Veteran Service Officers
American Legion Post 141 is here to help. We have a Veterans Service Officer (VSO) who has resources and has connections to other resources for:
Phone: (517) 258-2167
alvso@gmail.com
Accredited American Legion VSOs are specially trained to provide expert assistance, free of charge, concerning VA disability benefits and other VA programs. But the Legion is here to help even if your question is not about the VA. The VSO has access to resources for housing, food, economic help, employment, education, transportation, transition into or out of deployment status, and for many other aspects of life that are experienced differently by veterans than by civilians who have not seen, done or been though what you and your family have.
Just because you took off the uniform doesn’t mean you are no longer part of the US military family. We had each other’s back then. We still do now.
- active duty, guard and reserve service members
- anybody with prior US military service
- immediate family of the above
- caregivers for the above
Phone: (517) 258-2167
alvso@gmail.com
Accredited American Legion VSOs are specially trained to provide expert assistance, free of charge, concerning VA disability benefits and other VA programs. But the Legion is here to help even if your question is not about the VA. The VSO has access to resources for housing, food, economic help, employment, education, transportation, transition into or out of deployment status, and for many other aspects of life that are experienced differently by veterans than by civilians who have not seen, done or been though what you and your family have.
Just because you took off the uniform doesn’t mean you are no longer part of the US military family. We had each other’s back then. We still do now.
PAST REPORTS
March 2022
Need A Big Turnout Michigan attorney Lisa H Beatty will be here at 1830 on 23 March. She’s coming here on her own time to help you understand the 5 most important documents everyone should have and to answer your questions about living wills and estate planning.
Veterans Employment Services (VES) The concept of veterans helping veterans is a trademark of the VES team and one of the keys to its success. Veterans face many challenges when transitioning out of the military – finding meaningful employment should not be one of them.
• Veterans in need of employment assistance should contact the nearest Michigan Works! One-Stop Service Center by calling 800-285-WORKS (9675) or visiting https://www.michiganworks.org/.
• More information about Veterans’ Employment Services is available at https://www.michigan.gov/leo/0,5863,7-336-94422_95539_98962---,00.html.
• Register today and start your job search at Pure Michigan Talent Connect at https://www.mitalent.org/.
Sand Box Presumptive Cancers: If you served in the southwest Asia theater of operations - Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the neutral zone between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea, and the airspace above these locations, you should file a notice of intent to file a claim with the VA if you have one of these cancers:
February 2022
Benefit Recalculation: It is true that certain benefit ratings are being recalculated. However, the changes will not apply retroactively. Your current rating will not be changed unless you do something like as for a new rating. The changes are based on the science and the data associated with aspects of illnesses as they are becoming better understood. Hearing and PTSD ratings are among those that will change. The changes are only proposed at this point anyway.
Veteran Health Care Reopened: Post 9/11 veterans were given 5 years of VA healthcare when they left active duty. Due to the passage of a slimmed down burn pit bill, all post 9/11 veterans will get one more year of free healthcare at the VA. Those who apply will be screened for all of the known problems associated with burn pits and other toxic exposures they may have experienced down range. Even if you like your private pay healthcare, still sign up and go through the screening.
Post 9/11 Veterans Dying Fast: Post 9/11 veterans are dying at a faster rate than Americans overall. Those who experienced traumatic brain injury are the most at risk. Post 9/11 veterans are committing suicide at double the rate of the American population. Please keep your eye on our post 9/11 brothers and sisters.
Speaking of Veteran Suicide: The VA has a new suicide prevention strategy. You can read about HERE.
Goal 7 of the plan is to provide training to community and clinical service providers on the prevention of suicide and related behaviors. The VA thinks all community-based and clinical suicide prevention professionals whose work brings them into contact with Veterans at risk for suicide should be trained on military culture, how to address suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and how to respond to those who have been affected by suicide. Once this training becomes available, I’ll let you know. We should get this training.
January 2022
From the Veterans Benefits Newsletter: Solid Start
The VA is calling every newly separated service member three times during their first year of separation. From help getting a home loan, to health care, to returning to work, to mental health support – the VA is here for you. It’s your call. Qualified VA representatives will be reaching out to help you better understand the benefits available to you and help you get a solid start on your civilian life. VA is on the line – take the call!
https://benefits.va.gov/transition/solid-start.asp
National Personnel Records Center Update:
Since covid, the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) has been running at less than 15% capacity. It increased to 25% in September and is now up to 45%. Due to the lack of personnel, NPRC is processing requests that were made in November of 2019. If you need something from your records in a hurry, go to your e-benefits website and look there. Not signed up yet? Click here:
https://myaccess.dmdc.osd.mil/identitymanagement/registration.do?execution=e1s1
Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency may have what you need, including your DD-214. Contact them at 800-642-4838. Also, your DD-214 may be on file in the county you came home to after your service. Check with the register of deeds there.
Free Premium Linked In: LinkedIn offers U.S. veterans a free one-year Premium Careers subscription, including access to LinkedIn Learning.
To be eligible for this offer, you must meet all of the following requirements:
https://socialimpact.linkedin.com/programs/veterans/premiumform
VA Response Time Rules Change:
I’ve had a couple people ask what to do when they receive a letter that was dated months ago and says they have 30 days or more to respond. The delay is a dual problem. The company that is contracted by the VA to produce the letters is having difficulty. When the documents finally get to the post office, they are also held up longer because of the post office delivery timeframe. The VA is aware of both issues. They have said they are automatically extending the deadlines for any of the letters it sends by an additional 90 days. When you receive something that requires a response, complete it immediately and send it back as quickly as you reasonably can. Most forms have a “comment” box on them. It’s a good idea to mention the date you received the demand letter and the date of the demand letter in the comments box of your reply form.
March 2022
Need A Big Turnout Michigan attorney Lisa H Beatty will be here at 1830 on 23 March. She’s coming here on her own time to help you understand the 5 most important documents everyone should have and to answer your questions about living wills and estate planning.
Veterans Employment Services (VES) The concept of veterans helping veterans is a trademark of the VES team and one of the keys to its success. Veterans face many challenges when transitioning out of the military – finding meaningful employment should not be one of them.
• Veterans in need of employment assistance should contact the nearest Michigan Works! One-Stop Service Center by calling 800-285-WORKS (9675) or visiting https://www.michiganworks.org/.
• More information about Veterans’ Employment Services is available at https://www.michigan.gov/leo/0,5863,7-336-94422_95539_98962---,00.html.
• Register today and start your job search at Pure Michigan Talent Connect at https://www.mitalent.org/.
Sand Box Presumptive Cancers: If you served in the southwest Asia theater of operations - Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the neutral zone between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea, and the airspace above these locations, you should file a notice of intent to file a claim with the VA if you have one of these cancers:
- Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the larynx;
- SCC of the trachea;
- Adenocarcinoma of the trachea;
- Salivary gland-type tumors of the trachea;
- Adenosquamous carcinoma of the lung;
- Large cell carcinoma of the lung;
- Salivary gland-type tumors of the lung;
- Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the lung and;
- Typical and atypical carcinoid of the lung.
February 2022
Benefit Recalculation: It is true that certain benefit ratings are being recalculated. However, the changes will not apply retroactively. Your current rating will not be changed unless you do something like as for a new rating. The changes are based on the science and the data associated with aspects of illnesses as they are becoming better understood. Hearing and PTSD ratings are among those that will change. The changes are only proposed at this point anyway.
Veteran Health Care Reopened: Post 9/11 veterans were given 5 years of VA healthcare when they left active duty. Due to the passage of a slimmed down burn pit bill, all post 9/11 veterans will get one more year of free healthcare at the VA. Those who apply will be screened for all of the known problems associated with burn pits and other toxic exposures they may have experienced down range. Even if you like your private pay healthcare, still sign up and go through the screening.
Post 9/11 Veterans Dying Fast: Post 9/11 veterans are dying at a faster rate than Americans overall. Those who experienced traumatic brain injury are the most at risk. Post 9/11 veterans are committing suicide at double the rate of the American population. Please keep your eye on our post 9/11 brothers and sisters.
Speaking of Veteran Suicide: The VA has a new suicide prevention strategy. You can read about HERE.
Goal 7 of the plan is to provide training to community and clinical service providers on the prevention of suicide and related behaviors. The VA thinks all community-based and clinical suicide prevention professionals whose work brings them into contact with Veterans at risk for suicide should be trained on military culture, how to address suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and how to respond to those who have been affected by suicide. Once this training becomes available, I’ll let you know. We should get this training.
January 2022
From the Veterans Benefits Newsletter: Solid Start
The VA is calling every newly separated service member three times during their first year of separation. From help getting a home loan, to health care, to returning to work, to mental health support – the VA is here for you. It’s your call. Qualified VA representatives will be reaching out to help you better understand the benefits available to you and help you get a solid start on your civilian life. VA is on the line – take the call!
https://benefits.va.gov/transition/solid-start.asp
National Personnel Records Center Update:
Since covid, the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) has been running at less than 15% capacity. It increased to 25% in September and is now up to 45%. Due to the lack of personnel, NPRC is processing requests that were made in November of 2019. If you need something from your records in a hurry, go to your e-benefits website and look there. Not signed up yet? Click here:
https://myaccess.dmdc.osd.mil/identitymanagement/registration.do?execution=e1s1
Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency may have what you need, including your DD-214. Contact them at 800-642-4838. Also, your DD-214 may be on file in the county you came home to after your service. Check with the register of deeds there.
Free Premium Linked In: LinkedIn offers U.S. veterans a free one-year Premium Careers subscription, including access to LinkedIn Learning.
To be eligible for this offer, you must meet all of the following requirements:
- Be a current or former U.S. military service member (non-US military are not eligible).
- Have not used the LinkedIn veteran promotion previously (one promotion per service member).
- You must not have a current LinkedIn Premium subscription.
https://socialimpact.linkedin.com/programs/veterans/premiumform
VA Response Time Rules Change:
I’ve had a couple people ask what to do when they receive a letter that was dated months ago and says they have 30 days or more to respond. The delay is a dual problem. The company that is contracted by the VA to produce the letters is having difficulty. When the documents finally get to the post office, they are also held up longer because of the post office delivery timeframe. The VA is aware of both issues. They have said they are automatically extending the deadlines for any of the letters it sends by an additional 90 days. When you receive something that requires a response, complete it immediately and send it back as quickly as you reasonably can. Most forms have a “comment” box on them. It’s a good idea to mention the date you received the demand letter and the date of the demand letter in the comments box of your reply form.
