Veteran Issues
Helping America's Heroes
By
Oct 7, 2009 - 7:40:34 PM

(HealthNewsDigest.com)-According to the Military Order of the Purple Heart, there could be good news about health care and other benefits for millions of American veterans and their families. They may be entitled to more benefits than they realize. Currently, there are 27 million veterans throughout the United States with over a million additional servicemen and -women being discharged after service in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in Afghanistan. While a far greater percentage are getting the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care services they're eligible for, more than half of those who are eligible are still not participating.

To help, some 30 new National Service Officers (NSOs) and Administrative Assistants (AAs) had a comprehensive basic training program on how to advocate on behalf of our nation's veterans. These students join a nationwide cadre of almost 200 professional NSOs, AAs and supervisory personnel, working at 87 separate VA regional offices, medical centers, and clinics spread from Seattle to Puerto Rico, and Boston to Guam. They share a common purpose: to counsel and assist all veterans and their families in matters concerning education, disability compensation, employment, hospitalization, rehabilitation, home loans and insurance, pension and other benefits…all at no cost to the veteran claimant, his/her family or survivors.

Accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs, these NSOs are annually trained in all aspects of veterans' benefits, keeping abreast of changes in VA regulations, policies, procedures and entitlements. They know the extent, the meaning and the application of laws that have been passed by the U.S. Congress in the interests of veterans and their dependents. They also know the rules and regulations adopted by the Department of Veterans Affairs to clarify and implement those laws. National Service Officers will apply specialized knowledge in the best way suited to the needs of every individual veteran or other beneficiary who comes to them for assistance.

Supporting them is The Military Order of the Purple Heart of the U.S.A., Inc. (MOPH). It is unique among veteran service organizations in that all its members were wounded in combat. For this sacrifice, they were awarded the Purple Heart Medal. With grants from the MOPH Service Foundation, the National Service Program exists to assist all veterans, not just members of the Purple Heart Organization. MOPH is one of five national veterans' organizations that represent veterans' claims before the Veterans' Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, and is one of only four organizations that provide full-time legal representation to veterans. Because court decisions can affect rating decision in thousands of veterans' claims, MOPH believes that successful representations protect all veterans.

With approximately 3 million military personnel currently on active duty, modern-day warriors will continue to shape the direction of required veterans' benefits as well as the role of future National Service Officers. In addition to serving the veteran, the NSO must also take dependents and family members into consideration as the nation redefines the nature and the term of "service."

For additional information on the MOPH National Service, you can communicate with Frank Van Hoy, National Service Director, at (703) 354-2140 and fvanhoy@purpleheart.org or visit MOPH on the Web at www.purpleheart.org. You can also follow MOPH on Facebook and on Twitter.

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