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VBA Benefits Presentation. Edward B. Perry, Outreach Coordinator New York Regional Office 245 West Houston Street New York, NY 10014 1-800-827-1000. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION.
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VBA Benefits Presentation • Edward B. Perry, Outreach Coordinator • New York Regional Office • 245 West Houston Street • New York, NY 10014 • 1-800-827-1000 VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION • VA health care system consists of 21 networks of care to meet local health care needs and provide broad access to care • VA provides care at over 1,500 facilities: 153 hospitals • 956 ambulatory care and community-based outpatient clinics • 232 Vet Centers • 134 community living centers (formerly known as nursing homes) • 90 residential rehabilitation treatment programs • 4 Poly Trauma Rehabilitation Centers VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION • Screening exams for: Depression, Substance Abuse, PTSD, TBI • »Readjustment Counseling • »Military Sexual Trauma • »Preventive Care Services • »Inpatient and Outpatient Treatment • »Prescription Services • »Women’s Health Care Programs • »Prosthetic and Rehabilitative Devices VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
BURIAL/SURVIVOR BENEFITS • National Cemeteries • State Veterans Cemeteries • Headstones, Markers, Medallion • Transportation • Plots, Opening and Closing • Burial Flags • Military Honors • Dependency Indemnity Claims • Dependents Educational Assistance CH 35 VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
Fully Developed Claim • If you need time to gather evidence for your FDC claim, you can get started by locking in an effective date with an Informal Claim. • The Informal Claim includes the following statement in the form of a letter: • I intend to apply for compensation/pension benefits under the FDC Program. This statement is to preserve my effective date for entitlement to benefits. I am in the process of assembling my claim package for submission. The Informal Claim must also be accompanied by: • the claimant's name (if other than the Veteran) • the Veteran's name • the Veteran's claim number • Step 1: Complete your EZ Form and get it certified • Compensation Claim 21-526EZ form • OR • Non service connected Pension Claim 21-527EZ form • Step 2: Gather the evidence • Step 3: Submit your claim VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs) • DBQs are valuable for claimsprocessing because they provide medical information that is directly relevant to determining a disabilityrating. When submitted with a fully developed claim, DBQs ensure the VA's ratings specialists haveprecisely the information they need to start processing the claim.Veterans can have their providers fill out any of the more than 70 DBQs that are appropriate for theirconditions and submit them to us. It’s that easy! MONTH DD, YEAR VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
DBQ’s(cont…) • For VA exams, a VA clinician will fill out the DBQ. If being seen by a private provider, have them complete the DBQ and submit it to us either by Regional Office Fax Numbers or mail. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
Center for Minority Veterans • Dedicated to serving all veterans regardless of race or ethnicity. As required by Congress in 1994, under Title 38Public Law 103-446, sec 509, CMV’s primary emphasis is on minority veterans. Specifically, these veterans include the following minority groups: Pacific Islander, Asian American, African American, Hispanic/Latino, and Native American, including American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
Minority Veterans Program Coordinator (MVPC) • The primary goal of this outreach initiative is to increase local awareness of minority veteran related issues and develop strategies for increasing their participation in existing VA benefit programs for eligible veterans. MVPCs are located at Regional Offices, Health Care Facilities and National Cemeteries and are responsible for: • Promoting the use of VA benefits, programs, and services by minority veterans. • Supporting and initiating activities that educate and sensitize internal staff to the uniqueneeds of minority veterans. • Targeting outreach efforts to minority veterans through community networks. • Advocating on behalf of minority veterans by identifying gaps in services and make recommendations to improve service delivery within their facilities. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION