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Pacific Island Veterans! Do You Have Health and Benefits Questions? Ask Questions Now!
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On February 15th, 8 - 9 AM HST, VA and community experts will be here to answer your questions on benefits, claims, and peer support resources. Type your questions now!
You can ask questions to the following people:
» Sgt Jay Dalrymple - Director, National Cemetery Scheduling Office
» 1SG Zelda Davis - Management Analyst, VBA
» Melissa Comeau - Director, Military and Veteran Caregiver Network
» Wilfred Lee - VA Pacific Islands Health Care System, Chief of Veteran Experience
» Tanya Eubanks - VSO, Guam Office of Veterans Affairs
» Coleton Whitaker - Senior Director of Programs, Elizabeth Dole Foundation
» PO3 Douglas Webb - Management Analyst, VA
» PO3 Matthew Campbell - Senior Partnerships Analyst, VA
» Kim Cook - Vice President, Clinical Services, U.S.VETS
» CPO Missina Schallus - CPO, Communications Manager, Center for Women Veterans
» Sgt Christopher Vidaurre - Senior Program Manager, George W. Bush Presidential Center
» Maj Bonnie Carroll - President and Founder, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors
» Lucia Perez - Special Projects Coordinator, Guam Office of Veterans Affairs
» Theresa DiMaggio - Veteran Experience Chief, VISN 21
You can ask questions to the following people:
» Sgt Jay Dalrymple - Director, National Cemetery Scheduling Office
» 1SG Zelda Davis - Management Analyst, VBA
» Melissa Comeau - Director, Military and Veteran Caregiver Network
» Wilfred Lee - VA Pacific Islands Health Care System, Chief of Veteran Experience
» Tanya Eubanks - VSO, Guam Office of Veterans Affairs
» Coleton Whitaker - Senior Director of Programs, Elizabeth Dole Foundation
» PO3 Douglas Webb - Management Analyst, VA
» PO3 Matthew Campbell - Senior Partnerships Analyst, VA
» Kim Cook - Vice President, Clinical Services, U.S.VETS
» CPO Missina Schallus - CPO, Communications Manager, Center for Women Veterans
» Sgt Christopher Vidaurre - Senior Program Manager, George W. Bush Presidential Center
» Maj Bonnie Carroll - President and Founder, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors
» Lucia Perez - Special Projects Coordinator, Guam Office of Veterans Affairs
» Theresa DiMaggio - Veteran Experience Chief, VISN 21
Honolulu
Pearl Harbor
Schofield Barracks
Responses: 47
Wilfred Lee
Thank you for your question. Dental care depends on your eligibility. Please directly call the VAPIHCS Dental Clinic at [login to see] to verify your eligibility. When calling, if the representative is on the phone, you will be directed to the voicemail. On the voicemail, please feel free to leave your full name and last 4 of your SSN so they can have your chart open when they return your call.
PO3 Douglas Webb
BM2 Ford, thanks for joining, you are in the right place; Q&As within this chat forum today.
the 1,500 dollar caregiver support program for 100 percent veterans, what is the current name of the program? does it still come with backpay to date of service connection?... no one in washington state knows anything about this program at all but in jawaii it seems everyone gets help getting this benifit!!!! please call [login to see] to help me !!! also there is zero social work help and i have not been able to aply for my free life insurance... it has been 2 years plus or minus one month ... can i still get it ???...i need help appealing my decision but no one will help here!!! i lived in hawaii for 32 years but moved to spokane washinton after getting my back pay... can hawaii still help me file appeals??/
PO3 Douglas Webb
CPL Braymen, I am not stating definitively whether you're asking about a state or federal program, there are multiple issue areas being stated and attempting to gain clarity to provide accurate information. The information provided above is for federal US Department of Veterans Affairs caregiver programs. Myself and PO3 Matthew Campbell have sent connection request to coordinate your issues further.
Cpl Gregory Braymen
Marianne Delatorre - lost air force carerer, cargiver pay cominsation , and filing for free life insurance, and appeal date of back pay !!!!lost air force carerer, cargiver pay cominsation , and filing for free life insurance, and appeal date of back pay !!!! it says oops we can not find the page you are looking for ... what page did you submit in your comment?
Cpl Gregory Braymen
Wilfred Lee - i have no familly but for years had to self pay for my own live in aids and caregivers , paperwork about 6 inches thick to prove it ... that is why i was told i would recieve back pay for this benifit to make up for money spent out of pocket all those years waiting for my 100 percent decision , i was told live in aid help was the same as a wife or familly member helping me
Marianne Delatorre
CPL Braymen, I hear you and appreciate you reaching out for greater insight. I was speaking in regards to the Caregiver Stipend Program as the VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) referenced above by Wilfred Lee. PO3 Douglas Webb linked the websites above for further information. I am clarifying the stipend program is to assist family members to ease any confusion. The link I provided works when you click on it. The page summarizes the stipend program. Hope this helps!
What benefits are there for a person 100% VA rated? Who can help me get on the VA Kidney Transplant list?
PO3 Matthew Campbell
VA Benefits with 100% Service-Connected Disability | VA Disability | theSITREP
In this episode of theSITREP, Paul covers VA benefits available to those Veterans who are currently receiving 100% Service-Connected Disability.Email us at t...
Hi CPT Takasaki- Thanks for joining and for your questions. Below is a link that highlights 14 benefits to an individual with 100% VA Service Connection. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWTa2lW9Qc4&t=6s
1SG Zelda Davis
Good afternoon CPT Takasaki! Thank you for joining the chat! There's several resources available to you via the VA and your local Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs) (e.g., DAV; American Legion; AMVETS; Wounded Warrior, etc.) who can assist you with that information Please click on this link and review benefits information. https://www.disabledvets.com/faqs/benefits-for-100-percent-disabled-vets/. You can also speak with your Renal (Kidney) Physician at the VA for more information about getting on a Kidney transplant list. Thank you!
What Benefits Do 100% Disabled Vets Get? | DisabledVets.com
Suffering a 100% disability means you qualify for the full range of VA benefits, such as free healthcare, property tax waivers, and more.
PO3 Matthew Campbell
CPT Kenneth Takasaki For more information on the VA Kidney Transplant List. please view this link: https://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=5804 and additionally check out this link: https://www.va.gov/health/services/transplant/
Apply for and manage the VA benefits and services you’ve earned as a Veteran, Servicemember, or family member—like health care, disability, education, and more.
As a veteran receiving a disability compensation, should I pass, does my spouse receive any portion of the VA compensation or does that benefit go away altogether?
SFC Joe Hocog
Tanya Eubanks Si Yuus Ma’ase Tanya for the info; looks like I might be buried at a VA cemetery in the mainland, somewhere in West Coast. Does the DD214 process apply in all 50 states and territories? Many thx! Joe
Tanya Eubanks
SFC Joe Hocog - Check to see if the cemetery is a Veteran State Cemetery or National Cemetery. Either way, a DD 214 is necessary for determining eligibility. You can also do a pre-need eligibility for burial in a VA cemetery. https://www.va.gov/burials-memorials/pre-need-eligibility/
Pre-need eligibility for burial in a VA cemetery | Veterans Affairs
You can apply to find out in advance if you can be buried in a VA national cemetery. This is called a pre-need determination of eligibility—and it can help make the burial planning process easier for your family members in their time of need. Follow the steps below to apply.
Sgt Jay Dalrymple
SFC Joe Hocog - Yes, your DD-214 is an important document for determining your burial eligibility. If you are planning for a burial in a National Cemetery and do not have a copy of your discharge, we will take every action possible to locate a copy to determine your eligibility for burial and make it as easy as possible for you and your loved ones.
My question is to Melissa Comeau and Wilfred Lee.
I am a 100% disabled veteran on Hawaii Island who had been receiving chiropractic care through the VA twice monthly for several years to help alleviate severe neck pain from my injuries in Vietnam. My VA doctor in Hilo and my Choice care doctor both agree while it won’t cure the problem, which is progressive, it does help with the pain and allows me to function without needing to use as much Tramadol. That is a definite improvement in my quality of life. Recently a VA doctor in Honolulu, whom I’ve never seen, decided that because the chiropractor care was not ‘curing me’, because I’ve continued to need to see him, I should no longer continue to be approved for any more care. The VA has done this to me once before, then relented, and gave me something like 8 appointments that needed to be used in 2 months, when before I had approximately 20 appointments in a year, which was ideal, I could space them out to allow maximum pain management during the year. 4 appointments a month was too much.
I don’t understand why the directives and care plan of my primary Choice doctor, and my VA doctor in Hilo, who know my injuries and what works best to manage my pain and maintain my quality of life are suddenly being ignored and overruled by someone in Honolulu who has never examined or spoken with me. My chiropractor, Dr. Daugherty in Waimea, continues to get approval for other Vets with similar issues to mine.
How do I get this lack of needed care resolved. Thank you.
I am a 100% disabled veteran on Hawaii Island who had been receiving chiropractic care through the VA twice monthly for several years to help alleviate severe neck pain from my injuries in Vietnam. My VA doctor in Hilo and my Choice care doctor both agree while it won’t cure the problem, which is progressive, it does help with the pain and allows me to function without needing to use as much Tramadol. That is a definite improvement in my quality of life. Recently a VA doctor in Honolulu, whom I’ve never seen, decided that because the chiropractor care was not ‘curing me’, because I’ve continued to need to see him, I should no longer continue to be approved for any more care. The VA has done this to me once before, then relented, and gave me something like 8 appointments that needed to be used in 2 months, when before I had approximately 20 appointments in a year, which was ideal, I could space them out to allow maximum pain management during the year. 4 appointments a month was too much.
I don’t understand why the directives and care plan of my primary Choice doctor, and my VA doctor in Hilo, who know my injuries and what works best to manage my pain and maintain my quality of life are suddenly being ignored and overruled by someone in Honolulu who has never examined or spoken with me. My chiropractor, Dr. Daugherty in Waimea, continues to get approval for other Vets with similar issues to mine.
How do I get this lack of needed care resolved. Thank you.
Melissa Comeau
Also, It may be a good idea to check out the Whole Health program at your VA. https://www.va.gov/pacific-islands-health-care/locations/spark-m-matsunaga-department-of-veterans-affairs-medical-center/
The contact is Tanecia M. Blue [login to see]
Taking Charge of My Life and My Health may be of interest to you.
The contact is Tanecia M. Blue [login to see]
Taking Charge of My Life and My Health may be of interest to you.
Spark M. Matsunaga Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center | VA Pacific Islands health care...
Find address, hours of operation, and services provided at Spark M. Matsunaga VA Medical Center.
Wilfred Lee
Cpl William Hayes - I will alert the Community Care Patient Advocate to look out for your message. Thank you.
Will questions on veterans' benefits/claims be taken which have to do with VA Manila?
LCpl Michael Ramos
PO3 Matthew Campbell - Thanks for responding. As an overseas veteran myself, I am aware of MANY enrolled veterans in the Philippines who are having troubles on the VHA side of things (VBA has been great, VHA on the other hand, has, well, let's just say "room for improvement"). One of the problems I'm hearing directly from vets within my overseas VSOs is that VA Manila has cut off its supply of pain relief killers allegedly in the name of "patient safety." However, this claim is not applicable to anywhere else in VHA's thousands of health care facilities, so I'm wondering what on earth is going on with this misguided administrative decision that leaves vets with no option except to go for made-in-China pharmaceuticals -- which, by the way, are not reimbursable through VA's Foreign Medical Program because they're not FDA-approved. But since VA Manila cut off FDA-approved medications, what are the options remaining for enrolled, service-connected veterans needing those critical services?
PO3 Matthew Campbell
VA Manila Outpatient Clinic continues to provide needed pharmacy services to Veterans. Most Veterans in Metro Manila can expect to receive their medications ordered by phone or online within 2 days, Luzon in 5 days, Visayas in 8-10 days, and within 10-14 days in Mindanao. Please keep these revised timelines in mind as you refill medications. Veterans can request medication refills by using VA Manila’s Automated Pharmacy Refill Line (#6982, Option 8) or through the MyHealtheVet Online Portal. Currently, the Outpatient Clinic is not able to mail perishable medication shipments due to restrictions with our shipping vendor. This includes some insulins and other refrigerated medications. Veterans should purchase these medications locally from community sources, and would be eligible for reimbursement by the Foreign Medical Program if for a service-connected condition. Adding Wilfred Lee if he has any additional information to share.
SPC Craig Hara
LCpl Michael Ramos
I heard that they will only see you for service connected issues.
What about everything else like a routine check up, colonoscopy, urology etc.
Thanks
I heard that they will only see you for service connected issues.
What about everything else like a routine check up, colonoscopy, urology etc.
Thanks
CPT Kerrith King
Yes, here in Hawaii they do; the system needs fixing though. Our "glasses lady" flies over from Oahu once a week. Appointments are tricky. I've tried their frames several times; once the "gold" turned green as in "cheap."
Melissa Comeau
Thank you for your question. Here is a link to more information on VA Vision Care https://www.va.gov/health-care/about-va-health-benefits/vision-care/
VA vision care | Veterans Affairs
If you qualify for VA health care benefits, you may be able to get some or all of your vision care through VA. Find out more about our vision care.
Wilfred Lee
If you wish to schedule an eye exam, please call VAPIHCS Optometry at [login to see] , option 2, option 3 and ask to make an appointment with Optometry (Specialty Care).
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