The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) was forced to close down many of its services to the public during the coronavirus crisis. During the height of the pandemic, the risk that vulnerable patients would be infected was too great. Thanks to these efforts, though, the rate of COVID-19 infection has dropped enough that the VA is now reopening many of these shuttered services to the public. Continue reading “VA Services Resume After Being Halted During COVID-19 Crisis”
Tag: VA
What Does it Mean to Be 100 Percent Disabled According to the VA?
If you are a disabled veteran and have undergone an assessment for your disability status, then you have likely been assigned a number representing what “percent” disabled you are. This number is crucial for determining the amount of benefits you receive from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA), including the amount of compensation you receive each month. But what does it mean to be one hundred percent disabled, or any other percent, and how do they come to that determination? Continue reading “What Does it Mean to Be 100 Percent Disabled According to the VA?”
New Screening Tool Helps VA Diagnose COVID Faster
New York, along with many other states, is in the middle of reopening their states after a lengthy quarantine. However, the coronavirus remains a serious public health threat, particularly to people with long-term medical issues like disabled veterans. To help protect these vulnerable individuals, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has introduced a new digital screening tool to help isolate potential COVID infections before they enter a VA medical facility. Continue reading “New Screening Tool Helps VA Diagnose COVID Faster”
VA Emphasizes Importance of Mental Health in May
May is Mental Health Month, and at a time of great distress for many Americans, it is more important than ever to emphasize the importance of mental health. In recognition of the Month, and the strain caused by the coronavirus on veterans across the country, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has created the “Now is the Time” program to address the mental health needs of veterans. The program promises to help veterans get help for their issues from family and friends, through professional counseling. Continue reading “VA Emphasizes Importance of Mental Health in May”
Recipients of VA Benefits to Automatically Receive Coronavirus Check
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced that recipients of benefits through the VA, including everyone receiving disability benefits, will automatically receive coronavirus checks without needing to file a tax return. This will help VA beneficiaries to survive in this difficult time, as unemployment soars and people struggle to make ends meet. The timing on when the checks will be issued has yet to be announced, however. Continue reading “Recipients of VA Benefits to Automatically Receive Coronavirus Check”
VA Health System Faces Rush of Coronavirus Patients
Even under normal circumstances, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) struggles with the burden of helping all the veterans who require medical assistance. However, the strain has become particularly acute with the coronavirus pandemic underway, with other, less urgent care often being pushed to the side to make way for emergency cases. As a result, many veterans, especially disabled veterans, struggle to maintain their health during the crisis. Continue reading “VA Health System Faces Rush of Coronavirus Patients”
VA Recruits Retired Healthcare Workers for COVID Care
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has approved a request from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) to waive a regulation that would normally disincentivize retired healthcare workers from employment at VA medical facilities. This regulation restricts the amount of money that retirees can receive, to reflect the added income from their retirement benefits. By waiving the regulation, they hope to attract medical professionals to come work at VA facilities to address the coronavirus crisis. Continue reading “VA Recruits Retired Healthcare Workers for COVID Care”
VA Prepares to Deal with Coronavirus
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has already taken measures to deal with the spread of the coronavirus, to help protect disabled veterans from the impact of the disease. Of particular concern are those disabled veterans currently residing in VA nursing homes, who are particularly vulnerable to the infection. VA Secretary Robert Wilkie has tried to reassure veterans and their families, saying: “We will get over this and we will make sure everything is done to protect those who have done so much for our country.” Continue reading “VA Prepares to Deal with Coronavirus”
What is a Disability Reexamination?
When you apply for veterans’ disability benefits through the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, you may feel it is already an arduous and complicated process. You may think that, once you’re through the process and get awarded benefits, you are basically done and don’t need to worry anymore about whether you’ll get to have your benefits. However, anyone who receives veterans’ disability benefits may, at some point, be asked to go through a reexamination of their disability status. Continue reading “What is a Disability Reexamination?”
What is the Process for Applying for Veterans’ Disability Benefits?
If you’re a veteran who became disabled as a result of your military service, you may be entitled to benefits through the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA). If your application for disability benefits is accepted, you could be entitled to both financial assistance and healthcare through the VA health system, among other possible benefits. But what’s actually involved in applying for veterans’ disability benefits, and what does the application process look like? Continue reading “What is the Process for Applying for Veterans’ Disability Benefits?”
