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In a special town hall event, VA Secretary Denis McDonough addressed questions from Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors.
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
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Responses: 201
Why is it that only 100% military connected disability veterans are allowed to have dental work. ALL veterans should be provided dental work. A lot of Veterans can't afford insurance or dental care, and the VA, only providing it to the 100% disability Veterans, is just causing more health issues stemming from dental issues that they won't work on.
I have requested compensation for hypothyroidism resulting from Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam since 2020. Appeals admitted my disability was "Service-Connected", but compensation zero. What would I have to be like to gain compensation?
Sgt Connie Plate
according to the web, The VA rates hypothyroidism using diagnostic code 7903 in the Schedule for Rating Disabilities. The rating depends on the symptoms of the hypothyroidism, and can range from 10% to 100% disabling:
10% disabling: Hypothyroidism with fatigability or requiring continuous medication
30% disabling: Hypothyroidism with fatigability, constipation, and mental sluggishness
60% disabling: Hypothyroidism with muscular weakness, mental disturbance, and weight gain
100% disabling: Hypothyroidism with cold intolerance, muscular weakness, cardiovascular involvement, mental disturbance, bradycardia, and sleepiness
The VA rates hypothyroidism at 100% for six months after diagnosis if it presents with myxedema. After six months, the VA re-evaluates the veteran based on any residual symptoms or complications from treatment.
If you have these symptoms, reach out to a qualified VSO and they should help you with the steps you need to take to get disability above 0%. Also, keep track of your symptoms and get a doctor to write a nexus letter. Be sure all the elements for a good nexus letter are included. There are many examples on the web and on you tube. Do your research (google plenty of examples or videos).
10% disabling: Hypothyroidism with fatigability or requiring continuous medication
30% disabling: Hypothyroidism with fatigability, constipation, and mental sluggishness
60% disabling: Hypothyroidism with muscular weakness, mental disturbance, and weight gain
100% disabling: Hypothyroidism with cold intolerance, muscular weakness, cardiovascular involvement, mental disturbance, bradycardia, and sleepiness
The VA rates hypothyroidism at 100% for six months after diagnosis if it presents with myxedema. After six months, the VA re-evaluates the veteran based on any residual symptoms or complications from treatment.
If you have these symptoms, reach out to a qualified VSO and they should help you with the steps you need to take to get disability above 0%. Also, keep track of your symptoms and get a doctor to write a nexus letter. Be sure all the elements for a good nexus letter are included. There are many examples on the web and on you tube. Do your research (google plenty of examples or videos).
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Thank you for sharing your concerns and experience. While VA can't speak to your specific claim situation in this forum due to privacy issues, we encourage you to contact our national call center at [login to see] or your local VA regional office to address your concerns.
Dear Secretary,
Thank you for this opportunity to reach out to you regarding our healthcare needs. I am traumatized that healthcare at the VA Hospital in Washington DC is poor and inaccessible because existing providers are severely overworked and understaffed. I have to wait 3 months for the books to open to get an appointment with my PCM, then wait another month to be seen, then wait however long to see the doctor. We are eligible for benefits that we can't access in a timely, consistent manner. Community care is not taking new patients, so I am forced to scavenge the area for healthcare and pay for a benefit that I paid for through service. In addition, the Army has stopped mailing our eyeglasses out. For vets, this poses an additional hardship, transportation, and financial burden. Partnering with civilian doctors of our choosing is another way to service our needs. Please address these urgent concerns. Inaccessible healthcare is life-threatening and surely no way to appreciate military veterans. Thank you for your advocacy.
Thank you for this opportunity to reach out to you regarding our healthcare needs. I am traumatized that healthcare at the VA Hospital in Washington DC is poor and inaccessible because existing providers are severely overworked and understaffed. I have to wait 3 months for the books to open to get an appointment with my PCM, then wait another month to be seen, then wait however long to see the doctor. We are eligible for benefits that we can't access in a timely, consistent manner. Community care is not taking new patients, so I am forced to scavenge the area for healthcare and pay for a benefit that I paid for through service. In addition, the Army has stopped mailing our eyeglasses out. For vets, this poses an additional hardship, transportation, and financial burden. Partnering with civilian doctors of our choosing is another way to service our needs. Please address these urgent concerns. Inaccessible healthcare is life-threatening and surely no way to appreciate military veterans. Thank you for your advocacy.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
The Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC) is available to any Veteran who is enrolled in VHA Health Care. Enrollment is required to receive a VHIC; however, the VHIC is not required to receive health care services. Veterans wishing to receive a VHIC without reporting to a local VA Medical Center can request a VHIC online at https://eauth.va.gov/accessva/?cspSelectFor=vhic-ss.
The Veteran will need a Login.gov, ID.me, DS Logon, My HealtheVet, or Department of Defense Common Access Card (CAC) account. If the Veteran does not have any of the listed accounts, one can be created by clicking the Register for a Sign-In Partner link on the page and following the instructions.
The Veteran will need to:
1) Upload a copy of any of these types of current, unexpired IDs: State-issued driver’s license, or U.S. passport, or Federal, state, or local government-issued photo ID showing your name, address, and date of birth.
2) Upload a digital color photo of yourself that follows these rules: Use a photo taken in the last 6 months, and Use a white or off-white background, and Show a full front view of your face (with no hat, head covering, face covering, headphones, or eyeglasses), and Make sure your eyes are open and your hair isn’t covering your eyes or ears, and Crop the photo in a square shape from your shoulders up (like a passport photo), and Upload your photo as a .jpeg, .png, .bmp, .gif, or .tiff file.
These instructions can be found on VA.gov at the following link: https://www.va.gov/health-care/get-health-id-card/.
The Veteran will need a Login.gov, ID.me, DS Logon, My HealtheVet, or Department of Defense Common Access Card (CAC) account. If the Veteran does not have any of the listed accounts, one can be created by clicking the Register for a Sign-In Partner link on the page and following the instructions.
The Veteran will need to:
1) Upload a copy of any of these types of current, unexpired IDs: State-issued driver’s license, or U.S. passport, or Federal, state, or local government-issued photo ID showing your name, address, and date of birth.
2) Upload a digital color photo of yourself that follows these rules: Use a photo taken in the last 6 months, and Use a white or off-white background, and Show a full front view of your face (with no hat, head covering, face covering, headphones, or eyeglasses), and Make sure your eyes are open and your hair isn’t covering your eyes or ears, and Crop the photo in a square shape from your shoulders up (like a passport photo), and Upload your photo as a .jpeg, .png, .bmp, .gif, or .tiff file.
These instructions can be found on VA.gov at the following link: https://www.va.gov/health-care/get-health-id-card/.
Sgt Connie Plate
This is vague. Please provide more context with specific, concrete and quantifiable date. For example, what are you getting and what is the illegal immigrant getting, who is doing the giving, and what are the parameters for recieiving the benefits?
Why must veterans who served honorably and who have a disability have to pay back their separation pay in order to get disability from the VA when those who have retired do not have give up their retirement pay. Especially since separation pay is in lieu of retirement pay.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Thank you for sharing your concerns and experience. While VA can't speak to your specific claim situation in this forum due to privacy issues, we encourage you to contact our national call center at [login to see] or your local VA regional office to address your concerns.
Is there any possibility the VA will ever bring the money paid for a disability in line with the percentage of disability awarded. An example is the 50% disability does not pay 50% of the money paid for a 100% disability.
Percentage COLA raises over the years have been far more beneficial to those with higher disability ratings than those with lower ratings.
Percentage COLA raises over the years have been far more beneficial to those with higher disability ratings than those with lower ratings.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
VA must consider the Veteran’s individual rating evaluations and how much these disabilities decrease the overall health and ability to function. VA considers an individual with no disabilities to be 100% able-bodied. When determining the combined evaluation for a Veteran with multiple disabilities, VA uses the combined ratings table under 38 CFR § 4.25, that considers “the efficiency of the individual as affected first by the most disabling condition, then by the less disabling condition, then by other less disabling conditions, if any, in the order of severity.” This is why a Veteran’s combined rating may be different than the sum of their individual disability ratings. To learn more about VA disability ratings, visit http://www.va.gov/disability/about-disability-ratings/.
About disability ratings | Veterans Affairs
We assign you a disability rating based on the severity of your service-connected condition. We use your disability rating to determine how much disability compensation you’ll receive each month, as well as your eligibility for other VA benefits.If you have multiple disability ratings, we use them to calculate your combined VA disability rating. Calculating your combined disability rating involves more than adding up your individual ratings....
What and how is the VA rooting out fraud? Does the VA actively review members and their doctors after claims have been awarded? I hear too many members bragging about how they have increased their disability rating with little or no effort.
I would like to know why CHAMPVA does not allow their insured to get the weight loss medications as prescribed by their PCP & their Cardiologist for comorbidity reasons & medically necessary, but denied! I can not believe that the VA will not help those before they have a heart attack, stroke or worse? To me the medications would far outweigh the expense of all the hospital bills & procedures etc! It’s just Not Right!
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
If you are having problems getting the top-notch care that you deserve as a Veteran, please contact your local VA or call MyVA411 at [login to see] . You can also ask to speak to a patient advocate or use Ask VA (https://ask.va.gov) to send a secure message. We will work with you to address your individual circumstances and concerns.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
The VA would like all Veterans to have access to good oral health care; however, VA is limited to providing dental benefits to those Veterans who meet certain eligibility criteria. Eligibility for VA dental care is governed by statute and provided in accordance with the provisions of existing law and regulations. These laws and regulations mandate dental care as a benefit for certain defined Veterans groups. The VA is obligated to fulfill the requirements of the statutes enacted by Congress and to follow their intent. Another option for Veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system, and beneficiaries and their dependents of the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the VA (CHAMPVA), is the Veterans Affairs Dental Insurance Program : https://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/vadip/
VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP) | Veterans Affairs
The VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP) offers discounted private dental insurance for Veterans and family members who meet certain requirements. Find out if you’re eligible, and how to enroll in a plan that meets your needs and budget.
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VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP) | Veterans Affairs
The VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP) offers discounted private dental insurance for Veterans and family members who meet certain requirements. Find out if you’re eligible, and how to enroll in a plan that meets your needs and budget.