For Vietnam veterans, this is a big month, marking the 42nd year of the All-Veterans Reunion in Indiana. When the Howard Country Vietnam Veterans Organization was established in 1981, the purpose was to honor the 31 veterans from that county who had lost their lives in the Vietnam War. Today, the annual event, open to all veterans, is the oldest veterans’ reunion in the country, gathering on the “Healing Fields” property outside of Kokomo.
At Geyer Law, our way of honoring veterans and their families is by helping them get the benefits they deserve. We know that Veteran’s Benefits are among the most misunderstood and underutilized resources. Our firm’s focus is with the Veteran’s Benefits Administration, one of three areas within the Department of Veterans Affairs.
“For veterans who have sacrificed their health in service to our nation, accessing disability benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is crucial. However, the journey to approval can often feel like a maze, with each turn leading to more uncertainty,” MARCA laments. Several factors contribute to the delays in disability claims:
- a record number of claims.
- difficulties in recruiting and retaining personnel to process claims
- outdated systems
Meanwhile, the 2024 adjustment meant a veteran rated at 100% disability, with no dependents, will receives an additional $116 monthly.
At Geyer Law, our clients are often the surviving spouses of veterans who have passed, who have not remarried, whose income and net worth meet certain requirements, and are therefore eligible for a survivor’s pension. Their deceased mates may have served in Viet Nam or in the Gulf war. In addition to pensions, there are benefits available in the form of health insurance and “aid and attendance” assistance with daily living care needs.
While year-round, our Indiana attorneys offer help to veterans and their survivors, September is the month in which our thoughts turn to offering special thanks.
Kristina Shover, Associate Attorney with Rebecca W. Geyer & Associates.
