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How To Access Your DD Form 214 Online
Did you know gaining access to your DD Form 214 has never been easier? This may be particularly helpful when a veteran needs a copy of the DD Form 214 for employment purposes. NPRC is working to make it easier for veterans with computers and Internet access to obtain copies of documents from their military files. Military veterans and the next of kin of deceased former military members may now use a new online military personnel records system to request documents.
The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) has provided the following website for veterans to sign access to their DD Form 214 online: Click here.
How to Secure Compensation for Dependents
Did you know all veterans having a 30% or more service-connected evaluation may be entitled to additional compensation for a spouse, dependent parents, or unmarried children under 18 (or under 23 if attending an approved school) or a child who became permanently incapable of self-support because of mental or physical defect prior to age 18? The additional benefit for a spouse is payable in a higher amount upon receipt of evidence establishing that the spouse is a patient in a nursing home or disabled as to require the aid and attendance of another person.
How to Increase Benefits for Unemployability
Did you know if your service-connected disabilities are seriously disabling to the extent that you are unable to secure and hold steady work or employment, you may apply to receive total disability? To apply for this benefit, you should contact the nearest VA Regional Office and complete VA Form 21-8940, “Veteran’s Application for Increased Compensation Based on Unemployability.” Forms are available on the VA forms.
Compassionate Allowances Conditions Expanded
Did you know the Social Security Administration has announced 25 new Compassionate Allowances (CA) conditions? The CA program reduces the time it takes to make decisions on disability applications filed by Americans with the most serious disabilities, so they receive decisions on their claims within days, instead of months or years. The new conditions include a dozen cancers and disorders that affect the digestive, neurological, immune and multiple body systems.
VA Caregiver Support Line
Did you know the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Caregiver Support Line facilitates monthly telephone education groups for family caregivers of Veterans with a theme of "Care for the Caregiver." A different topic is presented every month with the goal of helping Caregivers develop tools and strategies to help balance the demands of caregiving, while also focusing on the importance of self-care. These groups are available to any family caregiver currently caring for a Veteran enrolled in VA healthcare. Veterans enrolled in VA healthcare who are caring for a loved one at home are also eligible to participate. For more information or to register for a group, please contact your local Caregiver Support Coordinator at 1-800-827-1000.
CESI Helping Veterans
Did you know Consumer Education Services Inc. (CESI) is pleased to announce the launch of Beneficiary Services for individuals in need of assistance with managing benefits through SSI, SSDI or VA due to physical disability, cognitive disability or substance abuse? CESI is licensed through the Social Security Administration to manage their Representative Payee and Veteran's Administration Fiduciary Programs. The Benefits Service is a new offering from non-profit CESI.
CESI is a non-profit organization that helps consumers achieve financial freedom by offering a complete life cycle of services: debt management, student loan counseling, housing counseling, credit counseling, financial education, benefits counseling and services for employees, caregivers, and other support groups. For more information, please call 1-855-716-2451.
Veterans Show High Rates
Did you know during the Vietnam War, more than 2 million U.S. veterans were exposed to the toxic herbicide known as Agent Orange, which has been associated with elevated rates of diabetes and heart problems? Soldiers who participated in the 1990-1991 Gulf War were exposed to ammunition containing depleted uranium, and acrid smoke spewing from out-of-control oil fires. And all war veterans display high rates of hearing loss, as well as chronic knee, back, neck and shoulder pain associated with carrying heavy packs of ammunition and other gear.
Did You Know?
DoD Closing Clinics To Veterans
Did you know the following facilities will switch to Active duty service members, and occupational health-only clinics?
• MacDill’s 6th MDG outpatient facility
• Dyess AFB, Texas’s 7th MDG outpatient facility
• Robins AFB, Ga.’s 78th MDG outpatient facility
• Barksdale AFB, La.’s 2nd MDG outpatient facility
• Dover AFB, Del.’s 436th MDG outpatient facility
• Goodfellow AFB, Texas’s 17th MDG outpatient facility
• Hanscom AFB, Mass.’s 66th Medical Squadron outpatient facility
• Maxwell AFB, Ala.’s 42nd MDG outpatient facility
• Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.’s 87th MDG outpatient facility
• Patrick AFB, Fla.’s 45th MDG outpatient facility
• BARQUIST-DETRICK, Barquist Army Health Clinic
• Ft. Hood, Carl R Darnall Army Medical Center (CRDAMC)
• Ft. Riley, Farrelly Health Clinic
• Ft. Cumberland, Fillmore Army Health Clinic
• Redstone Arsenal, Army Health Clinic Fox-Fedstone
• Ft. Irwin, Weed Army Community Hospital
• Ft. Bragg, Joel Health Clinic
• Ft. Lee, Kenner Army Health Clinic
• Ft. Meade, Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center (KACC)
• Aberdeen Proving Ground, Kirk Army Health Center
• Ft. Eustis, McDonald Army Health Clinic
• Ft. Ord, Army Health Clinic Monterey
• Ft. Leavenworth, Munson Army Health Clinic
• Ft. Benning, Community Based Medical Home North Columbus
• Ft. Lewis, Soldier Centered Medical Home Okubo
• Ft. Carson, USAMEDDAC Fort Carson
• Ft. Bragg, Robinson Health Clinic
• Rock Island Arsenal, Army Health Clinic Rock Island Arsenal
• Ft. Gordon, Army Health Clinic SOUTHCOM
• Ft. Shafter
• Naval Branch Health Clinic
• Naval Hospital Beaufort
• Naval Branch Health Clinic Belle Chasse
• Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune
• Branch Health Clinic Colts Neck Earle
• Branch Health Clinic Corpus Christi
• Naval Branch Health Clinic Dahlgren
• Naval Branch Health Clinic Groton
• Branch Health Clinic Indian Head
• Naval Branch Health Clinic Lakehurst
• Naval Branch Health Clinic Meridian
• Naval Branch Health Clinic Mid-South
• Naval Branch Health Clinic New England
• Naval Branch Health Clinic Patuxent River
• Naval Branch Health Clinic Portsmouth
• Naval Branch Health Clinic (NBHC) Rancho Bernardo
• Naval Branch Health Clinic San Onofre
Hearing Boards Available To Veterans
Did you know the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA) has held over 13,000 virtual tele-hearings? These virtual tele-hearings allow the Board to hold hearings for veterans safely and efficiently from wherever the veteran chooses. Best of all, the technology allows the Board to be more efficient and more productive, increasing the number of yearly hearings it can hold.
Veterans may choose from the following Boards:
- Video hearings are when a veteran travels to their closest VA regional office and teleconferences with the Judge in Washington, D.C. Video hearings are open depending on the status of the VA regional office, and are only able to accommodate a limited amount of people to veterans to make sure everyone is socially distant and safe. If a veteran selected a video hearing, the veteran can ask his/her representative to change hearing to a virtual hearing by emailing the Board at BVAVirtualHearing@VA.gov.
- Central Office hearings are where a Veteran travels to Washington, D.C., for their in-person hearing with a Judge. Central Office hearings are open, but capacity is limited to ensure appropriate social distancing and sanitized hearing rooms. If the veteran prefers not to wait, the Board has openings for virtual tele-hearings. Veterans may also switch the Central Office hearing to a video hearing at the VA regional office or to a virtual tele-hearing.
- Travel Board hearings are where a veteran travels to a VA regional office for an in-person hearing with a Judge. Travel Board hearings are currently suspended! The Board has not held a Travel Board hearing in over a year and does not have a timeline to resume this type of hearing. The Board anticipates significant delays for those veterans wishing to have a Travel Board hearing.
While the Board offers different types of hearings, selecting a virtual tele-hearing is the fastest way for a veteran to have a hearing to get a rapid decision.
Download Board of Veterans’ Appeals Virtual Tele-Hearing Options
VR & E Migrated
Did you know Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) also known as the Chapter 31 program, will be migrated to the eBenefits platform? VR&E provides services to eligible active duty service members and veterans with service-connected disabilities to help them prepare for and obtain employment or achieve independence in daily living.
Manage Direct Deposit
Did you know that eBenefits will allow a veteran to manage direct deposit of education benefits, add or remove a dependent, and apply for state benefits?
VA To Consider More Presumptive Conditions
Did you know the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is reviewing whether three additional types of cancer should be included in the list of conditions presumed to be caused by exposure to toxic smoke from military burn pits and poor air quality in combat zones? The cancers currently under consideration are acute leukemias, chronic leukemias, and multiple myeloma outside of the head and neck, affecting veterans who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and much of Southwest Asia.
Free Uber Rides for Veterans
Did you know veterans eligible for travel benefits can now get to and from appointments using the Uber service at no personal cost? That’s what the VHA-Uber Health Connect (VUHC) Initiative is doing for veterans and VA caregivers. The VUHC initiative was first launched across 10 VA medical centers between January 2022 and April 2023. Survey feedback from 2,300 participants during that time span (30,000+ rides over 400,000+ miles) showed that 83 percent of veterans would not have been able to access their medical care without the program.
Eligible veterans include those who currently are eligible for travel pay because of at least one of the following conditions:
- Service-connected disability of 30 percent and above.
- Below the income-means threshold.
- Traveling to/from a facility due to a service-connected medical condition.