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Those That
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Forever Chemicals
Did you know PFAS, an abbreviation for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are compounds that don't degrade in the environment? They're linked to a host of health issues, including low birthweight and kidney cancer. The chemicals are found in a wide range of products, including nonstick cookware, food packaging and firefighting foam that airports use to combat fires resulting from plane crashes. Pentagon documents show at least 385 military bases nationwide are contaminated with PFAS, mostly from firefighting foam used during training.
Other Documentation Methods for Lost Records
Did you know new legislation from the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee chairman would provide veterans with other documentation methods for receiving benefits when their medical records are misplaced between the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Defense Department? The Fred Hamilton Veterans’ Lost Records Act is a way for veterans to provide alternative evidence when their service medical records are incomplete due to damage or loss by the federal government.
Minimum Eligibility
Did you know veterans are required to have a minimum Under Honorable Conditions (General) discharge to get service-connected compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)?
Who Does The UCMJ Apply To?
Did you know the UCMJ is applicable to those who are presently serving in the Armed Forces on active duty, students who are enrolled in a federal service academy, and prisoners of war? Also, the UCMJ applies to both National Guard and Reserve members in inactive duty training. Moreover, the UCMJ applies to contractors and other individuals serving or accompanying an armed force in the field.
VA Loan Limit
Did you know there is no limit on how many times eligible veterans and service members can use a VA loan? You’ll generally have a lifelong entitlement that can be used multiple times. VA loan entitlement is the maximum loan amount the VA will guarantee. When obtaining a VA loan, you typically use 25% of your total entitlement. The remaining entitlement will determine the amount of the second VA loan you can obtain. In some cases, you may be able to restore your full entitlement by paying off the previous VA loan.
Mesothelioma Incubation
Did you know symptoms for mesothelioma can take 20-50 years to show? Many veterans who served in places like Camp Lejeune decades ago may still be at risk of developing this deadly cancer to this day.
Unemployment Rate for Veterans
Did you know in December 2023, the veteran unemployment rate was 3.0%? The figure is up from 2.8% the previous month and down from 3.2% the prior year. Also, in December 2023, the comparable non-veteran unemployment rate was 3.7%, the same as the previous month and up from 3.4% the prior year.
The Other VA Benefits 10 Year Rule
Did you know the VA benefits 10 year rule for dependents is a criterion that applies to certain benefits for spouses of veterans? It requires that the spouse must have been married to the veteran for at least 10 years, during which the veteran served at least 10 years of active duty or equivalent Reserve or Guard. This rule affects the eligibility for benefits such as health care, education and training, pensions, home loans, and life insurance for dependents.
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Air Force Released Documents
Did you know the U.S. Air Force released documents about the potential toxic dangers that nuclear missile officers have faced for decades in the workplace after hundreds of “missileers” have come forward with cancer diagnoses?
Reimbursement Deadline
Did you know the deadline for veterans to apply for emergency medical expenses reimbursements at non-VA facilities is February 22, 2024? The VA will only reimburse the amount of the patient’s coinsurance, not flat-rate copayments or deductibles. Veterans must also meet certain eligibility requirements.
How To Increase Chances for An Award
Did you know many veterans who seek assistance from a VA-accredited representative, such as a veterans service organization (VSO), an attorney, or an agent may have a better chance of getting service-connected for a disability? These representatives can help veterans file their claims, gather evidence, prepare appeals, and advocate for their rights. They can also provide guidance on the best way to prove service connection, such as using direct service connection, continuity of symptomatology, presumptive service connection, secondary service connection, or aggravation of a pre-existing condition.
How VA Rates Skin Conditions
Did you know the VA rates skin conditions based on the frequency and severity of outbreaks, the percentage of the body affected, and the impact on the veteran’s ability to work and perform daily activities?
Special SSA Benefits
Did you know some veterans may qualify for special SSA benefits? Special Veterans Benefits (SVB) are benefits funded by the Federal Government and administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA). The benefits are paid to certain veterans from World War II era who reside outside the United States. The SVB benefits are often based on need.
Definition of A Veteran
Did you know United States Code (USC), Title 38, Part 1, Chapter 1, § 101, defines a veteran as “a person who served in the active military, naval, air, or space service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable?”
Service Dog Requirements
Did you know a referral letter from her therapist recommending a service dog, a DD Form 214, and a service-connected disability rating may be a requirement for some private organizations who supply service dog to veterans? The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) require a 50% or greater VA disability rating with a PTSD, MST or TBI diagnosis, to get a service dog.
Special Lowe's Discounts
Did you know that Lowe’s offers large rentals, and that you can rent almost any tool you need from them? You can get literally anything, including welding sets, dump trailers, tile saws, and trenchers. Plus, you can get general construction tools and everyday supplies that you may not have handy. Lowe’s is known as DIY-U (Do It Yourself University). Lowe’s offers workshops for anyone looking to get a little more handy and broaden their skill sets. The classes aren’t just “how to swing a hammer” type of class, but helpful, and interactive classes. The most common is their Home Repair Workshops, but they also offer seasonal options. For example, in the Spring, the Garden Workshops launch with things like “How to Build a Raised Flower Bed” and other related topics.
New Presumptive Locations
Did you know the VA will implement a new presumption of exposure list to locations where herbicides were tested, used, or stored outside of Vietnam? Specifically, this proposed rule would add locations in the United States, Canada, and India to the existing presumptives for Agent Orange in Vietnam, Cambodia, Johnson Atoll, Guam, American Samoa, Korea, Laos, and Thailand.