Santorum Put the Screws to Elderly Veterans

by Benjamin Krause on January 22, 2012

Anyone watching Thursday’s Republican debate in South Carolina could not help be notice the quick “rah rah” from the politicians about veterans. Every candidate seemed to strongly support spending for military and veterans. Romney seemed to mince his words, being unable to really differentiate between veterans spending and military spending. Ron Paul was on point, [...]

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VA Buys Disabled Veterans iPads and More

by Benjamin Krause on January 19, 2012

Ever wonder why your buddy was approved for a Mac while you got a PC? Or why you were denied an iPad? Well, this post will help answer those questions. Here’s the square deal on why the Department of Veterans Affairs publishes little if anything about its purchasing program for high tech items for veterans. [...]

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Congress Looks to Change Disability Compensation System

by Benjamin Krause on January 4, 2012

With some estimates approaching $1 trillion to care for veterans of the current wars, and changes within the labor market, Congress has turned its sights to changing the disability compensation system. Starting this January, the House Committee on Veterans Affairs will renew the conversation on how to improve the current disability system. While the focus on disability benefits [...]

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Rehabilitation Program Blocks Many Entrepreneurial Veterans

by Benjamin Krause December 29, 2011

Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation is the best and most comprehensive benefits programs for disabled veterans from the Dept. of Veterans Affairs. Yet, Voc Rehab Counselors tend to be shorthanded in approving veterans for some of its most basic benefits – Self-Employment funding. This summer, I met with VA Chief of Staff John Gingrich on the [...]

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Merry Christmas: Veterans Court Nominations Postponed Indefinitely

by Benjamin Krause December 15, 2011

Tuesday’s Senate hearing for Veterans Court judicial nominees was postponed indefinitely. In a “politics as usual” move, Senate Republican Richard Burr requested that the hearing for President Obama’s 3 judicial nominees be canceled. His staff stated the Senator was in need for further information before his Christmas vacation. The Democratic majority of the Committed on [...]

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Super Committee Failure Leaves Veterans Cuts on the Table

by Benjamin Krause November 30, 2011

By now the news of the Congressional Super Committee’s failure has probably reached you in some way.  The question remains, “What does this mean for our Veterans?” Unfortunately, with automatic cuts of 1.2 trillion dollars, it still remains unclear if the promises made to our veterans will be kept.  Cuts  from the Veterans Administration are [...]

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Don’t Mess with Texas or Our Veterans

by Benjamin Krause November 20, 2011

In our “Hold Them Accountable” survey, veterans in Texas participated in greater numbers than all of the other states.  Out of sheer curiosity, we decided to see how Texas veterans differed in their opinions on issues when compared to the national group of current and former military personnel and their families. In Texas, the opinions held [...]

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Is Super Committee Eying Veterans Benefits?

by Benjamin Krause November 15, 2011

Former head of Illinois Veterans Affairs, Lt. Col. Tammy Duckworth, finally voiced her concern about the budget being balanced on the backs of veterans. In a recent article “Duckworth fears cuts to veterans’ programs,” she spoke openly of her concern that the bipartisan “super committee” may ultimately fail in their negation. A failure will cause [...]

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Veterans Unite, Candidates’ Feet Finally Held to the Fire

by Benjamin Krause November 11, 2011

This past month, hundreds of veterans united to tell candidates and incumbents what to expect moving forward. From now on, veterans will not be easily divided and dismissed when it comes to our benefits and overall policy. Within the recent “Hold Them Accountable Survey,” veterans were largely unified against the forces wishing to balance the [...]

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The Decision Review Officer and You: Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid

by Benjamin Krause November 5, 2011

(Also known as my “that’s f-ed up” blog post.) Last week I had a hellish Decision Review Officer hearing. This hearing told me what the DRO is actually looking for when vets are trying to get benefits. And this post is all about telling you what the DRO secretly wants and what the Government tells [...]

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Mad As Hell at Washington, DC?

by Benjamin Krause October 27, 2011

As a disabled veteran and advocate, I’ve wrestled with those in Washington and the rules they make for nearly a decade. How in the name of all that is holy do you get the people running things (usually poorly at best) to pay attention? For years, I’ve been blocked at every turn. The Veterans Administration, [...]

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What the Lindsay Lohan Effect Can Teach You About Disability Claims

by Benjamin Krause October 17, 2011

Here’s one to Lindsay Lohan and the “not surprised theory.” The best advice I ever received I get just prior to enlisting, “Document everything.” This advice suited me well in the military and after. Every medical condition I had while on active duty was documented. Every problem I’ve had with the VA has been practically [...]

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Gulf War Illness Linked to Location, DEET

by Benjamin Krause September 28, 2011

USA Today released a report covering a pending publication on Gulf War Illness. Anti-nerve agent pills and SCUD missiles, along with pesticides, have been connected to many of the health problems Gulf War I veterans are facing. Of the exposures, soldiers the most affected were those who took pyridostigmine bromine pills AND were within one [...]

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Smoke, Munitions Risks to Your Health

by Benjamin Krause September 25, 2011

The National Organization for Veterans Advocates (NOVA) recently posted a report from the Army Corp of Engineers. The report is about the toxicity levels around various bases to protect endangered species. Luckily, these facts apply equally to humans and disabled veterans suffering from conditions as a result of exposure. The information is broken down by base, [...]

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Can Government Contracting Work?

by Benjamin Krause September 12, 2011

The next era of government contracting will never be the same, at least when it comes to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Their new initiative? To get more veterans and disabled veterans into the game of government contracting… But will it? From the bad to the good of the Expo (that’s just how I roll [...]

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Veteran-Owned Businesses March

by Benjamin Krause August 13, 2011

Heading to New Orleans? This coming week, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Federal Interagency Council are hosting a special conference. The conference is geared for Veteran Owned and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses. It is the largest annual conference of its kind, teaming up these small businesses up with key decision makers and program managers. The [...]

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Obama, Republicans Seek $23 Billion Disability Pay Cut

by Benjamin Krause July 18, 2011

Republicans have attempted to cut veterans compensation and other disability benefits 3 times this year. First, Michelle Bachmann (MN) suggested disabled veterans had it too good. She thought disability pay should be reduced by $4 billion. Later, Paul Ryan (WI) suggestion gutting VA Healthcare by $6 billion, which would have cut 1.3 million veterans out of the [...]

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4 Fibs Voc Rehab Tells Vets

by Benjamin Krause July 9, 2011

Kick it into gear before your first Voc Rehab meeting. I love talking about Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment. Not because I have nothing better to do. No. I’m currently on vacation with my 9-year-old and writing this post (she’s sleeping). But the reason is because no one, including the Department of Veterans Affairs [...]

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To Use Voc Rehab or The Post 9/11 GI Bill

by Benjamin Krause June 27, 2011

A common question veterans have asked me whether they should use Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment or the Post 9/11 GI Bill. Since college will be starting back up in 2 months, it seems to be a good time to address it. Over the years, I have used the GI Bill and Voc Rehab. [...]

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Media Chides Against Anti-Veteran Acts

by Benjamin Krause June 25, 2011

Shining the light in dark places, various local news outlets have caused discrimination and bias to be rolled back. Whether it’s the VA Machine or wealthy Americans, veterans have been defended by local news while national news turns its back. VA Reverses – Vietnam Veteran Finally Gets His Due First stop, Fort Edward, NY. “Charles [...]

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