Disabled Voc Rehab: Find an Advocate

I too am a Disabled Veteran. I retired in 1998. Due to unclear information that I received during DTAP (Disabled Transition Assistance Program).

I assumed that I was not qualified for Voc Rehab. After several years and several jobs. I went to my local VA office to seek continued benefits for my handicapped son. This is where a diligent and caring representative asked me why had I never applied for Voc Rehab benefits.

She started the process for me and within four months I'm going to attend one of the top 10 state colleges in the nation. I'm not going to tell you that it was all that easy. I had a myriad of paperwork, several testing sessions and interviews that I had to attend. But it was well worth the efforts! My best advice is to set your sites on your goal, commit to achieving it, seek assistance where needed. And most importantly, find someone who advocate for you!

(Submitted by Jory Authement)

Comments

[Julie]

Being a family member of Veterans and a Lead Volunteer at my local VA facility, I have run into many Veterans who felt they could not receive benefits. My first comment is to advise them to get into contact with a Veterans Service Officer at the local VA, and go from there. Always ask the question, "What am I entitled to receive?" and don't stop asking. Jory, you were treated very well, and the VSO's will advocate for you. Take all pertinent information with you when you visit the VA - DD-214, medical records, marriage and children info, etc. Ask if there is a particular person who is "excellent" in the field pertaining to your problems, and following all that long paperwork, it will be worth it to work with someone who truly cares about our Veterans and makes sure they get the best care anywhere. Remember, you have the right to change doctors, social workers or any others who are not serving you well.
Hope this helps others who have not applied, or have been told they do not qualify. Thanks for your service to our Country and be well.

[david]

I was in college and learned of this. I was pretty upset though as I was 20% rated and met all these navy guys telling me how they where getting a full ride.

I called the local man in charge for applicants "former navy." I was informed they would not do this for me as I was already in college he would not assist me. I am sorry I got out on a medical and was trying to do better. So this is how I was rewarded btw I was US ARMY. GO FIGURE....

[Scott BT2]

I went through Voc Rehab when I was retired at 30% in 1987. I had several different counselors. I was told I could ONLY go to community college. When I was in a low paying job, that would not support my family, I went through all the testing and paperwork only to be told that since I already had a job I did not qualify for Voc Rehab. I am VERY angry with all they HYPE the military advertises. We learn skills in the military that the civilian world just does not care about. We start jobs expecting (because we were told so by the military) that we would be valued because of these unique skills. Our experience counts for nothing in the 'REAL' world.

[Mike Abbott]

I am the VA Certifying Official at Skagit Valley College, located in Mount Vernon, Washington. I am also a disabled vet rated at 80%,who attended school under the Viet Nam Era GI Bill and the Voc Rehab program. As a routine part of the "intake interview" done with all new veterans,attending our school, I inquire whether or not the vet already has a rateable disability, or thinks they might be eligible for one. The VOC REHAB Program is explained, and a request for entry into the program is completed at that time, if the vet is interested. Any Vet located in the North Puget Sound Region of Washington State can call me at (360)416-7804 and I will be glad to help, if I can. If I am away from my phone please leave a message and I will return yoour call ASAP.
Cheers
Mike

[Tyler Frank]

I was disabled when the duece I was riding in hit a tree and broke my neck. After 2 years of deteriorating health, I was discharged and my medical records classified. I could not work. I spent 20 years in college taking every loan I could to barely survive. Now Voc Rehab says that since I have a degree, I don't qualify. And my $265K in student loans...... is my problem. I'm moving to Europe. Because of the military, the last part of my life, my citizenship, will also be gone. But I'll be free.

[Terri Cloyd]

I am enclined to agree with those who seem disgruntled after having served. Once you retire, get medically discharged, or whatever the case may be that discontinues your time in service, you are treated like a third class citizen. Your skills are moderately accepted in the civilian world. The best thing to do is take advantage of the free tuition THAT IS NOW OFFERED and take advantage of the time you serve because it is only good while serving. It is a struggle amongst those who have EXPERIENCE already. If you are in the IT field, get ALL you can while there. Other fields seem to catch it worse. Also, if you ave a clearance - do your best to get it renewed right before you depart. Take advantage of EVERY possible opportunity while you are in lik ethey take advantage of you and your family while you are in. Believe me, offerinf free tuition has a catch as well. It gives incentive to stay in (hang in there, just one more year until....), so don't think they GIVE you anything, just use it to your advantage. There is a reason why they are GIVING away rank all willy nilly in the army (intended to not capitalize) now. Take care of YOU; taking care of soldiers now a days counts for nothing except neglect of YOU. Sad but true. the army takes care of soldiers alright (write your own evals, can be overweight, can not pass PT tests, can no longer use your leadership style to discipline and mold your troops, etc), so take care of you.

[Sabino D.]

I had an appointment at Mather VA in Sacramento with a "neck specialist" who was very rude and unprofessional. He didn't bother in introducing himself and after touching my head he was very offensive because he scrubbed his hands like saying because you are in a wheelchair you are dirty and I don't want to get your leper. (I am a very clean and groom person) Thus the VA always tells us to bring any medical records to a new appointment and any info like MRI or X Rays that will help the doctor assist you better with your condition. When I try to show him my info and medical history from other MD's he refused to read it and also refused to review my MRI's/X Rays that I bring with me. Furthermore he ordered Physical Therapy without ordering any new X Rays..... How can he help me if he didn't show any interest in me as a person or as a disabled veteran. This was another negative experience at the great Mather VA.

[Sabino D.]

I had an appointment at Mather VA in Sacramento with a "neck specialist" who was very rude and unprofessional. He didn't bother in introducing himself and after touching my head he was very offensive because he scrubbed his hands like saying because you are in a wheelchair you are dirty and I don't want to get your leper. (I am a very clean and groom person) Thus the VA always tells us to bring any medical records to a new appointment and any info like MRI or X Rays that will help the doctor assist you better with your condition. When I try to show him my info and medical history from other MD's he refused to read it and also refused to review my MRI's/X Rays that I bring with me. Furthermore he ordered Physical Therapy without ordering any new X Rays..... How can he help me if he didn't show any interest in me as a person or as a disabled veteran. This was another negative experience at the great Mather VA.

[Greg U]

So far I have had an excellent experience with the VA here in Atlanta, both at the regional center and the hospital. They have been keeping very well informed and updated on all of my information. But I was told it was because I am considered priority, being a recently retired OEF/OIF combat veteran. I am not using the VocRehab yet, because I cannot use both of the benifits of the GI Bill and VocRehab at the sametime. Also, for those of you in the state of Georgia. If you are a legal resident you can take advantage of the Georgia Hope Scholarship to any approved school in the state, and then get your GI Bill money.

[Scott BT2]

Greg,
Use your Voc Rehab first. Then the GI Bill. After you use the GI Bill to get a degree the Voc Rehab will turn you away because you have a degree.

[robert kline]

I PRAY someone somewhere BURNS the entire VA system to the ground! It is absolutely, positively USELESS. Full of incompetent, lazy, lying bureaucrats, who will all go to hell for the way they treat Vets, their clients.

[Mary litten]

My husband,Curtis,a Vietnam Veteran USArmy retired 1st Sgt has been trying for 19 years to get his disablity for injuries sustained in the "CONFLICT". PTSD has affected all aspects of his life. After retiring he admitted the need for help,went to the VA was ask if he drank alcohol,when he said yes,was automatically sent to the abuse clinic and told he was just trying to take the VA for a ride he was just an alcoholic. No request for documentation or request for information on his experiences just treated like a "DRUNK" washed up VET. The tremors,incidental tremors,to the VA was that of a drunk. In 2004 Curtis knew he was very ill and deteriorating,therfore,moved to be closer to our daughter. He was diagnosed by a Dr.Ringholtz,from Emory, who was seeing Altanta Veterans, with Lewy Body Dementia(Parkison + dementia)which he said had been progessing over years. His believe that it was agent orange related though unable to adeqately diagnosis except though an autopsy,like you will have to die get a confirmation,my family gets left out in the cold right? Applications with request for the parkison to be secondary to agent orange has been made though no doctor will put himself in the position to confirm this diagnosis without autopsy,their opinions are not sufficient for the VA claims people. PTSD has been claimed when Curtis threated harm to the VA rating board, by a private psychtrist who trained and previously worked for the VA. He has treated him sent his diagnosis and treatment to VA, there has been no information in over one year though Senator Chambliss and Colonel's in Washington have come to Curtis'plight. Curtis is now 56 years old unable to walk,tremors so severe he can not even drink without assistance, he fights the Vietnam War daily, as his wife I am for the first time beginning to understand what hell he has had playing in his mind for over 37 years. Killing,hiding,fear,survival when his best friends didnot,being unable to understand how some Jane Fonda Americans,despised protested and called soldiers BABY KILLERS,threw rotten eggs and spread evil thoughts to those who served their COUNTRY, died for their COUNTRY(physically and emotionally)so that our COUNTRY could retain that freedom of speech. Curtis assured me not to worry that he would be taken care of by the VA for his service to his COUNTRY AMERICA. Well I am here to tell anyone who reads this that the service he is receiving is less than that of a death row inmate. He is humilated to have to ask for help, to have it received as a fraudulant act against the COUNTRY he served to protect, is a disgrace. No,I do not believe the Senator or Congressmen give a damn,this is an election year they giveaway promises for free, the same as he did when we contacted him before years ago giving his aides approval to look into Curtis' case. This family has survived a lot of tragedy, will bury him as the HERO he is, in the uniform he wore proudly for the Country he served, even if that Country is turning it's back on HIM. MARY ANN LITTEN

[terry powell]

When I got out in 2004, I thought
there would be an open door for
retired cooks and I was wrong.Truth
is the Va told me to finish my den-
tal on the outside while looking for a job, and a place to stay.You
train only to be looked at as opsolete. I decided to go into the
merchant mariner , because I really
miss a steady paycheck . What good is 10% when its taken out of your retirement in the first place?

[terry powell]

Its a shame when you have to be reeducated for a different field .
The military has let me and my family down in some ways. To be retrained is not hard,but to be told that you are significant then cast aside is truly a tragedy in itself.

[Katie]

First of all I would like to say, as Retired Navy and Grad from VocRehab in 12/07. VocRehab is usually 48 months of benefit. GI bill is 36 months. If you use VocRehab it ticks away at your GI Bill. So in order to use GI bill after VocRehab you will have to have months left. Some programs in VocRehab will pay for Master's Degree after Bachelors. Or if you have a Bachelor's it is possible for VocRehab to pay for a Master's. It depends on your Major. Example: If you have a bachelor's in Social Work, you can't get hired as a social worker unless you have a master's degree, so they will allow a Master's degree. VocRehab pays all the cost of school, books, supplies and gives a stipend based on course load and number of dependents. GI Bill gives you roughly $1300 and you pay all the bills. REMEMBER no matter who pays your school bill, ALWAYS apply for financial aid (Pell Grant and State Grants are free).
Transition for me, even with TAP was an adjustment. Retirement, at least I got half my base pay. But what a shock. Now after graduation vocrehab I work as a VA representative and try to help veterans, widows, etc daily with questions. The VA has made some changes in that the Regional Offices are hiring more people to process claims and they no longer have to answer the 1-800-827-1000 number. This number is routed to Call Centers manned by a large percentage of veterans but some are not. Some of the call centers are manned by about 50 people, who collectively take about 3,000 calls a day from 8-4pm. Answering a large variety of questions from veterans about claims, to widows looking for monthly benefits, and reporting the death of a veteran. What helped me was I joined a veteran organization to keep in touch, I also signed up for military.com newsletter is quite helpful. And every veteran I meet, I ask if they have filed a claim. A large part of veterans believe that a disability involves a cane or walker. The VA rates disabilities from 0% to 100% and they also have a non service connected pension for wartime veterans (did not have to go to war but served honorably during a war period) and are at least 65. There is a death pension for spouses of deceased wartime veterans (whether they received any benefit from VA at all) and pension is an income based program. The first 3 times I submitted my claim for disability I did not get what I thought I should, then I sought the help of a service organization as my advocate. They knew the words to use. You need to know how the disability is rated before you ask for the benefit. Do your research. Atlanta has a LARGE veteran population using that regional office in Decatur. IF you are having trouble with your claim in Atlanta, then change your address to a family member's and ask your claim moved to their regional office. Also know that a PTSD claim will take longer because it has to be verified, stressors etc. Also, remember that depression does come secondary to chronic pain so don't forget to claim this also. MY motto is When in doubt fill it out. CLAIM CLAIM CLAIM. And remember, if your claim is denied and you have NEW evidence, DO NOT APPEAL, Submit a Reconsideration! do not use word "disagree" use the word reconsider! Appeals take a LONG TIME. reconsideration comes in as a claim and is usually processed in 6-12 months.

[Katie]

In response to Terry Powell. Government decided that retirees can't double dip. Your elected officials. If you make it to 50% you can get concurrent receipt. Or if you got that 10% in combat you can apply for CRSC through your service and get extra.
Another tidbit they don't tell you - SBP. A retiree pays into SBP for years. The retiree gets disability from the VA. If he/she dies of the service connected disabiltiy, the spouse may be entitled to Dependent Indemnity Compensation (DIC) which is currently paying $1091 per month. DIC is usually more than SBP and congress reduces the SBP by the amount of DIC. This in most cases wipes out the SBP payment. So DFAS will reimburse the spouse for all the money paid into SBP in one lump sum. (this money could have been getting interest over time). There is a new program out as a supplemental SSBP for those that lose their SBP but it is only $50 per month. There are people lobbying to have spouses eligible for both SBP and DIC concurrently.
But, back to the CRDP. I agree that 10% isn't worth much if it is deducted from retired pay. But as that 10% or other0%'s get worse, apply for increase and you may make it to 50% and be able to get CRDP (concurrent receipt). All found on www.dfas.mil if need to know about CRDP and CRSC. You can only receive one at a time, which ever is better for you.

[EMELITA]

Since 2003, I have been claiming for my husband death pension as a US Veteran but always get denied. Last year I applied again as the person working at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Everett WA. told me that I am qualified to get a death pension. So he help me go through again those applications but again, I was denied, and now my case is going to DBA for a new hearing because I applied for this De NOVO Review as I gave a notice of disagreement.
My husband was in the army for more than two years but did not fight on the war in Vietnam, the actual war in the Republic of Vietnam, but he told me that he is the one making all the ammunition for the war in Vietnam. At that point of his service he did not go to war but the war is going on and the war have not been proclaimed yet, so his time of service did not fall on any days when they proclaimed the war in Vietnam and he did not go to war in the Republic of Vietnam as what the DVA govern. So he is not entitled to any death pension because he did not fight on any war even for one day, as the DVA said.
So now if the person is in the army and did not fight in the war he is not entitled to any death pension???
If your in the army you should fight in the war even for one day... or else no pension if you die or no other benefits to your dependents.

[James A.Richardson]

Hello
I am attempting to contact Mary Ann Litton, wife of 1sg Litten.
I read your article and believe I can be of somee assistance. Please contact me.

608-269-1912

[Richard G. Prather]

Well I applied for VOC Rehab since I'm an 80% disabled veteran only to find out from the VOC Rehab Coord that I had to much education to qualify, does this sound right?

[Richard G. Prather]

Well I applied for VOC Rehab since I'm an 80% disabled veteran only to find out from the VOC Rehab Coord that I had to much education to qualify, does this sound right?

[Richard G. Prather]

Well I applied for VOC Rehab since I'm an 80% disabled veteran only to find out from the VOC Rehab Coord that I had to much education to qualify, does this sound right?