the compensation exam. Veterans have a tendency to say things like “I’m fine” in the exam, but this leaves examiners to go on their own experience if documentation is lacking. Mental health meanwhile carried a stigma, as one veteran related.
“Veterans of all ages say ‘I don’t want to go in for mental health because I don’t want my guns taken away,’” said one.
Johnston shared that this doesn’t happen just for mental health, with such a determination being “competency based.” Mental health help is also confidential, with permission needed to give out information. Spouses can receive benefits if the diagnosis is on a veteran’s death certificate.
Covered last at the April 12 veterans outreach was Special Monthly Compensation or SMCs. While this requires additional conditions, it can provide those veterans with certain needs or disabilities with compensation at a higher rate than they might otherwise receive. Additionally, adaptability grants routed through the VA can be used for Parkinson’s and mobility issues. Tinnitus (subjective) can only be compensated at 10 percent, while hearing loss (objective) can be compensated from zero to 100 percent.
“It’s on me to know that veterans don’t know everything,” Johnston said. “I try to information them as best I can.” Among those things is that veterans can be treated close to home rather than a VA hospital, the current federal budget moving funds out of the VA and putting it into community care instead. Johnston keeps an office in Room 113 at the Chippewa County Courthouse with hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Friday. He can be reached at 715-726-7990 or by email at veterans@chippewacountywi.gov. But while a County Veteran Services Officer can help navigate the process, the best advocates for veterans are veterans themselves.
“The best advocate for veterans benefits or anyone coming to my office is this group,” Johnston told the assembled veterans from the VFW and American Legion.
Formed in the aftermath of World War I, the American Legion exists in part to provide camaraderie for veterans after their time in service is up. The VFW was founded after the Spanish-American War and advocates on behalf of veterans at Washington for issues of importance to service members.
More on the Stanley VFW and Legion can be found by contacting Bruce Wozniak at 651-295-9174.
