Veteran Services

• Am I eligible for outpatient treatment at the VA hospital?

  The VA "shall" within available appropriations, furnish hospital care and outpatient services, and "may" furnish nursing home care, to any veteran for a service-connected disability and to veterans:

  • who have a service-connected disability rated at 50% or more,
  • who have a compensable service-connected disability rated less than 50%,
  • whose discharge from active military service was for a compensable disability that was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty,
  • who are eligible for VA compensation based on a disability incurred as a VA patient or vocational rehabilitation participant,
  • who are former prisoners of war,
  • who are veterans of the Mexican border period or WWI, or
  • who have incomes below the means test threshold currently $ 30, 450 or less for a veteran with no dependents and $ 34, 800 or less for a veteran with spouse or one dependent.

  The VA "may" furnish hospital care, outpatient services, and nursing home care to all other veterans to the extent resources and facilities are available.

• Can a widow of a veteran who was drawing Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), and was terminated due to remarriage be reinstated on the benefit if their current spouse dies, or they get divorced?

  A widow becomes eligible to receive DIC benefits based on a previous marriage to a veteran if the remarriage of a surviving spouse is terminated by death, divorce, or an annulment. Certain evidence is required to establish the status of the surviving spouse as of the date of death of the veteran. Resumption of benefits can only be made from October 1, 1998 even if the cessation of the relationship occurred prior to this date. 38 CFR 3.55 (a)(i)(ii)

• Can I change my address by calling the 1-800 number?

  Yes. The call should be followed up by submitting a VA form 572 (change of address).'VA Home Page' or call Toll Free # 1-800-827-1000

• Do state employees get administrative leave for appointments for their service-connected disabilities?

  An employee who has been rated by the VA for a service-connected disability and who has been scheduled by the VA to be re-examined or treated for such disability shall, upon presentation of written confirmation of having been so scheduled, be granted administrative leave for such re-examination or treatment without loss of pay, benefits or efficiency rating not to exceed six calendar days in any calendar year. 60K-5.032(3)(I) F.A.C.

• How can I get a Florida Disabled Veteran's ID card?

  Obtain an application from the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs (FDVA). The ID cards are issued to Veterans who have been rated 100% Permanent and Total (P&T) service connected disabled either by the VA or Department of Defense. (Permanency is determined by not having a routine future examination scheduled by the VA.)'FS 295.17

• How do I get Certified Copies of discharge papers?

  If you have the original discharge paper you can take it to the Clerk of Circuit Court, Recording Records and that office can make certified copies of you discharge papers. The only catch is that the original must stay there. Also, there is a small fee involved for the copies.

• How much will my spouse receive under the Survivors Benefit Plan (SBP)?

  The maximum your spouse can receive is 55% of your gross retired pay. You should contact the Military Retiree Annuitants finance agency for further information.

• I have an honorable discharge, but have never filed a claim with the VA, and recently had an emergency room visit at my local hospital. Will the VA pay this bill?

  For the VA to be financially responsible for the hospitalization, the treatment must have been for a service-connected condition, a disability for which the veteran was discharged or released from the active military service, for disabilities associated with and held to be aggravated by a service-connected disability, or for a veteran participating in a rehabilitation program under 38 U.S.C. ch. 31. Get assistance before you need it. Reimbursement for private hospitalization also requires that VA care was not available and treatment was required due to a life threatening situation, and the VA is notified within 72 hours by a physician. 38 C.F.R. 17.50b (a) (1) (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v).

• I was treated by the VA up north, why can't I be treated in Florida too?

  The amount of money allocated for treating veterans up North is frequently greater than that in Florida, even though the number of veterans in Florida is increasing. Therefore, VA Medical Centers (VAMCs) in Florida often do not have resources to treat as many veterans as northern VAMCs do. Florida VA hospitals may have to resort to a priority system to make sure all service-connected disabled veterans get treatment first. Check with your nearest VAMC to see if they'll treat you.

• I wish to file for Agent Orange Disease, what do I do?

  You should be receiving treatment or have a diagnosis of a specific disease or disability as a result of exposure. You can take this information to your local representative and they will help you complete the forms to apply to the VA. You may want to contact the nearest VA medical center for information on the Agent Orange Registry. 38 C.F.R. 3.309 (e)

• If I get married will my pension stop?

  Not necessarily. If the pension being received is the "New Law" pension, the income of the new spouse will affect the amount of pension payable unless the income is a welfare-related benefit.'38 C.F.R 3.3 (3)

• If I select a Service Organization as my representative, are there any charges or meetings I must attend?

  Organizations selected to represent claimants before the VA must provide a statement that no charges, fees or gratuities will be charged or accepted. Membership in the organization or attendance at meetings is not required, but is permitted. 38 CFR 14.628 (e)(7).

• If my spouse dies while hospitalized in a Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) hospital or nursing home, or in a nursing home under VA contract, will the VA help defray the burial and transportation expenses?

  Yes. Any veteran who served in the United States Armed Forces and who dies after being properly admitted to a VA medical facility, a VA nursing home, or a private nursing home under VA contract is entitled to burial benefits. Transportation allowance is also available. 38 CFR 3.1605 (1)

• My husband's health is very bad, and he can't leave home without assistance. Does the VA allow any extra money for pension veterans who need help?

  An additional allowance for Special Monthly Pension (SMP) may be available at a housebound or Aid & Attendance rate. The specific amount will depend on the level of disability and the total countable family income'38 C.F.R. 3.351

• What does the VA mean when they say I must have new and material evidence? I provided a doctor's statement, isn't that new and material?

  New and material evidence means evidence not previously submitted to VA decision makers which bears directly and substantially upon the specific matter under consideration, which is neither cumulative nor redundant, and which by itself or in connection with evidence previously assembled is so significant that it must be considered in order to fairly decide the merits of the claim.'38 C.F.R. 3.156 (a)

• What is an "Appointment of Service Representative" and why do I need one?

  The VA uses a VA Form 21-22 (Appointment of Service Representative) authorizing the claimant to have professional representation in pursuing their claim with the VA. 38 CFR 1.525 (a).

• What percentage of disability compensation rating, must I have in order to draw additional allowance for dependents?

  An additional allowance for dependents is payable with a 30% or greater disability rating for compensation benefits.'38 C.F.R. 3.4 (b)(2)

• Where are the VA hospitals located in Florida?

  There are six VA hospitals located throughout Florida. They are: Gainesville, Lake City, Tampa, Bay Pines (St. Petersburg), West Palm Beach, and Miami.

• Where can I get an application for the State Nursing Home in Land O' Lakes, Florida?

  Any Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs Office or County Service Office or call the admissions office at the home. Phone #: (813) 558-5021.

• Where do I go for a military ID card?

  Contact the military installation nearest you. You need the "Pass & I.D." section. You may need to acquire a letter of disability from the VA to establish eligibility.'Sites.

• Who is eligible for non-service-connected (NSC) pension?

  Pension is a benefit payable by the VA to veterans discharged under honorable conditions who have at least ninety days of service during a period or periods of war and are disabled because of non-service-connected disabilities and whose income is below the allowable limit.'38 C.F.R 3.3 (3)