THE AMERICAN VETERANS AND SERVICEMEMBERS SURVIVAL GUIDE ppt

For American veterans, servicemembers and their families


HOW TO CUT THROUGH THE
BUREAUCRACY AND GET WHAT
YOU NEED— AND ARE
ENTITLED TO

By Veterans for America
With a foreword by Bobby Muller

Copyright © 2009 National Veterans Legal Services Program
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by
any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval
systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer,
who may quote brief passages in a review.




ISBN-13: to be determined
ISBN-10: to be determined

Printed in the United States of America
Veterans for America
www.veteransforamerica.org


A Note to Our Readers
One key feature of this book is one you already know. You’re reading the book
on your computer screen. Two of the authors of this book were among the
authors of a 1985 national bestseller, The Viet Vet Survival Guide. The earlier
book was published on paper, in the traditional manner. This book is an e-
book, published on the Web site of its sponsor, Veterans for America (VFA).
Publishing online allows for updating as needed, not just when a new edition

might come out in a matter of years. Further, VFA can publish additional
chapters as needed. Publishing online also enables VFA to provide the book
not in bookstores at a substantial price, but rather without charge to those who
have served their country and to their family members and friends.



Contents
ByVeteransforAmerica 3
WithaforewordbyBobbyMuller 3
Copyright©2009NationalVeteransLegalServicesProgram 5
ISBN‐13:tobedetermined 5
PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica 5
ANotetoOurReaders 7
Contents 9
Acknowledgments 23
ProjectManagement 24
Foreword 25
Introduction 28
AContractWithServicemembersAndVeterans 32
ANew,Web‐BasedGuidebook 32
ChapterOneBasicSurvivalSkills 36
HowtoUsethisBook 36
ByCraigKubeyandPaulSullivan 36
Lifeisunfair. 36
QualifyingForBenefits 37
TypeofDischarge 38
TypeofService 38
ServiceinWartime 39
OtherRules 39

DealingwiththeVAandOtherAgencies 40
GettingHelp 43
YouCan’tHaveEverything 47
GetYourRecords 47
BePatient,BePractical 48
The American Veterans and Servicemembers Survival Guide 10

Squeak 48
NextStep 49
ChapterTwoTheDepartmentofVeteransAffairs 51
WhattheVAWon’tDo 54
LocatingaVAfacilitynearyou 55
OtherimportantfactsabouttheVA 56
FinalthoughtsabouttheVA 60
ChapterThreeService‐ConnectedCompensation 62
Introduction 62
A1.GeneralRequirementsforVABenefits 63
a) ActiveMilitaryServiceRequirement 63
b) DischargeRequirements 64
c)BarstoBenefits 65
d)WillfullMisconduct 67
e)Length‐of‐ServiceRequirements 67
f)Eligibilityof FamilyMembers 68
g)Spouses 69
h)Children 70
i)DependentParents 70
A2.Service‐ConnectedDisabilityCompensation 70
a) CurrentDisability 71
b)In‐ServiceDisease,InjuryorEvent 72
c)SpecialCombatRule 73

d)LinkBetweenDisabilityandService 73
3b.SpecificWar‐Related“Latent”Diseases,SymptomsandIssuesRelatingto
ExposuretoToxicSubstancesandEnvironmentalHazards 80

1)NuclearRadiation‐RelatedDiseases 82
2)AgentOrange‐RelatedDiseases 86
3)UndiagnosedIllnessesfromtheGulfWarandIraqWar 94
4)Post‐TraumaticStressDisorder 97
b)CompensationofPTSDClaimsandSecondaryDisordersRelatedtoPTSD 125
5)Desert‐BorneDiseasesRelatingtoServiceinSouthwestAsia 129
6)AdverseReactionstoAnthraxandOtherInoculations 129
7)ExposureofMilitaryPersonnelto“ProjectSHAD”Experiments 130
8)ExposuretoDepletedUranium 130
9)EffectofTraumaticBrainInjuries 131
10)Anti‐MalariaDrugs(Larium) 132
11)ChronicPain 133
The American Veterans and Servicemembers Survival Guide 11

ChapterFourNeed‐BasedPensionforLow‐IncomeVeteransor
Survivors 155

VAPensionEligibilityRequirements 156
TheVeteranMustBeDischargedUnderOtherThanDishonorableConditions 157
WillfulMisconduct 158
ServiceRequirements 158
PermanentandTotalDisabilityRequirement 159
IncomeandNetWorthLimits 160
InitiatingaClaimforImprovedPension 161
SpecialMonthlyPension 162
SpecialIssuesforElderlyVeterans 163

Old‐LawPension 164
Non‐Service‐ConnectedDeathPension 165
EligibilityforDeathPension 165
ApplyingforNon‐Service‐ConnectedDeathPension 166
AnnualReportsforImprovedPensionBeneficiaries 167
ChapterFive.ExplainingtheVAClaimsandAppealsProcess 169
Introduction 169
ChapterSixVAAttemptstoRecover“Overpayments” 190
Introduction 190
Overpayments 190
CollectionProcess 192
DisputingtheExistenceorAmountoftheDebt 193
Waivers 193
CompromiseOfferstoSettletheDebt 195
HomeLoanDebts 195
ReleaseofLiability 197
ChapterSevenEducationalAssistanceandVocationalRehabilitation
199

VAEducation 200
“Time,time,time’snotonyourside” 201
Eligibility 202
EducationalPrograms 205
HowtoapplyforG.I.Billbenefits 207
TuitionAssistance(T/A) 207
TuitionWaivers 207
VocationalRehablitationandEmployment(VR&E)Program 207
War‐DeployedNationalGuardAndReservists 208
The American Veterans and Servicemembers Survival Guide 12

TypeofDischarge 209
HelpfulHints 209
KeyPhone NumbersandWebSites 210
ChapterEightVAHousingPrograms 213
Introduction 213
VALoans 214
BenefitsofVALoansvs.ConventionalLoan 215
UsesforVALoans 218
EligibilityforVALoans 219
VALoanApplication,QualificationandApproval 220
ForeclosureandHowtoAvoidIt 222
SellingaHomePurchasedWithaVALoan 225
SpeciallyAdaptedHousingGrantProgram 225
StateLoanProgramsforVeterans 227
VeteransHomesandDomiciliaryFacilities 228
StateVeteransHomes 229
DomiciliaryCare 230
RecentUpdatesintheLawsAffectingVeteransandHousing 230
VeteransBenefitsInitiativesinthePrivateSector 232
DisasterAdviceforVeteranHomeowners 232
ChapterNineVAMedicalCare 235
VAHealthCareServices 236
InformedConsent,PrivacyandVAHealthCare 236
EnrollmentForVAHealthCare 238
EnrollmentPriorityGroups 239
VeteransEntitledToFreeVAHospitalAndOutpatientCare 240
EnhancedCombatVeteranHealthCareBenefits 241
IfYouHaveToPayForVAHealthCare 241
VAPharmacyAndMedicationServices 243
ProstheticsandSensoryAids 243

NursingHomeCareBenefits 245
VADomiciliaryCare 247
BreakingScheduledVAHealthCareAppointments 248
ReimbursementofNon‐VAUnauthorizedMedicalExpenses 248
TransportationCostsandTemporaryLodgingAssociatedwithVAMedicalCare . 249
RegistryPrograms 249
Non‐VATreatmentForDrugAndAlcoholProblems 250
MedicalServicesforDependentsandSurvivorsOfVeterans 250
The American Veterans and Servicemembers Survival Guide 13

AppealingVAHealthCareDecisions 251
ChapterTenVAProgramsforVeterans’FamilyMembersandSurvivors
254

Introduction 254
QualifyingFamilyRelationships 255
BenefitsAvailableWhenaVeteranDieswithaPendingClaim 257
EducationalAssistanceforSpouseandChildrenofVeterans 263
“Transferred”MontgomeryGIBillEducationBenefits 265
ChapterElevenEmployment,Self‐EmploymentandtheSmallBusiness
Administration 268

EmploymentandtheSmallBusinessAdministration 268
DistrictOfficeVeteransBusiness DevelopmentOfficers(VBDOS) 271
BusinessManagementTraining&TechnicalAssistance 271
FinancialAssistance 274
SBA’sInvestmentPrograms 277
BusinessPlanningandDisasterAssistanceForSmallBusinesseswhoEmployorare
OwnedbyMilitaryReservists 279
GovernmentProcurement 280

ContactsandRepresentatives 281
ImportantDefinitions 284
EmploymentServicesandUnemploymentBenefits 291
StateEmploymentService 292
Community‐BasedOrganizations 293
TransitionAssistanceProgram(TAP) 294
UnemploymentBenefits 296
ChapterTwelveRe‐EmploymentRightsandAssociatedRightsforTime
SpentinMilitaryService 298

ByCaptainSamuelF.Wright,JAGC,USN(Ret.) 298
FederalLawGivesYoutheRightToReturnToTheJobYouLeftToGoOn
MilitaryDuty 298

TowhatemployersdoesUSERRAapply? 299
ConditionsThatYouMustMeetToHaveTheRightToReemployment 300
LeavingCivilianJobforThePurposeofService 300
PriorNoticetotheCivilianEmployer 301
Five‐YearLimitontheDurationofthePeriodorPeriodsofService,WithThat
Employer 302

ReleasefromServiceUnderHonorableConditions 303
ReturningtoWorkinaTimelyManner 303
The American Veterans and Servicemembers Survival Guide 14

EntitlementsoftheReturningVeteran 304
PromptReinstatement 304
ContinuousAccumulationofSeniority 305
StatusoftheReturningVeteran 307
ReinstatementofYourCivilianHealthInsuranceCoverage 308

ProtectionfromDischargeafterReemployment 309
AccommodationsforReturningDisabledVeterans 309
DiscriminationProhibited 310
38U.S.C.4311 311
AssistanceAndEnforcement 311
ChapterThirteenHomelessVeteranPrograms 314
ByJohnDriscoll 314
GettingStarted 314
RequestingInformation 315
MailingAddress 316
WheretoGoForHelp 316
Housing 316
ForVeteransOnly 316
ForVeteransandNon‐Veterans 317
ForVeteransandNon‐Veterans 317
Ifeligibleforveteransbenefits 318
Ifineligibleforveteran’sbenefits 318
Specialhealthinformationforveterans 318
SubstanceAbuseandMentalHealthTreatment 320
Ifeligibleforveteransbenefits 320
Employment 320
ForVeteransOnly 320
ForVeteransandNon‐Veterans 322
OtherAssistance 322
ForVeteransOnly 323
ForVeteransandNon‐Veterans 323
FinancialHelp 324
ForVeteransOnly 324
The American Veterans and Servicemembers Survival Guide 15

ForVeteransandNon‐Veterans 324

LegalHelp 325
ReplacingPersonalRecords 326
SeekingFederalBenefits 328
EligibilityforVABenefits 328
HelpSeekingBenefits 328
SeekingVACompensationorPension 329
TheAmericanLegion 329
Toll‐FreeandOtherNumbers 330
DepartmentofVeteransAffairs 330
Benefits:(800)827‐1000 330
FocusonRecoveryHelpline 331
Foodstampsinformationline 331
NationalAIDSHotline 331
NationalAlliancefortheMentallyIll 331
NationalCoalitionforHomelessVeterans 331
NationalCrisisHotline 331
NationalMentalHealthAssociation 331
NationalPersonnelRecordsCenterfaxline 331
NationalSuicideSupportNumber 331
SupplementalSecurityIncome(SSI)informationline 331
TravelersAidInternational 331
ChapterFourteenVeteransintheCriminalJusticeSystem 333
BeforeTrial 334
AtTrial 335
InsanityDefense 336
OtherDefenses 337
Sentencing 337
AfterTrial 338

ReducingtheSentence 338
SeekingaNewTrial 338
Appeal 339
The American Veterans and Servicemembers Survival Guide 16

HabeasCorpus 339
Parole 340
InPrison(OrJail) 340
HelpForLawyers 344
ChapterFifteenUpgradingLess‐Than‐Fully‐HonorableDischarges 346
Introduction 346
Mythsaboutdischargesandupgrading 348
Aquicklookatdischarges 349
Dischargeupgradesinanutshell 351
Choosingthebestapproach 352
Legalstandardsandpresumptions 353
GettingStarted 354
Earlypreparation….ifyouareabouttobedischarged 357
Moreevidence 359
Arguments 359
Hearings 366
Furtherreview 368
Bywayofconclusion 369
ChapterSixteenCorrectingMilitaryRecordsandRelatedIssues 372
BoardsforCorrectionofMilitaryRecords 373
DeadlineandExhaustionofotherRemedies 375
HowtoApplyforCorrectionofRecords 375
BCMRDecisionProcess 378
ChangingaBadDecision 380
BCMRsandCourts‐Martial 381

DisabilitySeparationandDisabilityRetirement 382
ChangingorDeletingAdverseEntriesonYourSeparationDocuments(DDForm
214) 385
AppealingOldCourt‐MartialConvictions 391
GroundsforAppeal 392
FaultyDrugTests 395
GettingYourMedals 396
ChapterSeventeenGettingYourMilitaryRecords 398
RecordLocations 402
ChapterEighteenEarlyDischargeorSeparation 409
Introduction 409
DelayedEntryProgramandDelayedTrainingProgram 411
DischargesOverview 412
The American Veterans and Servicemembers Survival Guide 17

CharacterizationofDischarges 412
ReasonsforDischarge 414
RECodes 414
UncharacterizedDischarges 415
EntryLevelSeparation 415
VoidEnlistments. 416
Discharges 416
EnlistmentIrregularities: 416
DischargesforDisability(oftenerroneouslyreferredtoas“medicaldischarges”)
and“Otherdesignatedphysicalormentalconditions.” 418
HardshipandDependencyDischarges 419
SurvivingSonorDaughter 422
PregnancyandChildbirth 422
Parenthood 423
Misconduct 425

UnsatisfactoryPerformance 427
DischargesforAWOLorUA 427
Don’tAsk;Don’tTell:Homosexuality 429
ConscientiousObjectors 430
Miscellaneous 434
ChapterNineteenDisabilitySeparationandRetirement 436
OutcomesandRatings 437
PhysicalDisabilityEvaluationSystem(PDES) 440
MedicalEvaluationBoard 441
PhysicalEvaluationBoard 444
Post‐PDESOptions 449
RelationshipBetweenDODandVABenefits 450
Conclusion 453
References 454
ChapterTwentyAdviceforFamiliesandCaregiversofWounded
ServicemembersandVeterans 456

Introduction 456
TravelandTransportationOrders(T&Tos) 457
EmergencyNumbers 458
ContactingFamilyandFriends 459
FamilyDynamics:Whoisincharge? 459
DealingwithHospitals,Doctorsand MedicalStaff 461
UnderstandingtheABCsofMilitaryAcronyms 465
BombardedbytheMediaandOrganizations 466
The American Veterans and Servicemembers Survival Guide 18

Yournewtitle:Caregiver 467
Focusonwhatyoucancontrol 467
EmpowerYourself 472

HowtoAdvocateEffectively 473
PayingtheBills:EmergencyFundsandDisabilityInsurance 476
VeteransHealthAdministration(VHA) 481
PlanningfortheFuture 483
CaregiverAssistance 485
AdjustingtotheFamilyImpact 488
PersonalNotefromtheAuthor,CherylR.M.Lynch 491
Editor’sNote: 492
ChapterTwenty‐OneTheServicemembersCivilReliefAct 493
ByMarkE.Sullivan 493
• Terminationofapre‐serviceresidentiallease;and 493
GeneralReliefProvisions 494
2. GivesadatewhentheSMwillbeavailabletoappear,and 494
1. TheSM’scurrentmilitarydutypreventsappearance,and 494
InterestRates 495
Rent,InstallmentContracts,Mortgages,LiensandLeases 495
LifeInsurance 496
Taxes 496
GuardandReserveMembers 497
SpecialConsiderations–Mobilization,DeploymentandFamilySupport 497
ChapterTwenty‐TwoBenefitsforActive‐DutyServicemembers’
Families 509

ChapterTwenty‐ThreeVotingRightsIssues 511
ByCaptainSamuelF.Wright,JAGC,USN(Ret.) 511
Vote, and Make Sure Your Vote is Counted 511
WhereamItovote? 513
HowamItovote? 518
TheFederalWrite‐InAbsenteeBallot—WhatToDoIfYourBallotIsLate 521
VotingInformationCenter 522

ChapterTwenty–FourNationalGuardandReserveCall‐UpIssues 525
Or:UncleSamWantsYou...Back!:RecallandMobilizationfromInactive
Duty 525

The American Veterans and Servicemembers Survival Guide 19

ByBrianBaldrate 525

InactiveDuty 526
InvoluntaryMobilizationfromInactiveDuty 527
FailingtoReport,Delays,Deferment,Exemption,&Separation 529
AFI10‐402,MobilizationPlanning(January1,1997); 534
ChapterTwenty‐FiveFamilyLawIssuesforServicemembers 536
GoingtoCourt 537
Gettinginformationforyourcase 538
“We’regoingtocourt!” 539
Alternativestotrial 540
Paternity 542
CustodyandVisitation 542
Custody—WhereToFile 543
ModificationofCustody 544
Child‐Snatching 544
VisitationRights 544
JointCustody 544
GettingJointCustodyinCourt 546
AttorneyFees 547
Custody,theSingleParent,andEnlistment 547
DeploymentandFamilyCarePlans 549
ChildSupport 551
MedicalCare—AHiddenFactor 555

AProblemofDefinitions 556
CollegeExpenses 557
ChildrenandTaxes 558
AttorneyFees 559
FinalPointers 559
Divorce 560
SeparationAgreements 561
Procedures 561
LimitationsofaSeparationAgreement 562
Alimony 563
PropertyDivision 564
DivisionofDebts 565
MilitaryPensionDivision 566
GarnishmentfromDFAS 566
Howmuch,howlong? 567
The American Veterans and Servicemembers Survival Guide 20

SurvivorBenefitPlan 567
“LockingIn”SBP 568
CostsandParticipation 569
SBPBenefitsandDisadvantages 569
MedicalBenefits 570
FindingaLawyer 571
ChapterTwenty‐SixWomenServicemembersandVeterans 574
Introduction 574
WomenintheMilitary 575
SexualHarassmentintheMilitary 575
SexualAssaultandRapeInTheMilitary 582
UsefulRegulationsonSexualAssault: 583
Women’sHealthCareintheMilitary 588

DeploymentConcerns 589
DischargesRelatedtoFamilyConcerns 590
WomenVeterans 591
DisabilityCompensation 599
Conclusion 602
ChapterTwenty‐SevenOverviewoftheUniformCodeofMilitary
Justice 605

ServicememberRights 606
Non‐JudicialPunishment(“NJP”oran“Article15”) 608
Courts‐Martial 610
SentencingPhaseoftheTrial 613
ReviewandAppeals 614
Article138,UCMJ(RedressofGrievances) 615
SeekLegalCounsel(ThisisButaBriefOverview) 616
ChapterTwenty‐EightImmigration,ObtainingU.S.Citizenshipthrough
MilitaryService 617

Introduction 617
NaturalizationRequirements 619
TheAgeRequirement 619
TheContinuousResidenceRequirement 619
ContinuousResidenceRulesDuringPeriodsofActiveHostilities 619
ContinuousResidenceDuringPeacetimeService 620
ContinuousResidenceRequirementsforOtherthanActive‐DutyServicemembers
620

ThePhysicalPresenceRequirement 621
The American Veterans and Servicemembers Survival Guide 21

TheGoodMoralCharacterRequirement 621
TheEnglishLanguageRequirement 623
TheCivicKnowledgeRequirement 624
OathofAllegiancetotheUnitedStates 624
DualCitizenship 624
PosthumousNaturalizationandBenefitsfortheFamilyofDeceased
Servicemembers 625

ApplicationProcedures 625
WheretoGetHelpwithYourNaturalizationApplication 626
APPENDIX 629
LegalServicesandotherFormsofRepresentationforVeterans,
Servicemembers,andTheirFamilies.Also,GeneralandEmergencyServices
629

I.NationalOrganizations 630
NationalVeteransLegalServiceProgram:LawyersServingWarriors 634
OperationEnduringLAMP 634
Operation Enduring Lamp is a project of the American Bar Associations
Standing Committee on Legal Assistance for Military Personnel. 634

UnitedStatesCourtofAppealsforVeteransClaims 635


Acknowledgments
To all those volunteer writers who contributed to the book and clients
whose troubles over the years have helped the writers learn what they put in
this book.
Some concepts in this book were borrowed from The Viet Vet Survival
Guide, published in 1985 by Ballantine Books. Two of the authors of that

book, Craig Kubey and David F. Addlestone, are among the collaborators
on the current book. Also authoring the previous book were Richard E.
O'Dell, Keith D. Snyder, and Barton F. Stichman. Of critical importance to
that book was its literary agent, F. Joseph Spieler.
We also acknowledge the wide variety of essential help given to this
project by the sponsoring organization, Veterans for America, and its staff.
Of special importance were, in alphabetical order, President and founder
Bobby Muller, researcher Kaya Sanchez-Harvey, book designer / typesetter
Charles Sheehan-Miles, and communications director Adrienne Willis. VFA
also arranged for Alison Schwartz to help edit the typeset pages; we are
grateful to her too.
The American Veterans and Servicemembers Survival Guide 24


Project Management
Craig Kubey has co-managed the project, editing all material in the book
(occasionally after David Addlestone has done a preliminary edit),
prompting collaborators, co-authoring the introduction, writing other "front
matter," and co-authoring the "Basic Survival Skills" chapter.

David F. Addlestone has co-managed the project, recruiting and later
following up with the experts who have become our collaborators; writing
the chapters on veterans in the criminal justice system and on correcting
military records; co-authoring the subchapter on PTSD and the chapter on
the Uniform Code of Military Justice; and outlining the book.


Foreword
By Robert Muller
President

Veterans for America

spent a year in the Kingsbridge Veterans Administration hospital,
located in New York City, learning how to live life as a paraplegic
confined to a wheelchair. I had been shot in Vietnam, where I served
as a Marine infantry officer.
My ward was the focus of a cover story in Life magazine which
portrayed the conditions within the veterans hospital as a “medical slum.”
We had a lot of national media attention, congressional hearings, and a lot
of promises. The despair, lack of proper care, and general indifference from
the hospital and the Veterans Administration finally became too much for
my closest friend to take. He committed suicide, as did several of the other
vets I knew. They had been beaten down by a bureaucracy that didn’t
respond to their needs, and they were too overwhelmed to battle on.
I knew then that if I didn’t fight the “system,” it would eventually
overwhelm me. So I began to fight back for myself and for others who
needed a voice and an advocate. I’m still fighting for basic justice to this day.
It’s a hard and bitter lesson that all too often, despite honorable service
and real sacrifices, one has to fight the military itself or the Department of
Veterans Affairs (the successor to the Veterans Administration), the two
largest agencies in our government, to get earned and needed benefits and
I