Veterans and their representatives have been advocating for many years to add additional presumptive conditions caused by Agent Orange exposure. As of January 1, 2021, the VA must now grant claims for three new presumptive conditions. With the passage of H.R. 6395, NDAA 2021, Vietnam Veterans are now eligible to collect compensation for the newly added conditions of Bladder Cancer, […]
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The world of Veteran’s benefits can be confusing, and it can be difficult to know how much coverage you really have. Supplementing your Veteran’s healthcare coverage with a Medicare plan may be a good idea, especially because Veteran’s Administration healthcare coverage can vary drastically from person to person and over time. The wellness website healthline.com takes an in-depth look at […]
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Military OneSource and the Department of Defense is offering a variety of free tax services to military members and some veterans. MilTax options include tax preparation and e-filing software, as well as personalized support through trained military tax consultants. The self-paced tax software walks you through a series of questions to help you complete and electronically file your federal return […]
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In addition to defending our country, U.S. Navy Sailors frequently serve in humanitarian missions ranging from hurricane and earthquake relief, rescue at sea, refugee assistance, medical deployments, and more. The Navy was deployed to assist Japan after a 9.0 magnitude earthquake shook the island nation on Sept. 01, 1923, killing thousands of people and washing away entire cities in the […]
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The Veterans Health Administration has launched a new initiative with Fitbit to help Veterans, caregivers and VA staff maintain health and wellness during the pandemic. The initiative provides current Fitbit users with free access to programs and services aimed at managing stress, improving sleep and increasing physical activity. The VA has contracted with Fitbit to initially provide 10,000 one-year free […]
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The Cook County Department of Veterans Affairs has launched a quarterly newsletter that provides veterans with useful information on a variety of topics. Their inaugural newsletter spotlights a county program aimed at assisting veterans who have become involved in the legal system and another that is helping residents resolve eviction, foreclosure, debt and tax deed issues. The e-blast also announced […]
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Many Americans are experiencing financial hardships because of the pandemic, and veterans are no exception. The VA Debt Management Center has relief options available to help manage VA benefit debt. Those include establishing or adjusting a repayment plan, requesting a waiver, submitting a compromise offer, and requesting a temporary hardship suspension. A new online tool is available to view debt […]
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November 8, 2020, was a very special day in River Grove, Illinois. With the sun shining down on an unseasonably warm afternoon, the American Legion Post 335 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5979 dedicated the Chicagoland Combined Veterans Museum, Library and Honor Roll. What an amazing way to honor our Veterans. In 2019, I became the Commander of […]
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Starting this month, veterans and Gold Star families will be able to visit national parks and other public lands for free, under a new initiative from the Department of the Interior announced on Wednesday. Active-duty service members and their families are already granted free access to those sites under existing department rules. The new announcement broadens that benefit to more […]
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The Combined Veterans of Berwyn staged a trailblazing Virtual Expo earlier this month, showcasing more than four dozen government agencies, non-profits and businesses that provide services and information to veterans and others. The expo ran from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020, with representatives being given 10 minutes to state their case. The event was live-streamed […]
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