Pacific Island Veterans! Do You Have Health and Benefits Questions? Ask Questions Now!

Thank you for joining us Zelda! Appreciate your support!

Thanks for joining us Marianne!

Thank you for joining us Jay!

Thanks Chris for joining!

SSG Rose, there is no live video component; questions/comments addressed through this chat forum. Thank you.

You are in the right place :)

Thanks for the replies. I was hoping for a live webinar type event.

think that is bad ???
i waited 21 years for my decision... 3 years before i was diagnosed with cancer, three kinds from agent orange... so they waited another 3 years hoping i would die. i got my 100 perrcent finally but have recieved zero supprt here in washington, spokane zero ... i need your help with my appeals and agent orange claim and caregivver 1,500 assistance

I'm so sorry Cpl. I try to temper my questions because I know there are others that have suffered/or suffering much worse. I do hope you get the care you deserve. Thank you for your service!

To better respond to your question please reach out to the Honolulu Regional Office Public Contact Team [login to see] . To better assist you and prevent you from sharing personal in this forum, please email us.

Maj Todd Cox We have a subject matter who will be reaching out directly to you to discuss the specifics mentioned in your post. The gentlemen's name is Christopher McNair and serves at the Veteran Benefit Administration- Honolulu Regional Office.

i recieved a letter from the va accknowledging my exposure to agent orange, but stating that i needed to be in vietnam to recieve any bebifits.. i need a copy of this letter.. i was exposed in okinmawa in the wharehouse that agent orange was stored for years and years, it was truned into an armory after agent orange was tranfered to the sandwich islands... i was exoped for three weeks cleening rifles .. was taken out by ambulance and had severe siezures for many many months after exposure ... what must i do to get okinawa added to the exposure list ?

Thank you for the question. Please contact a Patient Advocate at [login to see] , option 9, option 2 so they can review your chart and discuss your options.

dont worry i got my 100 percent and have recieved no long term benifits accept money and back pay ... none ... even had to wait 8 months to get a doctor after moving here to spokane washington using my back pay to get me here the aditude in washington is you got your money be happy with that no other benifits for you !!!!
PLease hawaii i lived there 32 years i aplied there for benifits i recieved my 100 percent while living there please you are my only hope ...

https://www.va.gov/health-care/about-va-health-benefits/va-health-care-and-other-insurance/

If I already have VA health care benefits, should I still sign up for Medicare when I turn 65?

Yes. We encourage you to sign up for Medicare as soon as you can. This is because:

Having Medicare means you’re covered if you need to go to a non-VA hospital or doctor—so you have more options to choose from.

Funding for VA health care could change in the future. We encourage you to sign up for every health care benefit that you’re eligible for so you have options if you need them.

If you delay signing up for Medicare Part B (coverage for doctors and outpatient services) and then need to sign up later because you lose your VA health care benefits or need more choice in care options, you’ll pay a penalty. This penalty gets bigger each year you delay signing up—and you’ll pay it every year for the rest of your life.

If you sign up for Medicare Part D (coverage for prescription drugs), you’ll be able to use it to get medicine from non-VA doctors and fill your prescriptions at your local pharmacy instead of through the VA mail-order service. There’s no penalty for delaying Medicare Part D as long as you enroll when you’re first eligible or within 63 days of when you no longer have VA health care or other creditable prescription drug coverage.

Learn more about how to avoid the Part D penalty on the Medicare website: https://www.medicare.gov/drug-coverage-part-d/costs-for-medicare-drug-coverage/part-d-late-enrollment-penalty/3-ways-to-avoid-the-part-d-late-enrollment-penalty

Patricia, thank you so much for reaching out and all you are doing to care for your veteran. I would encourage you to reach out to your local VA social worker (https://www.socialwork.va.gov/socialworkers.asp) to help understand your options regarding the Adaptive Housing Grant whether you need to resubmit the application with new ratings, or file an appeal. If you need further financial assistance regarding home modifications, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation offers grants as part of our Hope Fund: https://hiddenheroes.org/find-help/hopefund/. Habitat for Humanity also helps with critical home modifications: https://www.habitat.org/volunteer/near-you/veterans-build/home-depot-repair-corps-program/. Hope these resources work out, please let me know if you would like additional support at [login to see] .

Regarding your questions about the PACT Act, depending on the question, Veterans Health Administration (VHA) may be able to answer it. Please call [login to see] , option 4 to reach a Health Benefits Advisor. Thank you.

Melissa Comeau Tagging you in case you would like to offer more great resources.

Hello Ms. Sheldon, you always have the option to file an appeal on behalf of your Veteran. Please see steps below in filing an appeal: Your options to dispute the VA's decision on your benefits claim are:
File a supplemental claim with possibly new evidence to support your claim. Complete a VA Form 20-0995 to file a supplemental claim.
Request higher level review with a more senior reviewer. Complete a VA Form 20-0996 to request a higher level review.
Request a Board Appeal to a Veterans Law Judge at the Board of Veterans' Appeals in Washington, D.C. Here's a link to the Board of Veterans Appeals as well for additional information. I hope this resource information helps. https://www.bva.va.gov/#:~:text=Appeal%20to%20the%20Board%20of%20Veterans%E2%80%99%20Appeals%20%E2%80%94Next,or%20additional%20evidence%20in%20support%20of%20your%20appeal.