Here’s A VA Benefit We Bet You Didn’t Know About

Typical VA. You learn about things due you from other sources. Thank you SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL.

SGT (Join to see) - There is a book the VA gives out, it has all this information and then some. Just an idea, instead of speaking negatively and doing nothing, go get the book, its FREE to you, inform yourself of YOUR benefits, then you would not have to rely on others to give you knowledge. I apologize if I sound curt, but your response did, and my first thought for ALL of us Veterans is, did I try to get it myself? Did I ask someone? Am I a part of the problem or a part of the solution? I don't know, if you are offended then I apologize SGT. I am just a typical Veteran that works for the Typical VA, and I typically didn't know about those benefits until I asked....and the book was handed to me, with the words, there you go, find your benefits. Just saying.

SGT Stacy Moody,No I'm not offended at all. If a vet doesn't know what to ask for, how could he or she know what to do? I've been going to the Houston VA since 1999. I have never been offered any information by any VA employee. I didn't know I was entitled to not have to pay any, city, county, or state taxes, until one of the vets asked me if I knew about it. I didn't know that the VA offered CHAMP VA for my wife until a vet told me. Maybe you're one of the good guys who tell disabled vets what they are entitled to, but the Personnel at the Houston VA, don't offer a disabled vet, or any vets, booklets or other information which would help them know about their entitlements. I wish there were more like you, but unfortunately, there aren't any here. They put in their 8 hours and go home. A vet is on his or her own to find out what benefits they have, and they usually find out from another vet. I've helped a lot of them with benefits they didn't know they were entitled to, but only because I've been going there so long and what I learned from vets.

One question :) The Houston VA are you speaking about the Healthcare like a hospital or clinic you go to? Or are you speaking about your county VSO (Veterans Service Officer)? That aren't giving you information? I ask because if your speaking about your healthcare appointments then no Sir, you probably aren't being told about these benefits as that is healthcare, and unless its a Veteran working in that hospital or clinic, then they would have no idea about some things. I will do a post about this and maybe be able to help others learn about these resources. Every county by law is required to have a VSO (Veterans Service Officer) I have located 7 of them in the Houston area for you.
https://www.linkedin.com/title/veterans-service-representative/Houston,-Texas-Area
just use that link :)
I will also place this in my post, but, the VA is like the big tree with three little branches of it, 1 branch is Healthcare (VHA - Veterans Healthcare Administration 2nd branch is Benefits (VBA - Veterans Benefit Administration) and the third is Burials and Memorials. All three little guys make up the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
So with that said, your health care clinic most likely will not have your benefits book, but your VSO will :) (hint: The business office in your hospital or clinic will most likely have them also, but not always).
I know it is frustrating, but there are MANY Veterans employed by the VA, and we DO SPEAK up, and one of those things we push for is communication, knowledge etc.
So anytime anyone has a question, this is a great place, ask away, if I don't know the answer I will so not stop till I find it out for you! :)
Hey maybe I could be one of those blogger gals that instead of doing makeup Ill do Veterans issues! HA! (BIG Joke)