The United States is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world. To no surprise, our nation’s armed forces are also extremely diverse with 40% of active-duty military personnel considered to be of ethnic descent in 2015. The second largest minority category for the United States military is Hispanic and Latino. With millions of Hispanic veterans living throughout the country, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has released a health care benefit application to help Spanish-speaking veterans.
According to the National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics, as of September 30, 2017, there are nearly 1.5 million living veterans identified as being Hispanic or Latino. To this, the Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary, Robert Wilkie, stated: “our nation appreciates the service and sacrifice of all Veterans, including Hispanic and Latino Veterans, and it’s our duty to expand the ways we communicate with all veterans, so they’re properly informed about the benefits they’ve earned.”
The Department of Veterans Affairs is one of many government agencies that have begun to provide Spanish-speaking individuals with materials and documents in their native language. By providing our Spanish-speaking veterans with the necessary benefit application forms in Spanish, it will be easier for them to fill out the form and potentially receive the benefits they deserve.
If you or a loved one is a veteran that suffered a disability or illness during service or the widow or child of a veteran killed in the line of duty, you may be entitled to compensation from the VA. It is important to contact an experienced VA lawyer who may assist you or a loved one through the application process. Filing an application for veteran’s disability benefits or appealing an application that has been denied, is a complex process that requires the attention of a skilled Veteran’s Affairs lawyer.
The attorneys of Sullivan & Kehoe, LLP concentrate their practice in Veterans Disability Law. With over 50 years of combined experience between its lawyers, our attorneys may be able to assist you or a loved one in obtaining disability benefits. Call our office at (800) 395 -7830 to schedule a consultation in our New York City, Garden City, Kings Park, Riverhead, or White Plains office.
