Applying For VA Benefits
For Assistance with Your VA Claim or Questions:
Veteran Service Representative
Clyde Christensen
email: cchristensen16@cox.net
Phone: (619) 495-9767
Automatic Qualifiers
1. | Hearing Loss: | Exposure to high frequency noises, engine noise, machine gun noise, rocket fire, explosions or mortar attacks. |
2. | Exposure to Agent Orange: | Anyone who served in Vietnam is automatically eligible for evaluation for the types of cancer associated with Agent Orange. Diseases Associated with Agent Orange Exposure |
Periphial Neuropathy added to Agent Orange Disease List | ||
3. | Type II Diabetes: | |
4. | PTSD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: | Being exposed to constant fire from the enemy on combat flights causes your body to produce excessive amounts of adrenalin which cooks your brain permanently causing changes in the way you react to stressful situations for the rest of your life. You should be evaluated by a VA panel of experts to determine your level of disability. Provide your decorations, medals for valor and air medals and the unit citations the squadron received during your tour of service. You should write a letter detailing the conditions surrounding the decoration and it's effect on you. Symptoms of PTSD |
5. | Injuries you received: | Purple Hearts, medical records showing treatment for wounds and statements regarding crashes or being shot down while serving with the squadron. |
6. | Enroll as a Combat Veteran: | You are qualified because of your service in HA(L)-3 |
Documentation
You will need a copy of your DD-214. If you don't have your DD-214 you can request a copy from the National Archives at http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/.
Additionally, you should write a letter detailing your service and how it affected your life personally and your outlook on life as a result of your service. Supplemental letters from your family members about how your service with the squadron affected you and how you changed as a result of your service. Use the military.com website to search for additional benefit for vets such as reduced property taxes, license plate fees, free passes to state parks and free hunting and fishing licenses. These benefits vary from state to state.
The Qualification Process
Why You Should Do This
First of all, you deserve this benefit because you earned it! Secondly, it is tax free money and in today's economy you need to protect every dime you make.
Additionally, if you survive for ten years after the date of application, your wife receives approximately half of your disability benefit. You should also look into a benefit called "Aid and Attendance" which will pay you additional dollars if you need to move to a care facility and it covers both you and your wife. Everyone who served in the squadron is eligible.
Include with your application
- Admiral Delaney's speech that outlines the squadron's mission.
- Admiral Zumwalt's official document dis-establishing HA(L)-3.
- Maintenance Personnel Responsibilities
- Missing Injury Reports in Squadron Personnel Files
Other links
- Applying For VA Benefits
- Aid and Attendance
- Back Pain
- Combat Related Special Compensation
- Veterans Disability Compensation: Appeals
If a veteran is rated at 70% or better, and is over 62, he can qualify for unemployability and up his percentage of eligibility to 100%. At that level of disability he is also eligible for free dental care, semi-annual cleaning of his teeth and any dental work that needs to be done.