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Benefit Tip 100% Benefit Commissary and Exchange Privileges
Unlimited exchange and commissary store privileges in the United States are available to honorably discharged veterans with a service connected disability rated at 100 percent, un remarried surviving spouses of members or retired members of the armed forces, recipients of the Medal of Honor, and their dependents and orphans. Certification of total disability is done by VA. Reservists and their dependents also may be eligible. Privileges overseas are governed by international law and are available only if agreed upon by the foreign government concerned. Though these benefits are provided by DOD, VA does provide assistance in completing DD Form 1172, contact the nearest military installation.
Claims Tip Retro Award Certain AO Claims
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is adding a new provision to its adjudication regulations concerning certain awards of disability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC). The new rule explains that certain awards of disability compensation or DIC made pursuant to liberalizing regulations concerning diseases presumptively associated with herbicide exposure may be made effective retroactive to the date of the claim or the date of a previously denied claim, even if such date is earlier than the effective date of the regulation establishing the presumption. The new rule also provides that VA may pay to certain survivors of a deceased beneficiary. Contact your local VA at 1-800-827-1000 for specifics.
Claims Tip Manuals, Codes & Laws
US code is the law. CFR is how the VA interprets the law and M21 is how the VA is supposed to apply the law. This may not make sense to you now, but you are going to see these terms thrown around quite a bit and this is just a good rule of thumb.
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