Batcat
Veteran Benefit Information
The information on this page is presented for all Batcat's, in fact all
servicemen and women. While the information shown here is unofficial, it
will hopefully provide a starting point to find additional, official
information and contacts.
Veteran Information page added 05/11/09,
Last Updated 07/21/10.
To obtain copies of your DD-214
and other Military Records
Probably the most important military record every veteran must have is their DD-214.
If you've misplaced your DD-214, or other military records, check here for information
on how to obtain copies of your
Military Service Records. Added 05/11/09.
You can now make an on line request for your military records. This link takes
you to the eVetRecs - electronic Veterans Records
of the National Archives. My thanks to
Gil Jennings for providing this link.
updated 12/21/09. WEBMASTER
NOTE - using this link I requested a copy of my DD 214 on 12/21/09. I FAX'ed
in the required signature form the same day (you can send via postal mail if you don't
have access to FAX), received an automated email response on 12/22/09 that my signature
was received OK. On January 4, 2010 I received a certified copy of my DD 214. It took
15 days to receive, however this was over the Christmas/New Year holidays. My experience
is they are providing very good service.
If you never received, or have misplaced, a medal or decoration you earned while in
U.S. Military service, check
Military Awards and Decorations. Instructions how shown on how to make your
request determined by which branch of the service you served in. My thanks to
David Pipher for providing this link.
Added 07/21/10.
Pending Legislation
in Congress
There are a lot of proposed bills, both national and state. There is no
way I can present all those bills. What I present here is a link to
H.R. 2254
which I believe will benefit veterans. Please read the text of this
proposed bill. If you believe this bill, if passed, would benefit veterans
then I urge you to write to your congressman encouraging him or her to
support this legislation. As of the date shown as "updated" there are 247 other
congressmen listed as co-sponsors. Added 07/18/09,
updated 02/24/10.
Veterans Administration
Main Page
To obtain information about the various veteran programs availabe, click here to go
to the Veterans Administration main page.
Click here to locate a
VA Office near you.
Added 05/11/09.
Veterans Benefits
Go here for information about various available veteran benefits. Veteran Administration
Benefit offices are co-located with Veteran Administration offices. Click here to go
to the Veterans Benefits Administration page.
Added 05/11/09.
The Veterans Administration provides a list of
Federal Benefits for
Veterans, Dependents and Survivors - 2010 Edition. This benefit book is in PDF format
and 2.9 Meg in size. For those with only a limited Internet connection (dial up) you may prefer
to view the same 2010 Benefits
on the VA homepage. My thanks to Bob Langenhan
for this link. Added 09/17/09, updated 05/29/10.
Agent Orange
A lot of publicity has surrounded the use of the Agent Orange defoliant in Vietnam.
In most cases the VA requires proof of "Boots on the Ground" in Vietnam to approve
a claim for benefits with respect to Agent Orange and its possible cause of cancer.
Flying over areas where Agent Orange was used generally does not qualify for cancer
benefits. Go here to obtain information for veterans, their families and others
about VA health, and care programs related to
Agent Orange page. Here is a link to the
VA Hand book on
Agent Orange. The Department of Defense has listed the areas
OUTSIDE Vietnam where Agrent Orange, and other of the "Rainbow" herbicides were used, PDF
file, about 54K. Added 05/11/09, updated 05/29/10.
I received an email with more information about Agent Orange. The source of this
information is a project CHECO report. CHECO stands for "Contemporary Historical
Evaluation of Combat Operations." CHECO originated by headquarters USAF in 1962.
This particular report provides what I consider some contradictory information
on exactly where and when in Thailand herbicides were used. This is a big file,
about 4.3 meg, in PDF format, while some pages are not included as they are still
classified.
CHECO Report on Thailand Base Defense. Korat has information on page 68,
however it concerns the 1972 time period. My thanks to
Gil Jennings for providing this
information. Added 07/21/10.
Learned that the Veterans Administration will accept as proof for "boots on the
ground" in Vietnam, a personal diary written at the time. My thanks to
Van Doubleday for this information.
Added 02/24/10.
Jim Satterwhite sent me an Agent Orange
update. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki decided to establish a
service-connection for Vietnam veterans with 3 specific illnesses based on the
latest evidence of an association with the herbicides referred to as Agent Orange.
There are now 15 illnesses being caused by exposure to herbicides during the
Vietnam War are:
1 - Acute and Subacute Transient Peripheral Neuropathy
2 - AL Amyloidosis
3 - Chloracne
4 - Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
5 - Diabetes Mellitus (Type 2)
6 - Hodgkin's Disease
7 - Multiple Myeloma
8 - Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
9 - Porphyria Cutanea Tarda
10 - Prostate Cancer
11 - Respiratory Cancers
12 - Soft Tissue Sarcoma (other than Osteosarcoma, Chondrosarcoma,
Kaposi's sarcoma, or Mesothelioma)
13 - B cell leukemias, such as hairy cell leukemia
14 - Parkinson's disease
15 - ischemic heart disease
RECOMMENDATION - EVERY veteran
should request a medical and Agent Orange screening by their local VA office for
cancer. This is especially important for veterans who have cancer which is being
treated and covered by their company or their own health insurance plan. If the VA
is unaware of veterans who have cancer treated non VA doctors, it will corrupt the
statistical data the VA uses to calculate cancer benefits for all veterans.
added 05/11/09, updated 10/18/09.
National Veterans Organizations which
may also be able to help veterans
The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic, war-time
veterans organization, devoted to mutual helpfulness. It is a not-for-profit
community-service organization which now numbers nearly 3 million members, men and
women, in nearly 15,000 American Legion posts worldwide. Click here for more
American Legion information.
The nation’s largest organization of combat veterans is the VFW. Click here for more
Veterans of Foreign Wars information.
Many have told me that both the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars
have provided considerable help to veterans. Both organizations have facilities
throughout the United States.
Other Useful Links for Veterans
These links were provided by Gil Raymer,
links added 07/12/09.
Center for Minority Veterans
Center for Women Veterans
Board of Veteran's Appeals
Directory of Veterans
Service Organizations
VA Emergency, Non-emergency,
and Fee Basis Care
Disability
Examination Worksheets Index, Comp
VHA Forms, Publications
& Records Management
Office of Geriatrics & Extended Care
Homeless Veterans
Office of the Medical Inspector (OMI)
VA Records Center and Vault
VA Forms
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