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The VA Holds Its First Virtual Women Veterans Forum There have been women in the United States Army since the Revolutionary War, and women continue to serve in it today. According to the Defense Department, women now make up 20% of the Air Force, 19% of the Navy, 15% of the Army, and almost 9% of the Marine Corps. Women now make up approximately 10% of the current…

Active Duty and Active Duty Guard Members Every time a service member is given medical care from a military medical facility, including the very first physical examination each one must take part in during the initiation stages of service, the specifics are documented in their military medical record. Medical records are important for the VA…

The Veterans Administration (VA) special monthly compensation (SMC) is a higher rate of compensation that the VA pays to Veterans as well as their spouses, surviving spouses, and parents with certain needs or disabilities. How the VA Assigns SMC Levels The VA assigns SMC levels based on very specific situations and combinations of situations, including:…

Can I Receive Disability for a Service-Connected Foot Injury? If you have chronic pain as a result of your military service, you may want to sharpen your pencil and look at filing a claim. The most common service-connected injuries include: Loss of use/Amputation Broken bones Flat foot (pes planus) Claw foot Hammertoe Metatarsalgia (Morton’s disease)…

Virtual Hearings Now Underway The Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) has launched a new virtual hearing option, providing Veterans with the flexibility, convenience, and access of attending Board hearings with Veterans Law Judges (VLJs) and Veteran representatives from a personal computer or mobile device. Through the Tele-hearing Modernization Act, signed by President Trump on April…

What is the VA Doing to Keep Up with the Pandemic (COVID-19)? The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) implemented an aggressive public health response to protect and care for Veterans, their families, healthcare providers and staff in the face of this emerging health risk. They are working directly with the Centers for Disease Control…

COVID-19: What Every Veteran Needs to Know Call centers at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and some VA health facilities are currently experiencing very high numbers of calls. They ask that you use their online tools for the following questions: Healthcare, appointments and more Benefit payments, claims and claim exams Debt, copays, appeals and other…

Troops and Veterans Hit Hard by COVID-19. As of April 22, 2020, the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) indicate there have been 5,734 total cases of COVID-19, also known as the novel coronavirus. Within the DoD – 3,578 military, 771 dependents, 965 civilians and 420 Defense Department contractors. In addition,…