tips for veterans from Eric Muth

We have read that the Army stated Edgewood Veterans were among the healthiest and brightest in the military. We note that in 2000 the IOM stated they contacted 4,022 of us.

We are somewhat familiar with 24 Edgewood volunteers who served between 1958 and 1975. Of this group ten answered our questions as to whether or not they have been compensated for disabilities.

6 @ 100% VA, 1 @ 80% VA, 2 @ 60% VA compensation and of the 10, six [6] have received Social Security disability which is much harder to get because one must demonstrate total disability.

Based on this sample one would think that a whole lot of 4,022 are either dead or disabled.
Dr. Ketchum stated in his book that no one was "significantly" injured. The 1994 Government Accountability Report stated that volunteers died and that many had long term effects that did not show for 20-30 years and more.

To clarify a question posed: You do not have to be enrolled in the VA Hospital System to file a claim for disability. You can file a claim directly with the VA Regional Office in your home state or through various service organizations such as the DAV [Disabled American Veterans] who will take your case whether or not you are currently disabled.

If you are at the point, after filing a notice of disagreement on a claim denial, of needing an attorney you could start with the National Veterans Organization. nvo.org/attorneys.html

I hope all of you saw the CRSC Q's answered in vawatchdog.org [Jim Strickland #63]

Col. Dan's site has my letter to the DOD regarding their revisionist history.

Nice that we are getting some friendly press.

Interesting? You are eligible to join the DAV as long as you have a VA disability rating, even if it is zero %. This is usually assigned when you have established service connection for a condition which does not meet the requirements for compensation, though it may at a later date, so zero is not so bad for today because if the condition worsens you need only apply for an increase rather than beginning with a claim at ground zero.

No matter the percentage of disability many states allow for DAV license plates which have a DAV insignia and the words "disabled veteran."
If you are eligible for a handicap sticker or license plate then the DAV plates can be ordered with the wheel chair insignia or you can just get a state plate with that on it. There are mixed feelings about these plates which I will not exploit, but as an aside those plates could get you a pass from an officer who is a veteran, when you need it.

If you are rated 100% by the VA you and your wife are eligible for a DOD ID card for MWR [Moral, Welfare, and Recreation]. PX and Commissary shopping come foremost to mind and good discounts at Military Vacation spots around the globe. Though you would not be eligible for flights on militray aircraft. If you are 100% but rated say 80% and given 20% IU [Individual Unemployability] then you are not eligible for the MWR card.
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Even if you did not serve in Vietnam you are eligible to join the VVA if you served in any duty location between Aug 5, 1964 and May 7, 1975. To those of you who have not been able to find a VVA organization close by you can call the Viet Nam Veterans of America 800-VVA-1316 or visit their site: www,vva.org Your membership will be of value to this group. More on that later....

If you want to obtain your military records, assuming they have them write to the St. Louis address below skipping the line Medals..... NPR has stated that a 1973 fire destroyed the major part of amy personnel records from 1912-1959 other than myself I doubt any of you will be affected by the recrods lost in the fire.
It could be very important to have your medical records at some date now or in the future so ask for all records. If this is too much trouble for you and you can afford it then you could get an agency to handle this for you. I used the one below: 314-423-0860
U.S. Locator Service
PO Box 140194
St. Louis, MO 63114-0194

Medals: If you intend to make applications please contact me so that I can advise you of potential pitfalls you may encounter.

If you seek replacement medals for yourself:
National Personnel Records Center
Medals Section [NRPMA-M]
9700 Page Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63132-5100

Certificates accompanying medals are for ARCOM and up and the Good Conduct Medal issued after Jan 1, 1981.

If you are wanting to receive that medal you were overlooked for the address is below. They can issue medals based on copies of your official documents proving you deserved it. However, from the ARCOM up, you will need to be nominated and the nomination must be referred by a member of Congress which is no big deal. The nominator simply sends a nice letter to their Congressperson asking them to forward the package.

HRC Military Awards Branch
200 Stovall St.
Alexandria, VA 22332-0471

If you need to right a wrong on your record, correct a discharge, make appeals for denials from other agencies for medals, etc. The ABCMR [Army Board for the Correction of Military Records] is located in VA and may take your case, but your appliaction must be forwarded by the following address. Be advised the ABCMR says they dispense justice, still it will be a hard fight to obtain it.

Army Review Boards Agency
Support Division, St. Louis
9700 Page Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63132-5200

Cold War Certificate Program. You will need your DD-214 to show you have served in a component of the armed forces between Sep 2, 1945 and Dec 26, 1991.

U.S. Army Human Resources Command
Cold War Recognition Program
same address as address above.

A certificate from the Army honoring your sevrice [freedomteamsalute.com]

Freedom Team Salute
2511 Jefferson Davis Highway
Arlington, VA 22202

If you would like to obtain a Presidential Memorial Certificate for a deceased family member veteran: Presidential Memorial Certificates [41A1C]
Department of Veterans Affairs
5109 Russell Rd.
Quantico, VA 22143-3903


VA: 800-827-1000 to ask Q's, information on your claim and to reach your VARO.

888-440-6580 for meds or to find out when your appointments are scheduled at a
VA facility. Ordering meds over the internet in the end is easier than by calling
once you are set up to do so. myhealth.va.gov

Special authoriztion for care outside the US 206-277-4545

800-749-8387 VA help line: Self reporting chemical exposures to the VA.

VA Secretary

&

Office of the Medical Inspector {OMI} a part of the VA Inspector General helps resolve medical problems and issues. of veterans and families.

810 Vermont Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20420

All VA facilities have an office "Patient's Advocate" If you have a problem of any kind to do with your treatment make a report. When your complaint is in the system it shall be attended to more quickly than your running about from one department to another seeking an answer or resolution.

If you are trying to obation a record say, a Comp & Pen exam and they give you a hard time. Put in a freedon of information request to the VARO and they will yield it. In fact on a one time basis they will supply you with the contensts of your VARO file if requested.

DOD Assist line: Call to report yourself as an Edgewood Veteran. They will look you up and if you are in the system they will tell you what exposures you had.

Don't have your Edgewood file? Call 410-436-3628 or write to:

Freedom of Information Office
Commander U.S. Army MRICD
3100 Ricketts Point Rd.
Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010-5400

I hope some of this was useful to one or more of you all. Please save this e-mail because sure as hell onceyou delete it you will need one or more contacts erein.

-Regards, Eric

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