VA Benefits and Services

1. VA Benefits and Services For Retired Personnel

2. “To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan…” - Abraham Lincoln -

3. ADOLFO PONCE MILITARY SERVICES COORDINATOR WOUNDED WARRIOR BATTALION (760) 870-4428 / (619) 246-4503 (CELL) CAMP PENDLETON VA OFFICE BLDG 13150 (760) 385-0416 1-800-827-1000

7. DISABILITY COMPENSATION • Disability compensation is a benefit paid to a veteran because of injuries or diseases that happened while on active duty, or were aggravated by military service • Conditions must be chronic and documented in your service medical records • This monetary benefit is tax-free. • There is no time limit to apply (If already service connected and condition has gotten worst – request an increase)

8. TO APPLY: Complete VA Form 21-526 Include if available: • DD Form 214 • Copy of Service Medical Records • Medical evidence since discharged (doctor & hospital reports)

9. Compensation Rates W – Spouse C = Child(ren) Rates effective Dec. 1, 2008

10. Concurrent Retirement Disability Pay (CRDP) • DOD Program – benefits are automatically • Concurrent receipt of retired pay and disability compensation for veterans with a 50% or more disability rating from the VA • Retired pay is reduced dollar for dollar by the amount of VA compensation awarded for a disability rating of 40% or less • Military Retired Pay is taxable while VA compensation is not

11. 40% OR LESS Ret Pay $3000.00 Comp Pay $500.00 DFAS pays $2500.00 VA pays $500.00 Total $3000.00 50% OR HIGHER Ret Pay $3000.00 Comp Pay $1000.00 DFAS pays $2500.00 VA pays $1000.00 Total $3500.00 DFAS amount will increase each year until 2013 Concurrent Retirement Disability Pay (CRDP)

12. Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) • DOD program – must apply • For combat related disabilities compensated by the VA • Military will determine and notify DFAS which disabilities are combat related • CRSC will not be phased-in like CRDP • Eligible retirees will receive full military pay and full VA disability payments • CRSC is not taxable

13. To Apply for CRSC Completed DD Form 2860 All DD Form 214’s verifying combat awards Copies of all VA Rating Decisions, letters and code sheets Medical records that verify how the injury or disability occurred Any other evidence to verify condition is combat related Mail to your Branch of Service

14. Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) DIC is a monthly monetary benefit paid to eligible survivors of a: • Military service member who died while on active duty, OR • Veteran whose death resulted from a service-related injury or disease • Rated totally disabled – 10 years prior to death

15. How Much Does VA Pay? • Monthly rate is $1,154 for an eligible surviving spouse. The rate is increased $286.00 for each dependent child under 18 • DIC is stopped when spouse remarries • A surviving spouse who remarries after December 16, 2003 after attaining age 57, is entitled to receive DIC

16. How to Apply for DIC? Complete VA Form 21-534 and include a copy of the Death Certificate

17. BURIALREIMBURSEMENTS Service-Related Death.VA will pay up to $2,000 toward burial expenses for deaths on or after September 11, 2001. Nonservice-Related Death. VA will pay up to $300 toward burial and funeral expenses, and a $300 plot-interment allowance for deaths on or after December 1, 2001

18. WHO IS ELIGIBLE? You may be eligible for a VA burial allowance if: • You paid for a veteran's burial or funeral AND • You have not been reimbursed by another government agency or some other source, such as the deceased veteran's employer AND • The veteran was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.

19. IN ADDITION, AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS MUST BE MET • The veteran died because of a service-related disability or • The veteran was receiving compensation at the time of death or • The veteran died in a VA hospital, in a nursing home under VA contract, or while in an approved state nursing home.

20. Burial BenefitsNational Cemetery Burial Gravesite Opening and Closing Headstone/Marker Burial Flag Funeral Honors Presidential Memorial Certificates Burial Cost Reimbursement Perpetual Care All at No Cost to the Family

21. National Service Organizations DAV, AmVets, VFW, PVA, VVA, American Legion, American Red Cross, and many others WWW.VA.GOV

22. Can: Help complete claim forms Answer questions Act as your representative Possible benefits include: Property tax exemptions Education programs Reduced fee for licenses (hunting, fishing, etc State Veterans Office *** Each State Is Different***

23. ADOLFO PONCE MILITARY SERVICES COORDINATOR WOUNDED WARRIOR BATTALION (760) 870-4428 / (619) 246-4503 (CELL) CAMP PENDLETON VA OFFICE BLDG 13150 (760) 385-0416 1-800-827-1000

24. CHAMPVA CHAMPVA is a health benefits program in which the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) shares the cost of certain health care services and supplies with eligible beneficiaries

25. Who is eligible for CHAMPVA? CHAMPVA provides coverage to the spouse and children of a veteran who: • is rated permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected disability, or • was rated permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected condition at the time of death, or • died of a service-connected disability Beneficiary cannot be eligible for TRICARE.

26. What does CHAMPVA pay? In most cases, CHAMPVA pays equivalent to medicare/TRICARE rates.

27. How do I get more information? VA Health Administration Center CHAMPVA PO Box 409028 Denver, CO 80206-9028 Phone: 1-800-733-8387 FAX: 1-303-331-7804 E-mail: HAC.ING@VA.GOV Website: WWW.VA.GOV/HAC

28. Other Benefits and Programs Other federal and state programs may be available to you because of your service in the military.

29. National Service Organizations DAV, AmVets, VFW, PVA, VVA, American Legion, American Red Cross, and many others WWW.VA.GOV