Michigan Estate Planning Blog

What Burial Benefits are Available to Veterans?

 

Only about one in five veterans who died last year were buried free of charge in department or state-run veteran cemeteries. Less than half of individuals eligible for some type of burial or gravesite financial assistance took advantage of the benefit, says Military Times’ recent article entitled, “VA officials work to raise awareness of cemetery, burial services.”

“I want even more veterans and family members to know about and take advantage of the final benefits a veteran earns for their service,” said Matthew Quinn, undersecretary for memorial affairs at the National Cemetery Administration.

“They have the option to choose VA for their final wishes. And we will take care of them and their loved ones in a manner that mirrors their own dedicated service and devotion to our nation, in perpetuity.”

NCA officials are trying to emphasize VA burial services as the U.S. nears the 50th anniversary of the agency assuming control of national veterans cemeteries. There are now 155 such resting places managed by VA and another 121 funded by the department. However, the use of the burial benefits lags behind other well-known VA support services.

Quinn said several factors cause the low usage rate for burial services, including “family wishes” that multiple individuals be interred in the same plot. Only spouses and certain other dependents can be buried alongside a veteran in a national cemetery.

However, other assistance — such as free headstones for veterans being interred at private cemeteries and free medallions for existing headstones to denote the deceased individual’s veteran status — are often overlooked because family members and funeral homes aren’t familiar with the benefits.

VA provided about 350,000 headstones for veterans’ graves last year, and another 12,000 medallions.

Quinn said while vets don’t have to use the services, those interested should consider applying before any of the services are needed to ensure they have the options ready.

“Applying for eligibility prior to the veteran’s death ensures that necessary service records are in order, so grieving family members do not have to search for military discharge papers while they are already under great stress,” he said.

Reference: Military Times (Jan. 24, 2023) “VA officials work to raise awareness of cemetery, burial services”

Vietnam Veteran’s Benefits for Post- traumatic Stress Disorder Saginaw, Michigan

It has been noted that Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a growing issue for many Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. Vietnam veterans know all too well about this condition, as it has existed and affected veterans since long before it became recognized in 1980. Unfortunately during the Vietnam War, PTSD was not recognized as a psychological symptom of warfare. As such, any symptoms of the disorder that led to dishonorable discharge from the military pre-1980 left many Vietnam veterans unable to collect veteran’s benefits. Recently, as presented by the New York Times article “Vietnam Veterans, Discharged Under Cloud, File Suit Saying Trauma Was Cause,” Vietnam veterans that suffered from PTSD have filed a lawsuit against the armed forces to recover medical benefits that were denied due to discharges related to PTSD. Chiefly, “can they be given a diagnosis of PTSD retroactively, to their time in service, though the disorder was not identified until 1980? And if they can, should recently instituted policies intended to protect troops with PTSD be applied retroactively to their cases?” The outcome of this case could have a serious effect for Vietnam veterans dishonorably discharged due to PTSD symptoms. If the suit is successful, then thousands of Vietnam veterans dishonorably discharged due to PTSD will have the ability to reapply for lost veteran’s benefits. As anyone who has experienced this trauma knows, PTSD can be a crippling lifelong condition. Many families and relationships struggle daily because a veteran in their family is silently suffering from PTSD. Signs of PTSD are recurring and distressing recollections or nightmares of a traumatic event, emotional detachment or estrangement, poor concentration, and irritability. Visit www.military.com, an online military community, to learn more. If you are concerned that you or a loved one could be suffering from PTSD, make an appointment with an attorney specializing in veteran’s benefits to ensure your right to medical benefits is not lost due to a dishonorable discharge that may have been caused by PTSD.

References: The New York Times (December 2, 2012) “Vietnam Veterans, Discharged Under Cloud, File Suit Saying Trauma Was Cause”

For more information, see www.jerryreiflawyer.com

 

Vietnam Veteran’s Benefits for Post- traumatic Stress Disorder Mid-Michigan

It has been noted that Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a growing issue for many Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. Vietnam veterans know all too well about this condition, as it has existed and affected veterans since long before it became recognized in 1980. Unfortunately during the Vietnam War, PTSD was not recognized as a psychological symptom of warfare. As such, any symptoms of the disorder that led to dishonorable discharge from the military pre-1980 left many Vietnam veterans unable to collect veteran’s benefits. Recently, as presented by the New York Times article “Vietnam Veterans, Discharged Under Cloud, File Suit Saying Trauma Was Cause,” Vietnam veterans that suffered from PTSD have filed a lawsuit against the armed forces to recover medical benefits that were denied due to discharges related to PTSD. Chiefly, “can they be given a diagnosis of PTSD retroactively, to their time in service, though the disorder was not identified until 1980? And if they can, should recently instituted policies intended to protect troops with PTSD be applied retroactively to their cases?” The outcome of this case could have a serious effect for Vietnam veterans dishonorably discharged due to PTSD symptoms. If the suit is successful, then thousands of Vietnam veterans dishonorably discharged due to PTSD will have the ability to reapply for lost veteran’s benefits. As anyone who has experienced this trauma knows, PTSD can be a crippling lifelong condition. Many families and relationships struggle daily because a veteran in their family is silently suffering from PTSD. Signs of PTSD are recurring and distressing recollections or nightmares of a traumatic event, emotional detachment or estrangement, poor concentration, and irritability. Visit www.military.com, an online military community, to learn more. If you are concerned that you or a loved one could be suffering from PTSD, make an appointment with an attorney specializing in veteran’s benefits to ensure your right to medical benefits is not lost due to a dishonorable discharge that may have been caused by PTSD.

References: The New York Times (December 2, 2012) “Vietnam Veterans, Discharged Under Cloud, File Suit Saying Trauma Was Cause”

For more information, see www.jerryreiflawyer.com

Project SALUTE

Project SALUTE is a special program that provides pro bono attorney services to assist low-income Veterans in obtaining the federal disability and pension benefits they deserve.

I have received my Certificate of Completion for the Project SALUTE Basic Training in Veteran's Federal Benefits Law for Pro Bono Attorneys from the Univeresity of Detroit Mercy School of Law in October, 2009.

If you are a Veteran or know of a Veteran who may qualify for this service, contact me, or the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law at 313-596-0235.