|
|
|
January 2022 Volume XIV Issue 1
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jerry's Editorial: No One Returns From War...
|
|
|
Editorial from Jerry Donnellan 2016: No one returns from war. Many feel they have. But there’s a piece missing. That piece is the soul, which seems never to make it all the way back.
There are times when you catch a glimpse of your old self, only to have it vanish like smoke. Combat, for all its horrors, is a place where you have never felt more alive — more alive than you’ve ever been or will be. Maybe it’s the nearness of death.
The friendships made there will never be seen again. These people who went with you to peer into hell, who would die for you, as you would have for them.
No wonder you didn’t fit back into this
world, where people fight for parking spots at the mall. For you have lived in a better place — a world where wealth, prestige and status don’t matter, but character does.
We all have lost people. They are forever 19, frozen in time. You have seen your granddaughter walk, seen spring come again and again for nearly half a century. They never will, so it’s no wonder we have guilt.
We were all wounded. We all have scars. Some of these scars are not physical. These are the ones that can kill. The visible scars can be stitched. The others continue to bleed.
|
|
|
|
Afghanistan Veterans Getting Help Through VA
|
|
|
Afghanistan Veterans and How They Can Get Help Through the VA. This is the last in a four-part series about Afghanistan Veterans and how they can get help through VA.
Read the other parts of the
series Part 1: Afghanistan: How Veterans can reconcile service https://blogs.va.gov/VAntage/92631/afghanistan-how-veterans-can-reconcile-service/
Part 2: Afghanistan: How Veterans can learn from Vietnam Veterans https://blogs.va.gov/VAntage/92731/afghanistan-how-veterans-can-learn-from-vietnam-veterans/
Part 3: Afghanistan: How spouses, caregivers can support Veterans https://blogs.va.gov/VAntage/92747/afghanistan-how-spouses-caregivers-can-support-veterans-with-ptsd/
The last part of this series focuses on resources available for PTSD. While this series focused on Afghanistan Veterans, options apply to all Veterans.
Part 4: Resources Available for PTSD https://blogs.va.gov/VAntage/92752/afghanistan-resources-available-for-ptsd/
Here is an intro to Part 4: There are several effective options to treat PTSD. According to Dr. Sonya Norman,
director of the National Center for PTSD Consultation Program, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Choosing a treatment from the options that we know work well should take into account your doctor’s recommendations and your preferences. Knowing the different options allows a Veteran to choose a treatment that is the best fit for them.
Active duty and Veterans should not be ashamed of getting the help they need, said Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman Ramón “CZ” Colón-López. An Afghanistan Veteran himself who battled PTSD, Colón-López said seeking mental health help should be routine.
“We don’t think twice about putting weapon systems in maintenance because we need them,” Colón-López said. “We run quality control checks on everything. But the one decisive advantage we have as a U.S. military is the human weapon system. This is no different, so we need to make sure we take care of everything that we can right now as we draw
down in Afghanistan. This is our depot maintenance period. Continue reading Part 4: https://blogs.va.gov/VAntage/92752/afghanistan-resources-available-for-ptsd/
|
|
|
|
NYS Office for the Aging and Veterans' Services Partner
|
|
|
New York State Office for the Aging and Division of Veterans’ Services Partner with GetSetUp to Offer Online Courses for Veterans in January 2022
New series adds to growing schedule of courses under unique state partnership with tech company providing 50,000 online classes for older adults in New York State
The New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) and New York State Division of Veterans’ Services have partnered with GetSetUp — a peer-to-peer online learning community for older adults aged 50 and over — to offer a new series of classes in January and February specifically on Veterans’ benefits.
These newly announced offerings build on NYSOFA’s collaboration with the Association on Aging in New York (Aging-NY) and GetSetUp to address social isolation by providing training on the use of
standard devices, online and lifelong learning, and efforts to combat social isolation. Partnership programming will be offered to older adults through the state’s network of Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) and aging services partners.
The new series for Veterans will address myths surrounding Veterans’ benefits, opening doors for Veterans and military families to receive benefits, programs, services, and resources that are available to them by virtue of their service.
Click here to access the series, which is
available to New Yorkers at no charge using the partner coupon code NYSTATE at login.
The courses include the following topics: January 7 – MythBusters! Getting rid of the mythology that has prevented you from getting the Veterans’ benefits that you rightfully earned. January 14 – Disability
Compensation: How to receive fair compensation for any injuries or illnesses that you received in military service. January 21 – VA Health Care: Making your connections with healthcare services from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. January 28 – Character of Discharge Cases: Righting historical injustices for Veterans regarding the character of discharge. February 4 – Focusing on the Family: Benefits, services, and resources for the immediate family members of Veterans.
NYSOFA and the Association on Aging in New York — which represents New York’s 59 AAAs — first teamed up with GetSetUp in May of 2021 as part of a multi-pronged effort to address social isolation in the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, the partnership has connected 54,000 older adults to interactive online classes that help promote physical, mental, and social health. The platform offers more than 2,000 courses/classes and a growing schedule of more than 500 live classes and social programs weekly including: how to use technological devices, exercise and fitness classes,
healthy cooking, coping with stress, book clubs, gardening, travel, and more. All older adults aged 50 and over in New York State can access the complete schedule of courses by visiting NYSOFA’s GetSetUp Learning Channel and using the partner coupon code NYSTATE. A new referral feature has been added to the platform, allowing a friend or caregiver to easily sign up a friend remotely to try GetSetUp courses. To do so, visit http://www.getsetupfriend.com, select “booking for someone else,” enter an e-mail address or phone number, and create an account using the NYSTATE partnership code. The referral process is a great way to help an older adult relative, friend or neighbor get connected with the platform.
About
the New York State Office for the Aging The New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) continuously works to help the state’s 4.3 million older adults be as independent as possible for as long as possible through advocacy, development and delivery of person-centered, consumer-oriented, and cost-effective policies, programs, and services that support and empower older adults and their families, in partnership with the network of public and private organizations that serve them. Check out their website: http://aging.ny.gov.
Every County in New York State has an Office for the Aging. Here is contact information for the Rockland County office. Service are available for all Rockland Seniors. Contact information for the Rockland County Office for the Aging: Tina Cardoza-Izquierdo, Director -- Phone: 845-364-2113. They also create an informative newsletter every other month. Here is a
link to their November/December 2021 edition: https://rocklandgov.com/files/7716/3674/2994/Moving_Forward_NovDec_2021.pdf
About the New York State Division of Veterans’ Services The New York State Division of Veterans' Services is New York's advocacy agency for
all Veterans, Service Members, and their families. For 76 years, the Division has connected generations of Veterans, Service Members, and their families and dependents to multiple economic, medical, and social benefits and services earned because of their military service. For more information on Veterans benefits, please make an appointment with a Veterans Benefits Advisor with the New York State Division of Veterans' Services at 888-838-7697 or on their website.
If you would like to learn more about the benefits and services you may be eligible for as a Veteran, servicemember, or as a family member of a Veteran or servicemember, please call the New York State Division of Veterans’ Services Help Line at 1.888.838.7697 (VETSNYS), where you may also schedule an initial phone contact appointment with one of our Veterans
Benefits Advisors. For general comments, you may also email them at mailto:DVSInfo@veterans.ny.gov New York State Division of Veterans’ Services Directory: https://veterans.ny.gov/sites/default/files/nys_dvs_dec21_directory.pdf
About GetSetUp GetSetUp is on a mission to help those over 55 learn new skills, connect with others and unlock new life experiences. The social learning platform helps over 4 million older adults in 160 countries stay mentally and physically fit, creates economic opportunities through jobs and reskilling, and provides a community where people find meaning and purpose by sharing their knowledge and passions and forming new
connections. Classes are taught by older adults on a highly interactive, custom-built video platform where older adults can connect during and in between classes. Classes are taught in English, Spanish, Hindi, and Mandarin. Learn more at https://www.getsetup.org.
|
|
|
|
Birth Defect Disability Claim Information
|
|
|
VA Form 21-0304 -- Birth Defect Disability Claim Form https://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/vba-21-0304-ARE.pdf
INFORMATION OF INTEREST TO THE VETERAN COMMUNITY: If you served in Vietnam and have children or grandchildren with a disability, you need to file VA Form 21-0304.
This is a birth defect disability claim which won't go anywhere at this time. It is being used for research. If or when it is determined that a presumptive or child disability was caused from a parent who served in Vietnam and connected to Agent Orange, your children or their children may be covered under VA disability.
There's a big push by the Vietnam Veterans of America and some people in Congress to get this research started ASAP. Make sure you send it to the address on the form not your local VA. VA Form 21-0304: https://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/vba-21-0304-ARE.pdf Please read information and instructions before completing application. VA Form 21-0304: https://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/vba-21-0304-ARE.pdf
This site provides public access to all relevant VA forms: https://www.va.gov/find-forms/
|
|
|
|
Presumptive Disability Benefits
|
|
|
VA Presumptive Disabilities Caused By Military Service We're publishing this information again this month by request.
VA
presumes that certain disabilities were caused by military service. This is because of the unique circumstances of a specific Veteran’s military service. If a presumed condition is diagnosed in a Veteran within a certain group, they can be awarded disability compensation. https://benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/factsheets/serviceconnected/presumption.pdf
What are “Presumptive” Conditions? If you are diagnosed with a chronic disease within one year of active duty release, you should apply for
disability compensation. Examples of chronic disease include: arthritis, diabetes or hypertension. Or, if you served continuously for at least 90 days and are diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) after discharge, you can establish service connection for the disease.
Veterans in the following groups may qualify for “presumptive” disability benefits: • Former prisoners of war who: • Have a condition that is at least 10 percent disabling • Depending on length of imprisonment, specific conditions are presumed Imprisoned for any length of time: • Psychosis Any of the anxiety states Dysthymic disorder (or depressive neurosis) Organic residuals of frostbite Post- traumatic osteoarthritis Heart disease or hypertensive vascular disease Stroke and the residual effects Osteoporosis, when the Veteran has posttraumatic stress disorder Imprisoned for at least 30 days: • Beriberi (including beriberi heart disease) • Chronic dysentery • Helminthiasis • Malnutrition (including optic atrophy) • Pellagra • Other nutritional deficiencies • Irritable bowel syndrome • Peptic ulcer disease • Peripheral neuropathy • Cirrhosis of the liver • Avitaminosis • Osteoporosis
• Vietnam Veterans who were: • Exposed to Agent Orange • Served in the Republic of Vietnam or on a vessel operating not more than 12 nautical miles seaward from the demarcation line of the waters of Vietnam and Cambodia between Jan. 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975
Specific presumed conditions are: • AL amyloidosis • B-cell leukemia • Chronic lymphocytic leukemia • Multiple myeloma • Type 2 diabetes • Hodgkin’s disease • Ischemic heart disease (including but not limited to, coronary artery disease and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease) • Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma • Parkinson’s disease • Parkinsonism • Prostate cancer • Respiratory cancers • Soft-tissue sarcoma (not including osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma or mesothelioma) • Bladder cancer • Hypothyroidism
The following conditions, if they become greater than 10 percent debilitating within a year of exposure to an herbicide agent: • Acute and subacute peripheral neuropathy • Chloracne or other similar acneform disease • Porphyria cutanea tarda • Atomic Veterans exposed to ionizing radiation and who experienced one of the following: • Participated in atmospheric nuclear testing • Occupied or were prisoners of war in Hiroshima or Nagasaki • Served before Feb. 1, 1992, at a diffusion plant in Paducah, Kentucky, Portsmouth, Ohio or Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Served before Jan. 1, 1974, at Amchitka Island, Alaska Specific presumed conditions: • All forms of leukemia ,except chroniclymphocytic leukemia • Cancer of the thyroid, breast, pharynx, esophagus, stomach,
small intestine, pancreas, bile ducts, gall bladder, salivary gland, urinary tract, brain, bone, lung, colon or ovary • Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma • Multiple myeloma • Lymphomas, other than Hodgkin’s disease • Primary liver cancer, except if there are indications of cirrhosis or. hepatitis B
Gulf War Veterans who: • Served in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations • Have a condition that is at least 10 percent disabling by Dec. 31, 2026 • Specific presumed conditions are: Medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illnesses that exist for six months or more, such as: • Chronic fatigue syndrome • Fibromyalgia • Irritable bowel syndrome Any diagnosed or undiagnosed illness that warrants a presumption of service connection, as determined by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs • Signs or symptoms of an undiagnosed illness include: • Fatigue • Skin symptoms • Headaches • Muscle pain • Joint pain • Neurological or neuropsychological symptoms • Symptoms involving the upper or lower respiratory system • Sleep disturbance • Gastrointestinal symptoms • Cardiovascular symptoms • Weight loss • Menstrual disorders
Gulf War Veterans who: • Served in the Southwest Asia Theater of
Operations or in Afghanistan on or after September 19, 2001 Manifest one of the following infectious diseases to a degree of 10 percent or more within 1 year of separation: • Brucellosis • Campylobacter jejuni • Coxiella burnetii (Q fever) • Nontyphoid Salmonella • Shigella • West Nile virus • Malaria (or when accepted treatises indicate the incubation period began during a qualifying period of service) Manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more at any time after separation: • Mycobacterium tuberculosis Visceral leishmaniasis
Gulf War Deployed Veterans who: • Served any length of time in the Southwest Theater of Operations during the Persian Gulf War, or • Served any length of time in Afghanistan, Syria, Djibouti or Uzbekistan on or after September 19, 2001 and • Manifests one of the following to any degree within 10 years from the date of separation from military service: Asthma • Rhinitis • Sinusitis, to include rhinosinusitis https://benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/factsheets/serviceconnected/presumption.pdf
|
|
|
|
Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter #333 Meeting
|
|
|
VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA CHAPTER 333 ROCKLAND COUNTY, NEW YORK Website: http://www.vva333.com BOARD AND MEMBER MEETING: Thursday 01/06/2022
Board Meeting Time 6:30 P.M. Member Meeting Time 7:30 P.M.
Location: Kearsing-Edward
Post 1600, 20 Station Road, Pomona, New York 10970. Meeting also and via Zoom.
NOTE: ZOOM IS AVAILABLE FOR THIS MEETING. SEE THE LINK INFO BELOW: Topic: Ray Furlong's Zoom Meeting
Time: January 6, 2022 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89202249387?pwd=MWtFSGl3SjNCZWI3Q0VsMXZpY29SZz09
Meeting ID: 892 0224 9387
Passcode: 513221
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,89202249387#,,,,*513221# US (New
York)
+13126266799,,89202249387#,,,,*513221# US (Chicago)
Dial by your location
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
Meeting ID: 892 0224 9387
Passcode: 513221
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kAooTO4Vk Ray Furlong is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
President: Roy Tschudy 1st Vice President: Ray Furlong 2nd Vice President: Don Piller Secretary: Tom Carroll Treasurer: John Palmero Sgt. At Arms – Bill Winder
|
|
|
|
New City VA Community Health Center
|
|
|
Register to get care at our local VA Hudson Valley health care facilities located in New City. If you are not yet enrolled in VA health care, the VA can help you apply in person or get started online. The New City VA Community Clinic was set up 26 years ago and is there for your convenience. These are benefits that you have earned for your service to this nation. Please sign up and
use the benefits that are available.
About VA health benefits If you qualify for VA health care, you’ll receive coverage for the services you need to help you get—and stay—healthy. Learn more about your health care benefits. Call us Health benefits hotline: 877-222-VETS (8387) My HealtheVet help desk: 877-327-0022 eBenefits technical support: 800-983-0937 MyVA411 main information line: 800-698-2411 If you have hearing loss, call TTY: 711.
What care and services does VA health care cover? Each Veteran’s medical
benefits package is unique. Yours will include care and services to help: Treat illnesses and injuries Prevent future health problems Improve your ability to function Enhance your quality of life
All Veterans receive coverage for most care and services, but only some will qualify for added benefits like dental care. The full list of your covered benefits depends on: Your priority group, and The advice of your VA primary care provider (your main doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant), and The medical standards for treating any health conditions you may have Learn more about priority groups You should also know that being signed up for VA health care meets your Affordable Care Act (ACA) health coverage requirement of having “minimum essential health coverage.” We’ll update
this site if the ACA changes with new laws. Learn more about the ACA, VA, and you
Whether you moved and need to change your medical center or need a primary care provider in the area, we can help get you registered at VA Hudson Valley health care. Call us or come by one of our offices.
Castle Point VA Medical Center Eligibility Office - Health Administrative Service Building 15 Room E008 Map of Castle Point campus Phone: 845-831-2000, ext. 5100 Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Hospital Eligibility Office - Health Administrative Service Building 3 Room 15 Map of FDR campus Phone: 914-737-4400, ext. 2306 Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET
https://www.va.gov/hudson-valley-health-care/locations/new-city-va-clinic/
|
|
|
|
2022 Veterans Disability Compensation Rates
|
|
|
2022 Veterans disability compensation rates Review 2022 Veterans disability compensation rates. VA Information link:
https://www.va.gov/disability/compensation-rates/veteran-rates/
2022 Veterans disability compensation rates:
Compensation rates for Veterans with a 10% to 20% disability rating Effective December 1, 2021
Note: If you have a 10% to 20% disability rating, you won’t receive a higher rate even if you have a dependent spouse, child, or parent.
Disability rating = Monthly payment (in U.S. $) 10% =152.64 20% = 301.74
Compensation rates for Veterans with a 30% to 100% disability rating Effective December 1, 2021 With a dependent spouse or parent, but no children
Compensation rates for 30% to 60% disability rating Compensation rates for 70% to 100% disability rating
With dependents, including children
Compensation rates for 30% to 60% disability rating Compensation rates for 70% to 100% disability rating
Note: We’re required by law to match the percentage of cost-of-living adjustments made to Social Security benefits. These adjustments help to make sure that the purchasing power of your benefits keeps up with inflation. Get the latest cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) information on the Social Security Administration’s (SSA)
website How to use the tables to find your monthly paymentFind your basic rateGo to the compensation rates for your disability rating. On the Basic rates table, find the amount for your disability rating and dependent status. This is your monthly basic rate. Example (Veteran with no children):If you're a Veteran with a 30% disability
rating, and you have a dependent spouse (no dependent parents or children), your monthly basic rate would be $522.39 each month.
Find your added amounts, if any applyIf your spouse receives Aid and Attendance benefits or you have more than one child, you may qualify for additional monthly payment amounts as listed in the Added amounts table. Learn more about Aid and Attendance benefitsFirst, determine your basic rate. Example (Veteran with children):If you’re a Veteran with a 70% disability rating, and you have a spouse, plus 3 dependent children under the age of 18, you would start with the basic rate of $1,754.95 (for a Veteran with a spouse and 1 child).
Next, look at the Added amounts table. Find the amount for children under age 18 ($64.00). Since your basic rate already provides payment for 1 child, you would add the rate of $64.00 for each additional child (so $64 x 2). If your spouse receives Aid and Attendance, you would also add $119 (which is the added amount for a spouse receiving Aid and Attendance, for a Veteran with a 70% disability rating). In our example of a Veteran with 70% disability rating, your total monthly payment amount would be: $1,754.95 basic rate (1 spouse, 1 child) + $64 (second child under 18) +$64 (third child under 18) +$119 (spouse who receives Aid and Attendance) Total $2,001.95
Please refer to the VA Website link for further details: https://www.va.gov/disability/compensation-rates/veteran-rates/
|
|
|
|
Book Proceeds Benefit Disabled Veterans
|
|
|
Please check out Vietnam veteran Roy Tschudy's book, "Endless." Roy is the current President of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter #333, and writes about a variety of experiences that our Vietnam vets encountered. As with all good books, be prepared to experience a lot of emotions with this: you will be intrigued, angry, surprised, maybe shed a tear or two, and laugh out loud at some of the shenanigans in this enjoyable tale of fact, fiction and myth. All proceeds of "Endless" go to help veterans. The book is available in paperback or Kindle edition from Amazon:
|
|
|
|
Employment Opportunities and Information
|
|
|
Veterans Employment and Training Services (VETS) Resources for VeteransThe Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) is committed to helping America's veterans and separating service members by preparing them for meaningful careers, providing employment resources and expertise, and protecting their employment rights. Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS) Resources and Other Information
Grants and Opportunities VETS provides critical resources, expertise, and training to assist veterans in locating and obtaining meaningful careers.
Grant Opportunities Jobs For Veterans State Grants program provides federal funding to hire dedicated staff and
assist employers fill their workforce needs with job-seeking veterans.
VA Employment Resources. VA Employment Resources allows veterans, service members, and their families to research, find,
access, and manage their benefits and personal information.
FedEx Independent Service Provider FedEx is looking to hire full time and part time drivers to deliver and pickup packages from Blauvelt, NY. Full time schedule is Monday – Friday and part time schedule has weekend positions available. Must be over 21 years old, have a clean drivers license, and be able to pass physical and drug tests. Background checks are also required.
Salary for full time starts at $700 per week. Please contact 201-724-7781 to see if you qualify.
Office of Acquisition, Logistics, and Construction of the Veterans Administration: The link below lists current positions have been announced for the Office of Acquisition, Logistics and Construction (OALC). This is not a complete listing of all Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) vacancies and may not include all positions announced for OALC. You may access VA recruitment information on the VA Jobs site at this link: https://www.va.gov/jobs/ If you wish copies of announcements listed below, please contact the individual identified in the specific announcement. Here is the link to the OALC Job Listings: https://www.va.gov/oalc/career.asp
|
|
|
|
Rockland County Marine Corps League
|
|
|
Rockland County Marine Corps League regularly receives donations of handicap assistance equipment for disabled veterans from people who want to help. The
donated equipment is available for free to military veterans and their families. The items include the following:
- Motorized Wheelchairs
- Manual Wheelchairs
- Oxygen Generator
- Walkers
- Bath Chairs
- Transfer Benches
- Braces
- Crutches
- Canes
If you have need of any of this equipment, contact the folks at the Rockland
County Marine Corps League - 845-323-8774 or via e-mail: drobin137@icloud.com.
|
|
|
|
RockVets Monthly Newsletter
|
|
|
RockVets is an Outreach program of New York Vets, Inc., a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit organization established in 1992, to advocate for those who have worn the uniform of the U.S. Military, no matter where or when they served.
The volunteers at New York Vets / RockVets publish this monthly e-newsletter. We welcome your thoughts, questions, and feedback. E-mail: NewYorkVets@gmail.com.
We are not affiliated with Rockland County Government nor the Veterans Service Agency of Rockland.
Each month, our newsletter reaches more than 1600 local veterans or those who care about veterans' interests. Please use this forum to let veterans know of any information, resources, links or events they
might enjoy. Send information to NewYorkVets@gmail.com and thank you to all of you who pass this newsletter along to other veterans.
Our Mailing Address New York Vets, Inc. / RockVets P.O. Box 387 Tomkins Cove, New York 10986
Pat McGlade Co-Founder / Director Email: NewYorkVets@gmail.com
|
|
|
|
|
|