Did you tune in to the Live Q&A with the Executive Director of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Education Service, Charmain Bogue?

Charmain Bogue — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 08:47:41 -0500

Did you tune in to the Live Q&A (https://rly.pt/2W92nDa) with the Executive Director of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Education Service, Charmain Bogue? On October 23, VA teamed up with RallyPoint to answer questions on the GI Bill®. In case you missed it, here’s a recap of the event.

The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act, also known as the “Forever GI Bill,” provides sweeping changes to VA education benefits, many of which expand and enhance Veteran benefits. This bill expands the number of Veterans and eligible family members who can use benefits, as well as enhances programs, including the introduction of The Edith Nourse Rogers Science Technology Engineering Math (STEM) Scholarship and Veteran Employment Through Technology Education Courses (VET TEC).

As VA works to implement these changes, they are dedicated to keeping GI Bill beneficiaries and stakeholders informed. To continue the drumbeat of communication activities, VA partnered with RallyPoint to be accessible to its vast community of online members, including Veterans, service members and their families.

During the Q&A, VA answered questions about:
• Education programs, including the STEM Scholarship program, for training in high demand areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, and VET TEC, a tuition and housing assistance program to advance IT careers.
• Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) updates per the Forever GI Bill, which bases MHA on the date the student first used their Post-9/11 GI Bill entitlement, and on the campus location where the student physically attends the majority of their classes.

• Helpful resources, such as the GI Bill Comparison Tool (https://rly.pt/GIBillComparisonTool) to estimate MHA, and a document with Frequently Asked Questions. (https://rly.pt/GIBillFaqs)

On behalf of the VA GI Bill leadership team, thank all those who attended and reached out during this session – for your engagement, your dedication to education achievements and for your service.

The Live Q&A will remain online for viewing. If you have additional questions, please utilize the GI Bill hotline at 888-GIBILL- [login to see] ) between 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. Central Time, Monday-Friday. For students outside the U.S., call 00 [login to see] . You can also ask us a question via our online system (https://rly.pt/2KGaTFn) or reach out to us through our Post-9/11 GI Bill Facebook page. (https://rly.pt/346jg4T)

Charmain Bogue, Executive Director of VA Education Service, was live October 23 answering Forever...

Welcome to the Live Q&A event! I’m Charmain Bogue, the Executive Director of VA Education Service. I was appointed to my current position in May, but I began my VA career many years ago as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. I joined VA from the non-profit sector, looking for ways to give back to those who served our country like my mother, father, grandfather, uncle, brother-in-law and husband. I am committed to going above and beyond to...

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Nov 20 at 2019 9:09 AM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 09:09:48 -0500

Sadly I missed it.

Response by PFC David H Smith Jr made Nov 20 at 2019 10:05 PM

PFC David H Smith Jr — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 22:05:30 -0500

I didn't know the Montgomery GI bill was only good for 10 years after my ers. So when I tried to use it 14 years later, I found out I lost it.

Response by A1C John Angeo made Nov 27 at 2019 5:43 PM

A1C John Angeo — Wed, 27 Nov 2019 17:43:21 -0500

Sounds good. Would care helping this Veteran, please? A Complaint 4 October with my U.S. Congressman below.
Dear Congressman L,
I am a medically-retired Veteran homeowner and it troubles and pains me with several complaints.
1) Extension for a Statue of Limitation, 6 March 2020 as a result, three law firms dismissing my case due to complexities. I have 5-inches case files in an email format from the first two legal teams. My USAA insurance company is 3-weeks downrange, work-in-progress with the at-fault insurance company, as this victim of trauma suffers in pain. Help please.

2) A pro-bono 'Boutique' law firm referral as a result of 0-3 with difficulty finding legal representation. We agree boutique law firms gouge settlements and grandstand all at the expense of the client. Help please.

3) U. S. Post Complaint 02535682, endless complaints, after complaints not getting my Rx medications timely. "Postal worker has work restrictions coming up to my 3rd deck!" There's an elevator. The insensitive VA Pharmacist, "it's not my fault how your medications are delivered.” Thankful, many times, home-based Primary Care R.N. Case Manager would deliver my Rx Medications up to my front door.

4) Complaint against the LB VAMC Police, Patient Advocate and hospital Administrator with making a
crosswalk in-front of Building 150 unsafe, resulting with a motorist causing (physical, emotional, and
mental)Trauma, while hobbling in the middle of the crosswalk, en route to Physical Therapy, Anxiety and Depression Support Group, and Psychiatry appointments. The trauma has turned my life upside down, beginning with Primary Care Team Alpha not providing, and willfully knew my Rx Medications were not available in the pharmacy, resulting with intense suffering while hospitalized in St Mary's Trauma Unit. Medicare HMO GP staff doctors failure with not visiting me in the 1st week of hospitalization. If it were not suffering in St Mary's Catholic Hospital everything would be more horrifying experiences.

What justifies less than 2% National Average of Agoraphobia? My Agoraphobia is a result of one chronic injury, after another, resulting in a medical and honorable discharge, and the trauma accident was the nail in the coffin. After my discharge from the Trauma Unit, Primary Care Team Alpha assigns a Caregiver but it's the never ending problems with getting Rx medications. The insensitive VA Police CPT Paul Bellamy engaging with idiotic intimidation, character assassination, and the unprofessional juggernaut VA Police engaging in a 'War of Attrition.'

My mom retired as a Nurse Practitioner and some of her colleagues are in my medical team. A family long tradition in law enforcement. I served in two military branches and I was processing into the LAPD Academy.

The LB VAMC Police are nothing less than the finest example in Keystone Cops. My options, if I put my Agoraphobia in the closet, continue with LB VAMC, have a melt down, the VA Police easily puts me out of my misery, as a result my PTSD and thereafter no settlement, or maintain my Agoraphobia with VA home-based Primary Care, its scope of limitations in Post Trauma Care and zero

Medicare HMO Post Trauma Care. Fact, other than demonize Agoraphobia, it's provoked.The only thing trivial is motorist struck me. CPT Paul Bellamy left me with medical bills, tentative surgeries, endless suffering, etc. Have CPT Bellamy's pension pay for everything and strip him of his police badge. When, may I get back, training on my NordicTrack? Complaints egregious? The embarrassment, the stigma of Agoraphobia evolving daily with all the inconveniences, in the new normal world. Why, Is it given, there's solace and comfort with knowing their's always, medically-retired Veterans in worst condition? Empathy. Help please?
Lastly, "People with mental illnesses aren't wrapped up in themselves because they are intrinsically any more selfish than other people. Of course not. They are just feeling things that can't be ignored. Things that point the arrows inward." Matt Haig, Reasons to Stay Alive.
References: White House VA Hotline Complaint ####, VA IG Complaint ####, and attached letter from Brand New Day HMO dated 9 October 2019.
Cc: healthevet patient chart a####,
USAA Claim Adjuster Lauren T, Claim ###
Sincerely,

Response by Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 3 at 2019 12:18 PM

Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 12:18:13 -0500

My ex husband transferred 36 mos of the post 911 plus yellow ribbon to me as part of our divorce settlement back in 2009, listed in my divorce decree. I used 24 mos of it and just received a letter from VA Dept of Education that I owe 75,000.00 dollars due to service member not completing his service. I have found out that he was kicked out dishonorably in 2014 for reasons Im not privy to. The GI education person I called was very nice and explained this happens more that you would think, leaving spouse, ex spouses and children in tens of thousands of dollars of debt. I asked why it took so long since I got it back in 2009 and started using it in 2011. She explained the VA Dept of Ed just got the notice from DOD. She looked up the nearest Vet Center and said to go there and they will help me fill out the appeal form etc. I was a faithful Army wife and I love our military and our country, however, Im not in control of his choices. I would have never asked for it as a divorced settlement and sure would have never used it had I known this was a possibility. Im a single parent working 1 f/t job and one p/t job already. It might as well be a million dollars.. This should be against the law and the ruling should be that if the service member, man or women goes back his commitments, they should be held liable, not the poor sucker that believed they were actually getting something that was a viable tool to enhance their education.

Response by Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 3 at 2019 12:21 PM

Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 12:21:23 -0500

Response by Maj Kim Patterson made Dec 6 at 2019 6:08 PM

Maj Kim Patterson — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 18:08:03 -0500

I did but my question was never answered

Response by PFC David H Smith Jr made Apr 13 at 2020 4:47 PM

PFC David H Smith Jr — Mon, 13 Apr 2020 16:47:14 -0400

I had the Montgomery GI Bill and lost it because I didn't use it in 10 years. So I lost 2600 dollars I put in in the 80s.

Response by CPL Annetta Mayfield made Jul 22 at 2020 12:29 PM

CPL Annetta Mayfield — Wed, 22 Jul 2020 12:29:58 -0400

I need assistance with my VA claim. I Submitted my claim, with the help of a DAV representative in Dec. 2018. I was initially told that I would hear something about my claim by Nov 17, 2019. Then that date was moved to February 2020 and then I was told May 16, 2020. Now I am being told by the Claims Benefit Intake center that who ever have my file, they are searching for my personnel and dental records, but some other agency have them and they have been requesting those records since January 2020! I need help!!!Could some please reach out to inform me what I need to do???