Veterans Aid and Attendance Pension Attorney, Houston, TX

mother veteran, dad, and two sons smiling holding american flags veterans benefits

It’s common knowledge that veterans are entitled to certain benefits after serving in the armed forces. However, veterans and their families are often unaware of just how many benefits they can access. The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers a range of benefits to veterans and their families, even if the veterans did not directly retire from the military or suffer injuries in the line of duty.

Veterans Benefits offered to eligible beneficiaries include:

  • Burial and Memorial:  The Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense provide several memorial and burial services for eligible active-duty, Reserve, Guard, retired and veteran members. It’s important for veterans and their families to be aware of these benefits before they are needed so they can make the appropriate plans. That way, families don’t spend money where it isn’t needed.
     
  • Death Pension: The VA Death Pension is a benefit paid to eligible dependents of deceased wartime veterans.
     
  • Dependency and Indemnity Compensation: This is a monthly benefit paid to eligible survivors of certain deceased veterans.
  • Disability Compensation:  Certain military veterans with a service-related disability may qualify for regular monthly benefits. These benefits are generally tax-free and are paid to veterans who have injuries or diseases that occurred while on active duty, or were aggravated and made worse by active military service. It is also paid to certain veterans disabled as a result of care provided by VA medical facilities.
  • Employment & Training: The Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Labor and the Department of Education all have a number of employment, education, and training programs for veterans. These programs include The Montgomery G.I. Bill – Active Duty, The Montgomery G.I. Bill – Selected Reserve, Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program (VEAP), Veterans Upward Bound and Veterans’ Employment and Training.
     
  • Parents DIC:  Parents’ Dependency and Indemnity Compensation is an income-based monthly benefit for the parents of a military service member or veteran who has died.
  • Special Monthly Compensation:  Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) is a monetary compensation (in addition to the regular VA Disability Compensation) to a veteran who, as a result of military service, incurred the loss or the loss of use of specific organs or extremities. Loss, or loss of use, is described as either an amputation or having no effective remaining function of an extremity or organ.
  • Survivor Benefits:  Surviving family members of a veteran may face financial difficulty. Survivors are entitled to some benefits that can help ease their financial hardship. When a loved one dies, it can be emotionally difficult to look into available benefits, but this process should be done as soon as possible to prevent eligibility problems.
  • Veterans Health Care:  The Veterans’ Health Care Eligibility Reform Act was passed by Congress in October of 1996, paving the way for the Medical Benefits Package plan to be made available to all enrolled veterans. The Medical Benefits Package emphasizes preventive and primary care and offers a full range of inpatient and outpatient services.

    In addition, combat veterans returning from active military service may be eligible to receive free health care services and nursing home care for up to two years, beginning on the date of separation from active military service. This benefit covers all illnesses and injuries except those clearly unrelated to military service. Dental services are not included in this health care package.
  • Veterans Life Insurance:  Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) is a program which provides low cost group life insurance to service members on active duty, ready reservists, members of the National Guard, members of the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Public Health Service, cadets and midshipmen of the four service academies and members of the Reserve Officer Training Corps.

Unfortunately, many eligible beneficiaries are denied these benefits when a claim is filed. Applicants should be aware that the decisions for these claims can be appealed by veterans and their eligible family members. The process for appeals generally begins with the Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA) in Washington, D.C. Once a claim has been filed and consequently denied, the veteran or other potentially eligible beneficiary has sixty days to file for an appeal with their regional office.

Legislation was passed and came into effect on June 20, 2007 which provides veterans the option of retaining an attorney after the first denial by the Department of Veterans Affairs at the “Notice of Disagreement” (NOD) stage.

Navigating the benefits claims and appeals process alone can be difficult. If you are a veteran, and you or your family have been denied benefits to which you believe you are entitled, it is in your best interest to contact a Houston veterans benefits attorney to assist you with the application and appeals process.

Attorney Nancy Stone assists clients with Elder Law, Medicaid Planning, and Estate Planning throughout Harris County, TX. I am now based in Sugar Land and serve all of Houston, Harris County, Bellaire, Jersey Village, Cypress, West University, The Heights, Pearland, Alvin, Sugar Land, Missouri City, Kingwood, Humble, The Woodlands, Spring, Tomball, Richmond, Rosenberg Pasadena, Baytown, La Porte, Clear Lake, Texas City, Katy, Friendswood, Stafford, as well as Fort Bend County, Brazoria County, Montgomery County, Galveston County, Liberty County, Chambers County, Waller County and throughout Southeast TX.