COASTAL LIVING
      

September  2001

VA Expediting Oldest Benefit Applications

In a recent press release, Anthony J. Principi, Secretary of Veterans Affairs announced an unprecedented effort to move some long-pending applications for benefits for our older veterans, to a special unit designed to speed action on their claims for benefits.

The target group for this initiative is veterans 70 years of age or older.  As Secretary Principi stated when announcing this new policy decision, "America didn't have to wait when this brave generation was called to duty.  Our older veterans shouldn't wait in their hour of need while we make necessary improvements to speed up decisions on all veterans' applications."

Some of the actions already taken to implement this policy are, that the VA's 57 regional claims offices have been directed to pull the benefit applications of veterans age 70 or older that have been pending for more than a year, establishment of a special unit at the Cleveland, Ohio VA Regional Office to tackle that specific workload, and the Cleveland special unit has been given authority to command rapid turnaround of activities where needed in other VA offices including Medical Centers.

According to the announcement, VA has approximately 668,000 claims of all types awaiting an initial decision or an appeal.  That number includes an inventory of 355,000 VA regional office determinations on disability claims for service-connected compensation, a number that the VA considers double an acceptable amount in process at any given time.

This initiative, coupled with the hiring nationwide of 1200 new personnel, will also allow all VA regional offices to focus their resources on all of the other pending claims and reduce the overall inventory.

Further improvements to speed the decision making processes affecting all veterans are expected to be considered after the VA receives the report of the recommendations of a "Claims Processing Task Force".  This group was chartered by the Secretary earlier this year to perform a top to bottom review of the VA's benefit procedures.

If you would like a copy of this Press Release, contact County Veterans Services at (252) 728-8440.

Honorary High School Diplomas for WW II Veterans

Governor Easley recently signed into law a statute which directs the State Board of Education to issue special high school diplomas to honor all honorably discharged World War II veterans who request a diploma and who have not previously received a high school diploma.  To be eligible, a veteran must have:

1. Attended a NC high school between 1937 and 1946 with a graduation class year of 1940-1950;
2. Left high school prior to graduation to enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces;
3. Served in WW II between Sept. 16, 1940 and Dec. 31, 1946;
4. Been honorably discharged.

Either the veteran or a family member of a deceased veteran may submit an application.  For an application and assistance in filling it out, contact County Veterans Services at (252) 728-8440.

Korean War Commemorative Event

Camp Lejeune will be opening its gates to the public and will be hosting an all day Korean War Commemorative Event on Friday, September 21, 2001.  The event, entitled "Korea:  The 1951 Offensives", will include an honors ceremony, static display of current USMC equipment, a Marine Corps Community Services sponsored fair and a seminar on the conduct of the war during 1951.

For more information about the event, please contact Capt Paul Halliwell or GySgt Jim Riley at (910) 451-1714/5276.  Additional information may be found at the Camp Lejeune website, www.lejeune.usmc.mil/ korea1951.

GI Bill Use for Licensing and Certification Tests

Did you know that effective Mar. 1, 2001 a veteran can receive reimbursement for licensing and certification?  These tests must be specifically approved for the GI Bill and the VA can pay only for the cost of the test and not other fees connected with obtaining a license or certification.  One can receive up to $2,000 per test but no more than the actual cost of the test.  There is no limit to the number of tests one can take.

A note, benefits under the GI Bill generally end 10 years from the date of the veteran's last discharge or release from active duty, but some extenuating circumstances qualify for extensions.

For more information on this benefit, call the VA Education Benefits Center at 1-888-442-4551 or call County Veterans Services at (252) 728-8440.

Veterans Day Parade