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Permalink Reply by John Ayres on December 29, 2010 at 10:28pm

NOTICE - There are several law offices and web sites offering to assist veterans in obtaining VA benefits. DO NOT EMPLOY THEM FOR THEIR SERVICES. They can't do a thing for you that your county veterans service office can't do. The county service office is a free benefit for all veterans wishing to file a VA claim. For veteran benefits in Howard County, phone 765-456-2511. Please get the word out about these people trying to rip off veterans.

 

Commander John Ayres

Central Indiana Membership Director

Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States

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Permalink Reply by John Ayres on December 29, 2010 at 10:58pm

I've been involved with the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) for some time now. I'm all about improving the lives of our veterans and military. I'm a past District Commander and I've been serving as Commander of VFW Post 1152 in Kokomo, IN for 8 years now. I am also the current Central Indiana Membership Chairman. I myself am a Vietnam veteran.

 

Our veterans lay their lives on the line to protect our way of life. Please show them the support and respect that we did not receive during the Vietnam war. Our troops follow and obey orders whether or not they believe in the conflict.

 

If you are a veteran or troop that has been deployed, please join the VFW. The membership of the VFW consists of veterans that HAVE been deployed to a combat area. When we talk to a Congressman about benefits for our troops and vets, we need to let them know how many troops and vets that we're representing. The higher the number, the harder they listen, because vets vote!  http://kokomo-vfw-rites.org

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Permalink Reply by Paul on January 8, 2011 at 4:15pm

VFW has my POA for my VA benefits and they are doing a great job. If they haven't left service they need to make sure their medical records are up to date and use the VA before they get out. If they don't it could take up to 24 months to see any results due VA being backlogged. 

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Permalink Reply by John Ayres on January 8, 2011 at 4:21pm

That's why combat veterans need to get involved with veteran service organizations such as the VFW. We continue to lobby to make the VA better, as well as the Legion, AmVets, and DAV.

Paul said:

VFW has my POA for my VA benefits and they are doing a great job. If they haven't left service they need to make sure their medical records are up to date and use the VA before they get out. If they don't it could take up to 24 months to see any results due VA being backlogged. 

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Permalink Reply by John Ayres on January 8, 2011 at 7:28pm

WARNING TO VETERANS

Forwarded by Kevin Secor, VSO Liaison, Office of the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

An organization called Veterans Affairs Services (VAS) is providing benefit and general information on VA and gathering personal information on veterans.  This organization is not affiliated with VA in any way

[Websites with the name "vaservices" immediately after the "www"  ARE NOT part of the Depatment of Veterans Affairs, the US Government agency. Do not go to them or if approached or called, do not offer them any information concerning yourself or data on other veterans. Keep in mind that the real VA website ends in .gov.    Also, be aware that the Department of Veterans Affairs does not randomly call veterans, nor does it ask veterans for information which it does not already have--like Social Security Numbers. In particular, if you have not dealt with the VA previously--and in person--and all of a sudden, you receive a call from someone saying they are with the VA or something similar sounding, hang up the phone. Also, do not respond to emails which suggest that they are from the VA. The VA never conducts official business nor asks for personal information by email.  Mike]

VAS may be gaining access to military personnel through their close resemblance to the VA name and seal.  Our Legal Counsel has requested that we coordinate with DoD to inform military installations, particularly mobilization sites, of this group and their lack of affiliation or endorsement by VA to provide any services.

In addition, GC requests that if you have any examples of VAS acts that violate chapter 59 of Title 38 United States Code, such as VAS employees assisting veterans in the preparation and presentation of claims for benefits, please pass any additional information to Mr.Daugherty at the address below.

Michael G. Daugherty

Staff Attorney

Department of Veterans Affairs

Office of General Counsel (022G2)

810 Vermont Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20420

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Permalink Reply by clarence ritchie jr. on January 11, 2011 at 10:30am

Why is it that the VA doesn't seem to care about the Vietnam Veterans? I recently lost my dad to A.M.L. (acute myloid leukemia) and it was caused by agent orange. The VA says there is a discrepency about my dads discharge and he has no claim. Why would the discharge matter if he was there? He had two tours in Vietnam. He got a bronze star. When he did get home, he had malaria and they wouldn't treat him. Now he is gone and my brother and myself are having agent orange related health problems. What can we do for ourselves? My brother and myself are both honorable veterans.

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Permalink Reply by John Ayres on January 11, 2011 at 7:11pm

 Have you talked with your local Veterans Service Office? They may be able to answer your question. I'm a Vietnam veteran, and I haven't experienced any problems except the usual claim processing delays. I have a lot of Vietnam veteran friends receiving benefits for Agent Orange related disorders. Sometimes you have to reapply a claim before it gets approved.

clarence ritchie jr. said:

Why is it that the VA doesn't seem to care about the Vietnam Veterans? I recently lost my dad to A.M.L. (acute myloid leukemia) and it was caused by agent orange. The VA says there is a discrepency about my dads discharge and he has no claim. Why would the discharge matter if he was there? He had two tours in Vietnam. He got a bronze star. When he did get home, he had malaria and they wouldn't treat him. Now he is gone and my brother and myself are having agent orange related health problems. What can we do for ourselves? My brother and myself are both honorable veterans.

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