SERVING
Those That
SERVED
3M Ordered To Pay Veteran
Did you know a jury in a federal court in Pensacola, Florida, on Friday, May 20, 2022, ordered 3M Co. to pay $77.5 million to a U.S. Army veteran who said he suffered hearing damage as a result of using the company's military-issue earplugs? The verdict for veteran James Beal is the largest yet for an individual in sprawling litigation over the earplugs that as of May 16, 2022 included more than 290,000 claims in the Pensacola court, by far the largest mass tort litigation in U.S. history.
Inflation Bonus
Did you know active duty service members and Defense Department civilians making less than $45,000 annually would get a monthly "inflation bonus" in 2023 under a new House proposal released June 22, 2022? The proposed bonus of 2.4% was floated by Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, as part of a proposed amendment to the $802 billion annual defense policy Bill being hammered out by Congress. The mammoth must-pass legislation and proposed amendments is scheduled to be debated by the House Armed Services Committee on June 23, 2022.
Veteran Beaten By VA Staff Member
Did you know a 73-year-old Vietnam War veteran was choked, slammed to the ground, stomped and kicked in the head by a person who was allegedly a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employee at the Fort McPherson, Georgia, clinic, according to a security video released by the VA? In the video, veteran Phillip Webb is seen in a waiting room, engaged in a heated discussion with an employee who points his finger in Webb's face. When Webb smacks the finger away, the employee grabs Webb's hands, wrestles him across the room, chokes him, slams him to the ground, presses his foot onto Webb's neck and then kicks him in the head.
More Veterans Eligible for Purple Heart Medal
Did you know an update to Army regulations makes active duty service members and veterans who suffered a perforated eardrum during combat service eligible to receive a Purple Heart medal? Previously, a perforated eardrum was not a qualifying injury for the military's oldest award, which is given to those who suffer a combat-related injury in service to their nation.
How The VA Links Your Injury or Illness
Did you know the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can link your injury or illness to VA disability compensation three different ways? For instance, if you became ill or injured while serving in the military and can link this condition to your current illness or injury (called an in-service disability claim), or you had an illness or injury prior to joining the military and serving in the military made it worse (called a preservice disability claim), or you have a disability related to your active duty service that didn't manifest itself until after you left the military (called a post-service disability claim), you may be eligible for VA disability compensation?
Veterans Have Communication Problems
Did you know according to a 2019 Federal Communications Commission (FCC) report, 15% of veteran households do not have an internet connection? One-third of the nine million veterans enrolled in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) live in rural communities. For these veterans, the hurdles to accessing telehealth services can be difficult to overcome. Veterans living in rural communities often face barriers when it comes to seeking care through VA — traveling to VA medical centers can be expensive, time-consuming and frustrating.
Havana Syndrome Compensation
Did you know the State Department is preparing to compensate victims of mysterious brain injuries colloquially known as “Havana Syndrome” with six-figure payments, according to officials and a congressional aide? Current and former State Department staff and their families who suffered from “qualifying injuries” since cases were first reported among U.S. embassy personnel in Cuba in 2016 will receive payments of between roughly $100,000 and $200,000 each, the officials and aide said.
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Update Your VA Direct Deposit
Did you know you can easily change your VA direct deposit information for disability compensation, pension benefits, or education benefits online? If you receive disability compensation, pension, or education benefits from VA, you can update your direct deposit information in your VA.gov profile. You’ll need your bank’s routing number and account number to make the updates. You’ll need to sign in to VA.gov to update your direct deposit information. Once signed in, you’ll have to verify your identity and set up 2-factor authentication only if you haven’t done this already.
New Atomic Veterans Commemorative Service Medal
Did you know veterans who performed the secret, often dangerous work of testing nuclear weapons deserve new recognition and may now call themselves “Atomic Veterans,” according to the Defense Department? The department announced the Atomic Veterans Commemorative Service Medal to recognize that “the service and sacrifice of the Atomic Veterans directly contributed to our Nation’s continued freedom and prosperity during the period following World War II.” Veterans qualify for the medallion-only award who served between July 1945 and October 1992. The dates coincide with those of nuclear testing in the U.S.
Combat-Related Special Compensation
Did you know Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) is a tax-free monthly payment to eligible retired veterans with combat-related injuries? With CRSC, veterans can receive both their full military retirement pay and their VA disability compensation at the same time. To be eligible, veterans must:
1. Have 20 or more years of creditable military service or be medically retired
2. Veteran must be receiving military retired pay
3. Veteran must have a VA-rated injury of 10% or greater.
VA Health & Benefits App
Did you know the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Health and Benefits mobile app enables veterans to send secure messages to health care providers, view upcoming appointments, view claims and appeals status, upload documentation, locate VA facilities, download veteran benefits letters to prove veteran status, and more? Veterans can also login using fingerprint or face ID. VA Health and Benefits app is available via the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
China & Philippines Join Forces
Did you know newly elected Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has indicated he desires warmer relations with China, saying he is even open to military ties with China, a move that would complicate United States interests in the region? According to Marcos, “We have our relationship not only on one dimension.” “Let’s add to that: Let’s have cultural exchanges, educational exchanges, even military, if that will be useful.”
SAH Grants
Did you know the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) handed out more than 2,300 Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grants last fiscal year, a record for the program? But VA grant chief believes the effort can expand even further in coming years, if VA officials can make more veterans and home builders aware of the offering. The SAH program awards grants to veterans and service members with certain severe service-connected disabilities, to allow them to make home adjustments so they can live more independently. Veterans or builders can learn more about the SAH program through the VA website or the SAH hotline at 877-827-3702. Veterans can also apply for grants through the VA’s eBenefits website section.
ID Card Update
Did you know the Department of Defense (DoD) is reminding veterans and military family members who have identification cards with no expiration date that you can choose to upgrade to the new Next Generation Uniform Services Identification, or USID, cards whenever it's convenient and as long as it's done within the next four years? There is no looming deadline for use of those old non-active duty cards without expiration dates, but the DoD expects to completely phase out and replace them with the next-generation IDs, which are more durable and have enhanced security features, by 2026.