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In addition to the pensions and benefits to which you may be entitled because of both public and private employment, you may also be eligible for certain benefits based on your military service.

The following is a summary of veteran's benefits and what you need to know about them:

Major Veteran Benefit Programs

The Department of Veterans Affairs operates a number of programs providing financial, medical and other assistance to veterans. For Americans who received an honorable or general discharge, there are 4 major benefit programs:

There are also benefit programs concerning:

Important Documents:

If you are applying for a VA benefit for the first time you must submit a copy of your service discharge form (DD-214, DD-215, or for WWII veterans, a WD form), which documents your service dates and type of discharge, or give your full name, military service number, branch and dates of service.

Your service discharge form should be kept in a safe location accessible to the veteran and next of kin or designated representative. Your preference regarding burial in a national cemetery and use of a headstone provided by VA should be documented and kept with this information.

The following documents will be needed for claims processing related to a veteran's death:

1. veteran's marriage certificate for claims of a surviving spouse or children;

2. veteran's death certificate if the veteran did not die in a VA health care facility;

3. children's birth certificates or adoption papers to determine children's benefits;

4. veteran's birth certificate to determine parents' benefits.

VA Benefits Eligibility:

Eligibility for most VA benefits is based on discharge from active military service under other than dishonorable conditions. Active service means full-time service as a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or as a commissioned officer of the Public Health Service, the Environmental Services Administration or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Current and former members of the Selected Reserve:

You may be eligible for certain benefits, such as home loan guarantees and education, if you meet the time-in-service and other criteria.

Honorable and general discharges qualify a veteran for most VA benefits. Dishonorable and bad conduct discharges issued by general courts-martial may bar VA benefits. Veterans in prison and parolees may be eligible for certain VA benefits. VA regional offices can clarify the eligibility of prisoners, parolees and individuals with multiple discharges issued under differing conditions.

Application:

Veterans and their family members who wish to contact the Department regarding a claim, benefits, or services, may fill out question forms on the website ( http://www.va.gov), or call VA Toll-Free:

(800) 827-1000 - Phone

711 - TDD (Telecommunication Device for the Deaf)

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In addition to the pensions and benefits to which you may be entitled because of both public and private employment, you may also be eligible for certain benefits based on your military service. The following is a summary of veteran's benefits and what you need to know about them: The Department of Veterans Affairs operates a number of programs providing financial, medical and other assistance to veterans.

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Do you know how many American military members served in Iraq and Afghanistan during the last ten years? Do you know how many were killed during those wars? Just as importantly, do you know how many were injured and are now disabled veterans?
By the numbers
It is interesting to find out that the total number of service members who were in Iraq or Afghanistan was over 2.5 million Marines, Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen and National Guardsmen. Of those, nearly 6,600 were killed and over 770,000 have filed disability claims. That means that roughly 45 percent of all veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan believe they are disabled.

During the Gulf War in the 1990s, 21 percent of veterans who served filed disability claims, the number for Vietnam War veterans falls even lower. The number of disabled veterans claims from the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars are approaching the same number as claims from Vietnam, even though 58,000 service members died in the earlier war.

Why are disabled veterans claims so high?

Although there are multiple theories about the rise of disability claims from military service, one of the major issues is that service members are encouraged to file for disability when they leave the service. According to the L.A. Times the expansion of the definition of disability, in addition to the support of counselors, has led to service members filing claims for many problems that would not have been considered a disability even two decades ago.

Less restrictive and more liberal laws have led to the explosion of disability claims by veterans. During the Revolutionary War, disability payments came only when a service man lost a limb, but now, problems stemming from diabetes and sleep apnea, just to list two examples, are basis for disabled veterans claims.
Looking forward
Our country is currently locked in a crippling recession. Although the government touts increasing job numbers and decreasing unemployment, the number of people who have left the job market is the highest it has been since 1977. Instead of recovering, the economy is shrinking. Unsustainable deficits are cutting into our ability to pay our nation's current bills, let alone the ones that are coming up.

But veterans, specifically disabled veterans, shouldn't be left holding that particular bag. If you were disabled while serving your country, you deserve to have that country help you in the future. Disability payments are just one of the ways that we help.
Enter the VA
Unfortunately, the cost of these payments continues to rise. The calls to clean up and restructure the Veteran's Administration could have a detrimental effect on disabled veterans. Any time our government has decided to cut costs, bureaucrats have managed to fix it so the people who need help are the first ones to suffer, while administrators and staff maintain their perks.

There is no doubt that money is being wasted. Not just in the Veteran's Administration but also through disabled veterans claims that are not really disabilities. Sorting out those who are in actual need versus those who took advantage of the system will be, not only difficult, but a thankless task for those who do it.

Unfortunately, it needs to be done. And soon.
The National Veterans Foundation is a non-profit organization. Please donate what you can to help NVF continue its valuable work helping veterans.
MAKE A DONATION TODAY Sources:
ABC News, U.S. Veterans: By the Numbers [ https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-veterans-numbers/story?id=14928136]

Boston Globe, Almost half of new veterans seek disability claims [ https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2012/05/27/almost-half-new-veterans-seek-disability-benefits/sYQAAY00ddXBRoqfsKMheJ/story.html]

L.A. Times, With U.S. encouragement, VA disability claims rise sharply [ https://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-veterans-disability-20140713-story.html]

Stripes, VA: Major restructuring will streamline services, set standard regional boundaries [ https://www.stripes.com/va-major-restructuring-will-streamline-services-set-standard-regional-boundaries-1.325880]

Zero Hedge, 1000s Of Veterans Busted For Massive Benefits Fraud [ https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-11-01/hard-understand-1000s-veterans-busted-massive-benefits-fraud]

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What do we do with the large number of Disabled Veterans?

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Do you know how many American military members served in Iraq and Afghanistan during the last ten years? Do you know how many were killed during those wars? Just as importantly, do you know how many were injured and are now disabled veterans?

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October 14, 2015, author Lizzie Weakley - As a veteran, you face a host of unique challenges that civilian members of American society don't always understand. The lack of institutional support often means veterans find themselves in unfortunate situations with little to no outside help.

Read our guide below to learn what challenges veterans reentering civilian life face, and what the government, non-profit groups, and legal professionals are doing to help.
1. Unemployment
Many disabled veterans are unable to find solid work once they return home. Plus, veterans who joined the armed forces right after high school often don't have the education that their peers received, which puts them at a hiring disadvantage.

If you're disabled, can't find work, and need social security disability payments, contact a social security disability lawyer. Your lawyer will make sure you understand the law and get the right payment amount. If you'd like help finding a job and receiving job training, non-profit groups like Hire Heroes can help you look for a job upon your return.
2. Homelessness
Approximately one third of all homeless Americans are veterans. Veterans with untreated PTSD can develop alcohol and drug addictions, which are high-risk behaviors that can lead to deteriorating mental health and homelessness.

In other situations, disabled and/or unemployed veterans don't make enough money to pay their mortgage. If you worry about this situation, contact a social security disability attorney once you arrive home. He or she will help ensure that you get the social security payments you need.

You can also get in touch with the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, a non-profit group dedicated to helping homeless veterans find housing, health services, food, and job training.
3. Poor Mental Health
Unfortunately, suicide and depression rates remain high among members of the armed forces. This is in part because of the social stigmas attached to seeking mental health treatment, which leads to high rates of untreated PTSD in returning veterans.

If you want to seek mental health treatments or feel suicidal, call or text the Veterans Crisis Line. They understand specific mental health problems faced by veterans and can offer support.
4. Physical Injuries
Many veterans experience debilitating physical injuries that leave them unable to work. These veterans often make claims to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), but the VA is so backed up that they often can't address an individual's applications for several months, or even years.

If you find yourself in this situation click here. A good lawyer can help veterans deal with social security disability and fight for their legal rights to make sure they get the proper care and benefits. You may qualify for social security disability, which can provide you with the money you need to seek medical treatment and pay your bills.
5. Lack of Education
As mentioned above, many veterans joined the armed forces right out of high school, which means they haven't had the opportunity to receive a college education. Issues like drug or alcohol addiction, untreated PTSD, poor mental health and devastating physical injuries often keep veterans from pursuing higher education. Disabled veterans may also worry that they don't have the money to afford a college education.

If you want better educational opportunities, the organization Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America can help you understand the educational benefits you're entitled to as a U.S. veteran. You may also be able to find veteran-specific scholarships that help you complete your education.

While a variety of circumstances can make veterans' lives difficult after their service, there are resources available to help. Get in touch with a social security disability lawyer and use any of the veteran resources listed above to get help and start a successful civilian life.

Author Bio: My name is Lizzie Weakley and I am a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. I went to college at The Ohio State University where I studied communications. I enjoy the outdoors and long walks in the park with my 3 year old husky Snowball.

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The Top 5 Challenges Veterans Face Today - MilitarySpot.com

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October 14, 2015, author Lizzie Weakley - As a veteran, you face a host of unique challenges that civilian members of American society don't always understand. The lack of institutional support often means veterans find themselves in unfortunate situations with little to no outside help.

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JACKSON, Miss. - Joey Bryan can't sleep. He can't drive a car. He can barely ride in one. Crowds are out of the question.
That's not all.
"I can't be out in the open, because I feel vulnerable," Bryan said. "I feel like somebody's watching me. I can't mow the grass. I can't do household chores. I can't take out the trash, because the stench retriggers the dead smell."

The "dead smell" is a flashback to rotting corpses strewn along the battlefields of Iraq, where Bryan did two tours as a member of the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division. During his first tour, in 2003, the tank in which Bryan was riding was squared up by a rocket-propelled grenade.

Technically, he survived, but he hasn't been able to do much living.

Bryan, who resides in Brandon with his wife and two daughters, was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury shortly after he retired from the Army in 2012. He's been fired from every job he's had since, almost always within weeks of starting.

At a supplier to West Point, Ga.'s, KIA plant, he worked on the assembly line. More than once, a sudden noise ignited his reflex to hit the deck and yell for others to take cover. He lasted a month.

The same thing happened at an automotive manufacturer supplier in a similar job in Columbus, Ga., and another in Opelika, Ala.

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His last job, at a Lowe's in Gautier, ended in March 2014. "There was a customer who wanted help with paint, and I'm not a paint expert," Bryan said. "I told him that and that I would go get somebody who could help him. He said, 'Are you (expletive) stupid?' and got up in my face. I felt threatened so I grabbed him around the neck." His employment there ended that day.

Bryan doesn't blame his superiors at any of those places. They all worked with him as much as they could, he said, until they figured out he just couldn't function within the guidelines of safe and acceptable behavior. "They tried," Bryan said. "They really did. I'm not lazy. I've tried to work."

That employment history is one of the reasons his doctors at the G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Jackson, and the state Department of Rehabilitation Services, have categorized Bryan as 100% disabled, a designation that makes him unemployable. As a result, Bryan receives disability payments from the VA that total about $2,800 monthly.

The law and his diagnosed medical condition also entitle him to disability income from the Social Security Administration. His experience with that agency has been less than pleasant, Bryan and his attorneys say.

His initial application was denied, which is anything but uncommon, said Sam Montgomery, who is now in private practice representing disability applicants - Bryan is one of his clients - after spending three decades as a Social Security Administration administrative law judge. He estimates 75% of initial applications are rejected, then appealed under a procedure called reconsideration, which Montgomery described as "the people in the next cubicle reviewing the decision their co-workers made." He estimated 95% of reconsiderations are affirmed.

After that, applicants ask a SSA administrative law judge - a position Montgomery once had - to review the case and render a ruling.

Bryan made those appeals and was rejected at every step.

It starts with Bryan's 100% disability and 100% unemployability rating, Montgomery said. Every disability applicant is assigned a percentage, one that applies to the extent of whatever disability they claim and another to their fitness for work.

Anything 30% or above in either category is considered a legitimate claim and is often, but not always, approved eventually, Montgomery said. Applicants with 100% in both are usually approved in the second round, sometimes slipping into the 25% of approvals Montgomery estimated happen with the initial application, he said.

"But I've never seen somebody with 100% in both denied" at all three turns, he said. "Especially someone who's a war veteran and whose injuries are entirely because of them fighting in a war."

SSA statistics show that in 2011, 28.6% of applicants were eventually awarded disability benefits. That was the lowest award rate in a 20-year period.

The decision by the SSA's Appeals Council to deny Bryan's application exhausts his options with that agency. The only remaining remedy is to appeal the matter to federal court. Bryan, Montgomery and his other attorney, Shirley Payne, have done that, filing papers on April 30 in U.S. District Court for Mississippi's Southern District. That appeal is pending. An SSA spokesperson said the agency does not comment on active cases.

The SSA is not bound by the VA's medical findings, Payne said, though it can be used as evidence.

"There is policy being affected here," Payne said. "This is not just a case of one judge making a bad decision."

While his appeal sits in federal court, Bryan says he manages the symptoms of his PTSD and TBI as best he can with medication and by avoiding activities and situations that trigger outbursts.

It isn't easy. "Every night my wife asks me if I'm ready for bed I say, 'No, I'm afraid I'm going to hurt you in my sleep,'" Bryan said. He's woken up from nightmares - something Bryan says he has nearly every night - and exploded, tearing through his house and breaking everything his hands touch.

"If the public knew what I did, I feel like they'd be disgusted," Bryan continued. "I feel like I'm here, but I don't feel like I'm here. I always have images in my head."

"I feel like I'm here, but I don't feel like I'm here. I always have images in my head."
Joey Bryan, veteran
One of the most common is the reliving of a patrol that went badly wrong. The Humvee in front of Bryan's struck an improvised explosive device. Bryan opened one of the doors and half of a sergeant dropped out. "His bottom portion just fell into my arms," Bryan said. "It's hard to live with. I take medication, which really doesn't work. I'm always on guard at home. I check doors over and over. I always feel threatened."

Of his denials by the SSA, Bryan says they "were like a slap in the face."

"I wish I could teleport those people back to 2003 so they could see what happened over there. I feel like I didn't get a fair shake."

Bryan especially bristles at part of the order denying his appeal that implies he's an alcoholic. Administrative law judge Jim Fraiser wrote that Bryan's anxiety, panic attacks, mood swings and unpredictable behavior have been "exacerbated by alcohol abuse." Bryan, in an interview in his lawyers' office, forcefully denied that he has a problem with alcohol. "It's really offensive to me," Bryan said. "I'm not an alcoholic and I wasn't at the time. I was self-medicating. I wasn't drinking to have fun. I was blocking all the feelings of the stress, the nightmares. I even volunteered to go to rehab so I could focus on my PTSD. It helped me to kind of face my PTSD head-on."

Said Montgomery: "They got a lot of demons going on and they're trying to feel better, but that had apparently been addressed. That was not what was keeping the guy from working."

Alex Vitek knows the struggle. A former Air Force medic who spent most of 2007 in Afghanistan, Vitek spent the years after that in and out of employment and various PTSD and alcohol treatment programs. His climb out of rock bottom landed him at Camp Hope, a residential treatment program for veterans operated by the Houston, Texas-based PTSD Foundation of America.

"It's a spiritual wound as well as a mental wound," Vitek said. "We're stuck at that level where our adrenaline is pumping and the switch gets broken and doesn't turn off." Vitek worked his way through Camp Hope and now serves as its program director. The treatment curriculum is similar to the one Alcoholics Anonymous uses - a stair-stepped process that starts with admitting there's a problem and working to fix it.

For now, Bryan is in a holding pattern, the uncertainty contributing, he says, to his anxiety. "I've put my family through a lot. I have faith in the system, but not as much as I once did."
DISABLED VETS
Percentage of 100% disabled veterans who are approved for Social Security disability benefits:

* Initial claim: 52%

* Reconsideration: 16%

* Administrative hearing: 74%

* Overall: 73%
Source: Social Security Administration
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Disabled Mississippi war veteran faces battle at home

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JACKSON, Miss. - Joey Bryan can't sleep. He can't drive a car. He can barely ride in one. Crowds are out of the question. That's not all. "I can't be out in the open, because I feel vulnerable," Bryan said. "I

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9 simple ways you can help veterans  - cnn

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Most Americans will never serve in the military, but that doesn't mean they can't help. Here are nine simple ways to help veterans on Veterans Day or any day.