	Phone Numbers
Bereavement Counseling				1-202-461-6530
Education				1-888-442-4551
Headstones and Markers				1-800-697-6947
Health Care				1-877-222-8387
Homeless veterans				1-877-222-8387
Home Loans				1-877-827-3702
Life Insurance				1-800-669-8477
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline				1-800-273-8255
Pension Management Center				1-877-294-6380
Special Health Issues				1-800-749-8387
Telecommunication Device
for the Deaf (TDD)				1-800-829-4833
VA Benefits				1-800-827-1000
		Web Sites
VA Home Page .......................................................				www.va.gov
Education Benefits .........................................				www.gibill.va.gov
Health Care Eligibility .....................			www.va.gov/healtheligibility
Burial and Memorial Benefits .........................				www.cem.va.gov
Returning Servicemembers...........................				www.oefoif.va.gov
Home Loan Guaranty ...........................				www.homeloans.va.gov
Records ...............	www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel
VA Benefit	Payment	Rates ...........		www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/rates
VA Forms ..................................................				www.va.gov/vaforms
Mental Health.....................................				www.mentalhealth.va.gov
Federal Jobs ..........................................				www.usajobs.opm.gov
Veterans Preference ............		www.opm.gov/veterans/index.asp
Employment Assistance............................				www.vetsuccess.gov
Veterans Employment and Training................				www.dol.gov/vets
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program
Life Insurance ........................................				www.insurance.va.gov
Department of Defense .............................				www.defenselink.mil

On the Cover: The year 2009 marks the 200th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth. VA traces its roots to institutions created by federal law under President Lincoln’s administration. The quote from Lincoln’s second inaugural address serves as VA’s motto and is at the core of VA’s commitment to veterans.

Legal Status and Use of Seals and Logos

The seal of the Department of Veterans Affairs au-thenticates the 2009 edition of Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents as the official summary of benefits that have been separately promulgated under Federal regulations established under the Federal

Register Act. Under the provisions of 38 Code of Federal Regula-tions 1.9(f), it is prohibited to use the official seal, replicas, reproduc-tions, or embossed seals of the Department of Veterans Affairs on any republication of this material without the express, written permis-sion of the Secretary or Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Any person using official seals and logos of the Department of Veterans

Affairs in a manner inconsistent with the provisions of 38 Code of

Federal Regulations 1.9 may be subject to the penalties specified in 18 United States Code 506, 701, or 1017 as applicable.

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512-1800; DC area (202) 512-1800 Fax: (202) 512-2104 Mail: Stop IDCC, Washington, DC 20401

ISBN 978-0-16-082825-6

Contents iii

Contents

Chapter 1: VA Health Care	1
Chapter 2: Veterans with Service-
Connected Disabilities	19
Chapter 3: VA Pensions	31
Chapter 4: Education and Training	33
Chapter 5: Home Loan Guaranty	43
Chapter 6: VA Life Insurance	53
Chapter 7: Burial and Memorial
Benefits	59
Chapter 8: Reserve and National Guard	65
Chapter 9: Special Groups of Veterans	73

Introduction

Veterans of the United States armed forces may be eligible for a broad range of programs and services provided by the U.S. Depart-ment of Veterans Affairs (VA). These benefits are legislated in Title 38 of the United States Code. This booklet contains a summary of these benefits effective Jan. 1, 2009. For additional information, visit the VA Web page at http://www.va.gov/.

La versión en español de este folleto se encuentra disponible en formato Adobe Acrobat a través de el link: http://www1.va.gov/opa/ feature/index.asp.

General Eligibility

Eligibility for most VA benefits is based upon discharge from active military service under other than dishonorable conditions. Active service means full-time service, other than active duty for training, as a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or as a commissioned officer of the Public Health Service, Environmental Science Services Administration or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or its predecessor, the Coast and

Geodetic Survey. Generally, men and women veterans with similar service may be entitled to the same VA benefits.

Dishonorable and bad conduct discharges issued by general courts-martial may bar VA benefits. Veterans in prison and parolees must contact a VA regional office to determine eligibility. VA benefits will not be provided to any veteran or dependent wanted for an outstand-ing felony warrant.

Certain VA Benefits Require		Wartime Service
Certain VA benefits require service	during wartime. Under the law, VA
recognizes these war periods:

Mexican Border Period: May 9, 1916, through April 5, 1917, for veterans who served in Mexico, on its borders or in adjacent waters.

World War I: April 6, 1917, through Nov. 11, 1918; for veterans who

served in Russia, April 6, 1917, through April 1, 1920; extended through July 1, 1921, for veterans who had at least one day of ser-vice between April 6, 1917, and Nov. 11, 1918.

World War II: Dec. 7, 1941, through Dec. 31, 1946.

Korean War: June 27, 1950, through Jan. 31, 1955.

Vietnam War: Aug. 5, 1964 (Feb. 28, 1961, for veterans who served “in country” before Aug. 5, 1964), through May 7, 1975.

Gulf War: Aug. 2, 1990, through a date to be set by law or Presiden-tial Proclamation.

Important Documents Needed to Expedite

VA Benefits Delivery

In order to expedite benefits delivery, veterans seeking a VA benefit for the first time must submit a copy of their service discharge form (DD-214, DD-215, or for World War II veterans, a WD form), which documents service dates and type of discharge, or give their full name, military service number, and branch and dates of service. The veteran’s service discharge form should be kept in a safe location ac-cessible to the veteran and next of kin or designated representative.

The following documents will be needed for claims processing re-lated to a veteran’s death:

1.	Veteran’s marriage certificate for	claims	of	a	surviving	spouse
	or children.
2.	Veteran’s death certificate if the	veteran	did		not die in	a VA
	health care facility.

3. Children’s birth certificates or adoption papers to determine children’s benefits.

4. Veteran’s birth certificate to determine parents’ benefits.

Acronyms

ALS – Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

CHAMPVA – Civilian Health and Medical Program of VA

CLC – Community Living Center

C&P – Compensation and Pension

COE – Certificate of Eligibility

CRDP – Concurrent Retirement and Disability Payments CRSC – Combat-Related Special Compensation

CWT – Compensated Work Therapy

CZTE – Combat Zone Tax Exclusion

DIC – Dependency and Indemnity Compensation

DoD -- Department of Defense

FHA – Federal Housing Administration

FSGLI – Family Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance HUD – Department of Housing and Urban Development

IRR – Individual Ready Reserve

MGIB – Montgomery GI Bill

MIA – Missing in Action

NPRC – National Personnel Records Center NSLI – National Service Life Insurance

OEF – Operation Enduring Freedom

OIF – Operation Iraqi Freedom

OPM – Office of Personnel Management POW -- Prisoner of War

PTSD – Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

SAH – Specially Adapted Housing

SBA – Small Business Administration

SSI – Supplemental Security Income

S-DVI – Service-Disabled Veterans’ Insurance

SGLI – Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance

SSB – Special Separation Benefits

TAP – Transition Assistance Program

TSGLI – Traumatic Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance

USCIS – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

USDA – U.S. Department of Agriculture

VA – Department of Veterans Affairs

VEAP – Veterans Educational Assistance Program

VEOA – Veterans’ Employment Opportunities Act VGLI – Veterans’ Group Life Insurance

VHA – Veterans Health Administration

VMET – Verification of Military Experience and Training VMLI – Veterans’ Mortgage Life Insurance

VR&E – Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment VSI – Voluntary Separation Incentive

WAAC – Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps

WASPs – Women Air Force Service Pilots

Chapter 1 VA Health Care 1

Chapter 1

VA Health Care

VA operates the nation’s largest integrated health care system with more than 1,400 sites of care, including hospitals, community clinics, community living centers, domiciliaries, readjustment counseling centers, and various other facilities. For additional information on VA health care, visit: http://www.va.gov/health.

Basic Eligibility

A person who served in the active military, naval, or air service and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dis-honorable may qualify for VA health care benefits. Reservists and National Guard members may also qualify for VA health care ben-efits if they were called to active duty (other than for training only) by a Federal order and completed the full period for which they were called or ordered to active duty.

Minimum Duty Requirements: Veterans who enlisted after Sept.

7, 1980, or who entered active duty after Oct. 16, 1981, must have served 24 continuous months or the full period for which they were called to active duty in order to be eligible. This minimum duty re-quirement may not apply to veterans discharged for hardship, early out or a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.

Enrollment

For most veterans, entry into the VA health care system begins by applying for enrollment. To apply, complete VA Form 10-10EZ, Ap-plication for Health Benefits, which may be obtained from any VA health care facility or regional benefits office, on line at http://www. va.gov/1010ez.htm or by calling 1-877-222-VETS (8387). Once enrolled, veterans can receive health care at VA health care facilities anywhere in the country.

Veterans enrolled in the VA health care system are afforded privacy rights under federal law. VA’s Notice of Privacy Practices, which describes how VA may use and disclose veterans’ medical informa-tion, is also available on line at http://www.va.gov/vhapublications/

2 VA Health Care Chapter 1

viewpublication.asp?pub_ID=1089

The following four categories of veterans are not required to enroll, but are urged to do so to permit better planning of health resources:

1. Veterans with a service-connected disability of 50 percent or more.

2. Veterans seeking care for a disability the military determined was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, but which VA has not yet rated, within 12 months of discharge.

3. Veterans seeking care for a service-connected disability only.

4. Veterans seeking registry examinations (Ionizing Radiation, Agent Orange, Gulf War/Operation Iraqi Freedom and Depleted Uranium).

Priority Groups

During enrollment, each veteran is assigned to a priority group. VA uses priority groups to balance demand for VA health care enroll-ment with resources. Changes in available resources may reduce the number of priority groups VA can enroll. If this occurs, VA will publicize the changes and notify affected enrollees. A description of priority groups follows:

Group 1: Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 50 per-cent or more and/or veterans determined by VA to be unemployable due to service-connected conditions.

Group 2: Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 30 or 40 percent.

Group 3: Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 10 and 20 percent; veterans who are former Prisoners of War (POW) or were awarded a Purple Heart medal; veterans awarded special eligibility for disabilities incurred in treatment or participation in a VA Vocational Rehabilitation program; and veterans whose discharge was for a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.

Group 4: Veterans receiving aid and attendance or housebound benefits and/or veterans determined by VA to be catastrophically disabled.

Group 5: Veterans receiving VA pension benefits or eligible for

Medicaid programs, and non service-connected veterans and non-

Chapter 1 VA Health Care 3

compensable, zero percent service-connected veterans whose gross annual household income and net worth are below the established

VA means test thresholds.

Group 6: Veterans of World War I; veterans seeking care solely for certain conditions associated with exposure to radiation during atmo-spheric testing or during the occupation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki; for any illness associated with participation in tests conducted by the Department of Defense (DoD) as part of Project 112/Project SHAD; veterans with zero percent service-connected disabilities who are receiving disability compensation benefits and veterans who served in a theater of combat operations after Nov. 11, 1998 as follows:

1. Veterans discharged from active duty on or after Jan. 28,

2003, who were enrolled as of Jan. 28, 2008 and veterans who apply for enrollment after Jan. 28, 2008, for 5 years post discharge

2. Veterans discharged from active duty before Jan. 28, 2003, who apply for enrollment after Jan. 28, 2008, until Jan. 27,

2011

Group 7: Veterans with income and/or net worth above the VA national income threshold and income below the geographic income threshold who agree to pay copays.

Group 8: Veterans with income and/or net worth above the VA national income threshold and the geographic income threshold who agree to pay copays.

NOTE: While VA does not currently enroll new veterans into Prior-ity Group 8 at the time of publication of this guide, VA has proposed regulatory changes to re-open enrollment for veterans whose in-comes exceed the current VA means test and geographic means test income thresholds by 10 percent or less. Should these new regula-tions take effect as anticipated, VA will retroactively review all enroll-ment applications received on or after Jan. 1, 2009 to determine whether these new rules will allow enrollment.

Recently Discharged Combat Veterans

Effective Jan. 28, 2008, veterans discharged from active duty on or after Jan. 28, 2003, are eligible for enhanced enrollment place-ment into Priority Group 6 (unless eligible for higher enrollment Priority Group placement) for five-years post discharge. Veterans

4 VA Health Care Chapter 1

with combat service after Nov. 11, 1998, who were discharged from active duty before Jan. 28, 2003, and who apply for enrollment on or after Jan. 28, 2008, are eligible for this enhanced enrollment benefit through Jan. 27, 2011. During this period of enhanced enrollment benefits, these veterans receive VA care and medications at no cost for any condition that may be related to their combat service.

Veterans, including activated reservists and members of the National Guard, are eligible for the enhanced “Combat Veteran” benefits if they served on active duty in a theater of combat operations after Nov. 11, 1998, and have been discharged under other than dishonor-able conditions.

Special Access to Care

Service-Disabled Veterans: Veterans who are 50 percent or more disabled from service-connected conditions, unemployable due to service-connected conditions, or receiving care for a service-con-nected disability receive priority in scheduling of hospital or outpa-tient medical appointments.

Veterans who enroll with VA under this “Combat Veteran” authority will retain enrollment eligibility even after their five-year post dis-charge period ends. At the end of their post discharge period, VA will reassess the veteran’s information (including all applicable eligibility factors) and make a new enrollment decision. For additional infor-mation, call 1-877-222-VETS (8387).

Women Veterans

Women veterans are eligible for the same VA benefits as male veterans. Comprehensive health services are available to all women veterans including primary care, specialty care, mental health care and reproductive health care services.

VA provides management of acute and chronic illnesses, preventive care, contraceptive services, menopause management, Pap smears and mammography. Gynecology and maternity care are available and referrals are made to appropriate clinicians in the community for services that VA is unable to provide. In 1999, the uniform benefits package included a maternity care benefit for women veterans as well as infertility evaluation and limited treatment. Special initiatives include Women Veterans Comprehensive Health Centers and Clini-cal Programs of Excellence. For information, visit http://www.va.gov/

Chapter 1 VA Health Care 5

womenvet/.

VA health care professionals provide counseling and treatment to help veterans overcome psychological issues resulting from sexual trauma that occurred while serving on active duty, or active duty for training if service was in the National Guard or reserves. Veterans who are not otherwise eligible for VA health care may still receive these services. Appropriate services are provided for any injury, ill-ness or psychological condition resulting from such trauma.

Women Veterans Program Managers are available at all VA facilities, See the facility locator at http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/home. asp?isFlash=1 to help veterans seeking treatment and benefits. For additional information, visit publichealth.va.gov/womenshealth/.

Financial Assessment

Most veterans not receiving VA disability compensation or pension payments must provide information on their gross annual household income and net worth to determine whether they are below the annu-ally adjusted financial thresholds. Veterans who decline to disclose their information or have income above the thresholds must agree to pay copays in order to receive certain health benefits, effectively placing them in Priority Group 8. VA is currently not enrolling new ap-

plicants who decline to provide financial information unless they have a special eligibility factor.

This financial assessment includes all household income and net worth, including Social Security, retirement pay, unemployment insur-ance, interest and dividends, workers’ compensation, black lung ben-efits and any other income. Also considered are assets such as the market value of property that is not the primary residence, stocks, bonds, notes, individual retirement accounts, bank deposits, savings accounts and cash.

VA also compares veterans’ financial assessment with geographical-ly based income thresholds. If the veteran’s gross annual household income is above VA’s national means test threshold and below VA’s geographic means test threshold, or is below both the VA national threshold and the VA geographically based threshold, but their gross annual household income plus net worth exceeds VA’s ceiling (currently $80,000) the veteran may be eligible for Priority Group 7

6 VA Health Care Chapter 1

placement and qualify for an 80-percent reduction in inpatient copay rates.

VA Medical Services and Medication Copays

Some veterans must make copays to receive VA health care and/or medications.

Inpatient Care: Priority Group 7 and certain other veterans are responsible for paying 20 percent of VA’s inpatient copay or $213.60 for the first 90 days of inpatient hospital care during any 365-day pe-riod. For each additional 90 days, the charge is $106.80. In addition, there is a $2 per diem charge.

Priority Group 8 and certain other veterans are responsible for VA’s inpatient copay of $1,068 for the first 90 days of care during any 365-day period. For each additional 90 days, the charge is $534. In addition, there is a $10 per diem charge.

Extended Care: For extended care services, veterans may be subject to a copay determined by information supplied by completing a VA Form 10-10EC. VA social workers can help veterans interpret their eligibility and copay requirements. The copay amount is based on each veteran’s financial situation and is determined upon applica-tion for extended care services and will range from $0 to $97 a day.

Medication: Most Veterans are charged $8 for each 30-day or less supply of medication provided by VA for treatment of conditions that are not service-connected. For veterans enrolled in Priority Groups 2 through 6, the maximum copay for medications that will be charged in calendar year 2009 is $960. The following groups of veterans are not charged medication copays: veterans with a service-connected disability of 50 percent or more; veterans receiving medication for service-connected conditions; veterans whose annual income does not exceed the maximum annual rate of the VA pension; veterans enrolled in Priority Group 6 who receive medication under their special authority; veterans receiving medication for conditions related to sexual trauma related to service on active duty; certain veterans receiving medication for treatment of cancer of the head or neck; veterans receiving medication for a VA-approved research project; and former POWs.

NOTE: Copays apply to prescription and over-the-counter medica-

Chapter 1 VA Health Care 7

tions, such as aspirin, cough syrup or vitamins, dispensed by a VA pharmacy. However, veterans may prefer to purchase over-the-counter drugs, such as aspirin or vitamins, at a local pharmacy rather than making the copay. Copays are not charged for medications injected during the course of treatment or for medical supplies, such as syringes or alcohol wipes.

Outpatient Care: A three-tiered copay system is used for all outpa-tient services. The copay is $15 for a primary care visit and $50 for some specialized care. Certain services are not charged a copay.

Outpatient Visits Not Requiring Copays: Copays do not apply to publicly announced VA health fairs or outpatient visits solely for pre-ventive screening and/or immunizations, such as immunizations for influenza and pneumococcal, or screening for hypertension, hepatitis C, tobacco, alcohol, hyperlipidemia, breast cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer by fecal occult blood testing, education about the risks and benefits of prostate cancer screening, and weight reduction or smoking cessation counseling (individual and group). Laboratory, flat film radiology, electrocardiograms, and hospice care are also exempt from copays.

Private Health Insurance Billing

VA is required to bill private health insurance providers for medical care, supplies and prescriptions provided for treatment of veterans’ non-service-connected conditions. Generally, VA cannot bill Medi-care, but can bill Medicare supplemental health insurance for cov-ered services.

All veterans applying for VA medical care are required to provide information on their health insurance coverage, including coverage provided under policies of their spouses. Veterans are not respon-sible for paying any remaining balance of VA’s insurance claim not paid or covered by their health insurance, and any payment received by VA may be used to offset “dollar for dollar” a veteran’s VA copay responsibility.

Reimbursement of Travel Costs

8 VA Health Care Chapter 1

per mile and is subject to a deductible of $3 for each one-way trip and $6 for a round trip; with a maximum deductible of $18 or the amount after six one-way trips (whichever occurs first) per calendar month. Two exceptions to the deductible are travel in relation to a VA compensation or pension examination and travel requiring a special mode of transportation. The deductibles may be waived when their imposition would cause a severe financial hardship.

Eligibility: The following are eligible for VA travel:

1. Veterans whose service-connected disabilities are rated 30 percent or more.

2. Veterans traveling for treatment of service-connected conditions.

3. Veterans who receive a VA pension.

4. Veterans traveling for scheduled compensation or pension examinations.

5. Veterans whose gross household income does not exceed the maximum annual VA pension rate.

6. Certain veterans in certain emergency situations.

7. Veterans whose medical condition requires a special mode of transportation, if they are unable to defray the costs and travel is pre-authorized. Advance authorization is not required in an emergency if a delay would be hazardous to life or health.

8. Certain non-veterans when related to care of a veteran (attendants & donors).

VA Medical Programs

Veteran Health Registries

Certain veterans can participate in a VA health registry and receive free medical examinations, including laboratory and other diagnostic tests deemed necessary by an examining clinician. VA maintains health registries to provide special health examinations and health-related information. To participate, contact the nearest VA health care facility or visit http://www.va.gov/environagents/.

Gulf War Registry: For veterans who served in the Gulf War and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).

Depleted Uranium Registries: VA maintains two registries for vet-erans possibly exposed to depleted uranium. The first is for veterans

Chapter 1 VA Health Care 9

who served in the Gulf War, including Operation Iraqi Freedom. The second is for veterans who served elsewhere, including Bosnia and Afghanistan.

Agent Orange Registry: For veterans possibly exposed to dioxin or other toxic substances in herbicides used during the Vietnam War, while serving in Korea in 1968 or 1969, or as a result of testing, transporting, or spraying herbicides for military purposes.

Ionizing Radiation Registry: For veterans possibly exposed to atomic radiation during the following activities: atmospheric detona-tion of a nuclear device; occupation of Hiroshima or Nagasaki from Aug. 6, 1945, through July 1, 1946; internment as a POW in Japan during World War II; serving in official military duties at the gaseous diffusion plants at Paducah, Ky., Portsmouth, Ohio, or the K-25 area at Oak Ridge, Tenn., for at least 250 days before Feb. 1, 1992; or in

Longshot, Milrow or Cannikin underground nuclear tests at Amchitka

Island, Alaska, before Jan. 1, 1974; or treatment with nasopharyn-geal (NP) radium during military service.

Readjustment Counseling Services

VA provides outreach and readjustment counseling services through 232 community-based Vet Centers located in all 50 states, the Dis-trict of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Readjustment Counseling is designed to help combat veterans readjust to civilian life.

Eligibility: Veterans are eligible if they served on active duty in a combat theater during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, or the campaigns in Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, Somalia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq and the Global War on Terror. Veterans, who served in the active military during the Viet-nam-era, but not in the Republic of Vietnam, must have requested services at a Vet Center before Jan. 1, 2004.

Services Offered: Vet Center staff provides individual, group, fam-ily, military sexual trauma, and bereavement counseling to combat veterans in the effort to make a satisfying transition from military to civilian life. Services include individual and group counseling, marital and family counseling for treatment of post-traumatic stress disor-der (PTSD) or help with any other military related issue that affects functioning within the family, work, school or other areas of everyday

10 VA Health Care Chapter 1

life. Other services include outreach, education, medical referral, homeless veteran services, employment, VA benefit referral, and the brokering of non-VA services.

Bereavement Counseling: Bereavement Counseling related to servicemembers: Bereavement counseling is available through Department of Veterans Affairs (VA’s) Vet Centers to all immediate family members (including spouses, children, parents, and siblings) of servicemembers who die in the line of duty while on active service. This includes federally-activated members of the National Guard and reserve components. Bereavement services may be accessed by calling (202) 461-6530.

Bereavement Counseling related to Veterans: Bereavement counseling is available through any Veterans Health Administration medical center to immediate family members of veterans who die un-expectedly or while participating in a VA hospice or similar program, as long as the immediate family members had been receiving family support services in connection with or in furtherance of the veteran’s treatment. (In other cases, bereavement counseling is available to the veteran’s legal guardian or the individual with whom the veteran had certified an intention to live, as long as the guardian or individual had been receiving covered family support services.) This bereave-ment counseling is of limited duration and may only be authorized up to 60 days. However, VA medical center directors have authority to approve a longer period of time when medically indicated.

For additional information, contact the nearest Vet Center, listed in the back of this book, or visit http://www.vetcenter.va.gov/.

Prosthetic and Sensory Aids

Veterans receiving VA care for any condition may receive VA pros-thetic appliances, equipment and services, such as home respiratory therapy, artificial limbs, orthopedic braces and therapeutic shoes, wheelchairs, powered mobility, crutches, canes, walkers, and other durable medical equipment and supplies.

VA will provide hearing aids and eyeglasses to veterans who receive increased pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance or being permanently housebound; receive compensation for a ser-vice-connected disability; are former POWs or a Purple Heart award recipient. Otherwise, hearing aids and eyeglasses are provided only

Chapter 1 VA Health Care 11

in special circumstances, and not for normally occurring hearing or vision loss. For additional information, contact the prosthetic repre-sentative at the nearest VA health care facility.

Home Improvements and Structural Alterations

VA provides up to $4,100 for service-connected veterans and up to $1,200 for non-service-connected veterans to make home improve-ments necessary for the continuation of treatment or for disability access to the home and essential lavatory and sanitary facilities.

For application information, contact the prosthetic representative at the nearest VA health care facility.

Services for Blind and Visually Impaired Veterans

Blind veterans may be eligible for services at a VA medical center or for admission to an inpatient or outpatient VA blind rehabilitation program. In addition, blind veterans enrolled in the VA health care system may receive:

1. A total health and benefits review.

2. Adjustment to blindness training and counseling.

3. Home improvements and structural alterations.

4. Specially adapted housing and adaptations.

5. Automobile grant.

6. Low-vision devices and training in their use.

7. Electronic and mechanical aids for the blind, including adaptive computers and computer-assisted devices such as

reading machines and electronic travel aids.

8. Guide dogs, including cost of training for the veteran to learn to work with the dog.

9. Talking books, tapes and Braille literature.

Eligible visually impaired veterans (who are not blind) enrolled in the VA health care system may be eligible for services at a VA medical center or for admission to an outpatient VA blind rehabilitation pro-gram and may also receive:

1. A total health and benefits review.

2. Adjustment to vision loss counseling and training.

3. Low-vision devices and training in their use.

4. Electronic and mechanical aids for the visually impaired, including adaptive computers and computer-assisted devices, such as reading machines and electronic travel aids, and

12 VA Health Care Chapter 1

training in their use.

Mental Health Care Treatment

Veterans eligible for VA medical care may apply for general mental health treatment including specialty services, such as PTSD and substance abuse treatment, which are available at all VA medical centers. To find the nearest facility go to www2.va.gov/directory/ guide/home.asp

Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Veterans experiencing an emotional crisis or who need to talk to a trained mental health professional may call the National Suicide

Prevention Lifeline toll-free lifeline number, 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Callers are immediately connected with a qualified and caring provider who can help.

Work Restoration Programs

VA provides vocational assistance and therapeutic work opportuni-ties through several programs for veterans receiving VA health care.

Each program offers treatment and rehabilitation services to help veterans live and work in their communities.

Participation in the following VA Work Restoration Programs cannot be used to deny or discontinue VA compensation or pension benefits. Payments received from Incentive Therapy and Compensated Work Therapy transitional work are not taxable.

Incentive Therapy is a pre-vocational program available at 95 VA medical centers and frequently serves as a mainstay for seriously disabled veterans for whom employment is not considered viable in the foreseeable future. Participants receive a token payment for services provided.

Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) is a vocational program avail-able at most VA medical locations. Veterans receive an individualized vocational assessment, rehabilitation planning and work experience with the goal of job placement in the community. The program works closely with community-based organizations, employers and state and federal agencies to establish transitional work experiences, sup-ported employment opportunities, direct job placement and support-

Chapter 1 VA Health Care 13

ive follow-up services.

CWT/Transitional Residence provides work-based, residential treatment in a stable living environment. This program differs from other VA residential bed programs in that participants use their earn-ings to contribute to the cost of their residences and are responsible for planning, purchasing and preparing their own meals. The pro-gram offers a comprehensive array of rehabilitation services includ-ing home, financial and life skills management.

Domiciliary Care

Domiciliary care provides rehabilitative and long-term, health-care for veterans who require minimal medical care but do not need the skilled nursing services provided in community living centers. A Domiciliary also provides rehabilitative care for veterans who are homeless.

Eligibility: VA may provide domiciliary care to veterans whose an-nual gross household income does not exceed the maximum annual rate of VA pension or to veterans the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines they have no adequate means of support. The copays for extended care services apply to domiciliary care. Call your nearest benefits or health care facility to obtain the latest information.

Outpatient Dental Treatment

VA outpatient dental treatment includes the full spectrum of diag-nostic, surgical, restorative and preventive procedures. The extent of care provided may be influenced by eligibility category.

Eligibility: The following veterans are eligible to receive dental care:

Veterans with service-connected, compensable dental conditions.

Former POWs.

3. Veterans with service-connected, non-compensable dental conditions as a result of combat wounds or service injuries.

Veterans with non-service-connected dental conditions determined by VA to be aggravating a service-connected medical problem.

Veterans whose service-connected disabilities have been rated at 100 percent or who are receiving the 100 percent rate by reason of individual unemployability.

14 VA Health Care Chapter 1

Veterans participating in a VA vocational rehabilitation program.

Certain veterans enrolled in a VA Homeless Program for 60 consecutive days or more may receive certain medically necessary outpatient dental services.

Those with non-service-connected dental conditions or disabilities for which treatment was begun while the veteran was in an inpatient status in a VA medical center, when it is clinically determined to be necessary to complete such dental treatment on an outpatient basis.

Veterans requiring treatment for dental conditions clinically determined to be complicating a medical condition currently under treatment.

Recently discharged veterans with a service-connected noncom-pensable dental condition or disability who served on active duty 90 days or more and who apply for VA dental care within 180 days of separation from active duty, may receive one time treatment for den-tal conditions if the dental condition is shown to have existed at the time of discharge or release and the veteran’s certificate of discharge does not indicate that the veteran received necessary dental care within a 90-day period prior to discharge or release. This includes veterans who reentered active military, naval, or air service within

90 days after the date of a prior discharge and; veterans whose disqualifying discharge or release has been corrected by competent authority.

For more information about eligibility for VA medical and dental ben-efits, contact the Health Benefits Service Center at 1-877-222-8387 or www.va.gov/healthelic~ibility.

Nursing Home Care

VA provides nursing home services to veterans through three na-tional programs: VA owned and operated Community Living Centers (CLC), state veterans’ homes owned and operated by the states, and the contract community nursing home program. Each program has admission and eligibility criteria specific to the program.

VA Community Living Centers: Community Living Centers (CLC) provide a dynamic array of short stay (less than 90 days) and long stay (91 days or more) services. Short stay services include but are not limited to skilled nursing, respite care, rehabilitation, hospice, and

Chapter 1 VA Health Care 15

maintenance care for veterans awaiting placement in the commu-nity. Short stay services are available for veterans who are enrolled in VA health care and require CLC services. Long stay services are available for enrolled veterans who need nursing home care for life or for an extended period of time for a service-connected disability, and those rated 60 percent service-connectedand unemployable; or veterans or who have a 70 percent or greater service-connected dis-ability. All others are based on available resources.

State Veterans’ Home Program: State veterans homes are owned and operated by the states. The states petition VA for grant dollars for a portion of the construction costs followed by a request for rec-ognition as a state home. Once recognized, VA pays a portion of the per diem if the state meets VA standards. States establish eligibility criteria and determine services offered for short and long-term care.

Specialized services offered are dependent upon the capability of the home to render them.

Contract Community Nursing Home Program: VA medical centers establish contracts with community nursing homes. The purpose

of this program is to meet the nursing home needs of veterans who require long-term nursing home care in their own community, close to their families and meet the enrollment and eligibility requirements.

Admission Criteria: The general criteria for nursing home place - ment in each of the three programs requires that a resident must be medically stable, i.e. not acutely ill, have sufficient functional deficits to require inpatient nursing home care, and is assessed by an ap-propriate medical provider to be in need of institutional nursing home care. Furthermore, the veteran must meet the specific eligibility crite-ria for community living center care or the contract nursing home pro - gram and the eligibility criteria for the specific state veterans home.

Non-Institutional Long-term Care Services: In addition to nursing home care, VA offers a variety of other long-term care services either directly or by contract with community-based agencies. Such ser-vices include adult day health care, respite care, geriatric evaluation and management, hospice and palliative care, home based skilled nursing, and home based primary care. Veterans receiving these services may be subject to a copay .

16 VA Health Care Chapter 1

Emergency Medical Care in Non-VA Facilities

VA may reimburse or pay for medical care provided to certain en-rolled or otherwise eligible veterans by non-VA facilities only in cases of medical emergencies where VA or other federal facilities were not feasibly available. Other conditions also apply. To determine eligibility or initiate a claim, contact the VA medical facility nearest to where the emergency service was provided.

VA’s Foreign Medical Program

VA will pay for medical services for service-connected disabilities or any disability associated with and found to be aggravating a service-connected disability for those veterans living or traveling outside the United States. This program will also reimburse for the treatment of foreign medical services needed as part of a vocational rehabilitation program. Veterans living in the Philippines should register with the

U.S. Veterans Affairs office in Pasay City, telephone 011-632-838-4566. All other veterans living or planning to travel outside the U.S. should register with the Denver Foreign Medical Program office, .PO. Box 469061, Denver, CO 80246-9061, USA; telephone 303-331-7590. For information visit: http://www.va.gov/hac/forbeneficiaries/ fmp/fmp.asp.

Some veterans traveling or living overseas can telephone the

Foreign Medical Program toll free from these countries: Germany 0800-1800-011; Australia 1800-354-965; Italy 800-782-655; United Kingdom (England and Scotland) 0800-032-7425; Mexico 001-877-345-8179; Japan 00531-13-0871; Costa Rica 0800-013-0759; and Spain 900-981-776. (Note: Veterans in Mexico or Costa Rica must first dial the United States country code.)

Online Health Services

My HealtheVet (www.myhealth.va.gov): is VA’s award-winning e-health website, which offers veterans, active duty soldiers and their dependents and caregivers anywhere, anytime Internet access to VA health care information and services. Veterans can better manage their health care and make informed decisions in collaboration with their health care providers. To register, veterans simply need to go to Web site. With My HealtheVet, registrants can access:

VA benefits & services; local VA events and activities, personal health journals, tracking and graphing of vitals, military health history, activity/food journals, trusted health information and more.

Chapter 2 Veterans with Service-Connected Disabilities 19

Chapter 2

Service-Connected Disabilities

Disability Compensation

Disability compensation is a monetary benefit paid to veterans who are disabled by an injury or illness that was incurred or aggravated during active military service. These disabilities are considered to be service-connected. Disability compensation varies with the degree of disability and the number of veteran’s dependents, and is paid monthly. Veterans with certain severe disabilities may be eligible for additional special monthly compensation. The benefits are not sub-ject to federal or state income tax.

The payment of military retirement pay, disability severance pay and separation incentive payments, known as SSB (Special Separa-tion Benefits) and VSI (Voluntary Separation Incentives) affects the amount of VA compensation paid to disabled veterans.

To be eligible, the service of the veteran must have been terminated through separation or discharge under conditions other than dishon-orable. For additional details, visit the Web site at http://www.vba. va.gov/bln/21/.

Receiving Disability Benefit Payments

VA offers three disability benefit payment options. Most veterans receive their payments by direct deposit to a bank, savings and loan or credit union account. In some areas, veterans who do not have a bank account can open a federally insured Electronic Transfer Ac-count, which costs about $3 a month, provides a monthly statement, and allows for cash withdrawals. Other veterans may choose to

receive benefits by check. To choose or change a payment method, call toll-free 1-877-838-2778, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. -

4:50 p.m., CST.

Presumptive Conditions for Disability Compensation

All veterans who develop Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, at any time after separation from service may be eligible for compensation for that disability.

Certain veterans are eligible for disability compensation based on the

20 Veterans with Service-Connected Disabilities Chapter 2

presumption that their disability is service-connected.

2009 VA Disability Compensation Rates for Veterans
Veteran’s	Monthly Rate Paid
Disability Rating	to Veterans

10 percent	$123
20 percent	$243

30 percent*	$376

40 percent*	$541
50 percent*	$770
60 percent*	$974
70 percent*	$1,228
80 percent*	$1,427
90 percent*	$1,604

100 percent*	$2,673

*Veterans with disability ratings of at least 30 percent are eligible for additional allowances for dependents, including spouses, minor children, children between the ages of 18 and 23 who are attend-ing school, children who are permanently incapable of self-support because of a disability arising before age 18, and dependent par - ents. The additional amount depends on the disability rating and the number of dependents.

Prisoners of War: For former POWs who were imprisoned for any length of time, the following disabilities are presumed to be service-connected if they are rated at least 10 percent disabling anytime after military service: psychosis, any of the anxiety states, dysthymic disorder, organic residuals of frostbite, post-traumatic osteoarthritis, heart disease or hypertensive vascular disease and their complica-tions, stroke and residuals of stroke.

For former POWs who were imprisoned for at least 30 days, the following conditions are also presumed to be service-connected: avi-

Chapter 2 Veterans with Service-Connected Disabilities 21

taminosis, beriberi, chronic dysentery, helminthiasis, malnutrition (in-cluding optic atrophy), pellagra and/or other nutritional deficiencies, irritable bowel syndrome, peptic ulcer disease, peripheral neuropathy and cirrhosis of the liver.

Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange and Other Herbicides: A veteran who served in the Republic of Vietnam between Jan. 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, is presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange and other herbicides used in support of military operations.

Eleven illnesses are presumed by VA to be service-connected for such veterans: chloracne or other acneform disease similar to

chloracne, porphyria cutanea tarda, soft-tissue sarcoma (other than osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma or mesothe-lioma), Hodgkin’s disease, multiple myeloma, respiratory cancers (lung, bronchus, larynx, trachea), non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, prostate cancer, acute and subacute peripheral neuropathy, diabetes mellitus (Type 2) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Veterans Exposed to Radiation: For veterans who participated in

“radiation risk activities” as defined in VA regulations while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training, the following conditions are presumed to be service-connected: all forms of leuke-mia (except for chronic lymphocytic leukemia); cancer of the thyroid, breast, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, pancreas, bile ducts, gall bladder, salivary gland, urinary tract (renal pelvis, ureter, urinary bladder and urethra), brain, bone, lung, colon, and ovary, bronchiolo-alveolar carcinoma, multiple myeloma, lymphomas (other than Hodgkin’s disease), and primary liver cancer (except if cirrhosis or hepatitis B is indicated).

To determine service-connection for other conditions or exposures not eligible for presumptive service-connection, VA considers fac-tors such as the amount of radiation exposure, duration of exposure, elapsed time between exposure and onset of the disease, gender and family history, age at time of exposure, the extent to which a non service-related exposure could contribute to disease, and the relative sensitivity of exposed tissue.

Gulf War Veterans with Chronic Disabilities: may receive dis-ability compensation for chronic disabilities resulting from undiag-nosed illnesses and/or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom

22 Veterans with Service-Connected Disabilities	Chapter 2
illnesses defined by a cluster of signs or symptoms.	A disability
is considered chronic if it has existed for at least six months. The

undiagnosed illnesses must have appeared either during active service in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations during the Gulf War period of Aug. 2, 1990, to July 31, 1991, or to a degree of at least 10 percent at any time since then through Dec. 31, 2011. This theater of operations includes Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the neutral zone between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea, and the airspace above these locations.

The following are examples of symptoms of an undiagnosed illness: chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, skin disorders, headache, muscle pain, joint pain, neurological symptoms, neuropsychologi-cal symptoms, symptoms involving the respiratory system, sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal symptoms, cardiovascular symptoms, abnormal weight loss, and menstrual disorders.

Concurrent Retirement and Disability Payments (CRDP) re-stores retired pay on a graduated 10-year schedule for retirees with a 50 to 90 percent VA-rated disability. Concurrent retirement pay-ments increase 10 percent per year through 2013. Veterans rated 100 percent disabled by VA are entitled to full CRDP without being phased in. Veterans receiving benefits at the 100 percent rate due to individual unemployability are entitled to full CRDP in 2009.

Eligibility: To qualify, veterans must also meet all three of the follow-ing criteria:

1. Have 20 or more years of active duty, or full-time National Guard duty, or be a reservist age 60, or

2. Be in a retired status.

3. Be receiving retired pay (must be offset by VA payments).

Retirees do not need to apply for this benefit. Payment is coordi-nated between VA and the Department of Defense (DoD).

Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) provides tax-free monthly payments to eligible retired veterans with combat-related injuries. With CRSC, veterans can receive both their full military retirement pay and their VA disability compensationif the injury is combat-related.

Chapter 2 Veterans with Service-Connected Disabilities 23

Eligibility: Retired veterans with combat-related injuries must meet all of the following criteria to apply for CRSC:

1. Active or Reserve component with 20 years of creditable service or medically retired.

2. Receiving military retired pay.

3. Have a 10 percent or greater VA-rated injury.

4. Military retired pay is reduced by VA disability payments (VA Waiver).

In addition, veterans must be able to provide documentary evidence that their injuries were a result of one of the following:

• Training that simulates war (e.g., exercises, field training)

• Hazardous duty (e.g., flight, diving, parachute duty)

• An instrumentality of war (e.g. combat vehicles, weapons, Agent Orange)

• Armed conflict (e.g. gunshot wounds, Purple Heart)

For information, visit http://www.defenselink.mil, or call the toll free phone number for the veteran’s branch of service: (Army) 1-866-281-3254; (Air Force) 1-800-616-3775; (Navy) 1-877-366-2772. The Army has its own Web site at https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/crsc/in-dex.html and e-mail at crsc.info@us.army.mil.

Programs for Service-Connected Disabilities

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Program as-sists veterans who have service-connected disabilities obtain and maintain suitable employment. Independent living services are also available for severely disabled veterans who are not currently ready to seek employment. Additional information is available on VA’s Web site at www.vetsuccess.gov.

Eligibility: A veteran must have a VA service-connected disability rated at least 20 percent with an employment handicap, or rated 10 percent with a serious employment handicap, and be discharged or released from military service under other than dishonorable condi-tions. Servicemembers pending medical separation from active duty may also apply if their disabilities are reasonably expected to be rated at least 20 percent following their discharge.

Entitlement: A VA counselor must decide if the individual has an

24 Veterans with Service-Connected Disabilities Chapter 2

employment handicap based upon the results of a comprehensive evaluation. After an entitlement decision is made, the individual and counselor will work together to develop a rehabilitation plan. The re-habilitation plan will specify the rehabilitation services to be provided.

Services: Rehabilitation services provided to participants in the VR&E program are under one of five tracks. VA pays the cost of ap-proved training that is included in an individual’s rehabilitation plan. Subsistence allowance may also be provided. The five tracks are:

* Reemployment with Previous Employer: For individuals who are separating from active duty or in the National Guard or Re-serves and are returning to work for their previous employer.

* Rapid Access to Employment: For individuals who either wish to obtain employment soon after separation or who already have the necessary skills to be competitive in the job market in an appropriate occupation.

* Self-Employment: For individuals who have limited access to traditional employment, need flexible work schedules, or who require more accommodation in the work environment due to their disabling conditions or other life circumstances.

* Employment Through Long-Term Services: For individuals who need specialized training and/or education to obtain and main-tain suitable employment.

* Independent Living Services: For veterans who are not currently able to work and need rehabilitation services to live more independently.

Period of a Rehabilitation Program: Generally, veterans must complete a program within 12 years from their separation from military service or within 12 years from the date VA notifies them that they have a compensable service-connected disability. Depending on the length of program needed, veterans may be provided up to 48 months of full-time services or their part-time equivalent. These limitations may be extended in certain circumstances.

Work-Study: Veterans training at the three-quarter or full-time rate may participate in VA’s work-study program and provide VA out-

Chapter 2 Veterans with Service-Connected Disabilities 25

reach services, prepare/process VA paperwork, work at a VA medi-cal facility, or perform other VA-approved activities. A portion of the work-study allowance equal to 40 percent of the total may be paid in advance.

Specially Adapted Housing Grants

Certain veterans and servicemembers with service-connected dis-abilities may be entitled to a Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant from VA to help build a new specially adapted house, to adapt a home they already own, or buy a house and modify it to meet their disability-related requirements. Eligible veterans or servicemembers may now receive up to three grants, with the total dollar amount of the grants not to exceed the maximum allowable. Previous grant recipients who had received assistance of less than the current maxi-mum allowable may be eligible for an additional SAH grant.

Eligibility for up to $60,000: VA may approve a grant of not more than 50 percent of the cost of building, buying, or adapting exist-ing homes or paying to reduce indebtedness on a currently owned home that is being adapted, up to a maximum of $60,000. In certain instances, the full grant amount may be applied toward remodeling costs. Veterans and servicemembers must be determined eligible to receive compensation for permanent and total service-connected disability due to one of the following:

1. Loss or loss of use of both lower extremities, such as to preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes or a wheelchair.

2. Loss or loss of use of both upper extremities at or above the elbow.

3. Blindness in either eye with 5/200 visual activity or less.

4. Loss or loss of use of one lower extremity together with (a) residuals of organic disease or injury, or (b) the loss or loss of

use of one upper extremity which so affects the functions of balance or propulsion as to preclude locomotion without the use of braces, canes, crutches or a wheelchair.

5. Severe burn injuries

Eligibility for up to $12,000: VA may approve a grant for the cost, up to a maximum of $12,000, for necessary adaptations to a vet-eran’s or servicemember’s residence or to help them acquire a residence already adapted with special features for their disability, to purchase and adapt a home, or for adaptations to a family member’s

26 Veterans with Service-Connected Disabilities Chapter 2

home in which they will reside.

To be eligible for this grant, veterans and servicemembers must be entitled to compensation for permanent and total service-connected disability due to one of the following:

1. Blindness in both eyes with 5/200 visual acuity or less.

2. Anatomical loss or loss of use of both hands.

3. Severe burn injuries.

Eligible veterans and servicemembers who are temporarily residing in a home owned by a family member may also receive a Temporary

Residence Adaptation (TRA) grant to help the veteran or service-member adapt the family member’s home to meet his or her special needs. Those eligible for a $60,000 grant would be permitted to use up to $14,000 and those eligible for a $12,000 grant would be permitted to use up to $2,000. Grant amounts will also be adjusted annually based on a cost-of-construction index. The first adjust-ment will occur Oct. 1, 2009, with adjustments each Oct. 1 thereafter. These adjustments will increase the grant amounts or leave them unchanged; they will not decrease the grant amounts.

The property must be located within the United States, which, for purposes of 38 U.S.C. chapter 21, includes the several states, ter-ritories, and possessions, including the District of Columbia, and the commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands.

Additionally, the property may be located outside the United States, in a country or political subdivision which allows individuals to have or acquire a beneficial property interest, and in which the Secretary of Veteran Affairs, in his or her discretion, has determined that it is reasonably practicable for the Secretary to provide assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing.

Supplemental Financing: Veterans and servicemembers with avail-able loan guaranty entitlement may also obtain a guaranteed loan or a direct loan from VA to supplement the grant to acquire a spe-cially adapted home. Amounts with a guaranteed loan from a private lender will vary, but the maximum direct loan from VA is $33,000.

Additional information about the Specially Adapted Housing Program is available on VA’s Web site at http://www.homeloans.va.gov/sah. htm.

Chapter 2 Veterans with Service-Connected Disabilities 27

Adapting an Automobile

Veterans and servicemembers may be eligible for a one-time pay-ment of not more than $11,000 toward the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance if they have service-connected loss or perma-nent loss of use of one or both hands or feet, permanent impairment of vision of both eyes to a certain degree, or ankylosis (immobility) of one or both knees or one or both hips. They may also be eligible for adaptive equipment, and for repair, replacement, or reinstallation required because of disability or for the safe operation of a vehicle purchased with VA assistance. To apply, contact a VA regional office at 1-800-827-1000 or the nearest VA medical center.

Clothing Allowance

Any veteran who is service-connected for a disability for which he or she uses prosthetic or orthopedic appliances may receive an annual clothing allowance. This allowance also is available to any veteran whose service-connected skin condition requires prescribed medica-tion that irreparably damages outer garments. To apply, contact the prosthetic representative at the nearest VA medical center.

Aid and Attendance for Housebound Veterans

A veteran who is determined by VA to be in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person, or a veteran who is permanently housebound, may be entitled to additional disability compensation or pension payments. A veteran evaluated at 30 percent or more dis-abled is entitled to receive an additional payment for a spouse who is in need of the aid and attendance of another person.

2009 Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Rates

In some cases, a veteran requires additional education or training to become employable. A subsistence allowance is paid each month during training and is based on the rate of attendance (full-time or part-time), the number of dependents, and the type of training. The charts below show the rates as of Oct. 1, 2008.

28 Veterans with Service-Connected Disabilities Chapter 2

Subsistence allowance is paid at the following monthly rates for training in an institution of higher learning.

Training	Veterans	Veterans	Veterans	Additional
Time	With No	With One	With Two	Dependent
Time	With No	With One	With Two
	Dependents	Dependent	Dependents
		Dependent

Full-time	$541.05	$671.13	$790.87	$57.65

3/4-time	$406.53	$504.07	$591.28	$44.33

1/2-time	$272.02	$337.03	$396.17	$29.58

Subsistence allowance is paid at the following monthly rates for full-time training only in non-pay or nominal pay on-the-job training in a federal, state, local or federally recognized Indian tribe agency; training in the home; and vocational training in a rehabilitation facility or sheltered workshop.

Training	Veterans	Veterans	Veterans	Additional
Time	With No	With One	With Two	Dependent
Time	With No	With One	With Two
	Dependents	Dependent	Dependents
		Dependent
Full-time	$541.05	$671.13	$790.87	$57.65

Subsistence allowance is paid at the following monthly rates for non-pay or nominal pay work experience in a federal, state, local or federally recognized Indian tribe agency.

Training	Veterans	Veterans	Veterans	Additional
Time	With No	With One	With Two	Dependent
Time	With No	With One	With Two
	Dependents	Dependent	Dependents
		Dependent

Full-time	$541.05	$671.13	$790.87	$57.65

Chapter 2 Veterans with Service-Connected Disabilities 29

3/4-time	$406.53	$504.07	$591.28	$44.33
1/2-time	$272.02	$337.03	$396.17	$29.58

Subsistence allowance is paid at the following monthly rates for full-time training only in farm cooperative, apprenticeship, and other on-job training. Payments are variable, based on the wages received. The maximum rates are:

Training	Veterans	Veterans	Veterans	Additional
Time	With No	With One	With Two	Dependent
Time	With No	With One	With Two
	Dependents	Dependent	Dependents
		Dependent
Full-time	$473.05	$572.06	$659.30	$42.89

Subsistence allowance is paid at the following monthly rates for training programs that include a combination of institutional and on-job training.

Greater	Veterans	Veterans	Veterans	Additional
Than Half-	With No	With One	With Two	Dependent
Than Half-	With No	With One	With Two
Time	Dependents	Dependent	Dependents
		Dependent

Instition-
tional	$541.05	$671.13	$659.30	$42.89
On-job	$473.05	572.06	$659.30	$42.89

Subsistence allowance is paid at the following monthly rates for full-time training only for non-farm cooperative institutional training and non-farm cooperative on-job training.

Training	Veterans	Veterans	Veterans	Additional
Time	With No	With One	With Two	Dependent
Time	With No	With One	With Two
	Dependents	Dependent	Dependents
		Dependent

Instition-	$541.05	$671.13	$659.30	$42.89
tional
On-job	$473.05	572.06	$659.30	$42.89

30 Veterans with Service-Connected Disabilities Chapter 2

Subsistence allowance is paid at the following monthly rates during the period of enrollment in a rehabilitation facility when a veteran is pursuing an approved independent living program plan.

Training	Veterans	Veterans	Veterans	Additional
Time	With No	With One	With Two	Dependent
Time	With No	With One	With Two
	Dependents	Dependent	Dependents
		Dependent
Full-time	$541.05	$671.13	$790.87	$57.65
3/4-time	$406.53	$504.07	$591.28	$44.33

1/2–time	$272.02	$337.03	$396.17	$29.58

Subsistence allowance is paid at the following monthly rates during the period of enrollment in a rehabilitation facility when a veteran requires this service fpr the purpose of extended evalu-ation.

Training	Veterans	Veterans	Veterans	Additional
Time	With No	With One	With Two	Dependent
Time	With No	With One	With Two
	Dependents	Dependent	Dependents
		Dependent
Full-time	$541.05	$671.13	$790.87	$57.65
3/4-time	$406.53	$504.07	$591.28	$44.33
1/2-time	$272.02	$337.03	$396.17	$29.58
1/4–time	$135.99	$168.53	$198.07	$14.75

Chapter 3 VA Pensions 31

Chapter 3

VA Pensions

Eligibility for Disability Pension

Veterans with low incomes who are permanently and totally disabled, or are age 65 and older, may be eligible for monetary support if they have 90 days or more of active military service, at least one day of which was during a period of war. (Veterans who entered active duty on or after Sept. 8, 1980, or officers who entered active duty on or after Oct. 16, 1981, may have to meet a longer minimum period of active duty). The veteran’s discharge must have been under condi-tions other than dishonorable and the disability must be for reasons other than the veteran’s own willful misconduct.

Payments are made to bring the veteran’s total income, including other retirement or Social Security income, to a level set by Con-gress. Un-reimbursed medical expenses may reduce countable income for VA purposes.

Protected Pension

Pension beneficiaries, who were receiving a VA pension on Dec. 31,

1978, and do not wish to elect the Improved Pension, will continue to receive the pension rate received on that date. This rate generally continues as long as the beneficiary’s income remains within estab-lished limits, or net worth does not bar payment, and the beneficiary does not lose any dependents.

Beneficiaries must continue to meet basic eligibility factors, such as permanent and total disability for veterans. VA must adjust rates for other reasons, such as a veteran’s hospitalization in a VA facility.

Medal of Honor Pension

VA administers pensions to recipients of the Medal of Honor. Con-gress set the monthly pension at $1,194 effective Dec. 1, 2008.

Improved Disability Pension

Congress establishes the maximum annual improved disability pension rates. Payments are reduced by the amount of countable income of the veteran, spouse and dependent children. When a

32 VA Pensions Chapter 3

veteran without a spouse or a child is furnished nursing home or domiciliary care by VA, the pension is reduced to an amount not to exceed $90 per month after three calendar months of care. The

reduction may be delayed if nursing-home care is being continued to provide the veteran with rehabilitation services.

2009 VA Improved Disability Pension Rates

Status of Veteran’s	Maximum
Family Situation and	Annual Rate
Caretaking Needs
Veteran without	$11,830
dependents
Veteran with one	$15,493
dependent
Veteran permanently house-
bound, no	$14,457
dependents
Veteran permanently house-
bound, one	$18,120
dependent
Veteran needing regular aid
and attendance, no depen-	$19,736
dents
Veteran needing regular aid
and attendance,	$23,396
one dependent
Two veterans married to one	$15,493
another
Increase for each additional	$2,020
dependent child

* Additional information can be found in the Compensation and Pension Ben-efits section of VA’s Internet pages at http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/index.

htm.

Chapter 4 Education and Training 33

Chapter 4

Education and Training

This chapter provides a summary of VA educational and training ben-efits. Additional information can be found at http://www.gibill.va.gov/ or by calling 1-888-GI-BILL-1 (1-888-442-4551).

Post – 9/11 GI Bill

Eligibility: The Post- 9/11 GI Bill is a new education benefit program for servicemembers and veterans who served on active duty on or after Sept.11, 2001. Benefits are payable for training pursued on or after Aug. 1, 2009. No payments can be made under this program for training pursued before that date.

To be eligible, the servicemember or veteran must serve at least 90 aggregate days on active duty after Sept. 10, 2001, and remain on active duty or be honorably:

1. Discharged from active duty status;

2. Released from active duty and placed on the retired list or temporary disability retired list;

3. Released from active duty and transferred to the Fleet Reserve or Fleet Marine Corps Reserve;

4. Released from active duty for further service in a reserve component of the Armed Forces.

Veterans may also be eligible if they were honorably discharged from active duty for a service-connected disability after serving 30 continu-ous days after Sept. 10, 2001.

Generally, servicemembers or veterans may receive up to 36 months of entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

Eligibility for benefits expires 15 years from the last period of active duty of at least 90 consecutive days. If released for a service-con-nected disability after at least 30 days of continuous service, eligibil-ity ends 15 years from when the member is released for the service-connected disability.

If, on Aug.1, 2009, the servicemember or veteran is eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill; the Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve; or

34 Education and Training Chapter 4

the Reserve Educational Assistance Program, and qualifies for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, an irrevocable election must be made to receive benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. In most instances, once the election to receive benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill is made, the individual will no longer be eligible to receive benefits under the relin-quished program.

Based on the length of active duty service, eligible participants are entitled to receive a percentage of the following:

1. Cost of tuition and fees, not to exceed the most expensive in-state undergraduate tuition at a public institution of higher education (paid directly to the school);

2. Monthly housing allowance equal to the basic allowance for housing payable to a military E-5 with dependents, in the same zip code as the primary school (paid directly to the servicemember or veteran);

3. Yearly books and supplies stipend of up to $1000 per year (paid directly to the servicemember or veteran); and

4. A one-time payment of $500 paid to certain individuals relocating from highly rural areas.

* The housing allowance and books and supplies stipend are not pay-able to individuals on active duty. The housing allowance is not payable to those pursuing training at half time or less or to individuals enrolled solely in

distance learning programs.

Benefits may be used for any approved program offered by a school in the United States that is authorized to grant an associate (or higher) degree. Call 1-888-442-4551 or visit www.gibill.va.gov for information about attending school in a foreign country.

If entitlement to the Post-9/11 GI Bill was the result of transferring from the Montgomery GI Bill; the Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Re-serve; or the Reserve Education Assistance Program, recipients may also receive Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits for flight training, apprentice-ship or on-the-job training programs, and correspondence courses. Individuals serving an aggregate period of active duty after Sept. 10, 2001 can recieve the following percentages based on length of service:

Chapter 4		Education and Training	35

	Active duty service	Maximum Benefit
		Maximum Benefit
	At least 36 months	100%
		100%
	At least 30 continuous days	100%
	and discharged due to service-	100%
	and discharged due to service-
	connected disability
	At least 30 months < 36 months	90%
		90%
	At least 24 months < 30 months	80%
		80%
	At least 18 months < 24 months	70%
		70%
	At least 12 months < 18 months	60%
		60%
	At least 6 months < 12 months	50%
		50%
	At least 90 days < 6 months	40%
		40%

Transfer of Entitlement (TOE): DOD may offer members of the Armed Forces on or after Aug.1, 2009, the opportunity to transfer benefits to a spouse or dependent children. DOD and the military services must approve all requests for this benefit. Members of the Armed Forces approved for the TOE may only transfer any unused portion of their Post – 9/11 GI Bill benefits while a member of the Armed Forces, subject to their period of eligibility.

Yellow Ribbon G.I. Education Enhancement Program: was enacted to potentially assist eligible individuals with payment of their tuition and fees in instances where costs exceed the most expensive in-state undergraduate tuition at a public institution of higher educa-tion. To be eligible, the student must be: a veteran receiving bene-fits at the 100% benefit rate payable, a transfer-of-entitlement eligible dependent child, or a transfer-of-entitlement eligible spouse of a veteran. The school of attendance must have accepted VA’s invita-tion to participate in the program, state how much student tuition will be waived (up to 50%) and how many participants will be accepted into the program during the current academic year. VA will match the school’s percentage (up to 50%) to reduce or eliminate out-of-pocket costs for eligible participants.

Work-Study Program: Veterans and eligible transfer-of-entitlement recipients who train at the three-quarter rate of pursuit or higher may be eligible for a work-study program in which they work for VA and receive hourly wages. Students under the work-study program

36 Education and Training Chapter 4

must be supervised by a VA employee and all duties performed must relate to VA. The types of work allowed include:

1. VA paperwork processing at schools or other training facilities.

2. Assistance with patient care at VA hospitals or domiciliary care facilities.

3. Work at national or state veterans’ cemeteries.

4. Various jobs within any VA regional office.

5. Other VA-approved activities.

Educational and Vocational Counseling Services: Refer to Chap-ter 10, “Transition Assistance”, for detailed information on available services.

Montgomery GI Bill

Eligibility: VA educational benefits may be used while the service-member is on active duty or after the servicemember’s separation from active duty with a fully honorable military discharge. Discharges “under honorable conditions” and “general” discharges do not estab-lish eligibility.

Eligibility generally expires 10 years after the servicemember’s discharge. However, there are exceptions for disability, re-entering active duty, and upgraded discharges.

All participants must have a high school diploma, equivalency cer-tificate, or have completed 12 hours toward a college degree before applying for benefits.

Previously, servicemembers had to meet the high school requirement before they completed their initial active duty obligation. Those who did not may now meet the requirement and reapply for benefits. If eligible, they must use their benefits either within 10 years from the date of last discharge from active duty or by Nov. 2, 2010, whichever is later.

Additionally, every veteran must establish eligibility under one of four categories.

Category 1: Service after June 30, 1985

For veterans who entered active duty for the first time after June 30, 1985, did not decline MGIB in writing, and had their military pay reduced by $100 a month for 12 months. Servicemembers can

Chapter 4 Education and Training 37

apply after completing two continuous years of service. Veterans must have completed three continuous years of active duty, or two continuous years of active duty if they first signed up for less than three years or have an obligation to serve four years in the Selected Reserve (the 2x4 program) and enter the Selected Reserve within one year of discharge.

Service-members or veterans who received a commission as a result of graduation from a service academy or completion of an ROTC scholarship are not eligible under Category 1 unless they received their commission:

1. After becoming eligible for MGIB benefits (including completing the minimum service requirements for the initial period of active duty).

2. Or after Sept.30, 1996, and received less than $3,400 during any one year under ROTC scholarship.

Servicemembers or veterans who declined MGIB because they received repayment from the military for education loans are also ineligible under Category 1. If they did not decline MGIB and re-ceived loan repayments, the months served to repay the loans will be deducted from their entitlement.

Early Separation from Military Service: Servicemembers who did not complete the required period of military service may be eligible under Category 1 if discharged for one of the following:

1. Convenience of the government—with 30 continuous months of service for an obligation of three or more years, or 20 continuous months of service for an obligation of less than three years

2. Service-connected disability.

3. Hardship.

4. A medical condition diagnosed prior to joining the military.

5. A condition that interfered with performance of duty and did not result from misconduct.

6. A reduction in force (in most cases).

7. Sole Survivorship (if discharged after 9/11/01)

Category 2: Vietnam Era GI Bill Conversion

For veterans who had remaining entitlement under the Vietnam Era

GI Bill on Dec. 31, 1989, and served on active duty for any number of days during the period Oct. 19, 1984, to June 30, 1985, for at least

38 Education and Training Chapter 4

three continuous years beginning on July 1, 1985; or at least two continuous years of active duty beginning on July 1, 1985, followed by four years in the Selected Reserve beginning within one year of release from active duty.

Veterans not on active duty on Oct. 19, 1984, may be eligible un-der Category 2 if they served three continuous years on active duty beginning on or after July 1, 1985, or two continuous years of active duty at any time followed by four continuous years in the Selected Reserve beginning within one year of release from active duty.

Veterans are barred from eligibility under Category 2 if they received a commission after Dec. 31, 1976, as a result of graduation from a service academy or completion of an ROTC scholarship.

However, such a commission is not a disqualifier if they received the commission after becoming eligible for MGIB benefits, or received the commission after Sept.30, 1996, and received less than $3,400 during any one year under ROTC scholarship.

Category 3: Involuntary Separation/Special Separation For veterans who meet one of the following requirements:

1. Elected MGIB before being involuntarily separated.

2. Or were voluntarily separated under the Voluntary Separation Incentive or the Special Separation Benefit program, elected MGIB benefits before being separated, and had military pay

reduced by $1,200 before discharge.

Category 4: Veterans Educational Assistance Program

For veterans who participated in the Veterans Educational Assis-tance Program (VEAP) and:

1. Served on active duty on Oct. 9, 1996.

2. Participated in VEAP and contributed money to an account.

3. Elected MGIB by Oct. 9, 1997, and paid $1,200.

Veterans who participated in VEAP on or before Oct. 9, 1996, may also be eligible even if they did not deposit money in a VEAP ac-count if they served on active duty from Oct. 9, 1996, through April 1, 2000, elected MGIB by Oct. 31, 2001, and contributed $2,700 to

MGIB.

Certain National Guard service members may also qualify under

Chapter 4 Education and Training 39

Category 4 if they:

1. Served for the first time on full-time active duty in the National Guard between June 30, 1985, and Nov. 29, 1989, and

had no previous active duty service.

2. Elected MGIB during the nine-month window ending on July 9,

1997

3. And paid $1,200.

Payments: Effective Aug. 1, 2008, the rate for full-time training in college, technical or vocational school is $1,321 a month for those who served three years or more or two years plus four years in the Selected Reserve. For those who served less than three years, the monthly rate is $1,073 Benefits are reduced for part-time training. Payments for other types of training follow different rules. VA will pay an additional amount, called a “kicker” or “college fund,” if directed by DOD. Visit http://www.gibill.va.gov for more information.

The maximum number of months veterans can receive payments is 36 months at the full-time rate or the part-time equivalent.

The following groups qualify for the maximum: veterans who served the required length of active duty, veterans with an obligation of three years or more who were separated early for the convenience of the government and served 30 continuous months, and veterans with an obligation of less than three years who were separated early for the convenience of the government and served 20 continuous months.

Types of Training Available:

1. Courses at colleges and universities leading to associate, bachelor or graduate degrees, including accredited independent study offered through distance education.

2. Courses leading to a certificate or diploma from business, technical or vocational schools.

3. Apprenticeship or on-the-job training for those not on active duty, including self-employment training begun on or after

June 16, 2004, for ownership or operation of a franchise

4. Correspondence courses, under certain conditions.

5. Flight training, if the veteran holds a private pilot’s license upon beginning the training and meets the medical requirements.

6. State-approved teacher certification programs.

40 Education and Training Chapter 4

7. Preparatory courses necessary for admission to a college or graduate school

8. License and certification tests approved for veterans.

9. Entrepreneurship training courses to create or expand small businesses.

10. Tuition assistance using MGIB as “Top-Up” (active duty service members).

Accelerated payments for certain high-cost programs are authorized.

Work-Study Program: Veterans who train at the three-quarter or full-time rate may be eligible for a work-study program in which they work for VA and receive hourly wages. Students under the work-study program must be supervised by a VA employee and all duties performed must relate to VA. The types of work allowed include:

1. VA paperwork processing at schools or other training facilities.

2. Assistance with patient care at VA hospitals or domiciliary care facilities.

3. Work at national or state veterans’ cemeteries.

4. Various jobs within any VA regional office.

5. Other VA-approved activities.

Educational and Vocational Counseling Services: Refer to Chap-ter 10, “Transition Assistance”, for detailed information on available services.

Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program

Eligibility: Active duty personnel could participate in the Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) if they entered active duty for the first time after Dec.. 31, 1976, and before July 1, 1985, and made a contribution prior to April 1, 1987. The maximum contribution is $2,700. Active duty participants may make a lump-sum contribu-tion to their VEAP account. For more information, visit the Web site at http://www.gibill.va.gov.

Servicemembers who participated in VEAP are eligible to receive benefits while on active duty if:

1. At least 3 months of contributions are available, except for high school or elementary, in which only one month is needed.

2. And they enlisted for the first time after Spet.. 7, 1980,

and completed 24 months of their first period of active duty.

Chapter 5 Home Loan Guaranty 43

Chapter 5

Home Loan Guaranty

VA home loan guaranties are issued to help eligible servicemembers, veterans, reservists and unmarried surviving spouses obtain homes, condominiums, residential cooperative housing units, and manufac - tured homes, and to refinance loans. For additional information or to obtain VA loan guaranty forms, visit http://www.homeloans.va.gov/.

Loan Uses: A VA guaranty helps protect lenders from loss if the bor-rower fails to repay the loan. It can be used to obtain a loan to:

1. Buy or build a home.

2. Buy a residential condominium unit.

3. Buy a residential cooperative housing unit.

4. Repair, alter, or improve a residence owned by the veteran and occupied as a home.

5. Refinance an existing home loan.

6. Buy a manufactured home and/or lot.

7. Install a solar heating or cooling system or other energy-efficient improvements.

Eligibility: In addition to the periods of eligibility and conditions of service requirements, applicants must have a good credit rating, sufficient income, a valid Certificate of Eligibility (COE), and agree to live in the property in order to be approved by a lender for a VA home loan.

To obtain a COE, complete VA Form 26-1880 -- “Request for a Certificate of Eligibility” -- and mail to: VA Eligibility Center, P.O. Box 20729, Winston-Salem, NC 27120.

It is also possible to obtain a COE from your lender. Most lenders have access to VA’s “WebLGY” system. This Internet-based applica-tion can establish eligibility and issue an online COE in seconds. Not all cases can currently be processed online – only those for which VA has sufficient data in its records. However, veterans are encouraged to ask their lenders about this method of obtaining a COE before sending an application to the Eligibility Center. For more information,

Chapter 5 Home Loan Guaranty 44

visit http://www.homeloans.va.gov/eligibility.htm.

Periods of Eligibility: World War II: (1) active duty service after Sept.15, 1940, and prior to July 26, 1947; (2) discharge under other than dishonorable conditions; and (3) at least 90 days total service unless discharged early for a service-connected disability.

Post-World War II period: (1) active duty service after July 25, 1947, and prior to June 27, 1950; (2) discharge under other than dishonorable conditions; and (3) 181 days continuous active duty service unless discharged early for a service-connected disability.

Korean War: (1) active duty after June 26, 1950, and prior to Feb. 1, 1955; (2) discharge under other than dishonorable conditions; and (3) at least 90 days total service, unless discharged early for a service-connected disability.

Post-Korean War period: (1) active duty after Jan. 31, 1955, and prior to Aug. 5, 1964; (2) discharge under other than dishonorable conditions; (3) 181 days continuous service, unless discharged early for a service-connected disability.

Vietnam War: (1) active duty after Aug. 4, 1964, and prior to May 8, 1975; (2) discharge under other than dishonorable conditions; and (3) 90 days total service, unless discharged early for a service-connected disability. For veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam, the beginning date is Feb. 28, 1961.

Post-Vietnam period: (1) active duty after May 7, 1975, and prior to Aug. 2, 1990; (2) active duty for 181 continuous days, all of which occurred after May 7, 1975; and (3) discharge under conditions other than dishonorable or early discharge for service-connected disability.

24-Month Rule: If service was between Sept. 8, 1980, (Oct. 16, 1981, for officers) and Aug. 1, 1990, veterans must generally com-plete 24 months of continuous active duty service or the full period (at least 181 days) for which they were called or ordered to active duty, and be discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.

Exceptions are allowed if the veteran completed at least 181 days of active duty service but was discharged earlier than 24 months for

(1) hardship, (2) the convenience of the government, (3) reduction-

Chapter 5 Home Loan Guaranty 45

in-force, (4) certain medical conditions, or (5) service-connected disability.

Gulf War: Veterans of the Gulf War era -- Aug. 2, 1990, to a date to be determined -- must generally complete 24 months of continu-ous active duty service or the full period (at least 90 days) for which they were called to active duty, and be discharged under other than dishonorable conditions.

Exceptions are allowed if the veteran completed at least 90 days of active duty but was discharged earlier than 24 months for (1) hard-ship, (2) the convenience of the government, (3) reduction-in-force,

(4) certain medical conditions, or (5) service-connected disability. Reservists and National Guard members are eligible if they were activated after Aug. 1, 1990, served at least 90 days, and received an honorable discharge.

Active Duty Personnel: Until the Gulf War era is ended, persons on active duty are eligible after serving 90 continuous days.

VA Guaranty Amount Varies with the size of the loan and the loca-tion of the property. Because lenders are able to obtain this guaranty from VA, borrowers do not need to make a downpayment, provided they have enough home loan entitlement.

VA will guarantee 25 percent of the principal loan amount, up to the maximum guaranty. The maximum guaranty varies depending upon the location of the property.

For all locations in the United States other than Alaska, Guam, Hawaii, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the maximum guaranty is the greater of 25 percent of (a) $417,000 or (b) 125 percent of the area median price for a single-family residence, but in no case will the guaranty exceed 175 percent of the Freddie Mac loan limit for a single family residence in the county in which the property securing the loan is located. This translates to a maximum loan amount of $1,094,625 for 2009.

In Alaska, Guam, Hawaii, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the maximum guaranty is the greater of 25 percent of (a) $625,500 or (b) 125 per-cent of the area median price for a single-family residence, but in no case will the guaranty exceed 175 percent of the Freddie Mac loan

Chapter 5 Home Loan Guaranty 46

limit for a single family residence in the county in which the prop-erty securing the loan is located. This translates to a maximum loan amount of $1,641,937.50 for 2009.

A list of 2009 county loan limits can be found at the following website: http://www.homeloans.va.gov/docs/2009_county_loan_limits.pdf

All closing costs can generally be included in the loan, including the VA funding fee and up to $6,000 of home improvements for more energy efficiency.

Loan Amount	Maximum Guaranty	Special Provisions
		Minimum guaranty
Up to $45,000	50% of loan amount	of 25% on Interest
		Rate Reduction Refi-
		nancing Loans
$45,001 - $56,250	$22,500	Same as above
	40% of the loan	Same as above
$56,251 - $144,000	amount, with a maxi-
	mum of $36,000
	Up to an amount	Same as above
$144,000 or more	equal to 25% of the
	county loan limit

An eligible borrower can use a VA-guaranteed Interest Rate Reduc-tion Refinancing Loan to borrow up to 100 percent of the home’s appraised value to refinance an existing VA loan to lower the interest rate and payment. Typically, no credit underwriting is required for this type of loan. The loan may include the entire outstanding bal-ance of the prior loan, the costs of energy-efficient improvements, as well as closing costs, including up to two discount points.

An eligible borrower who wishes to obtain a VA-guaranteed loan to purchase a manufactured home or lot can borrow up to 95 percent of the home’s purchase price. The amount VA will guarantee on a manufactured home loan is 40 percent of the loan amount or the veteran’s available entitlement, up to a maximum amount of $20,000.

VA Appraisals: No loan can be guaranteed by VA without first be-ing appraised by a VA-assigned fee appraiser. A buyer, seller, real

Chapter 5 Home Loan Guaranty 47

estate agent, or lender can request a VA appraisal by completing VA Form 26-1805, “Request for Determination of Reasonable Value.” The requester pays for the appraisal upon completion, according to a fee schedule approved by VA. This VA appraisal estimates the value of the property. It is not an inspection and does not guarantee the house is free of defects. VA guarantees the loan, not the condition of the property.

Closing Costs: For purchase home loans, payment in cash is required on all closing costs, including title search and recording fees, hazard insurance premiums and prepaid taxes. For refinancing loans, all such costs may be included in the loan, as long as the total loan does not exceed the reasonable value of the property. Interest rate reduction loans may include closing costs, including a maximum of two discount points.

All veterans, except those receiving VA disability compensation, those who are rated by VA as eligible to receive compensation as a result of pre-discharge disability examination and rating, and unmar-ried surviving spouses of veterans who died in service or as a result of a service-connected disability, are charged a VA funding fee. For all types of loans, the loan amount may include this funding fee.

Required Occupancy: To qualify for a VA home loan, a veteran or the spouse of an active duty servicemember must certify that he or she intends to occupy the home. When refinancing a VA-guaranteed loan solely to reduce the interest rate, a veteran need only certify to prior occupancy.

Financing, Interest Rates and Terms: Veterans obtain VA-guar-anteed loans through the usual lending institutions, including banks, credit unions, and mortgage brokers. VA-guaranteed loans can have either a fixed interest rate or an adjustable rate, where the interest rate may adjust up to one percent annually and up to five percent over the life of the loan. VA does not set the interest rate. Interest rates are negotiable between the lender and borrower on all loan types.

Veterans may also choose a different type of adjustable rate mort-gage called a hybrid ARM, where the initial interest rate remains

fixed for three to 10 years. If the rate remains fixed for less than five years, the rate adjustment cannot be more than one percent annu-

Chapter 5				Home Loan Guaranty		48
ally and five	percent	over the life	of the loan.		For a hybrid ARM with
an initial fixed period		of five years or		more,	the initial adjustment	may

be up to two percent. The Secretary has the authority to determine annual adjustments thereafter. Currently annual adjustments may be up to two percentage points and six percent over the life of the loan.

If the lender charges discount points on the loan, the veteran may negotiate with the seller as to who will pay points or if they will be split between buyer and seller. Points paid by the veteran may not be included in the loan (with the exception that up to two points may be included in interest rate reduction loans). The term of the loan may be for as long as 30 years and 32 days.

Loan Assumption Requirements and Liability: VA loans made on or after March 1, 1988, are not assumable without the prior ap-proval of VA or its authorized agent (usually the lender collecting the monthly payments). To approve the assumption, the lender must ensure that the assumer is a satisfactory credit risk and will assume all of the veteran’s liabilities on the loan. If approved, the assumer will have to pay a funding fee that the lender sends to VA, and the veteran will be released from liability to the federal government. A re-lease of liability does not mean that a veteran’s guaranty entitlement is restored. That occurs only if the assumer is an eligible veteran who agrees to substitute his or her entitlement for that of the seller.

If a veteran allows assumption of a loan without prior approval, then the lender may demand immediate and full payment of the loan, and the veteran may be liable if the loan is foreclosed and VA has to pay a claim under the loan guaranty.

Loans made prior to March 1, 1988, are generally freely assumable, but veterans should still request VA’s approval in order to be released of liability. Veterans whose loans were closed after Dec. 31, 1989, usually have no liability to the government following a foreclosure, except in cases involving fraud, misrepresentation, or bad faith, such as allowing an unapproved assumption. However, for the entitlement to be restored, any loss suffered by VA must be paid in full.

2009 VA Funding Fees

A funding fee must be paid to VA unless the veteran is exempt from such a fee because he or she receives VA disability compensation.

The fee, which is 1.25 percent for loans to purchase, construct or improve a home, and 0.5 percent to reduce the interest rate on an

Chapter 5 Home Loan Guaranty 49

existing VA loan, may be paid in cash or included in the loan. Clos-ing costs such as VA appraisal, credit report, loan processing fee, title search, title insurance, recording fees, transfer taxes, survey charges, or hazard insurance may not be included in the loan.

Loan Category	Active Duty and	Reservists and
	Veterans	National Guard
Loans for purchase	2.15 percent	2.40 percent
or construction with	2.15 percent	2.40 percent
or construction with
downpayments of
less than 5%, refi-
nancing, and home
improvement.
Loans for purchase	1.50 percent	1.75 percent
or construction with	1.50 percent	1.75 percent
or construction with
downpayments of
at least 5% but less
than 10%.
Loans for purchase	1.25 percent	1.50 percent
or construction with	1.25 percent	1.50 percent
or construction with
downpayments of
10% or more.
Loans for manufac-	1 percent	1 percent
tured homes	1 percent	1 percent
tured homes
Interest rate reduc-	.50 percent	.50 percent
tion loans	.50 percent	.50 percent
tion loans
Assumption of a VA-	.50 percent	.50 percent
guaranteed loan	.50 percent	.50 percent
guaranteed loan
Second or subse-
quent use of	3.3 percent	3.3 percent
entitlement with no	3.3 percent	3.3 percent
entitlement with no
downpayment.

VA Assistance to Veterans in Default: When a veteran’s home loan becomes delinquent, the veteran should contact the lender as soon as possible to explain what caused the missed payments, and discuss how they can be repaid. Depending on a veteran’s situation, the lender may offer any of the following options to avoid foreclosure:

• Repayment Plan: make a regular payment each month plus

Chapter 5 Home Loan Guaranty 50

part of the late payments.

• Forbearance: lender temporarily suspends payments to al low veteran time to accumulate funds to reinstate the loan or sell the property.

• Loan Modification:lender provides a fresh start by adding delinquency to the loan balance, and establishing a new payment schedule.

• Compromise Sale/Short Sale: lender approves a sale of the home for less than what is needed to payoff the loan.

The remainder is written off and/or paid by VA guaranty.

• Deed-in-Lieu of Foreclosure: lender accepts a deed to the property instead of going through a lengthy foreclosure process.

VA does not have funds to lend veterans to make delinquent pay-ments, but can offer financial counseling to veterans with VA-guaranteed, conventional, or sub-prime loans. For veterans with VA-guaranteed loans, VA may be able to intercede with the lender to help arrange an option to foreclosure, but does not have that author-ity on other loans. VA’s toll-free number for the Home Loan Guaranty program is 1-877-827-3702.

VA Acquires Property Foreclosures

VA acquires properties as a result of foreclosures. Countrywide Home Loans, under contract with VA, is currently marketing the prop-erties through listing agents using local Multiple Listing Services. A listing of “VA Properties for Sale” may be found at http://va.reotrans. com. Contact a real estate agent for information on purchasing a

VA-acquired property.

Loans for Native American Veterans

Eligible Native American veterans can obtain a loan from VA to purchase, construct, or improve a home on Federal Trust Land, or to reduce the interest rate on such a VA loan. Native American Direct

Loans are only available if a memorandum of understanding exists between the tribal organization and VA.

Veterans who are not Native American, but who are married to Na-tive American non-veterans, may be eligible for a direct loan under this program. To be eligible for such a loan, the qualified non-Native

American veteran and the Native American spouse must reside on

Federal Trust Land, and both the veteran and spouse must have a

Chapter 6 VA Life Insurance 53

Chapter 6

VA Life Insurance

For complete details on government life insurance, visit the VA

Internet site at http://www.insurance.va.gov/ or call VA’s Insurance Center toll-free at 1-800-669-8477. Specialists are available between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m., Eastern Time, to discuss premium payments, insurance dividends, address changes, policy loans, nam-ing beneficiaries and reporting the death of the insured.

If the insurance policy number is not known, send whatever informa-tion is available, such as the veteran’s VA file number, date of birth, Social Security number, military serial number or military service branch and dates of service to:

Department of Veterans Affairs

Regional Office and Insurance Center

Box 42954

Philadelphia, PA 19101

For information about Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance, Vet-erans Group Life Insurance, Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance Traumatic Injury Protection, or Servicemembers’ Group Life Insur-ance Family Coverage, visit the website above or call the Office of Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance directly at 1-800-419-1473.

Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance

The following are automatically insured for $400,000 under Service members’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI):

1. Active-duty members of the Army, Navy, Air Force,

Marines and Coast Guard.

2. Commissioned members of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Public Health Service.

3. Cadets or midshipmen of the service academies.

4. Members, cadets and midshipmen of the ROTC while engaged in authorized training.

5. Members of the Ready Reserves who are scheduled to perform at least 12 periods of inactive training per year.

54 VA Life Insurance Chapter 6

6. Members who volunteer for a mobilization category in the Individual Ready Reserve.

Individuals may elect in writing to be covered for a lesser amount or not at all. Part-time coverage may be provided to reservists who do not qualify for full-time coverage. Premiums are automatically de - ducted from the service member’s pay. At the time of separation from service, SGLI can be converted to either Veterans’ Group Life Insur-ance (VGLI) or a commercial plan through participating companies.

SGLI coverage continues for 120 days after separation at no charge. Coverage of $10,000 is also automatically provided for dependent children of members insured under SGLI with no premium required.

SGLI Traumatic Injury Protection

Members of the armed services serve our nation heroically during times of great need, but what happens when they experience great needs of their own because they have sustained a traumatic injury? Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (TSGLI) helps severely injured service members through their time of need with a one-time payment. The amount varies depending on the injury, but it could be the difference that allows their families to be with them during their recovery; helps them with unforeseen expenses; or gives them a financial head start on life after recovery.

TSGLI is an insurance program that is bundled with Servicemem-bers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) and an additional $1.00 has been added to the service member’s SGLI premium to cover TSGLI. After Dec. 1, 2005, all service members who are covered by SGLI are eligible for TSGLI coverage, regardless of where their qualifying trau-matic injury occurred. However, TSGLI claims require approval. In addition, there is a retroactive program that covers service members who sustained a qualifying traumatic injury while in theater support-ing Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), or while on orders in a Combat Zone Tax Exclusion (CZTE) area from Oct. 7, 2001, through Nov. 30, 2005.

For more information, visit the Web site at http://www.insurance. va.gov/sgliSite/TSGLI/TSGLI.htm, or call 1-800-237-1336 (Army); 1-800-368-3202 (Navy); 877-216-0825 (Marine Corps); 2410800-433-0048 (Air Force), or 1-202-475-5391 (U.S. Coast Guard). The Army also has its own Web site at https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/crsc/ tsgli/index.html, or e-mail at TSGLI@conus.army.mil

Chapter 6 VA Life Insurance 55

Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance Family Coverage

Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance Family Coverage (FSGLI) provides up to $100,000 of life insurance coverage for spouses of servicemembers covered full time by SGLI, not to exceed the amount of SGLI the member has in force. FSGLI is a servicemembers’ ben-efit, and the member pays the premium and is the beneficiary of the policy. FSGLI spousal coverage ends when: 1) the servicemember elects in writing to terminate coverage on the spouse; 2) the service-member elects to terminate his or her own SGLI coverage; 3) the servicemember dies; 4) the servicemember separates from service; or 5) the servicemember divorces the spouse. The insured spouse may convert his or her FSGLI coverage to a policy offered by par-ticipating private insurers within 120 days of the date of any of those termination events.

Veterans’ Group Life Insurance

SGLI may be converted to Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI), which provides renewable term coverage to:

1. Veterans who had full-time SGLI coverage upon release from active duty or the reserves.

2. Ready Reservists with part-time SGLI coverage who incur a disability or aggravate a pre-existing disability during a reserve period that renders them uninsurable at standard premium rates.

3. Members of the Individual Ready Reserve and Inactive

National Guard.

SGLI can be converted to VGLI up to the amount of coverage the service member had when separated from service. Veterans who submit an application and the initial premium within 120 days of leav-ing the service will be covered regardless of their health. Veterans who don’t apply within this period can still convert to VGLI if they submit an application, pay the initial premium, and show evidence of insurability within one year after the end of the 120 day period.

SGLI Disability Extension

Service members who are totally disabled at the time of separation are eligible for free SGLI Disability Extension of up to two years. Those covered under the SGLI Disability Extension are automatically converted to VGLI at the end of their extension period. VGLI is con-vertible at any time to a permanent plan policy with any participating

56 VA Life Insurance Chapter 6

commercial insurance company.

Accelerated Death Benefits

SGLI, FSGLI and VGLI policyholders who are terminally ill (progno-sis of nine months or less to live) may request one time only up to 50 percent of their coverage amount in advance.

Service-Disabled Veterans’ Insurance

A veteran who was discharged under other than dishonorable condi-tions and who has a service-connected disability but is otherwise

in good health may apply to VA for up to $10,000 in life insurance coverage under the Service-Disabled Veterans’ Insurance (S-DVI) program. Applications must be submitted within two years from the date of being notified of the approval of a new service-connected disability by VA. This insurance is limited to veterans who left service on or after April 25, 1951.

Veterans who are totally disabled may apply for a waiver of premi-ums and additional supplemental coverage of up to $20,000. How-ever, premiums cannot be waived on the additional insurance. To be eligible for this type of supplemental insurance, veterans must meet all of the following three requirements:

1. Be under age 65.

2. Be eligible for a waiver of premiums due to total disability.

3. Apply for additional insurance within one year from the date of notification of waiver approval on the S-DVI policy.

Veterans’ Mortgage Life Insurance

Veterans’ Mortgage Life Insurance (VMLI) is available to severely disabled veterans who have been approved for a Specially Adapted Housing Grant. Maximum coverage is $90,000, and is only payable to the mortgage company. Protection is issued automatically, provid-ed the veteran submits information required to establish a premium and does not decline coverage. Coverage automatically terminates when the mortgage is paid off. If a mortgage is disposed of through sale of the property, VMLI may be obtained on the mortgage of an-other home.

Insurance Dividends Issued Annually

Chapter 6 VA Life Insurance 57

tax-free dividends annually on the policy anniversary date. Poli-cyholders do not need to apply for dividends, but may select from among the following dividend options:

1. Cash: The dividend is paid directly to the insured either by a mailed check or by direct deposit to a bank account.

2. Paid-Up Additional Insurance: The dividend is used to pur chase additional insurance coverage.

3. Credit or Deposit: The dividend is held in an account for the policyholder with interest. Withdrawals from the account can be made at any time. The interest rate may be adjusted.

4. Net Premium Billing Options: These options use the dividend to pay the annual policy premium. If the dividend exceeds the

premium, the policyholder has options to choose how the remainder is used. If the dividend is not enough to pay an annual premium, the policyholder is billed the balance.

5. Other Dividend Options: Dividends can also be used to repay a loan or pay premiums in advance.

Other Insurance Information

The following information applies to policies issued to World War II, Korean, and Vietnam-era veterans and any Service-Disabled Vet-erans Insurance policies. Policies in this group are prefixed by the letters K, V, RS, W-J, JR, JS, or RH.

Reinstating Lapsed Insurance: Lapsed term policies may be rein-stated within five years from the date of lapse. A five-year term policy that is not lapsed at the end of the term is automatically renewed for an additional five years. Lapsed permanent plans may be reinstated within certain time limits and with certain health requirements. Rein-stated permanent plan policies require repayment of all back premi-ums, plus interest.

Converting Term Policies: Term policies are renewed automatically every five years, with premiums increasing at each renewal. Premi-ums do not increase after age 70. Term policies may be converted to permanent plans, which have fixed premiums for life and earn cash and loan values.

Paid-up Insurance Available on Term Policies: Effective Septem-ber 2000, VA provides paid-up insurance on term policies whose premiums have been capped. Veterans who have National Service

Life Insurance (NSLI) term insurance (renewal age 71 or older) and

Chapter 7 Burial and Memorial Benefits 59

Chapter 7

Burial and Memorial Benefits

Eligibility

Veterans discharged from active duty under conditions other than dishonorable and service members who die while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training as well as spouses and dependent children of veterans and active duty servicemembers, may be eligible for VA burial and memorial benefits. The veteran does not have to pre-decease a spouse or dependent child for them to be eligible.

With certain exceptions, active duty service beginning after Sept. 7, 1980, as an enlisted person, and after Oct. 16, 1981, as an officer, must be for a minimum of 24 consecutive months or the full period of active duty (as in the case of reservists or National Guard members called to active duty for a limited duration). Eligibility is not estab-lished by active duty for training in the reserves or National Guard.

Reservists and National Guard members, as well as their spouses and dependent children, are eligible if they were entitled to retired pay at the time of death, or would have been if over age 60. See

Chapter 8 for more information.

VA national cemetery directors verify eligibility for burial in their cemeteries. A copy of the veteran’s discharge document that speci-fies the period(s) of active duty and character of discharge, along with the deceased’s death certificate and proof of relationship to the veteran (for eligible family members) are all that are usually needed to determine eligibility.

Under Section 2411 of Title 38 of the United States Code, certain otherwise eligible individuals found to have committed federal or state capital crimes are barred from burial or memorialization in a VA national cemetery, and from receipt of government-furnished head-

stones, markers, burial flags, and Presidential Memorial Certificates.

60 Burial and Memorial Benefits Chapter 7

This chapter contains information on the full range of VA burial and memorial benefits. Readers with questions should contact the near-est national cemetery, listed by state in the VA Facilities section of this book, call 1-800-827-1000, or visit the Web site at http://www. cem.va.gov/.

Burial in VA National Cemeteries

Burial in a VA national cemetery is available for eligible veterans, their spouses and dependents at no cost to the family and includes the gravesite, grave-liner, opening and closing of the grave, a head-stone or marker, and perpetual care as part of a national shrine. For

veterans, benefits also include a burial flag (with case for active duty) and military funeral honors. Family members and other loved ones

of deceased veterans may request Presidential Memorial Certifi-cates.

VA operates 125 national cemeteries, of which 65 are open for new casketed interments and 21 are open to accept only cremated remains. Burial options are limited to those available at a specific

cemetery but may include in-ground casket, or interment of cremated remains in a columbarium, in ground or in a scatter garden. Contact the nearest national cemetery to determine if it is open for new buri-als and which options are available.

New national cemeteries in Birmingham, Ala., and Sarasota, Fla., are scheduled to open in 2009.

The funeral director or the next of kin makes interment arrangements by contacting the national cemetery in which burial is desired. VA normally does not conduct burials on weekends. Gravesites cannot be reserved; however, VA will honor reservations made under previ-ous programs.

Surviving spouses of veterans who died on or after Jan. 1, 2000, do not lose eligibility for burial in a national cemetery if they remarry.

Burial of dependent children is limited to unmarried children under 21 years of age, or under 23 years of age if a full-time student at an ap-proved educational institution. Unmarried adult children who become physically or mentally disabled and incapable of self-support before age 21, or age 23 if a full-time student, also are eligible for burial.

Headstones and Markers: Veterans, active duty service members,

Chapter 7 Burial and Memorial Benefits 61

retired Reservists, and National Guard service members are eligible for an inscribed headstone or marker for their grave at any cemetery

-- national, state veterans, or private. VA will deliver a headstone or marker at no cost, anywhere in the world. For certain veterans whose deaths occurred on or after Nov. 1, 1990, VA may provide a government headstone or marker even if the grave is already marked with a private one. Spouses and dependent children are

eligible for a government headstone or marker only if they are buried in a national or state veterans cemetery.

Flat markers are available in bronze, granite or marble. Upright headstones come in granite or marble. In national cemeteries, the style chosen must be consistent with existing monuments at the place of burial. Niche markers are available to mark columbaria used for inurnment of cremated remains.

Headstones and markers previously provided by the government may be replaced at the government’s expense if badly deteriorated, illegible, vandalized or stolen. To check the status of an application for a headstone or marker for a national or state veterans cemetery, call the cemetery. To check the status of one being placed in a pri-vate cemetery, call 1-800-697-6947.

Inscription: Headstones and markers must be inscribed with the name of the deceased, branch of service, and year of birth and death. They also may be inscribed with other markings, including an authorized emblem of belief and, space permitting, additional text including military rank; war service such as “World War II;” complete dates of birth and death; military awards; military organizations; civil-ian or veteran affiliations; and words of endearment.

Private Cemeteries: To apply for a headstone or marker for a private cemetery, mail a completed VA Form 40-1330 (available at http://www.va.gov/vaforms/va/pdf/40-1330.pdf), Application for Stan-dard Government Headstone or Marker, and a copy of the veteran’s military discharge document to Memorial Programs Service (41A1), Department of Veterans Affairs, 5109 Russell Rd., Quantico, VA 22134-3903. The application and supporting documents may also be faxed toll free at 1-800-455-7143.

Before ordering, check with the cemetery to ensure that the addi-

62 Burial and Memorial Benefits Chapter 7

tional headstone or marker will be accepted. Any placement fee will not be reimbursed by VA.

“In Memory Of” Markers: VA provides memorial headstones and markers, bearing the inscription “In Memory Of” as the first line, to memorialize those whose remains were not recovered or identified, were buried at sea, donated to science or cremated and scattered. Eligibility is the same for regular headstones and markers. There is no fee when the “In Memory Of” marker is placed in a national cem-etery. Any fees associated with placement in another cemetery will not be reimbursed by VA.

Presidential Memorial Certificates are issued upon request to recognize the military service of honorably discharged deceased veterans. Next of kin, relatives and friends may apply for a certificate by mailing a completed VA Form 40-0247 (available at http://www. va.gov/vaforms/va/pdf/VA40-0247.pdf), Presidential Memorial Cer-tificate Request Form, and a copy of the veteran’s military discharge document to Presidential Memorial Certificates (41A1C), Department of Veterans Affairs, 5109 Russell Rd., Quantico, VA 22134-3903. The request form and supporting documents may also be faxed toll free at 1-800-455-7143.

Burial Flags: VA will furnish a U.S. burial flag for memorialization of:

1. Veterans who served during wartime or after Jan. 31, 1955.

2. Veterans who were entitled to retired pay for service in the Reserve or National Guard, or would have been entitled if over age 60.

3. Members or former members of the Selected Reserve who served their initial obligation, or were discharged for a disability incurred or aggravated in line of duty, or died while a member of the Selected Reserve.

Reimbursement of Burial Expenses: VA will pay a burial allowance up to $2,000 if the veteran’s death is service-connected. In such cases, the person who bore the veteran’s burial expenses may claim reimbursement from VA.

In some cases, VA will pay the cost of transporting the remains of a service-connected veteran to the nearest national cemetery with available gravesites. There is no time limit for filing reimbursement

Chapter 7 Burial and Memorial Benefits 63

claims in service-connected death cases.

Burial Allowance: VA will pay a $300 burial and funeral allowance for veterans who, at time of death, were entitled to receive pension or compensation or would have been entitled if they weren’t receiv-ing military retirement pay. Eligibility also may be established when death occurs in a VA facility, a VA-contracted nursing home or a state veterans nursing home. In non service-connected death cases, claims must be filed within two years after burial or cremation.

Plot Allowance: VA will pay a $300 plot allowance when a veteran is buried in a cemetery not under U.S. government jurisdiction if: the veteran was discharged from active duty because of disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty; the veteran was receiving compensation or pension or would have been if the veteran was not receiving military retired pay; or the veteran died in a VA facility.

The $300 plot allowance may be paid to the state for the cost of a plot or interment in a state-owned cemetery reserved solely for veteran burials if the veteran is buried without charge. Burial ex-penses paid by the deceased’s employer or a state agency will not be reimbursed.

Military Funeral Honors: Upon request, DOD will provide military funeral honors consisting of folding and presentation of the United States flag and the playing of “Taps.” A funeral honors detail consists of two or more uniformed members of the armed forces, with at least one member from the deceased’s branch of service.

Family members should inform their funeral directors if they want mil-itary funeral honors. DOD maintains a toll-free number (1-877-MIL-HONR) for use by funeral directors only to request honors. VA can help arrange honors for burials at VA national cemeteries. Veterans’ service organizations or volunteer groups may help provide honors. For more information, visit http://www.militaryfuneralhonors.osd.mil/.

Veterans Cemeteries Administered by Other Agencies

Arlington National Cemetery: Administered by the Department of the Army. Eligibility is more restrictive than at VA national cemeter-ies. For information, call (703) 607-8000, write Superintendent,

Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA 22211, or visit http://www. arlingtoncemetery.org/.

Chapter 8 Reserve and National Guard 65

Chapter 8

Reserve and National Guard

Eligibility for VA Benefits

Reservists who serve on active duty establish veteran status and may be eligible for the full-range of VA benefits, depending on the length of active military service and a discharge or release from active duty under conditions other than dishonorable. In addition, reservists not activated may qualify for some VA benefits.

National Guard members can establish eligibility for VA benefits if activated for federal service during a period of war or domestic emer-gency. Activation for other than federal service does not qualify guard

members for all VA benefits. Claims for VA benefits based on federal

service filed by members of the National Guard should include a

copy of the military orders, presidential proclamation or executive order that clearly demonstrates the federal nature of the service.

Qualifying for VA Health Care

Effective Jan. 28, 2008, veterans discharged from active duty on or after Jan. 28, 2003, are eligible for enhanced enrollment placement into Priority Group 6 (unless eligible for higher Priority Group place-ment) for 5 years post discharge. Veterans with combat service after Nov. 11, 1998, who were discharged from active duty before Jan. 28, 2003, and who apply for enrollment on or after Jan. 28, 2008, are eligible for this enhanced enrollment benefit through Jan. 27, 201.

Activated reservists and members of the National Guard are eligible if they served on active duty in a theater of combat operations after Nov. 11, 1998, and, have been discharged under other than dishon-orable conditions.

66 Reserve and National Guard Chapter 8

Disability Benefits

VA pays monthly compensation benefits for disabilities incurred or aggravated during active duty and active duty for training as a result of injury or disease, and for disabilities due to injury, heart attack, or stroke that occurred during inactive duty training. For additional information see Chapter 2, “Veterans with Service-Connected Dis-abilities”.

Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve

Members of reserve elements of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, and members of the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard, may be entitled to up to 36 months of educational benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) – Select-ed Reserve. To be eligible, the participant must:

1. Have a six-year obligation in the Selected Reserve or Nationa lGuard signed after June 30, 1985, or, if an officer, agree to serve six years in addition to the original obligation.

2. Complete initial active duty for training.

3. Have a high school diploma or equivalency certificate before applying for benefits.

4. Remain in good standing in a Selected Reserve or National Guard unit.

Reserve components determine eligibility for benefits. VA does not make decisions about eligibility and cannot make payments until the reserve component has determined eligibility and notified VA.

Period of Eligibility: Benefits generally end the day a reservist or National Guard member separates from the military. Additionally, if in the Selected Reserve and called to active duty, VA can generally extend the eligibility period by the length of time on active duty plus four months for each period of active duty. Once this extension is granted, it will not be taken away if you leave the Selected Reserve.

Eligible members separated because of unit deactivation, a dis-ability that was not caused by misconduct, or otherwise involuntarily separated during Oct. 1, 1991, through Dec. 31, 2001, have 14 years after their eligibility date to use benefits. Similarly, members involun-tarily separated from the Selected Reserve due to a deactivation of their unit between Oct. 1, 2007, and Sept. 30, 2014, may receive a 14-year period of eligibility.

Chapter 8 Reserve and National Guard 67

Payments: The rate for full-time training effective Oct. 1, 2008, is $329 a month for 36 months. Part-time benefits are reduced propor-tionately. For complete current rates, visit http://www.gibill.va.gov/. DOD may make additional contributions.

Training: Participants may pursue training at a college or university, or take technical training at any approved facility. Training includes undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate courses; State licensure and certification; courses for a certificate or diploma from business, technical or vocational schools; cooperative training; apprenticeship or on-the-job training; correspondence courses; independent study programs; flight training; entrepreneurship training; or remedial, defi-ciency or refresher courses needed to complete a program of study.

Accelerated payments for certain high-cost programs are authorized effective Jan. 28, 2008.

Work-Study: Participants who train at the three-quarter or full-time rate may be eligible for a work-study program in which they work for VA and receive hourly wages. Students under the work-study pro-gram must be supervised by a VA employee and all duties performed must relate to VA. The types of work allowed include:

1. VA paperwork processing at schools or other training facilities.

2. Assistance with patient care at VA hospitals or domiciliary care facilities.

3. Work at national or state veterans’ cemeteries.

4. Various jobs within any VA regional office.

5. Other VA-approved activities.

*MGIB – Selected Reserve work-study students may also assist with an activity relating to the administration of this education benefit at DOD, Coast

Guard, or National Guard facilities.

Educational and Vocational Counseling: Refer to Chapter 10,

“Transition Assistance”, for detailed information on available ser-vices.

Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)

68 Reserve and National Guard Chapter 8

Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) – who are called or ordered to active duty service in response to a war or national emergency as declared by the President or Congress. Visit http://www.gibill.va.gov/ for more information.

Eligibility: Eligibility is determined by DOD or the Department of Homeland Security. Generally, a servicemember who serves on ac-tive duty on or after Sept.11, 2001, for at least 90 consecutive days or accumulates a total of three or more of years of service is eligible.

Payments: Reserve or National Guard members whose eligibil-ity is based upon continuous service receive a payment rate based upon their number of continuous days on active duty. Members who qualify after the accumulation of three or more years aggregate ac-tive duty service receive the full payment allowable.

2009 Reserve Educational Assistance Rates

Active Duty, Reserves and	Monthly Payment
Active Duty, Reserves and	Rate for Full-Time Students
National Guard members	Rate for Full-Time Students
National Guard members
90 days but less than one year	$528.40
One year but less than two	$792.60
years
Two or more continuous years	$1,056.80
	$1,056.80

Training: Participants may pursue training at a college or university, or take technical training at any approved facility. Training includes undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate courses; state licensure and certification courses; courses for a certificate or diploma from business, technical or vocational schools; cooperative training; ap-prenticeship or on-the-job training; correspondence courses; inde-pendent study programs; flight training; entrepreneurship training; or remedial, deficiency, or refresher courses needed to complete a pro-gram of study. Accelerated payments for certain high-cost programs are authorized.

Period of Eligibility: Prior to Jan. 28, 2008, members of the Se-lected Reserve called to active duty were eligible as long as they continued to serve in the Selected Reserve. They lost eligibility if they went into the Inactive Ready Reserve (IRR). Members of the

Chapter 8 Reserve and National Guard 69

IRR called to active duty were eligible as long as they stayed in the

IRR or Selected Reserve.

Effective Jan. 28, 2008, members who are called up from the Se-lected Reserve, complete their REAP-qualifying period of active duty service, and then return to the Selected Reserve for the remainder of their service contract, have 10 years to use their benefits after separation. In addition, members who are called up from the IRR or Inactive National Guard (ING), complete their REAP-qualifying period of active duty service, and then enter the Selected Reserve to complete their service contract, have 10 years to use their benefits after separation.

Work-Study Program: Reserve Education Assistance Program students in the work-study program may also assist with an activity relating to the administration of this education benefit at DOD, Coast

Guard, or National Guard facilities.

Educational and Vocational Counseling: Refer to Chapter 10,

“Transition Assistance”, for detailed information on available ser-vices.

Home Loan Guaranty

National Guard members and reservists are eligible for a VA home loan if they have completed at least six years of honorable service, are mobilized for active duty service for a period of at least 90 days, or are discharged because of a service-connected disability. Reserv-ists who do not qualify for VA housing loan benefits may be eligible for loans on favorable terms insured by the Federal Housing Admin-istration (FHA), part of HUD. Additional information can be found in Chapter 5 -- “Home Loan Guaranty.”

Life Insurance

National Guard members and reservists are eligible to receive Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI), Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI), and Family Servicemembers’ Group Life Insur-ance (FSGLI). They may also be eligible for SGLI Traumatic Injury Protection if severely injured and suffering a qualifying loss, Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance if they receive a service-connected disability rating from VA, and Veterans’ Mortgage Life Insurance if approved for a Specially Adapted Housing Grant. Complete details can be found in Chapter 6 -- “VA Life Insurance.”

70 Reserve and National Guard Chapter 8

Burial and Memorial Benefits

VA provides a burial flag for memorialization of members or former

members of the Selected Reserve who served their initial obligation, or were discharged for a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, or died while a member of the Selected Reserve. Informa-

tion about other benefits that may be available can be found in Chap-

ter 7 -- “Burial and Memorial Benefits.”

Re-employment Rights

A person who left a civilian job to enter active duty in the armed forces is entitled to return to the job after discharge or release from active duty if they:

1. Gave advance notice of military service to the employer.

2. Did not exceed five years cumulative absence from the civilian job (with some exceptions).

3. Submitted a timely application for re-employment.

4. Did not receive a dishonorable or other punitive discharge.

The law calls for a returning veteran to be placed in the job as if he/ she had never left, including benefits based on seniority such as pensions, pay increases and promotions. The law also prohibits dis-crimination in hiring, promotion or other advantages of employment on the basis of military service. Veterans seeking re-employment should apply, verbally or in writing, to the company’s hiring official and keep a record of their application. If problems arise, contact the Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) in the state of the employer.

Federal employees not properly re-employed may appeal directly to the Merit Systems Protection Board. Non-federal employees may file complaints in U.S. District Court. For information, visit http:// www.dol.gov/vets/programs/userra/main.htm.

Army Reserve Warrior and Family Assistance Center

The Army Reserve Warrior and Family Assistance Center (AR-WFAC) provides Army reserve soldiers, veterans, families, and units with a single source to resolve situations related to medical issues and education on programs available to Army reserve soldiers. The center was established in 2007 to ensure that reservists receive ap-propriate support under the Army Medical Action Plan. The center

Chapter 8 Reserve and National Guard 71

provides a sponsor to each Army reserve soldier and family currently assigned to a Warrior Transition Unit, Community Based Health Care Organization, or VA PolyTrauma center. The AR-WFAC also assists Army reserve commands at all echelons with the resolution of medical and other issues and provides education on programs

and benefits available to Army reserve soldiers. For information, call 1-866-436-6290 or visit http://www.arfp.org/wfac.

Transition Assistance Advisors

The Transition Assistance Advisor (TAA) program places a National

Guard/VA-trained expert at each National Guard State Joint Forces Headquarters to act as an advocate for Guard members and their families within the state. They also serve as advisors on veterans af-fairs issues for the Family Programs and Joint Forces Headquarters staffs. TAAs receive annual training by VA experts in health care and benefits for both Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs and help Guard members and their families access care at

VA and TRICARE facilities in their state or network. The TAA works with the State Director of Veterans Affairs and other state coalition partners to integrate the delivery of VA and community services to Guard and Reserve veterans. You can reach your Transition Assis-tance Advisor (TAA) through your state National Guard Joint Forces Headquarters.

Chapter 9 Special Groups of Veterans 73

Chapter 9

Special Groups of Veterans

Homeless Veterans

VA provides comprehensive medical, psychological and rehabilita-tion treatment for eligible homeless veterans and conducts homeless outreach such as community-based “stand downs” to help homeless veterans. Many VA benefits, including disability compensation, pen-sion and education, can help at-risk veterans avoid homelessness.

Other programs for homeless veterans include residential rehabilita-tion services at VA domiciliaries, therapeutic group homes, and con-tract residential care. For assistance, contact the nearest VA medical facility or visit http://www.va.gov/homeless/ to find contact informa-tion on VA homeless veteran coordinators in each state.

VA also provides grant and per diem funds to community agencies providing services to homeless veterans. The grant program pays up to 65 percent of the cost of construction, renovation, or acquisi-tion of a building for use as a service center or transitional housing for homeless veterans, or for the purchase of vans for transporting homeless veterans. The per diem provides funding for operational costs. Call 1-877-332-0334 or visit http://www.va.gov/homeless/.

The Healthcare for Re-Entry Veterans Program (HCRV) offers outreach, referrals and short-term case management assistance for incarcerated veterans who may be at risk for homelessness upon their release.

Another homeless program, HUD-VASH, partners with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide perma-nent housing and ongoing case management treatment services for homeless veterans who would not be able to live independently without the support of case management. This program allows veterans to live in veteran selected apartment units with a “Housing

Choice” voucher. These vouchers are portable so that veterans can live in communities served by their VA medical facility where case management services can be provided. HUD-VASH services include outreach and case management to ensure integration of services and continuity of care. This program enhances the ability of VA to serve homeless women veterans, as well as other targeted home-

74 Special Groups of Veterans Chapter 9

less veterans, and their immediate families. Call 1-877-332-0334 or visit http://www.va.gov/homeless/.

The Department of Labor provides employment and training ser-vices, as well as grants to community organizations that provide counseling, job search and placement assistance, remedial educa-tion and on-the-job training for homeless veterans. For information, call 202-693-4700 or visit http://www.dol.gov/vets/welcome.html.

Filipino Veterans

World War II era Filipino veterans are eligible for certain VA benefits. Generally, Old Philippine Scouts are eligible for VA benefits in the same manner as U.S. veterans. Commonwealth Army veterans, including certain organized Filipino guerrilla forces and New Philip-pine Scouts residing in the United States who are citizens or lawfully admitted for permanent residence, are also eligible for VA health care in the United States on the same basis as U.S. veterans.

Certain Commonwealth Army veterans and new Philippine Scouts may be eligible for disability compensation and burial benefits. Other veterans of recognized guerrilla groups also may be eligible for cer-tain VA benefits. Survivors of World War II era Filipino veterans may be eligible for dependency and indemnity compensation. Eligibility and the rates of benefits vary based on the recipient’s citizenship and place of residence. Call 1-800-827-1000 for additional information.

VA Benefits for Veterans Living Overseas

VA will pay for medical services for service-connected disabilities and related conditions or medical services needed as part of a vocational rehabilitation program for veterans living or traveling outside the United States. Veterans living in the Philippines should register with the U.S. Veterans Affairs office in Pasay City, telephone 011-632-

833-4566. All other veterans living or planning to travel outside the

U.S. should register with the Denver Foreign Medical Program office, P.O. Box 65021, Denver, CO 80206-9021, USA; telephone 303-331-7590. For information visit: http://www.va.gov/hac/forbeneficiaries/ fmp/fmp.asp.

Some veterans traveling or living overseas can telephone the

Foreign Medical Program toll free from these countries: Germany 0800-1800-011; Australia 1800-354-965; Italy 800-782-655; United

Chapter 9 Special Groups of Veterans 75

Kingdom (England and Scotland) 0800-032-7425; Mexico 001-877-345-8179; Japan 00531-13-0871; Costa Rica 0800-013-0759; and Spain 900-981-776. (Note: Veterans in Mexico or Costa Rica must first dial the United States country code.)

VA monetary benefits, including disability compensation, pension, educational benefits, and burial allowances are generally payable overseas. Some programs are restricted. Home loan guaranties are available only in the United States and selected U.S. territories and possessions. Educational benefits are limited to approved, degree-granting programs in institutions of higher learning. Beneficiaries living in foreign countries should contact the nearest American embassy or consulate for help. In Canada, contact an office of Vet-erans Affairs Canada. For information, visit http://www.vba.va.gov/ bln/21foreign/index.htm.

*World War II Era Merchant Marine Seamen*
Certain Merchant Marine seamen who served in World War II may
qualify for veterans’ benefits. When applying for medical care, sea-
men must present their discharge certificate from the Department	of
Defense. Call 1-800-827-1000 for help obtaining a certificate.

Allied Veterans Who Served During WWI or WWII

VA may provide medical care to certain veterans of nations allied or associated with the United States during World War I or World War II if authorized and reimbursed by the foreign government. VA also may provide hospitalization, outpatient care, and domiciliary care to former members of the armed forces of Czechoslovakia or Poland who fought in World War I or World War II in armed conflict against an enemy of the United States if they have been U.S. citi-zens for at least 10 years.

World War Service by Particular Groups

A number of groups who provided military-related service to the United States can receive VA benefits. A discharge by the Secretary of Defense is needed to qualify. Service in the following groups has been certified as active military service for benefits purposes:

1. Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASPs).

2. World War I Signal Corps Female Telephone Operators Unit.

3. World War I Engineer Field Clerks.

4. Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC).

76 Special Groups of Veterans Chapter 9

5. Quartermaster Corps female clerical employees serving with the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I.

6. Civilian employees of Pacific naval air bases who actively participated in defense of Wake Island during World War II.

7. Reconstruction aides and dietitians in World War I.

8. Male civilian ferry pilots.

9. Wake Island defenders from Guam.

10. Civilian personnel assigned to OSS secret intelligence.

11. Guam Combat Patrol.

12. Quartermaster Corps members of the Keswick crew on Corregidor during World War II.

13. U.S. civilians who participated in the defense of Bataan.

14. U.S. merchant seamen on block ships in support of Operation Mulberry in the World War II invasion of Normandy.

15. American merchant marines in oceangoing service during

World War II.

16. Civilian Navy IFF radar technicians who served in combat

areas of the Pacific during World War II.

17. U.S. civilians of the American Field Service who served overseas in World War I.

18. U.S. civilians of the American Field Service who served overseas under U.S. armies and U.S. army groups in World War II.

19. U.S. civilian employees of American Airlines who served overseas in a contract with the Air Transport Command between Dec. 14, 1941, and Aug. 14, 1945.

20. Civilian crewmen of U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey vessels who served in areas of immediate military hazard while conducting cooperative operations with and for the U.S. armed forces between Dec. 7, 1941, and Aug. 15, 1945 Qualifying vessels are: the Derickson, Explorer, Gilber, Hilgard, E. Lester Jones, Lydonia Patton, Surveyor, Wainwright, Westdahl, Oceanographer, Hydrographer and Pathfinder.

21. Members of the American Volunteer Group (Flying Tigers) who served between Dec. 7, 1941, and July 18, 1942.

22. U.S. civilian flight crew and aviation ground support employees

of United Air Lines who served overseas in a contract with Air Transport Command between Dec. 14, 1941, and Aug.

14, 1945.

23. U.S. civilian flight crew, including pursers, and aviation

Chapter 9 Special Groups of Veterans 77

ground support employees of Transcontinental and Western Air, Inc. who served overseas in a contract with the Air Transport Command between Dec. 14, 1941, and

Aug. 14, 1945.

24. U.S. civilian flight crew and aviation ground support employees of Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corp. who served overseas in a contract with Air Transport Command between

Dec. 14, 1941, and Aug. 14, 1945.

25. U.S. civilian flight crew and aviation ground support employ-ees of Pan American World Airways and its subsidiaries and affiliates, who served overseas in a contract with the Air

Transport Command and Naval Air Transport Service between Dec. 14, 1941, and Aug. 14, 1945.

26. Honorably discharged members of the American Volunteer Guard, Eritrea Service Command, between June 21, 1942, and March 31, 1943.

27. U.S. civilian flight crew and aviation ground support employees of Northwest Airlines who served overseas under the airline’s contract with Air Transport Command from

Dec. 14, 1941, through Aug. 14, 1945.

28. U.S. civilian female employees of the U.S. Army Nurse

Corps who served in the defense of Bataan and Corregidor between Jan. 2, 1942, and Feb. 3, 1945.

29. U.S. flight crew and aviation ground support employees of

Northeast Airlines Atlantic Division, who served overseas as

a result of Northeast Airlines’ contract with the Air Transport

Command from Dec. 7, 1941, through Aug. 14, 1945.

30. U.S. civilian flight crew and aviation ground support

employees of Braniff Airways, who served overseas in the

North Atlantic or under the jurisdiction of the North Atlantic

Wing, Air Transport Command, as a result of a contract with

the Air Transport Command between Feb. 26, 1945, and

Aug. 14, 1945.

31. Chamorro and Carolina former native police who received

military training in the Donnal area of central Saipan and

were placed under command of Lt. Casino of the 6th

Provisional Military Police Battalion to accompany U.S.

Marines on active, combat patrol from Aug. 19, 1945, to

Sept. 2, 1945.

32. The operational Analysis Group of the Office of Scientific Re-

search and Development, Office of Emergency

Management, which served overseas with the U.S. Army

78 Reserve and National Guard Chapter 8

Air Corps from Dec. 7, 1941, through Aug. 15, 1945.

33. Service as a member of the Alaska Territorial Guard during World War II of any individual who was honorably discharged under section 8147 of the Department of Defense Appropria-tions Act of 2001.

Incarcerated Veterans

VA benefits are affected if a beneficiary is convicted of a felony and imprisoned for more than 60 days. Disability or death pension paid to an incarcerated beneficiary must be discontinued. Disability com-pensation paid to an incarcerated veteran rated 20 percent or more disabled is limited to the 10 percent rate. For a veteran whose dis-ability rating is 10 percent, the payment is reduced to half of the rate payable to a veteran evaluated as 10 percent disabled.

Any amounts not paid may be apportioned to eligible dependents. Payments are not reduced for participants in work-release programs, residing in halfway houses or under community control.

Failure to notify VA of a veteran’s incarceration can result in overpay-

ment of benefits and the subsequent loss of all VA financial benefits

until the overpayment is recovered. VA benefits will not be provided

to any veteran or dependent wanted for an outstanding felony war-rant.

Chapter 10 Transition Assistance 79

Chapter 10

Transition Assistance

Transition From Military to VA

VA has stationed personnel at major military hospitals to help seri-ously injured servicemembers returning from Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) as they transition from mili-tary to civilian life. OEF/OIF servicemembers who have questions about VA benefits or need assistance in filing a VA claim or access-ing services can contact the nearest VA office or call 1-800-827-

1000.

Transition Assistance Program

The Transition Assistance Program (TAP) consists of comprehensive three-day workshops at military installations designed to help ser-vicemembers as they transition from military to civilian life. The pro-gram includes job search, employment and training information, as well as VA benefits information, for servicemembers who are within

12 months of separation or 24 months of retirement. A companion workshop, the Disabled Transition Assistance Program, provides information on VA’s Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Pro-gram, as well as other programs for the disabled. Additional informa-tion about these programs is available at http://www.dol.gov/vets/ programs/tap/tap_fs.htm.

Military Services Provide Pre-Separation Counseling

Servicemembers may receive pre-separation counseling 24 months prior to retirement or 12 months prior to separation from active duty. These sessions present information on education, training, employ-ment assistance, National Guard and reserve programs, medical benefits, and financial assistance.

Verification of Military Experience and Training

The Verification of	Military Experience and	Training (VMET) Docu-
ment, DD Form 2586, helps servicemembers verify previous ex-
perience and training to potential employers, negotiate credits at
schools, and obtain certificates or licenses.		VMET documents are
available only through Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps
Transition Support Offices and are intended for servicemembers			who

80 Transition Assistance Chapter 10

have at least six months of active service. Servicemembers should obtain VMET documents from their Transition Support Office within

12 months of separation or 24 months of retirement.

Transition Bulletin Board

To find business opportunities, a calendar of transition seminars, job fairs, information on veterans associations, transition services, train-ing and education opportunities, as well as other announcements, visit the Web site at www.turbotab.org

DOD Transportal

To find locations and phone numbers of all Transition Assistance Offices as well as mini-courses on conducting successful job-search campaigns, writing resumes, using the Internet to find a job, and links to job search and recruiting Web sites, visit the DOD Transpor-tal at http://www.dodtransportal.org/.

Educational and Vocational Counseling

The Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Program provides educational and vocational counseling to servicemembers, veterans, and certain dependents (U.S.C. Title 38, Section 3697) at no charge. These counseling services are designed to help an indi - vidual choose a vocational direction, determine the course needed to achieve the chosen goal, and evaluate the career possibilities open to them.

Assistance may include interest and aptitude testing, occupational exploration, setting occupational goals, locating the right type of training program, and exploring educational or training facilities which can be utilized to achieve an occupational goal. Counseling services include, but are not limited to, educational and vocational counseling and guidance; testing; analysis of and recommendations to improve job-marketing skills; identification of employment, training, and financial aid resources; and referrals to other agencies providing these services.

Eligibility: Educational and vocational counseling services are available during the period the individual is on active duty with the armed forces and is within 180 days of the estimated date of his or her discharge or release from active duty. The projected discharge must be under conditions other than dishonorable. Servicemembers

Chapter 10 Transition Assistance 81

are eligible even if they are only considering whether or not they will continue as members of the armed forces. Veterans are eligible if not more than one year has elapsed since the date they were last discharged or released from active duty.

IIndividuals who are eligible for VA education benefits may receive

educational and vocational counseling at any time during their

eligibility period. This service is based on having eligibility for a

VA program such as Chapter 30 (Montgomery GI Bill); Chapter 31 (Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment); Chapter 32 (Veterans Education Assistance Program – VEAP); Chapter 33 (Post – 9/11 GI Bill); Chapter 35 (Dependents’ Education Assistance Program) for certain spouses and dependent children; Chapter 18 (Spina Bifida Program) for certain dependent children; and Chapter 1606 and

1607 of Title 10.

Veterans and servicemembers may apply for counseling services using VA Form 28-8832, Application for Counseling. Veterans and servicemembers may also write a letter expressing a desire for coun-seling services. Upon receipt of either type of request for counsel-ing from an eligible individual, an appointment for counseling will be scheduled. Counseling services are provided to eligible persons at no charge.

Veterans’ Workforce Investment Program

Recently separated veterans and those with service-connected dis-abilities, significant barriers to employment or who served on active duty during a period in which a campaign or expedition badge was authorized can contact the nearest state employment office for em-ployment help through the Veterans’ Workforce Investment Program. The program may be conducted through state or local public agen - cies, community organizations or private, nonprofit organizations.

State Employment Services

Veterans can find employment information, education and training opportunities, job counseling, job-search workshops, and resume preparation assistance at state Workforce Career or One-Stop Cen-ters. These offices also have specialists to help disabled veterans find employment.

82 Transition Assistance Chapter 10

Unemployment Compensation

Veterans who do not begin civilian employment immediately after leaving military service may receive weekly unemployment compen-sation for a limited time. The amount and duration of payments are determined by individual states. Apply by contacting the nearest state employment office listed in your local telephone directory.

Veterans Preference for Federal Jobs

Since the time of the Civil War, veterans of the U.S. armed forces have been given some degree of preference in appointments to federal jobs. Veterans’ preference in its present form comes from the Veterans’ Preference Act of 1944, as amended, and now codified in Title 5, United States Code. By law, veterans who are disabled or who served on active duty in the U.S. armed forces during certain specified time periods or in military campaigns are entitled to prefer-ence over others when hiring from competitive lists of eligible candi-dates, and also in retention during a reduction in force (RIF).

To receive preference, a veteran must have been discharged or released from active duty in the U.S. armed forces under honorable conditions (honorable or general discharge). Preference is also provided for certain widows and widowers of deceased veterans who died in service; spouses of service-connected disabled veterans; and mothers of veterans who died under honorable conditions on active duty or have permanent and total service-connected disabilities. For each of these preferences, there are specific criteria that must be met in order to be eligible to receive the veterans’ preference.

Recent changes in Title 5 clarify veterans’ preference eligibility criteria for National Guard and Reserve members. Veterans eligible for preference include National Guard and Reserve members who served on active duty as defined by Title 38 at any time in the armed forces for a period of more than 180 consecutive days, any part of which occurred during the period beginning on Sept.11, 2001, and ending on the date prescribed by Presidential proclamation or by law as the last date of OEF/OIF. The National Guard and Reserve ser-vice members must have been discharged or released from active duty in the armed forces under honorable conditions.

Another recent change involves veterans who earned the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal for service in OEF/OIF. Under Title 5, service on active duty in the armed forces during a war or

Chapter 10 Transition Assistance 83

in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized also qualifies for veterans’ preference. Any Armed Forces Expeditionary medal or campaign badge qualifies for preference. Medal holders must have served continuously for 24 months or the full period called or ordered to active duty. As of Dec. 2005, veterans who received the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal are entitled to veterans’ preference if otherwise eligible. For additional information, visit the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Web site at http://www.opm.gov/veterans/html/vetguide.asp#2.

Veterans’ preference does not require an agency to use any par-ticular appointment process. Agencies can pick candidates from a number of different special hiring authorities or through a variety of different sources. For example, the agency can reinstate a former federal employee, transfer someone from another agency, reassign someone from within the agency, make a selection under merit pro-motion procedures or through open, competitive exams, or appoint someone noncompetitively under special authority such as a Veter-ans Readjustment Appointment or special authority for 30 percent or more disabled veterans. The decision on which hiring authority the agency desires to use rests solely with the agency.

When applying for federal jobs, eligible veterans should claim prefer-ence on their application or resume. Veterans should apply for a federal job by contacting the personnel office at the agency in which they wish to work. For more information, visit http://www.usajobs. opm.gov/ for job openings or help creating a federal resume.

Veterans’ Employment Opportunities Act: When an agency ac-cepts applications from outside its own workforce, the Veterans’ Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 allows preference eligible candidates or veterans to compete for these vacancies under merit promotion procedures. Veterans who are selected are given career or career-conditional appointments. Veterans are those who have been separated under honorable conditions from the U.S. armed forces with three or more years of continuous active service. For information, visit http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/ei52.asp.

Veterans’ Recruitment Appointment: Allows federal agencies to appoint eligible veterans to jobs without competition. These appoint-ments can be converted to career or career-conditional positions after two years of satisfactory work. Veterans should apply directly

Chapter 11 Benefits for Dependents and Survivors 85

Chapter 11

Dependents and Survivors

Bereavement Counseling

VA Vet Centers provide bereavement counseling to all family mem-bers including spouses, children, parents, and siblings of service-members who die while on active duty. This includes federally activated members of the National Guard and reserve components. Bereavement services may be accessed by calling (202) 461-6530.

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation

Eligibility: For a survivor to be eligible for Dependency and Indemni-ty Compensation (DIC), the veteran’s death must have resulted from one of the following causes:

1. A disease or injury incurred or aggravated in the line of duty while on active duty or active duty for training.

2. An injury, heart attack, cardiac arrest, or stroke incurred or aggravated in the line of duty while on inactive duty for

training.

3. A service-connected disability or a condition directly related to a service-connected disability.

DIC also may be paid to certain survivors of veterans who were to-tally disabled from service-connected conditions at the time of death, even though their service-connected disabilities did not cause their deaths. The survivor qualifies if the veteran was:

1. Continuously rated totally disabled for a period of 10 years immediately preceding death; or

2. Continuously rated totally disabled from the date of military discharge and for at least 5 years immediately preceding death ;or

3. A former POW who died after Sept. 30, 1999, and who was continuously rated totally disabled for a period of at least one year immediately preceding death.

86 Benefits for Dependents and Survivors Chapter 11

must have been under conditions other than dishonorable.

DIC Payment Rates for Surviving Spouses*

Allowances	Monthly Rate
Basic Payment Rate	$1,154
Additional Allowances:

Each Dependent Child	$286
Aid and Attendance	$286
Housebound	$135

*Veterans who died on or after Jan. 1, 1993.

Special Allowances: Add $233 if the veteran was totally disabled eight continuous years prior to death.

Add $250 to the additional allowance for dependent children for the initial two years of entitlement for DIC awards commencing on or after Jan. 1, 2005.

Payments for Deaths Prior to Jan. 1, 1993: Surviving spouses of veterans who died prior to Jan. 1, 1993, receive an amount based on the deceased’s military pay grade.

Parents’ DIC: VA provides an income-based monthly benefit to the surviving parent(s) of a servicemember or veteran whose death was service-related. When countable income exceeds the limit set by law, no benefits are payable. The spouse’s income must also be included if living with a spouse. A spouse may be the other parent of the deceased veteran, or a spouse from remarriage. Unreimbursed medical expenses may be used to reduce countable income. Benefit rates and income limits change annually.

Payments for Deaths After Jan. 1, 1993: Surviving spouses of veterans who died on or after Jan. 1, 1993, receive a basic rate, plus additional payments for dependent children, for the aid and attendance of another person if they are patients in a nursing home or require the regular assistance of another person, or if they are permanently housebound.

Chapter 11 Benefits for Dependents and Survivors 87

Enlisted	Rate	Warrant	Rate	Officer	Rate
		Officer
E-1	$1,154	W-1	$1,219	O-1	$1,219
E-2	$1,154	W-2	$1,267	O-2	$1,260
E-3	$1,154	W-3	$1,305	O-3	$1,347
E-4	$1,154	W-4	$1,380	O-4	$1,427
E-5	$1,154			O-5	$1,571
E-6	$1,154			O-6	$1,771
E-7	$1,194			O-7	$1,912
E-8	$1,260			O-8	$2,100
E-9	$1,314			O-9	$2,246
				O-10	$2,463

*Veterans who died prior to Jan. 1, 1993.

Restored Entitlement Program for Survivors: Survivors of veter-ans who died of service-connected causes incurred or aggravated

prior to Aug. 13, 1981, may be eligible for a special benefit			payable
in addition to any other benefits to	which the family	may be	entitled.
The amount of the benefit is based	on information	provided	by the
Social Security Administration.

Death Pension

VA provides pensions to low-income surviving spouses and unmar-ried children of deceased veterans with wartime service.

Eligibility: To be eligible, spouses must not have remarried and children must be under age 18, or under age 23 if attending a VA-approved school, or have become permanently incapable of self-support because of disability before age 18.

The veteran must have been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable and must have had 90 days or more of active military service, at least one day of which was during a period of war, or a service-connected disability justifying discharge. Longer periods of service may be required for veterans who entered active duty on or after Sept. 8, 1980, or Oct. 16, 1981, if an officer. If the veteran died in service but not in the line of duty, the death pension may be pay-

88 Benefits for Dependents and Survivors Chapter 11

able if the veteran completed at least two years of honorable service.

Children who become incapable of self-support because of a dis-ability before age 18 may be eligible for the death pension as long as the condition exists, unless the child marries or the child’s income exceeds the applicable limit.

A surviving spouse may be entitled to a higher income limit if liv-ing in a nursing home, in need of the aid and attendance of another person, or permanently housebound.

Payment: The death pension provides a monthly payment to bring an eligible person’s income to a level established by law. The pay-ment is reduced by the annual income from other sources such as Social Security. The payment may be increased if the recipient has unreimbursed medical expenses that can be deducted from count-able income.

Death Pension Rates

Recipient of Pension	Maximum Annual Rate
Surviving spouse	$7,933
(With dependent child)	$10,385
Permanently housebound	$9,696
(With dependent child)	$12,144
Needs regular aid & attendance	$12,681
(With dependent child)	$15,587
Each additional dependent child	$2,020
Pension for each surviving child	$2,020

Death Gratuity Payment

Military services provide payment, called a death gratuity, in the amount of $100,000 to the next of kin of servicemembers who die while on active duty (including those who die within 120 days of separation) as a result of service-connected injury or illness. If there is no surviving spouse or child, then parents or siblings designated as next of kin by the servicemember may be provided the payment. The payment is made by the last military command of the deceased. If the beneficiary is not paid automatically, application may be made to the military service concerned.

Chapter 11 Benefits for Dependents and Survivors 89

Dependents’ Educational Assistance

Eligibility: VA provides educational assistance to qualifying depen-dents as follows:

1. The spouse or child of a servicemember or veteran who either died of a service-connected disability, or who has permanent and total service-connected disability, or who died while such a disability existed.

2. The spouse or child of a servicemember listed for more than 90 days as currently Missing in Action (MIA), captured in the

line of duty by a hostile force, or detained or interned by a foreign government or power.

3. The spouse or child of a servicemember who is hospitalized or is receiving outpatient care or treatment for a disability that is determined to be totally and permanently disabling, incurred or aggravated due to active duty, and for which the service member is likely to be discharged from military service.

Surviving spouses lose eligibility if they remarry before age 57 or are living with another person who has been held out publicly as their spouse. They can regain eligibility if their remarriage ends by death or divorce or if they cease living with the person. Dependent children do not lose eligibility if the surviving spouse remarries. Visit http:// www.gibill.va.gov/ for more information.

Period of Eligibility: The period of eligibility for veterans’ spouses expires 10 years from the date they become eligible or the date of the veteran’s death. VA may grant an extension. Children gener-ally must be between the ages of 18 and 26 to receive educational benefits, though extensions may be granted.

The period of eligibility for spouses of servicemembers who died on active duty expires 20 years from the date of death. This is a change in law that became effective Dec. 10, 2004. Spouses of servicemem-bers who died on active duty whose 10-year eligibility period expired before Dec. 10, 2004, now have 20 years from the date of death to use educational benefits.

Effective Oct. 10, 2008, Public Law 110-389 provides a 20-year pe-riod of eligibility for spouses of veterans with a permanent and total service-connected disability rating effective within 3 years of release from active duty.

90 Benefits for Dependents and Survivors Chapter 11

Payments: The payment rate effective Oct. 1, 2008, is $915 a month for full-time school attendance, with lesser amounts for part-time. Benefits are paid for full-time training up to 45 months or the equivalent in part-time training.

Training Available: Benefits may be awarded for pursuit of as-sociate, bachelor, or graduate degrees at colleges and universities; independent study; cooperative training study abroad certificate or diploma from business, technical or vocational schools, apprentice-ships, on-the-job training programs; and farm cooperative courses.

Benefits for correspondence courses under certain conditions are

available to spouses only.

Beneficiaries without high-school degrees can pursue secondary

schooling, and those with a deficiency in a subject may receive tuto-

rial assistance if enrolled half-time or more.

Work-Study: Participants who train at the three-quarter or full-time rate may be eligible for a work-study program in which they work for VA and receive hourly wages. The types of work allowed include:

1. Outreach services.

2. VA paperwork.

3. Work at national or state veterans’ cemeteries.

4. Work at VA medical centers or state veterans’ homes.

5. Other VA-approved activities.

Counseling: VA may provide counseling to help participants pursue an educational or vocational objective.

Special Benefits: Dependents over age 14 with physical or mental disabilities that impair their ability to pursue an education may re-ceive specialized vocational or restorative training, including speech and voice correction, language retraining, lip reading, auditory training, Braille reading and writing, and similar programs. Certain disabled or surviving spouses are also eligible.

Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) Death Benefit: VA will pay a special MGIB death benefit to a designated survivor in the event of the service-connected death of a servicemember while on active duty or within one year after discharge or release. The deceased must either have been entitled to educational assistance under the MGIB program or a participant in the program who would have been so

Chapter 11 Benefits for Dependents and Survivors 91

entitled but for the high school diploma or length-of-service require-ment. The amount paid will be equal to the participant’s actual military pay reduction, less any education benefits paid.

VA Medical Care

Under Civilian Health and Medical Program of VA (CHAMPVA), cer-tain dependents and survivors can receive reimbursement for most medical expenses – inpatient, outpatient, mental health, prescription medication, skilled nursing care and durable medical equipment.

Eligibility: To be eligible for CHAMPVA, an individual cannot be eligible for TRICARE (the medical program for civilian dependents provided by DOD) and must be one of the following:

1. The spouse or child of a veteran whom VA has rated permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected disability.

2. The surviving spouse or child of a veteran who died from a

VA-rated service-connected disability, or who, at the time of death, was rated permanently and totally disabled.

3. The surviving spouse or child of a servicemember who died in the line of duty, not due to misconduct. However, in most of these cases, these family members are eligible for

TRICARE, not CHAMPVA.

A surviving spouse under age 55 who remarries loses CHAMPVA eli-gibility on midnight of the date of remarriage. He/she may re-estab-lish eligibility if the remarriage ends by death, divorce or annulment effective the first day of the month following the termination of the remarriage or Dec. 1, 1999, whichever is later. A surviving spouse who remarries after age 55 does not lose eligibility upon remarriage.

Those with Medicare entitlement may also have CHAMPVA eligibil-ity secondary to Medicare. Eligibility limitations apply. For additional information, contact the VA Health Administration Center, CHAMPVA,

P.O. Box 469028, Denver, CO 80246, call 1-800-733-8387 or visit the Web site at http://www.va.gov/hac/hacmain.asp.

Many VA medical centers provide services to CHAMPVA benefi-ciaries under the CHAMPVA In House Treatment Initiative (CITI) program. Contact the nearest VA medical center to determine if it participates. Those who use a CITI facility incur no cost for services; however, services are provided on a space-available basis, after the

92 Benefits for Dependents and Survivors Chapter 11

needs of veterans are met. Not all services are available at all times. CHAMPVA beneficiaries covered by Medicare cannot use CITI.

Children of Veterans Born with Birth Defects

Children of Vietnam veterans born with certain birth defects may be eligible for a monthly monetary allowance, and vocational training if reasonably feasible. (P.L. 110-387 enacted Oct. 10, 2008, allows for comprehensive health coverage under Spina Bifida).

The law defines “child” as the natural child of a Vietnam veteran, regardless of age or marital status. The child must have been con-ceived after the date on which the veteran first entered the Republic of Vietnam. For more information about benefits for children with birth defects, visit www.va.gov/hac/forbeneficiaries/spina/spina.asp.

Children of Vietnam or Korean Veterans Born with Spina Bifida:

Biological children of male and female veterans who served in Viet-nam at any time during the period beginning Jan. 9, 1962, and end-ing May 7, 1975, or who served in or near the Korean demilitarized zone (DMZ) during the period beginning Sept.1, 1967, and ending Aug. 31, 1971, may be eligible for certain benefits.

A monetary allowance is paid at one of three disability levels based on the neurological manifestations that define the severity of disabil-ity: impairment of the functioning of extremities, impairment of bowel or bladder function, and impairment of intellectual functioning.

VA Benefits for Children of Vietnam or Korean War Veterans Born with Spina Bifida

	Level I	Level II	Level III
Monthly	$286	$984	$1,687
Rate*
*Effective Dec. 1,	2008

Children of Women Vietnam Veterans Born with Certain Birth

Defects: Biological children of women veterans who served in Viet-nam at any time during the period beginning on Feb. 28, 1961, and ending on May 7, 1975, may be eligible for certain benefits because of birth defects associated with the mother’s service in Vietnam that resulted in a permanent physical or mental disability. The covered birth defects do not include conditions due to family disorders, birth-

Chapter 11 Benefits for Dependents and Survivors 93

related injuries, or fetal or neonatal infirmities with well-established causes.

A monetary allowance is paid at one of four disability levels based on the child’s degree of permanent disability.

VA Benefits for		Children	of	Women Vietnam
Veterans Born with Certain Birth Defects
Level I		Level II		Level III	Leve IV
Monthly	$131	$286		$984	$1,678
Rate*
*Effective Dec. 1,	2008

Vocational Training: VA provides vocational training, rehabilitation services, and employment assistance to help these children prepare for and attain suitable employment. To qualify, an applicant must be a child receiving a VA monthly allowance for spina bifida or another covered birth defect and for whom VA has determined that achieve-ment of a vocational goal is reasonably feasible. A child may not begin vocational training before his/her 18th birthday or the date he/ she completes secondary schooling, whichever comes first. Depend-ing on need and eligibility, a child may be provided up to 24 months of full-time training with the possibility of an extension of up to 24 months if it is needed to achieve the identified employment goal.

VA Home Loan Guaranty

A VA loan guaranty to acquire a home may be available to an unmar-ried spouse of a veteran or servicemember who died as a result of service-connected disabilities, a surviving spouse who remarries af-ter age 57, or to a spouse of a servicemember officially listed as MIA or who is currently a POW for more than 90 days. Spouses of those listed MIA/POW are limited to one loan.

“No-Fee” Passports

“No-fee” passports are available to immediate family members (spouse, children, parents, brothers and sisters) for the expressed purpose of visiting their loved one’s grave or memorialization site at an American military cemetery on foreign soil. For additional information, write to the American Battle Monuments Commission, Courthouse Plaza II, Suite 500, 2300 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington, VA

Chapter 12 Appeals of VA Claims Decisions 95

Chapter 12

Appeals of VA Claims Decisions

Veterans and other claimants for VA benefits have the right to appeal decisions made by a VA regional office or medical center. Typical issues appealed are disability compensation, pension, education benefits, recovery of overpayments, and reimbursement for unau-thorized medical services.

A claimant has one year from the date of the notification							of a VA deci-
sion to file an		appeal.		The first		step in the appeal process is for a
claimant to file		a	written	notice of		disagreement with the	VA regional
office or	medical		center that		made the decision.

Following receipt of the written notice, VA will furnish the claimant a

“Statement of the Case” describing what facts, laws, and regulations were used in deciding the case. To complete the request for appeal, the claimant must file a “Substantive Appeal” within 60 days of the mailing of the Statement of the Case, or within one year from the date VA mailed its decision, whichever period ends later.

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

The Board of Veterans’ Appeals makes decisions on appeals on behalf of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Although it is not re-quired, a veterans service organization, an agent, or an attorney may represent a claimant. Appellants may present their cases in person to a member of the Board at a hearing in Washington, D.C., at a VA regional office or by videoconference.

Decisions made by the Board can be found on the Web site at http:// www.va.gov/vbs/bva/. The pamphlet, “Understanding the Appeal Process,” is available on the Web site or may be requested by writ-ing: Hearings and Transcription Unit (014HRG), Board of Veterans’ Appeals, 811 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420.

U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims

A final Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision that does not grant a claimant the benefits desired may be appealed to the U.S. Court of

Appeals for Veterans Claims, an independent court, not part of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Chapter 13 Military Medals and Records 97

Chapter 13

Military Medals and Records

Replacing Military Medals

Medals awarded while in active service are issued by the individual military services if requested by veterans or their next of kin. Re-quests for replacement medals, decorations, and awards should be directed to the branch of the military in which the veteran served. However, for Air Force (including Army Air Corps) and Army veterans, the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) verifies awards and forwards requests and verification to appropriate services.

Requests for replacement medals should be submitted on Standard Form 180, “Request Pertaining To Military Records,” which may be obtained at VA offices or the Internet at http://www.va.gov/vaforms/. Forms, addresses, and other information on requesting medals can be found on the Military Personnel Records section of NPRC’s web-site at http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/index.html. For questions, call Military Personnel Records at (314) 801-0800 or e-mail questions to: MPR.center@nara.gov.

When requesting medals, type or clearly print the veteran’s full name, include the veteran’s branch of service, service number or So-cial Security number and provide the veteran’s exact or approximate dates of military service. The request must contain the signature

of the veteran or next of kin if the veteran is deceased. If available, include a copy of the discharge or separation document, WDAGO

Form 53-55 or DD Form 214.

Replacing Military Records

If discharge or separation documents are lost, veterans or the next of kin of deceased veterans may obtain duplicate copies by complet-ing forms found on the Internet at http://www.archives.gov/research/ index.html and mailing or faxing them to the NPRC.

Alternatively, write the National Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel Records, 9700 Page Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63132-5100. Specify that a duplicate separation document is needed. The vet-

98 Military Medals and Records Chapter 13

eran’s full name should be printed or typed so that it can be read clearly, but the request must also contain the signature of the veteran or the signature of the next of kin, if the veteran is deceased. Include the veteran’s branch of service, service number or Social Security number and exact or approximate dates and years of service. Use Standard Form 180, “Request Pertaining To Military Records.”

It is not necessary to request a duplicate copy of a veteran’s dis-charge or separation papers solely for the purpose of filing a claim for VA benefits. If complete information about the veteran’s service is furnished on the application, VA will obtain verification of service.

Correcting of Military Records

The secretary of a military department, acting through a Board for Correction of Military Records, has authority to change any military record when necessary to correct an error or remove an injustice. A correction board may consider applications for correction of a military record, including a review of a discharge issued by court-martial.

The veteran, survivor or legal representative must file a request for correction within three years after discovering an alleged error or injustice. The board may excuse failure to file within this time, how-

ever, if it finds it	would be in the interest of justice. It is	an	applicant’s
responsibility to show why the filing of the application		was	delayed

and why it would be in the interest of justice for the board to consider it despite the delay.

To justify a correction, it is necessary to show to the satisfaction of the board that the alleged entry or omission in the records was in er-ror or unjust. Applications should include all available evidence, such as signed statements of witnesses or a brief of arguments support-ing the correction. Application is made with DD Form 149, available at VA offices, veterans organizations or visit http://www.dtic.mil/whs/ directives/infomgt/forms/formsprogram.htm.

Review of Discharge from Military Service

Each of the military services maintains a discharge review board with authority to change, correct or modify discharges or dismissals not issued by a sentence of a general court-martial. The board has no authority to address medical discharges.

Chapter 13 Military Medals and Records 99

The veteran or, if the veteran is deceased or incompetent, the sur-viving spouse, next of kin or legal representative, may apply for a review of discharge by writing to the military department concerned, using DD Form 293 -- “Application for the Review of Discharge from the Armed Forces of the United States.” This form may be obtained at a VA regional office, from veterans organizations or from the Inter-net at http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/infomgt/forms/formsprogram. htm.

However, if the discharge was more than 15 years ago, a veteran must petition the appropriate Service’s Board for Correction of Military Records using DD Form 149 -- “Application for Correction of Military Records Under the Provisions of Title 10, U.S. Code, Section 1552.” A discharge review is conducted by a review of an applicant’s record and, if requested, by a hearing before the board.

Discharges awarded as a result of a continuous period of unauthor-ized absence in excess of 180 days make persons ineligible for VA benefits regardless of action taken by discharge review boards, unless VA determines there were compelling circumstances for the absence. Boards for the Correction of Military Records also may consider such cases.

Veterans with disabilities incurred or aggravated during active duty may qualify for medical or related benefits regardless of separation and characterization of service. Veterans separated administratively under other than honorable conditions may request that their dis-charge be reviewed for possible recharacterization, provided they file their appeal within 15 years of the date of separation.

Questions regarding the review of a discharge should be addressed to the appropriate discharge review board at the address listed on DOD Form 293.

Chapter 14 Benefits Provided by Other Federal Agencies 101

Chapter 14

Benefits Provided by Other Federal Agencies

USDA Provides Loans for Farms and Homes

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides loans and guarantees to buy, improve or operate farms. Loans and guarantees are generally available for housing in towns with a population up

to 20,000. Applications from veterans have preference. For further information, contact Farm Service Agency or Rural Development, USDA, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, DC 20250, or apply at local Department of Agriculture offices, usually located in county seats.

Housing and Urban Development (HUDVET)

Housing and Urban Development (HUD) sponsors the Veteran Resource Center (HUDVET), which works with national veterans service organizations to serve as a general information center on all

HUD-sponsored housing and community development programs and services. To contact HUDVET, call 1-800-998-9999, TDD 800-483-2209, or visit its Web site at http://www.hud.gov/hudvet.

Veterans Receive Naturalization Preference

Honorable active-duty service in the U.S. armed forces during a designated period of hostility allows an individual to naturalize with-out being required to establish any periods of residence or physical presence in the United States. A servicemember who was in the United States, certain territories, or aboard an American public ves - sel at the time of enlistment, re-enlistment, extension of enlistment or induction, may naturalize even if he or she is not a lawful permanent resident.

On July 3, 2002, the president issued Executive Order 13269 estab-lishing a new period of hostility for naturalization purposes beginning Sept. 11, 2001, and continuing until a date designated by a future

102 Benefits Provided by Other Federal Agencies Chapter 14

Executive Order. Qualifying members of the armed forces who have served at any time during a specified period of hostility may imme-diately apply for naturalization using the current application – Form N-400 – “Application for Naturalization.” Additional information about filing and requirement fees and designated periods of hostility are available on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Web site at www.uscis.gov.

Individuals who served honorably in the U.S. armed forces, but were no longer serving on active duty status as of Sept. 11, 2001, may still be naturalized without having to comply with the residence and physical presence requirements for naturalization if they filed Form N-400 while still serving in the U.S. armed forces or within six months of termination of their active duty service. An individual who files the application for naturalization after the six-month period following termination of active-duty service is not exempt from the residence and physical presence requirements, but can count any period of active-duty service towards the residence and physical presence requirements. Individuals seeking naturalization under this provision must establish that they are lawful permanent residents (such status not having been lost, rescinded or abandoned) and that they served honorably in the U.S. armed forces for at least one year.

If a servicemember dies as a result of injury or disease incurred or aggravated by service during a time of combat, the servicemem-ber’s survivor(s) can apply for the deceased servicemember to receive posthumous citizenship at any time within two years of the servicemember’s death. The issuance of a posthumous certificate of citizenship does not confer U.S. citizenship on surviving relatives. However, a non-U.S. citizen spouse or qualifying family member may file for certain immigration benefits and services based upon their relationship to a servicemember who died during hostilities or a non-citizen servicemember who died during hostilities and was later granted posthumous citizenship.

For additional information, USCIS has developed a web page – www. uscis.gov/military – that contains information and links to services specifically for the military and their families. Members of the U.S. military and their families stationed around the world can also call USCIS for help with immigration services and benefits using a dedi-cated, toll-free Military help line at 1-877-CIS-4MIL (1-877-247-4645).

Chapter 14	Benefits Provided by Other Federal Agencies	103
*Small Business Administration (SBA)*
Historically, veterans do very well as small business entrepreneurs.
Veterans interested in entrepreneurship and small business owner-
ship should look to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office			of
Veterans Business Development (www.sba.gov/vets) for assistance.
OVBD conducts comprehensive outreach to veterans, service-dis-
abled veterans and Reserve Component members of the U.S. mili-

tary. OVBD also provides assistance to veteran- and reservist-owned small businesses. SBA is the primary federal agency responsible for assisting veterans who own or are considering starting their own small businesses.

Among the services provided by SBA are business-planning assis-tance, counseling and training through community based Veterans Business Outreach Centers for more information, go to www.sba. gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/ovbd/OVBD_VBOP.html. More than 1,000 university-based Small Business Development Centers; nearly 400 SCORE chapters (www.score.org/veteran.html) with 11,000 volunteer counselors, many of whom are veterans; and 100 Wom-en’s Business Centers. SBA also manages a range of special small business lending programs at thousands of locations, ranging from Micro Loans to the Military-community-targeted Patriot Express Pilot Loan, to venture capital and Surety Bond Guarantees (www.sba.gov/ services/financialassistance/index.html). Veterans also participate in all SBA federal procurement programs, including a special 3 percent federal procurement goal specifically for service-connected disabled veterans, and SBA supports veterans and others participating in international trade.

A special Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loan (www.sba. gov/reservists) is available for self-employed Reservists whose small businesses may be damaged through the absence of the owner or an essential employee as a result of Title 10 activation to Active Duty.

A Veterans Business Development Officeris stationed at every SBA District Office to act as a guide to veterans, and SBA offers a full range of self-paced small business planning assistance at www.sba. gov/survey/checklist/index.cgi for veterans, reservists, discharging service members and their families. Information about the full range of services can be found at http://www.sba.gov/vets/ and at http://

104 Benefits Provided by Other Federal Agencies Chapter 14

www.sba.gov/reservists/, or by calling 202-205-6773 or 1-800-U-ASK-SBA (1-800-827-5722).

Social Security Administration

Monthly retirement, disability and survivor benefits under Social Security are payable to veterans and dependents if the veteran has earned enough work credits under the program. Upon the veteran’s death, a one-time payment of $255 also may be made to the vet-eran’s spouse or child. In addition, a veteran may qualify at age 65 for Medicare’s hospital insurance and medical insurance. Medicare protection is available to people who have received Social Security disability benefits for 24 months, and to insured people and their dependents who need dialysis or kidney transplants, or who have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (more commonly known as Lou Geh-rig’s disease).

Since 1957, military service earnings for active duty (including active duty for training) have counted toward Social Security and those earnings are already on Social Security records. Since 1988, inactive duty service in the Reserve Component (such as weekend drills) has also been covered by Social Security. Servicemembers and veterans are credited with $300 credit in additional earnings for each calendar quarter in which they received active duty basic pay after 1956 and before 1978.

Veterans who served in the military from 1978 through 2001 are credited with an additional $100 in earnings for each $300 in active duty basic pay, up to a maximum of $1,200 a year. No additional Social Security taxes are withheld from pay for these extra credits.

Veterans who enlisted after Sept. 7, 1980, and did not complete at least 24 months of active duty or their full tour of duty, may not be able to receive the additional earnings. Check with Social Security for details. Additional earnings will no longer be credited for military service periods after 2001.

Also, noncontributory Social Security earnings of $160 a month may be credited to veterans who served after Sept. 15, 1940, and before

1957, including attendance at service academies. For information, call 1-800-772-1213 or visit http://www.socialsecurity.gov/. (Note: Social Security cannot add these extra earnings to the record until an application is filed for Social Security benefits.)

Chapter 14 Benefits Provided by Other Federal Agencies 105

Eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Those 65 or older and those who are blind or otherwise disabled may be eligible for monthly Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments if they have little or no income or resources. States may supplement the federal payments to eligible persons and may disre-gard additional income.

Although VA compensation and pension benefits are counted in determining income for SSI purposes, some other income is not counted. Also, not all resources count in determining eligibility. For example, a person’s home and the land it is on do not count. Person-al effects, household goods, automobiles and life insurance may not count, depending upon their value. Information and help is available at any Social Security office or by calling 1-800-772-1213.

Armed Forces Retirement Homes

Veterans are eligible to live in the Armed Forces Retirement Homes located in Gulfport, Miss.,* or Washington, D.C., if their active duty military service is at least 50 percent enlisted, warrant officer or lim-ited duty officer if they qualify under one of the following categories:

1. Are 60 years of age or older; and were discharged or released under honorable conditions after 20 or more years of active service.

2. Are determined to be incapable of earning a livelihood because of a service-connected disability incurred in the line

of duty.

3. Served in a war theater during a time of war declared by Congress or were eligible for hostile-fire special pay and were discharged or released under honorable conditions; and are determined to be incapable of earning a livelihood because of injuries, disease or disability.

4. Served in a women’s component of the armed forces before June 12, 1948; and are determined to be eligible for admission due to compelling personal circumstances.

106 Benefits Provided by Other Federal Agencies Chapter 14

chiatric problems. Married couples are welcome, but both must be eligible in their own right. At the time of admission, applicants must be capable of living independently.

The Armed Forces Retirement Home is an independent federal agency. For information, call 1-800-332-3527 or 1-800-422-9988, or visit http://www.afrh.gov/.

*The Gulfport, Miss., facility is scheduled to open in the fall of 2010.

Commissary and Exchange Privileges

Unlimited exchange and commissary store privileges in the United States are available to honorably discharged veterans with a ser-vice-connected disability rated at 100 percent, unremarried surviv-ing spouses of members or retired members of the armed forces, recipients of the Medal of Honor, and their dependents and orphans.

Certification of total disability is done by VA. Reservists and their de-pendents also may be eligible. Privileges overseas are governed by international law and are available only if agreed upon by the foreign government concerned.

Though these benefits are provided by DOD, VA does provide as-sistance in completing DD Form 1172, “Application for Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card.” For detailed information, contact the nearest military installation.

VA Facilities 107

VA Facilities

Patients should call the telephone numbers listed to obtain clinic hours of operation and services.

For more information or to search for a facility near you by zip code, visit http://www1.va.gov/directory/guide/home.asp?isFlash=1

Under the National Cemeteries listings, the acronym NC is used after the name of the town to designate locations of national cemeteries.

Please send address and telephone number corrections to:

Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents (80D) 810 Vermont Ave. NW

Washington, DC 20420

ALABAMA

VA Medical Centers:

Birmingham 35233 (700 S. 19th St., 205-933-8101 or 800-872-0328)

Montgomery 36109-3798 (215 Perry Hill Rd., 334-272-4670 or 800-214-

8387)

Tuscaloosa 35404 (3701 Loop Rd., East, 205-554-2000 or 888-269-3045) Tuskegee 36083-5001 (2400 Hospital Rd., 334-727-0550 or 800-214-8387)

Clinics:

Bessemer 32055 (975 9th Ave., SW-Suite 400 at UAB West Medical Center West Bessemer, 205-428-3495)

Dothan 36301 (2020 Alexander Dr., 334-673-4166)

Dothan Mental Health Center 36303 (3753 Ross Clark Cir Ste 4, 334-678-1933)

Ft. Rucker 36362 (301 Andrews Ave., 334-727-0550) Gadsden 35906 (206 Rescia Ave., 256-413-7154)

Huntsville 35801 (301 Governor’s Dr., 256-535-3100)

Jasper 35501 (3400 Highway 78 East - Suite #215, 205-221-7384)

Madison 35758 (8075 Madison Blvd., Suite 101, 256-772-6220)

Mobile 36604 (1504 Springhill Ave., 251-219-3900) Oxford 36203 (96 Ali Way Creekside South, 256-832-4141)

Sheffield 35660 (Florence Shoals Area Clinic: 422 DD Cox Blvd., 256-381-

9055)

Regional Office:

108 VA Facilities

Vet Centers:

Birmingham 35233 (1500 5th Ave. S., 205-731-0550)

Mobile 36606 (2577 Government Blvd., 251-478-5906)

National Cemeteries:

Alabama 35115 (731 Middle St., 205-665-9039)

After April 2009 (3133 Hwy. 119, Montevallo, AL, 205-665-9039 Fort Mitchell 36856 (553 Hwy. 165, Fort Mitchell, 334-855-4731) Mobile 36604 (1202 Virginia St., 850-453-4846)

ALASKA

VA Medical Center:

Anchorage 99508-2989 (2925 DeBarr Rd., 888-353-7574/907-257-4700)

Clinics:

Fort Wainwright 99703 (Bldg 4076, Neeley Rd., Room 1J-101, Mailing Address: P.O. Box 74570, Fairbanks, AK 99707, 907-361-6370)

Kenai 99669 (11312 Kenai Spur Highway, #39, 907-283-2231)

Regional Office:

Anchorage 99508-2989 (2925 De Barr Rd., statewide 1-800-827-1000)

Benefits Office:

Juneau 99802 (P.O. Box 20069, 907-586-7472)

Vet Centers:

Anchorage 99508 (4201 Tudor Centre Dr., Suite 115, 907-563-6966)

Fairbanks 99701 (540 4th Ave., Suite 100, 907-456-4238)

Kenai 99669 (Red Diamond Ctr., Bldg. F, Suite 4, 43335 Kalifornsky Beach

Rd., 907-260-7640)

Wasilla 99654 (851 E. West Point Dr., Suite 111, 907-376-4318)

National Cemeteries:

Fort Richardson 99505-5498 (Building 997, Davis Hwy., 907-384-7075)

Sitka 99835 (803 Sawmill Creek Rd., 907-384-7075)

AMERICAN SAMOA Clinics:

Pago Pago 96799 (Fiatele Teo Army Reserve Bldg, Mailing Address: PO Box

1005, Pago Pago, AS 96799, 684-699-3730)

Benefits Office:

Pago Pago 96799 (PO Box 1005, 684-633-5073)

ARIZONA

VA Medical Centers:

VA Facilities 109

Clinics:

Anthem 85086 (Anthem Medical Plaza, 3618 W. Anthem Way, Building D, #120, 623-551-6092)

Bellemont 86015-6196 (P.O. Box 16196, Camp Navajo Army Depot, 928-

226-1056)

Buckeye 85326 (306 E. Monroe, 623-386-4814)

Casa Grande 85222 (900 E. Florence Blvd, Suites H & I, 520-629-4900 or 800-470-8262)

Cottonwood 86326 (203 Candy Lane Building 5B, 928-649-1523 or 1532) Globe 85501 (5860 S. Hospital Dr., Suite 11, 928-425-0027)

Green Valley 85614 (380 W. Hermosa Drive #140, 520-629-4900 or 800-

470-8262)

Kingman 86401 (1726 Beverly Ave., 928-692-0080 or 928-445-4860x6830) Lake Havasu City 86403 (2035 Mesquite, Suite E, 928-680-0090 or 928-

445-4860x7300)

Mesa 85212-6033 (6950 E. Williams Field Road, Bldg. 23, 602-222-6568/3315)

Payson 85541 (1106 N. Beeline Highway, 928-472-3148)

Safford 85546 (711 South 14th Ave., 520-629-4900)

Show Low 85901 (2450 Show Low Lake Rd, Suite 1, 928-532-1069) Sierra Vista 85635 (101 Coronado Dr., Suite A, 520-792-1450)

Sun City 85351 (10147 Grand Ave., Suite C1, 602-222-2630) Tuscon 85741 (2945 W. Ina Rd., 520-629-4900)

Tuscon 85747 (7395 S. Houghton Rd. Ste. 129, 520-792-1450 or 800-470-8262)

Yuma 85365 (2555 E. Gila Ridge Rd., 520-629-4900)

Regional Office:

Phoenix 85012 (3333 N. Central Ave., statewide 1-800-827-1000)

Vet Centers:

Phoenix 85012 (77 E. Weldon Ave., Suite 100, 602-640-2981) Phoenix-East Valley 85202 (1303 S. Longmore, Suite 5, Mesa, 480-610-

6727)

Prescott 86303 (161 S. Granite St., Suite B, 928-778-3469) Tucson 85719 (3055 N. 1st Ave., 520-882-0333

National Cemeteries:

Nat. Mem. Cem. of AZ 85024 (23029 N. Cave Creek Rd., Phoenix, 480-513-

3600)

Prescott 86301 (500 Hwy. 89 N., 480-513-3600)

ARKANSAS

VA Medical Centers:

Fayetteville 72703 (1100 N. College Ave., 479-443-4301 or 800-691-8387) Little Rock 72205-5484 (4300 West 7th St., 501-257-1000)

North Little Rock 72114-1706 (2200 Fort Roots Dr., 501-257-1000)

Clinics:

110 VA Facilities

El Dorado 71730 (460 W Oak St, 870-862-2489)

Ft Smith 72917 (1500 Dodson Ave Sparks Medical Plaza, 479-709-6850 or 1-877-604-0798)

Harrison 72601 (707 N Main St., 870-741-3592)

Hot Springs 71913 (1661 Airport Rd, Suite E, 501-881-4112)

Jonesboro 72401 (223 E Jackson, 870-972-0063) Mena 71953 (1706 Hwy. 71 N, 479-394-4800)

Mountain Home 72653 (#10 Medical Plaza, 870-424-4109)

Mountain Home 72653 (405 Buttercup Dr., 870-425-3030) Paragould 72450 (1101 Morgan St., 870-236-9756)

Pine Bluff 71603 (4010 Old Warren Road, 870-541-9300) Texarkana 71854 (910 Realtor Ave., 870-216-2242)

Regional Office:

North Little Rock 72114 (2200 Fort Roots Dr., Bldg. 65, statewide 1-800-827-1000)

Vet Center:

North Little Rock 72114 (201 W. Broadway, Suite A, 501-324-6395)

National Cemeteries:

Fayetteville 72701 (700 Government Ave., 479-444-5051)

Fort Smith 72901 (522 Garland Ave., 479-783-5345)

Little Rock 72206 (2523 Confederate Blvd., 501-324-6401)

CALIFORNIA

VA Medical Centers:

Fresno 93703 (2615 E. Clinton Ave., 559-225-6100 or 888-826-2838)

Livermore 94550 (4951 Arroyo Rd., 925-373-4700)

Loma Linda 92357 (11201 Benton St., 909-825-7084 or 800-741-8387) Long Beach 90822 (5901 E. 7th St., 562-826-8000 or 888-769-8387)

Los Angeles 90073 (11301 Wilshire Blvd., 310-478-3711 or 800-952-4852) Sacramento 95655 (10535 Hospital Way, Mather, 800-382-8387 or 916-366-

5366)

Menlo Park 94025 (795 Willow Rd., 650-416-9997)

Palo Alto 94304-1290 (3801 Miranda Avenue, 650-493-5000 or 800-455-0057)

San Diego 92161 (3350 La Jolla Village Drive, 858-552-8585 or 800-331-8387)

San Francisco 94121-1598 (4150 Clement Street, 415-221-4810 or 800-733-0502)

Clinics:

Anaheim 92801 (Professional Center, 3rd Floor, Suite 303, 1801 W. Romneya Dr., 714-780-5400)

Atwater 95301-5140 (3605 Hospital Road, Suite D, 209-381-0105)

Auburn 95603 (11985 Heritage Oaks Place, 530-889-0872 or 888-227-5404) Bakersfield 93301 (1801 Westwind Dr., 661-632-1800)

El Centro 92243 (Imperial Valley, 1600 South Imperial Ave., 760-352-1506)

Capitola 95010-3906 (1350 N. 41st St., Suite 102, 831-464-5519)

VA Facilities 111

Chico 95926 (280 Cohasset Rd., 800-382-8387 or 530-879-5000)

Chula Vista 91910 (South Bay, 835 3rd Ave., 619-409-1600)

City of Commerce 90040 (East Los Angeles, 5426 E. Olympic Blvd., 323-

725-7557)

Corona 92879 (800 Magnolia Ave., #101, 951-817-8820) Escondido 92025 (815 E. Pennsylvania Ave., 760-466-7020)

Eureka 95501 (714 F St., 707-442-5335)

Fairfield 94535 (103 Bodin Circle, Travis Air Force Base, 800-382-8387 or

707-437-1800)

French Camp 95231 (Stockton Clinic, 7777 South Freedom Dr., 209-946-3400)

Gardena 90247 (1251 Redondo Beach Blvd, 3rd Floor, 310-851-4705)

Laguna Hills 92653 (25292 McIntyre St., 949-269-0700)

Lancaster 93536 (Antelope Valley, 547 West Lancaster Blvd., 661-729-8655 or 800-515-0031)

Long Beach 90806 (Villages at Cabrillo: 2001 River Ave, Bldg 28, 562-388-

8000)

Los Angeles 90012 (351 East Temple St., 213-253-2677)

Los Angeles 90073 (West Los Angeles Ambulatory Care Center, 11301 Wilshire Blvd., 310-268-3526)

Lynwood 90262 (3737 Martin Luther King Blvd. Suite 515, 310-537-6825) Martinez 94553 (Clinic and Center for Rehabilitation & Extended Care, 150

Muir Rd., 800-382-8387 or 925-372-2000)

Modesto 95350 (1524 McHenry Ave., 209-557-6200) Monterey 93955 (3401 Engineer Lane, Seaside, 831-883-3800)

North Hills 91343: (Sepulveda Clinic and Nursing Home, 16111 Plummer St., 818-891-7711 or 800-516-4567)

Oakland 94626 (Mental Health Clinic: 2505 West 14th St., Oakland Army

Base, 800-382-8387 or 510-587-3400)

Oakland 94612 (Clinic, 2221 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, 800-382-8387 or

510-267-7800)

Oxnard 93030 (250 W. Citrus Grove Ave., Ste 150, 805-983-6384)

Palm Desert 92211 (41-990 Cook St., Bldg. F, Suite 1004, 951-341-5570) Redding 96002 (351 Hartnell Ave., 800-382-8387 or 530-226-7555) Sacramento 95655 (Mental Health Clinic at Mather, 10633 Grissom Rd.,

800-382-8387 or 916-366-5420)

Sacramento 95652 (McClellan Dental Clinic, 5401 Arnold Ave., 800-382-8387 or 916-561-7800)

Sacramento 95652 (McClellan Outpatient Clinic, 5342 Dudley Blvd., 800-

382-8387 or 916-561-7400)

San Bruno 9406 (1001 Sneath Lane, Suite 300, Third Floor, 650-553-8000)

San Diego 92108 (Mission Valley, 8810 Rio San Diego Dr., 619-400-5000)

San Francisco 94107 (Downtown Clinic, 401 3rd St., 415-551-7300)

San Gabriel 91776 (Pasadera, 420 W. Las Tunas Drive, 626-289-5973) San Jose 95119 (80 Great Oaks Boulevard, 408-363-3011)

San Luis Obispo 93401 (Pacific Medical Plaza, 1288 Morro St., Ste.200,

805-543-1233)

112 VA Facilities

Santa Ana 92704 (Bristol Medical Center, 2740 S. Bristol St., 1st Floor, Ste. 101, 714-825-3500)

Santa Barbara 93110 (4440 Calle Real, 805-683-1491)

Santa Fe Springs 90670 (10210 Orr & Day Rd., 562-864-5565)

Santa Maria 93454 (1550 East Main St., 805-354-6000)

Santa Rosa 95404 (3315 Chanate Rd., 707-570-3855 or 570-3800)

Seaside 93955 (Monterey Clinic, 3401 Engineering Lane, 831-883-3800) Sonora 95370 (19747 Greenley Rd., 209-588-2600)

Stockton 95231 (500 West Hospital Rd., 209-946-3400)

Sun City 92586 (28125 Bradley Road, Suite 130, 951-672-1931)

Tulare 93274 (VA South Valley Clinic, 1050 N. Cherry St., 559-684-8703) Ukiah 95482 (630 Kings Court 707-468-7700)

Upland 91786 (1238 E. Arrow Highway, No. 100, 909-946-5348)

Vallejo 94592 (Mare Island Clinic, 201 Walnut Ave., 800-382-8387 or 707-

562-8200)

Ventura 93003 (120 N Ashwood Ave., 805-658-5800

Victorville 92392 (12138 Industrial Boulevard, Suite 120, 760-951-2599)

Vista 92083 (1840 West Drive, 760-643-2000 Regional Offices:

Los Angeles 90024 (Fed. Bldg., 11000 Wilshire Blvd., serving counties of Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura, statewide 1-800-827-1000)

Oakland 94612 (1301 Clay St., Rm. 1300 North, serving all CA counties not served by the Los Angeles, San Diego, or Reno VA Regional Offices,

1-800-827-1000)

San Diego 92108 (8810 Rio San Diego Dr., serving Imperial, Orange,

Riverside and San Diego, statewide 1-800-827-1000). The counties of

Alpine, Lassen, Modoc, and Mono are served by the Reno, NV, Regional Office.

Benefits Office:

Sacramento 95827 (10365 Old Placerville Rd., 916-364-6500)

Vet Centers:

Anaheim 92805 (859 S. Harbor Blvd., 714-776-0161)

Chico 95926 (280 Cohasset Rd., Suite 100, 530-899-8549)

Concord 94520 (1899 Clayton Rd., Suite 140, 925-680-4526)

Corona 92879 (800 Magnolia Ave., 110, 951-734-0525)

East Los Angeles 90022 (5400 E. Olympic Blvd., 140, 323-728-9966)

Eureka 95501 (2830 G St., Suite A, 707-444-8271) Fresno 93726 (3636 N. 1st St., Suite 112, 559-487-5660)

Gardena 90247 (1045 W. Redondo Beach Blvd., 150, Gardena, 310-767-

1221)

West Los Angeles 90230 (5730 Uplander Way, Suite 100, Culver City, 310-

641-0326)

Modesto 95351 (1219 N. Carpenter Rd., Suites 11 & 12, 209-527-1359 or 209-527-5961)

Oakland 94612 (1504 Franklin St., 200, 510-763-3904)

VA Facilities 113

Redwood City 94062 (2946 Broadway St., 650-299-0672)

Rohnert Park 94928 (6225 State Farm Dr., Suite 101, 707-586-3295) Sacramento 95825 (1111 Howe Ave., Suite 390, 916-566-7430)

San Bernardino 92408 (11325 E. Cooley Dr., Suite 101, 909-801-5762)

San Diego 92103 (2900 6th Ave., 619-294-2040) San Francisco 94102 (505 Polk St., 415-441-5051) San Jose 95112 (278 N. 2nd St., 408-993-0729)

San Marcos 92069 (1 Civic Center Dr., Suite 140, 760-744-6914) Santa Cruz 95010 (1350 41st Ave., Suite 102, 831-464-4575) Sepulveda 91343 (9737 Haskell Ave., 818-892-9227)

Ventura 93001 (790 E. Santa Clara, Suite 100, 805-585-1860)

National Cemeteries:

Bakersfield 93301 (1801 Westwind Dr., Bakersfield 866-632-1845) After June 2009 (30338 E. Bear Mountain Blvd., Bakersfield, 866-632-

1845)

Fort Rosecrans 92106 (P.O. Box 6237, Point Loma, San Diego, 619-553-

2084)

Golden Gate 94066 (1300 Sneath Ln., San Bruno, 650-589-7737) Los Angeles 90049 (950 South Sepulveda Blvd., 310-268-4675) Riverside 92518 (22495 Van Buren Blvd., 951-653-8417)

Sacramento Valley VA 95620 (5810 Midway Rd., Dixon, 707-693-2460)

San Francisco 94129 (1 Lincoln Blvd., Presidio of San Francisco, 650-589-7737)

San Joaquin Valley 95322 (32053 West McCabe Rd., Santa Nella, 209-854-

1040)

COLORADO

Medical Centers:

Denver 80220 (1055 Clermont Street, 303-399-8020 or toll free: 888-336-8262)

Grand Junction 81501 (2121 North Avenue, 970-263-2800 or toll free 866-206-6415)

Health Administration Center:

Denver 80209 (3773 Cherry Creek North Dr., 303-331-7500)

Clinics:

Alamosa 81101 (San Luis Valley Clinic/Sierra Blanca Med. Ctr.: 622 Del Sol

Drive, 719-587-6800 or toll free 1-866-659-0930)

Aurora 80045 (13001 East 17th Place, Bld. 500, 2nd Floor, West Wing, 303-

724-0190)

Burlington 80807 (1177 Rose Avenue, 719-346-5239)

Colorado Springs 80905 (25 North Spruce St., 719-327-5660 or toll free 800-278-3883)

Craig 81625 (551 Tucker Street, 970-824-9721 or 970-242-0731) Durango 81301 (400 S. Camino Del Rio, 970-247-2214)

Ft. Collins 80524 (1100 Poudre River Drive, 970-224-1550)

Greeley 80634 (2001 70th Ave. , 970-313-0027)

114 VA Facilities

La Junta 81050 (1100 Carson Ave., Suite 104, 719-383-5195) Lakewood 80225 (155 Van Gordon St., Suite 395, 303-914-2680)

Lamar 81052 (High Plains Community Health Center 201 Kendall Dr., 719-

336-5972)

Montrose 81401 (4 Hillcrest Plaza Way, 970-249-7791 or 970-242-0731) Pueblo 81008 (4112 Outlook Boulevard, 719-553-1000 or 800-369-6748)

Regional Office:

Denver 80225 (Mailing Address: PO Box 25126. Physical Address: 155 Van

Gordon St., Lakewood, 80228, statewide 1-800-827-1000)

Vet Centers:

Boulder 80302 (2336 Canyon Blvd., Suite 103, 303-440-7306)

Colorado Springs 80903 (416 E. Colorado Ave., 719-471-9992) Denver 80230 (7465 E. First Ave., Ste. B, 303-326-0645)

Grand Junction 81505 (2472 F. Rd. Unit 16, 970-245-4156)

National Cemeteries:

Fort Logan 80236 (4400 W. Kenyon Ave., Denver, 303-761-0117) Fort Lyon 81504 (15700 County Road HH, Las Animas, 303-761-0117)

CONNECTICUT

VA Medical Centers:

Newington 06111 ( 555 Willard Ave., 860-666-6951)

West Haven 06516 (950 Campbell Avenue, 203-932-5711)

Clinics

Danbury 06810 (7 Germantown Rd., Suite 2B, 203-798-8422) New London 06320 (Shaw’s Cove Four, 860-437-3611)

Stamford 06905 (1275 Summer St, Suite 102, 203-325-0649)

Waterbury 06706 (95 Scovill St., 203-465-5292)

Windham 06226 (Windham Hospital, 96 Mansfield St., 860-450-7583) Winsted 06908 (Winsted Health Center, 115 Spencer St., 860-738-6985)

Regional Office:

Hartford (Bldg 2E – RM 5137, 555 Willard Ave.; Newington, 06111-2693, statewide 1-800-827-1000)

Vet Centers:

Wethersfield 06109 (30 Jordan Lane, 860-563-2320)

Norwich 06360 (2 Cliff St., 860-887-1755)

West Haven 06516 (141 Captain Thomas Blvd., 203-932-9899)

DELAWARE

VA Medical Center:

Wilmington 19805 (1601 Kirkwood Highway, 302-994-2511 or

800-461-8262)

Clinics:

VA Facilities 115

Regional Office:

Wilmington 19805 (1601 Kirkwood Hwy., local, 302-994-2511)

Vet Center:

Wilmington 19805 (1601 Kirkwood Hwy., Bldg. 3, 302-994-1660)

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Medical Center:

VA Medical Center:

Washington 20422 (50 Irving Street, NW, 202-745-8000 or 888-553-0242)

Clinic:

Washington 20032 (820 Chesapeake Street, S.E., 202-745-8685)

Regional Office:

Washington, D.C., 20421 (1722 I St., N.W., local, 1-800-827-1000)

Vet Center:

Washington, D.C. 20011 (1250 Taylor St., N.W., 202-726-5212)

FLORIDA

VA Medical Centers:

Bay Pines 33744 (10000 Bay Pines Blvd., Mailing Address: P.O. Box 5005, Bay Pines, FL 33744, 727-398-6661/888-820-0230)

Bradenton 34203 (5283 Office Park Blvd, 941-721-0649)

Gainesville 32608-1197 (1601 S.W. Archer Rd., 352-376-1611 or 800-324-

8387)

Lake City 32025-5808 (619 S. Marion Avenue, 386-755-3016 or 800-308-

8387)

Miami 33125 (1201 N.W. 16th St., 305-575-7000 or 888-276-1785) Orlando 32803 (5201 Raymond St., 407-629-1599 or 800-922-7521)

Tampa 33612 (13000 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., 813-972-2000 or 888-716-7787)

West Palm Beach 33410-6400 (7305 N. Military Trail, 561-422-8262 or 800-

972-8262)

Clinics:

Boca Raton 33433 (901 Meadows Rd., 561-416-8995) Brooksville 34613 (14540 Cortez Blvd., Suite 200, 352-597-8287)

Broward 33351 (9800 West Commercial Blvd., 954-745-5500)

Coral Springs 33065 (9900 West Sample Road, Suite 100, 954-575-4940) Daytona Beach 32114 (551 National Health Care Dr., 386-323-7500) Deerfield Beach 33442 (2100 S.W. 10th St., 954-570-5572)

Delray Beach 33445 (4800 Linton Blvd., Suite 300E, 561-495-1973)

Dunedin 34698 (1721 Main St., 727-734-5276)

Ellenton 34222 (4333 U.S. Highway 301 North, 941-721-0649) Fort Myers 33916 (3033 Winkler Extension, 239-939-3939) Ft. Pierce 34950 (727 North US 1, 772-595-5150)

Hollywood 33021 (3702 Washington St., Suite 201, 954-986-1811)

116 VA Facilities

Hollywood 33024 (Pembroke Pines, 7369 W. Sheridan St., Suite 102, 954-

894-1668)

Homestead 33030 (950 Krome Avenue, Suite 401, 305-248-0874)

Jacksonville 32206 (1833 Boulevard, 904-232-2751)

Key Largo 33037 (105662 Overseas Highway, 305-451-0164)

Key West 33040 (1300 Douglas Circle, Building L-15, 305-293-4609) Kissimmee 34741 (2285 North Central Avenue, 407-518-5004)

Lakeland 33803 (3240 S. Florida Avenue, 863-701-2470)

Lecanto 34461 (2804 W. Marc Knighton Ct., Suite A, 352-746-8000) Leesburg 34748 (711 W. Main St., 352-435-4000)

Marianna 32446 (4970 Highway 90, 850-718-5620)

Miami 33135 (Healthcare for Homeless Veterans, 1492 West Flagler St.,

305-541-5864)

Miami 33135 (Substance Abuse Clinic, 1492 West Flagler St., Suite 101,

305-541-8435)

Naples 34104 (2685 Horseshoe Drive - Suite 101, 239-659-9188)

New Port Richey 34654 (9912 Little Road, 727-869-4100)

Ocala 34470 (1515 Silver Springs Blvd., 352-369-3320) Okeechobee 34972 (1201 N. Parrot Avenue, 863-824-3232)

Orange City 32763 (2583 South Volusia Ave., Ste 300, 386-456-2080) Panama City Beach 32407 (6703 West Highway 98, 850-636-7000) Panama City Beach 32407-7018 (Naval Support Activity-Panama City, 101

Vernon Ave #387, 850-636-7000)

Pembroke Pines (Pembroke Pines, 7369 W. Sheridan St., Suite 102, 954-

894-1668)

Pensacola 32503 (312 Kenmore Road, 850-476-1100)

Port Charlotte 33952 (4161 Tamiami Trail, 941-235-2710)

St. Lucie County PTSD Clinic ( 126 SW Chambers Court 772878-7876)

Sanford 32771 (1403 Medical Plaza Drive, Suite 109, 407-323-5999) Sarasota 34233 (5682 Bee Ridge Rd., Suite 100, 941-371-3349)

Sebring 33870 (3760 U.S. Highway 27 South, 863-471-6227, Mental Health

Phone 863-314-0325)

St. Augustine 32086 (1955 U.S. 1 South, Suite 200, 904-829-0814 or 866-

401-8387)

Stuart 34997 (3501 S E Willoughby Boulevard, 772-288-0304) Sunrise 33351 (9800 W Commercial St., 954-475-5500)

Tallahassee 32308 (1607 St. James Ct., 850-878-0191)

The Villages 32162 (Laurel Lake Professional Park, 1950 Laurel Manor Drive, Building 240, 352-205-8900)

Vero Beach 32960 (372 17th Street, 772-299-4623)

Viera 32940 (2900 Veterans Way 321-637-3788) Zephyrhills 33541 (6937 Medical View Ln., 813-780-2550)

Regional Office:

VA Facilities 117

Fort Lauderdale 33301 (VR&E-28S, 9800 W. Commercial Blvd., Sunrise, FL

33351 1-800-827-1000)

Jacksonville 32256 (VR&E, 7825 Baymeadows Way, Suite 120-B, 1-800-

827-1000)

Orlando 32801 (1000 Legion Pl., VRE-Suite 1500, C&P-Suite 1550, 1-800-

827-1000)

Pensacola 32503-7492 (C&P, 312 Kenmore Rd., Rm. 1G250, 1-800-827-

1000)

West Palm Beach 33410 (C&P, 7305 North Military Tr., Suite 1A-167, 1-800-

827-1000)

Vet Centers:

Ft. Lauderdale 33304 (713 N.E. 3rd Ave., 954-356-7926)

Fort Myers 33916 (4110 Center Pointe Drive, Unit 204, 239-479-4401)

Gainesville 32607 (105 NW 75th St., Suite 2, 352-331-1408)

Jacksonville 32202 (300 East State St., 904-232-3621)

Melbourne 32935 (2098 Sarno Rd., 321-254-3410)

Miami 33122 (8280 NW 27th St., Suite 511, 305-859-8387) Orlando 32822 (5575 S. Semoran Blvd., Suite 36, 407-857-2800)

Palm Beach 33461 (2311 10th Ave., North 13, 561-585-0441)

Pensacola 32501 (4501 Twin Oaks Dr., 850-456-5886)

Sarasota 34231 (4801 Swift Rd., 941-927-8285)

St. Petersburg 33713 (2880 1st Ave., N., 727-893-3791)

Tallahassee 32303 (548 Bradford Rd., 850-942-8810)

Tampa 33604 (8900 N. Armenia Ave., Ste. 312, 813-228-2621)

National Cemeteries:

Barrancas 32508-1054 (80 Hovey Rd., Naval Air Station, Pensacola, 850-

453-4846)

Bay Pines 33504-0477 (10000 Bay Pines Blvd., Bay Pines, 727-398-9426) Florida 33513 (6502 SW 102nd Ave., Bushnell, 352-793-7740)

Jacksonville 32218 (4083 Lannie Rd., 904-358-3510)

St. Augustine 32084 (104 Marine St., 352-793-7740)

South Florida 33467 (6501 South State Road 7, Lake Worth, 561-649-6489)

Sarasota 34241 (9810 State Road 72, Sarasota, 941-861-9840)

GEORGIA

VA Medical Centers:

Augusta 30904-6285 (1 Freedom Way, 706-733-0188 or 800-836-5561)

Decatur 30033 (1670 Clairmont Road, 404-321-6111 or 800-944-9726)

Dublin 31021 (1826 Veterans Blvd., 478-272-1210 or 800-595-5229)

Clinics:

Albany 31701 (526 West Broadway 229-446-9000)

Athens 30601 (9249 Highway 29, 706-227-4534)

Columbus 31906 (1310 13th St., 706-257-7200)

Decatur 30030 (755 Commerce Dr., 2nd Floor, 404-417-5200)

East Point 30344 (1513 Cleveland Ave., 404-321-6111 x2600)

118 VA Facilities

Kathleen 31047 (2370 S. Houston Lake Rd., 478-224-1309) Lawrenceville 30043 (1970 Riverside Pkwy, 404-417-1750)

Macon 31220 (5398 Thomaston Road, Suite B, 478-476-8868)

Oakwood 30566 (3931 Munday Mill Rd., 404-728-8212)

Perry Outreach (2370 S. Houston Lake Road, 478-224-1309)

Rome 30161 (30 Chateau Dr, SE, 706-235-6581)

Savannah 31406 (325 West Montgomery Crossroads, 912-920-0214) Smyrna 30082 (562 Concord Road, 404-417-1760)

St. Marys 31558 (205 Lake Shore Point, 912-510-3420)

Stockbridge 30281 (175 Medical Blvd., 404-329-2222)

Valdosta 31602 (2841 N. Patterson Street, 229-293-0132)

Regional Office:

Decatur 30033 (1700 Clairmont Rd., statewide 1-800-827-1000)

Vet Centers:

Atlanta 30324 (1440 Dutch Valley Place, Suite G, 404-347-7264)

Macon 31201 (750 Riverside Dr., 478-477-3813)

Savannah 31406 (8110A White Bluff Rd., 912-652-4097)

National Cemeteries:

Georgia 30114 (2025 Mt. Carmel Church Lane, Canton, 866-236-8159)

Marietta 30060 (500 Washington Ave., 866-236-8159)

GUAM

Clinic:

Agana Heights 96919 (U.S. Naval Hospital, Bldg-1, E-200, Box 7608, 671-

344-9200)

Benefits Office/Vet Center:

Hagatna 96910 (Reflection Center, Suite 201, 222 Chalan Santo Papa St.,

671-472-7161)

HAWAII

Medical Center:

Honolulu 96819-1522 (459 Patterson Rd., E Wing) (toll-free from Hawaii, Guam, Saipan, Rota and Tinian at 1-800-827-1000; toll-free from American

Samoa at 1-877-899-4400)

Clinics:

Hilo 96720 (1285 Wainuenue Ave., Suite 211, 808-935-3781) Honolulu PTSD 96819 (3375 Koapaka St.,Suite I-560, 808-566-1546) Kauai; Lihue 96766 (3-3367 Kuhio Hwy., Suite 200, 808-246-0497) Kona; Kailua-Kona 75-377 Hualalai Rd., Kailua-Kona 808-329-0774 Maui; Kahului 96732 (203 Ho’ohana St., Suite 303, 808-871-2454)

Regional Office:

VA Facilities 119

4400)

VR&E Benefits Offices:

Hilo 96720 (1285 Waianuenue, 2nd Floor, 808-935-6691) Kahului 96732 (203 Ho’ohana St., 808-873-9426)

Vet Centers:

Hilo 96720 (126 Pu’uhonu,Way, Suite 2, Hilo 808-969-3833) Honolulu 96814 (1680 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite F.3, 808-973-8387)

Kailua-Kona 96740 96740 (Hale Kui Plaza, Suite 207, 73-4976 Kamanu St.,

808-329-0574)

Lihue 96766 (3-3367 Kuhio Hwy., Suite 101, 808-246-1163) Wailuku 96793 (35 Lunalilo, Suite 101, 808-242-8557) National Cemetery:

Nat. Cem. of the Pacific 96813-1729 (2177 Puowaina Dr., Honolulu, 808-

532-3720)

IDAHO

Medical Center:

Boise 83702 (500 West Fort St., 208-422-1000)

Clinics:

Caldwell 83605 (120 E. Pine St., 208-454-4820)

Pocatello 83201 (444 Hospital Way, Suite 801, 208-232-6214) Salmon 83467 (111 Lillian St., #203, 208-756-8515)

Twin Falls 83301 (260 2nd Ave, E., 208-732-0947)

Regional Office:

Boise 83702 (805 W. Franklin St., statewide, 1-800-827-1000)

Vet Centers:

Boise 83705 (5440 Franklin Rd., Suite 100, 208-342-3612)

Pocatello 83201 (1800 Garrett Way, 208-232-0316)

ILLINOIS

VA Medical Centers:

Chicago 60612 (820 South Damen Ave., 312-569-8387)

Danville 61832-5198 (1900 East Main Street, 217-554-3000 or 800-320-8387)

Hines 60141 (5th & Roosevelt Rd. P.O. Box 5000, 708-202-8387) Marion 62959 (2401 West Main, 618-997-5311)

North Chicago 60064 (3001 Green Bay Road, 847-688-1900 or 800-393-

0865)

Clinics:

Aurora 60506 (1700 N. Landmark Road, 630-859-2504)

Belleville 62223 (6500 W Main St., 314-286-6988)

Chicago 60620 (7731 S Halsted St., 773-962-3700)

Chicago 60611 (211 E. Ontario, 312-569-8387)

Chicago Heights 60411 (30 E. 15th Street, Suite 207, 708-756-5454)

120 VA Facilities

Decatur 62526-9381 (3035 East Mound Road, 217-875-2670)

Effingham 62401 (1901 S 4th St Suite 21, 217-347-7600) Elgin 60120 (450 W. Dundee Rd., 847-742-5920) Evanston 60202 (107 - 109 Clyde St., 847-869-6315) Freeport 61032 (1301 Kiwanis Dr., 815-235-4881) Galesburg 61401 (387 East Grove, 309-343-0311)

Joliet 60435 (2000 Glenwood Ave., 815-744-0492) LaSalle 61301 (2970 Chartres, 815-223-9678)

Manteno 60950 (Illinois Veterans Home, One Veterans Dr., 815-468-1027) McHenry 60050 (620 South Route 31, 815-759-2306)

Mt. Vernon 62864 (1 Doctors Park Rd., 618-246-2910)

Oak Lawn 60453 (4700 W. 95th St., 708-499-3675) Oak Park 60302 (149 S. Oak Park Ave., 708-386-3008)

Peoria 61605-2400 (411 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., 309-497-0790) Quincy 62301 (721 Broadway, 217-224-3366)

Rockford 61108 (4940 East State St., 815-227-0081)

Springfield 62702 (700 North 7th Street, Suite C, 217-522-9730)

Regional Office:

Chicago 60612 (2122 W. Taylor St., statewide 1-800-827-1000)

Vet Centers:

Chicago 60620 (7731 S. Halsted St., Suite 200, 773-962-3740) Chicago Heights 60411 (1600 S. Halsted St., 708-754-0340) East St. Louis 62203 (1265 N. 89th St., Suite 5, 618-397-6602) Evanston 60202 (565 Howard St., 847-332-1019)

Moline 61265 (1529 46th Ave., 6, 309-762-6954)

Oak Park 60302 (155 S. Oak Park Blvd., 708-383-3225)

Peoria 61603 (3310 N. Prospect Rd., 309-671-7300)

Springfield 62702 (624 S. 4th St., 217-492-4955)

National Cemeteries:

Abraham Lincoln 60421 (20953 W. Hoff Rd., Elwood, 815-423-9958)

Alton 62003 (600 Pearl St., 314-845-8320)

Camp Butler 62707 (5063 Camp Butler Rd., Springfield, 217-492-4070)

Danville 61832 (1900 East Main St., 217-554-4550)

Mound City 62963 (Junction Highways 37 & 51, 314-845-8320) Quincy 62301 (36th and Maine St., 309-782-2094)

Rock Island 61299-7090 (Rock Island Arsenal, Bldg. 118, 309-782-2094)

INDlANA

VA Medical Centers:

Fort Wayne 46805 (2121 Lake Ave., 260-426-5431 or 800-360-8387) Indianapolis 46202 (1481 W. 10th St., 317-554-0000 or 888-878-6889)

Marion 46953-4589 (1700 East 38th St., 765-674-3321 or 800-360-8387)

Clinics:

iv	Contents
Chapter 10: Transition Assistance		79
Chapter 11: Dependents and Survivors		85
Chapter 12: VA Claims Decisions Appeals		95
Chapter 13: Military Medals and Records		97
Chapter 14: Other Federal Benefits		101
VA Facilities		107
Index		153