Widow seeks veterans’ resources

This month I will share a few of the questions I have heard from my clients and hope they will be helpful to you.

Q: I am the widow of a deceased military retiree who died in 1964 and I receive service-connected death benefits. I received health care benefits under the CHAMPU program until they were terminated when I became eligible for Medicare. I also purchased a Medicare supplemental health care plan, which I can no longer afford. Is there any other resource available to me for my health care?

A: Yes. The fact that your husband was a military retiree, your enrollment in Medicare Part B and your being married to him at the time of his death meets the eligibility criteria for the Department of Defense-managed TriCare for Life (TFL) health-care program. It is also important that your dependent ID card is current as this will be required when receiving service from your physician or pharmacy.

If you have not kept your personal information up to date in the DEERS program you might have missed out on being informed about the TFL program. I recommend you call 1-800-538-9552 to confirm enrollment in the DEERS program. If your ID card has expired a new card can be obtained by visiting the Naval Operations Support Center at 5301 Barns Ave., Roanoke. The phone number is (540) 563-9723.

Q: I am the widow of a veteran who served in Vietnam and is presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange toxin. He died in 2007 of lung cancer. I learned recently that exposure to the toxin in Agent Orange is known to cause lung cancer. Do you recommend I file for widow pension benefits under these circumstances, even though my husband never filed a claim for service-connected compensation for his lung cancer?

A: Yes. If the veteran served in Vietnam during the period Agent Orange defoliant was in use, he is considered to have been exposed to the toxin. This and his receiving the Vietnam Service Medal, your being married to him at the time of his death and the direct cause of death being cancer of the lung justifies a claim for service-connected death. It is not required that he received service-connected disability compensation for your claim to be adjudicated as a service-connected death.

Q: I previously received VA benefits under the Improved Pension Program. However, I inherited a sum of money and informed the VA as to the amount. Shortly afterward, I received a letter advising my VA benefits would be suspended as a result of this inheritance. This was more than one year ago. When will my benefits be restored?

A: You should discuss this with VA or a veteran’s benefit counselor. The normal process is for VA to suspend your benefits for one year. They are not automatically reinstated but require a written request for restoration of benefits.
For information contact VA at 1-800-827-1000 or the Service Officer for DAV Chapter 8 and VFW Post 8184 and AL Post 16 at (434) 316-0229. The office, located in the Marine Corps League Building at 2337 Lakeside Drive, Lynchburg, is open for walk-ins 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays and by appointment on Thursdays.