What's New
Non-Service Connected Disability Pension/Death Pension
The following information is from the CVSO Association Non-service connected (NSC) pensions are available to certain veterans who are no longer able to work due to disability or age. These pensions are intended to keep qualified veterans from living below the poverty level, and as such are "needs-based" and not entitlements.
To qualify for an NSC pension, veterans must have been on active duty during a recognized wartime period. It doesn't matter where they actually served (i.e. overseas or stateside), but they must have served at least one (1) day during a wartime period. Veterans with service prior to 9/8/1980 are required to have served at least 90 days on active duty; veterans who served after that date may have longer active duty requirements. Veterans dishonorably discharged are not eligible for this benefit.
This benefit is only available to wartime veterans who are low income and no longer able to work due to a permanent and total disability, or to those who are over age 65. As a needs-based benefit, the pension availability is based on family income and net worth, as adjusted by unreimbursed medical expenses. If net worth and income are below a specified level, the veteran may be eligible for a monthly tax-free stipend. If income or net worth is above that level, the veteran is not eligible for the benefit. Benefit levels also depend and vary according to family size and level of medical care required by the veteran.
While this benefit is for wartime veterans, it also extends to the widows and widowers of those veterans. Any low-income survivor of a wartime veteran should apply for the benefit, including (and especially) those in nursing homes.
Unique Benefits For Vietnam Veterans
Ailments ADDED - Parkinson’s Disease, Two Other Illnesses Recognized
Relying on an independent study by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki decided to establish a service-connection for Vietnam Veterans with three specific illnesses based on the latest evidence of an association with the herbicides referred to Agent Orange.
The illnesses affected by the recent decision are B cell leukemias, such as hairy cell leukemia; Parkinson’s disease; and ischemic heart disease.
Used in Vietnam to defoliate trees and remove concealment for the enemy, Agent Orange left a legacy of suffering and disability that continues to the present. Between January 1965 and April 1970, an estimated 2.6 million military personnel who served in Vietnam were potentially exposed to sprayed Agent Orange.
In practical terms, Veterans who served in Vietnam during the war and who have a “presumed” illness don’t have to prove an association between their illnesses and their military service. This “presumption” simplifies and speeds up the application process for benefits.
Current law dictates that three conditions must manifest within one year of leaving Vietnam in order to be considered as related to Agent Orange exposure: chloracne,
porphyria cutanea tarda
acute or subacute peripheral neuropathy
Other illnesses previously recognized under VA’s “presumption” rule as being caused by exposure to herbicides during the Vietnam War are:
- Acute and Subacute Transient Peripheral Neuropathy
- Chloracne
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
- Diabetes Mellitus (Type 2)
- Hodgkin's Disease
- Multiple Myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
- Porphyria Cutanea Tarda
- Prostate Cancer
- Respiratory Cancers
- Soft Tissue Sarcoma (other than Osteosarcoma, Chondrosarcoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, or Mesothelioma)
Additional information about Agent Orange and VA’s services and programs for Veterans exposed to the chemical are available at www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange.
Presumptive service connection means that compensation is automatically granted without having to prove exposure, the extent of the exposure or that the illness is absolutely caused by that exposure. V.A. payments are also made to the surviving spouse and dependent children of the veteran if one of these illnesses contributed to the cause of death.
In addition to compensation payments, the V.A. provides free medical care for Vietnam veterans who have illnesses presumed to be related to Agent Orange. They also offer a special protocol physical exam on a one-time basis to those who served in Vietnam whether or not they have any current health concerns.
Children of any Vietnam veteran born with spina bifida (other than spina bifids occulta) are eligible for monthly allowances, health care and education benefits. Children of female Vietnam veterans both with certain other birth defects are also eligible for these benefits.
A newsletter called the AGENT ORANGE REVIEW is mailed to all Vietnam veterans upon request. Call 1-800-749-8387 to subscribe. All issues and additional information is also available at a V.A. website: http://www.va.gov/agentorange/
Many of you reading this article may not have served in Vietnam, but you know someone who did. Please make this information available to them so that as many Vietnam veterans as possible receive this vital information. County Veterans Service Officers (CVSO) are able to assist all veterans with their disability claims, requests for medical care, etc.
Wisconsin G.I. Bill Tuition Remission Program
The following information is from http://dva.state.wi.us
The Wisconsin G.I. Bill provides a full waiver (“remission”) of tuition and fees for eligible veterans and their dependents for up to 8 full-time semesters or 128 credits at any University of Wisconsin System (UWS) or Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) institution for continuing education, or for study at the undergraduate or graduate level.
In accordance with 2005 Wisconsin Act 468, signed into law by Governor Jim Doyle on Memorial Day 2006 and effective with the 2007-08 academic year, the tuition remission is a full 100% of tuition and fees.
"If you served after September 10, 2001, and are currently using the WI GI Bill or plan to use the WI GI Bill; DO NOT MAKE AN IRREVOCABLE CHOICE TO CHANGE TO POST 9/11 Chapter 33 FEDERAL BENEFITS UNTIL YOU HAVE ALL THE FACTS. Visit the Wisconsin GI Bill Changes webpage for additional information.
The Wisconsin G.I. Bill is a state program that is entirely separate from the federal VA's Montgomery G.I. Bill. For more information on the federal G.I. Bill, see the Wisconsin SAA page.
For additional information, eligibility criteria, instructions on how to apply for the Wisconsin G.I. Bill, and statutory citations for the program, see the WDVA B0105 information and application booklet.
See the UWS WisGIBill FAQs or WTCS WisGIBill FAQs for frequently asked questions regarding the Wisconsin G.I. Bill and the University of Wisconsin System and the Wisconsin Technical College System.
Wisconsin G.I. Bill Tuition Remission Program for Veterans
For the Wisconsin G.I. Bill, the veteran must have been a Wisconsin resident at the time of entry onto active duty. Character of service and active duty service requirements apply.
The benefit recipient must reside in Wisconsin.
For veterans, there is no post-service time limitation (such as the federal Montgomery G.I. Bill 10-year delimiting date) on the use of the benefit. The veteran may attend full-time or part-time.
The benefit may be used for continuing education, or for study at the undergraduate or graduate level.
Wisconsin G.I. Bill Tuition Remission Program for Dependents
A 100% remission is provided to the qualifying dependents of an eligible veteran:
- Spouse; or
- Unremarried Surviving Spouse; or
- Child between the ages of 17 through 25,
Where the qualifying Wisconsin (must have been a Wisconsin resident at the time of entry onto active duty) veteran:
- Is currently rated by the federal VA with a combined service-connected disability rating of 30% or greater (Effective Fall Semester 2005); or
- Died in the line of duty while on active, Reserve, or Guard duty (Effective Fall Semester 2005); or
- Died as the direct result of a service-connected disability, as determined by the federal VA (Effective July 1, 2006).
For qualifying spouses and unremarried surviving spouses, the benefit must be used within 10 years of the date of death or the initial disability rating of 30% or greater. The spouse or unremarried surviving spouse may attend full-time or part-time.
For qualifying children, the benefit is available from ages 17 through 25. The child may attend full- or part-time.
For the Wisconsin G.I. Bill, the veteran must have been a Wisconsin resident at the time of entry onto active duty. Character of service and active duty service requirements apply.
The benefit recipient must reside in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Veterans Home at Union Grove to make Remodeling Improvements this Spring
The following information is from http://dva.state.wi.us
(MADISON) – The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) is announcing that in May 2011 building improvements will begin in Fairchild Hall, an assisted living facility at the Wisconsin Veterans Home, Union Grove.
The renovations will include improvements in members’ rooms, ceiling tile and lighting upgrades, and remodeling of the dining room and patios. Members have been personally notified that they will be temporarily relocated within Fairchild Hall. “In order to properly care for our veterans living in these facilities, the renovations must be completed one unoccupied wing at a time, so the temporary relocation of our members will be in the best interest of our members’ care,” said Reid Aaron, the home’s new Commandant.
“These building improvements will provide an even more ‘home-like’ environment for our veterans and their spouses. Overall, these changes are a value-added benefit for everyone,” said Brian Marshall, Division Administrator, Wisconsin Veterans Homes.
For information about the Wisconsin Veterans Home at Union Grove, see www.WisVets.com/UnionGrove.
Honor Flights
The following information is from http://dva.state.wi.us
The Honor Flight Network, http://www.honorflight.org, began in 2005 in Dayton, Ohio with the purpose of flying veterans free of charge to see the memorials created for them in Washington D.C. A retired Air Force Captain working for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Earl Morse, initiated the network to allow World War II veterans to visit the then recently completed National WWII monument in Washington D.C. free of charge. Volunteers accompanied the WWII veterans who were now in their 80s to assist them as many were unable to make such a trip with family or by themselves.
The WWII veterans are being given preference due to their age, along with the fact that the memorial was not completed until almost 60 years after that war. Terminally ill veterans from all other wars will also be considered and given priority.
The Honor Flight Network Hubs in Wisconsin are:
A hub for the Greater Fox River Valley area, Old Glory Honor Flight, Inc. is based in Appleton. For more information visit their website at http://www.oldgloryhonorflight.org or call Drew MacDonald (888) 6-FLY-VET (888-635-9838).
A hub serving a 120 mile radius of Lacrosse, the Freedom Honor Flights, is based in La Crosse. See their website, http://www.freedomhonorflight.org, for veterans and guardian applications, donor and sponsor information, or for more information; or call (608) 784-1015.
A hub for the Greater Madison area, Badger Honor Flight, Inc. is based in Madison. See their website at http://www.badgerhonorflight.org or call Brian Ziegler (608) 578-5918.
A hub for the Greater Milwaukee area, Stars and Stripes Honor Flight, is setup in Ozaukee County. Information and applications are available online at http://www.starsandstripeshonorflight.org and questions can be directed to Ozaukee County Veterans Service Office at (262) 238-7740.
A hub for the 19 northern Wisconsin counties, Never Forgotten Honor Flight, is based in Wausau. For more information visit their website at http://www.neverforgottenhonorflight.com or call (715) 573-8519.
Honor Flight Northland is a non-profit organization created solely to honor veterans living in Northeastern Minnesota and Northwestern Wisconsin for all their sacrifices. For more information, please visit their website at honorflightnorthland.org.
Blue Button Initiative
The following information is from http://www.va.gov
On August 2, 2010, President Obama announced the “Blue Button” capability that allows Veterans to download their personal health information from their My HealtheVet account. VA developed the Blue Button in collaboration with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and the Department of Defense, along with the Markle Foundation's Consumer Engagement Workgroup.
My HealtheVet and the VA Blue ButtonThe My HealtheVet Personal Health Record (PHR) is comprised of self-entered health metrics (blood pressure, weight, heart rate, etc.), emergency contact information, test results, family health history, military health history, and other health related information. The Blue Button extract that Veterans can download is a so-called “ASCII text file”, the easiest and simplest electronic text format (see sample files: all data, by data class, or by date range).
VA Blue Button files can be printed, or saved on computers and portable storage devices. Having control of this information enables Veterans to share this data with health care providers, caregivers, or people they trust. On October 7, 2010, VA and CMS officially announced the VA Blue Button download feature in a presentation by VA Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Peter Levin, at the Health 2.0 conference in San Francisco. The initiative was launched in collaboration with the White House, the U.S. Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra, and the Department of Health and Human Services Chief Technology Officer, Todd Park.
The VA Blue Button Was Upgraded to Empower Veterans to Manage Their Health Care
With the January 2011 release of the VA Blue Button, registered users of My HealtheVet can now download a single file that includes these new features:
- VA Appointments (past and future) *
- Self-entered health care providers, treatment facilities and health insurance information
- Ability to customize the Blue Button download based on topics and dates
* Veterans must be in-person authenticated to access VA Appointments.
Use Blue Button in More Ways
Industry is building applications to help Veterans use their Blue Button file to better manage their health. The following companies have created applications that use Blue Button (DISCLAIMER: VA does not endorse these products or companies):
If your organization has created an application for Blue Button and would like to be added to this list, email us at VABlueButton@va.gov.
Call to Enhance Blue Button
The VA Innovation Initiative (VAi2) seeks innovative ideas that expand the types of data that Blue Button can access or that build applications to provide greater functionality to Veterans who download their data through Blue Button. For more information, please visit the VAi2 website.
For more exciting news on Blue Button, visit the White House blog post or the CMS Blue Button website.
For questions about VA’s Blue Button, please email VABlueButton@va.gov.
Post 9/11 GI Bill
The VA started accepting applications for the Post 9/11 GI Bill May 1, 2009. Certificates of Eligibility will be issued for eligible applicants, and the VA will begin making payments Aug 1, 2009.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill is for individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The Post-9/11 GI Bill will become effective for training on or after August 1, 2009.
Under the Post 9/11 GI Bill you may receive:
- cost of tuition & fees directly to the school not to exceed the maximum in-state tuition & fees at a public Institution of Higher Learning
- a monthly housing allowance based on the Basic Allowance for Housing for an E-5 with dependents according to the location (zip code) of the school.
- an annual book and supply stipend of up to $1,000.
- you may also receive a one-time rural benefit payment of $500.00 if you reside in a county with 6 persons or less per square mile (as determined by the most recent decennial census) and:
- either physically relocate at least 500 miles to attend an educational institution or
- travel by air to physically attend an educational institution if no other land-based transportation exists
The maximum basic benefit is earned after serving an aggregate of 36 months of active duty service or after 30 days of continuous service for those individuals who were discharged for a service-connected disability. Individuals serving between 90 days and 36 months of aggregate active duty service will be eligible for a percentage of the maximum benefit.
WARNING: Before you elect to change from the Montgomery GI BILL-Active Duty (MGIB-AD), Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) or the Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) to the new Post 9/11 GI Bill please contact the Kenosha County Veterans Service Office. Once you change the decision is irrevocable.
For additional Post 9/11 GI Bill detail, please contact the Kenosha County Veterans Service Office at 262-605-6693 or visit www.gibill.va.gov. Further information will be forthcoming to discuss the impact to the Wisconsin GI Bill.
Expansion of the Wisconsin Veterans and Surviving Spouses Property Tax Credit
Beginning with qualifying property taxes paid in 2009 and claimed in 2010, the Wisconsin Veterans and Surviving Spouses Property Tax Credit will be expanded by reducing the residency requirement, eliminating the age requirement, and including additional totally disabled veterans and their unremarried surviving spouses.
Here are the expanded changes:
- Otherwise qualified veterans determined by VA to be Totally Disabled due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU), and their surviving spouses
- [Current law requires the veteran to have a combined VA disability schedular rating of 100 percent]
- Otherwise qualified veterans who have been a Wisconsin resident for any consecutive 5-year period, and their surviving spouses
- [Current law requires the veteran to be a Wisconsin resident at the time of entry onto active duty]
- Otherwise qualified veterans who are less than age 65, and their surviving spouses
- [Current law requires the veteran to be at least age 65]
For more information contact the Kenosha County Veterans Services Office at 262-605-6693.
Free Access to Wisconsin State Parks and Trails for Certain Disabled Veterans and Former Prisoners of War.
Beginning in October 2008, certain disabled veterans and former Prisoners of War (POW) are eligible to receive waivers of vehicle admittance to state parks. Eligible veterans include disabled veterans with a 70 percent or greater permanent or temporary disability rating by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Also eligible are disabled veterans determined by the federal VA to be totally disabled due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU). A third group of veterans eligible to receive free admission to state parks and use of trails includes former Prisoners of War.
To apply, contact the Kenosha County Veterans Affairs Office (CVSO) at 262-605-6690. You can apply on-line but you must bring the application in to the CVSO for certification.