The National Association American Veterans, Inc. completed a successful 2016 Veterans’ Benefits and Claims Process Training on Friday, October 7, 2016, at its corporate office in Washington, DC. Attendees included NAAV Board of Directors, advisers, and supporters interested in helping Veterans, servicemen and servicewomen, and their dependents with their claims and benefits. The presenter was Zorina Pritchett, Program Manager at the Department of Veterans Benefits Assistance Office in Washington, DC. Some of the areas covered included Understanding the Claims Process for Compensation and Pension Benefits; eBenefits; VA Rating and Evaluation for Benefits.
Veterans who served in the United Stated Armed Forces may be entitled to receive a wide range of benefits and services provided by the US Department of Veterans Affairs. Some of the benefits may be used while on active duty. For additional information, visit www.va.gov.
Certain VA benefits require wartime services under the law such as the Mexican Border Period: May 8, 1916, through April 5, 1917, for Veterans who served in Mexico, on its borders, or in adjacent waters.
World War I: April 6, 1917, through November 11, 1916: for Veterans who served in Russia, April 6, 1917, through April 1, 1920; extended through July 1, 1921, for Veterans who had at least one day of service between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918.
World War II: December 7, 1941, through December 31, 1946; Korean War: June 27, 1950, through January 31, 1955; Vietnam War: August 6, 1964 (February 28, 1961, for Veterans who served “in country” before August 5, 1964), through May 7, 1975; Gulf War: August 2, 1990, through a date to be set. The Veteran’s service discharge form (DD-214) form should be kept in a safe location accessible to the Veteran and next of kin or designated representative. There is no deadline for applying for disability benefits.
eBenefits
eBenefits is a joint VA/Department of Defense (DoD) web portal that provides resources and self-service capabilities to service members, Veterans, and their families who may wish to apply, research, access, or manage their VA and military benefits and personal information through a secure Internet connection. Moreover, through eBenefits Veterans can apply for benefits, view their disability compensation claim status, access official military personnel documents (e.g., DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), transfer entitlement of Post-9/11 GI Bill to eligible dependents (service members only).
NAAV provides claims and benefits assistance at the DC VA Medical Center, Washington, DC, every second and third Monday in each month since 2006 to Veterans and their family members. NAAV also provide legal assistance through their partners nationwide to Veterans most in need. NAAV provides assistance with the VA’s two disability programs. Both pay monthly benefits to disabled Veterans who meet the requirements. Disability compensation can pay a Veteran compensation if he or she is at least 10 percent disabled as a result of military service. A disability pension can pay a Veteran a pension if he or she is a wartime Veteran with limited income and no longer able to work.
If you need assistance with your claims and benefits, please contact NAAV, Inc. at office (202) 465-3296 or email: info@naavets.org.