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VA picks Navajo to kick off push for veterans' disability enrollment claims

The Gallup Independent - 3/16/2018

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. ? The Navajo Nation will kick off a nationwide campaign by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to roll out veterans' disability enrollment claims with 19 other tribal communities.

The 2018 nationwide federal Veterans' Administration campaign, "Your Service. Our Mission: Bringing Benefits Home" is focused on working collaboratively with 20 tribal communities in 11 states.

Navajo Nation Council Delegate Kee Allen Begay, Jr., who represents the chapters of Low Mountain, Many Farms, Nazlini, Tachee/Blue Gap, and Tselani/ Cottonwood) announced in a news release that the V.A. and the tribe are hosting two claims clinics on the Navajo reservation.

Begay said veterans may apply for benefits at the Many Farms ChapterMarch 29 and at the Tselani/Cottonwood ChapterMarch 21. The two events are scheduled from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

He noted, "Our goal is to get as many Navajo veterans from the local communities to attend either of the two events to become more informed about these benefit claims, and hopefully it will lead to many of our veterans receiving compensation for issues related to their military service."

Mike Frueh, chief of staff for the VA'sVeterans Benefits Administration, said, "VA's Benefits Assistance Service is working hand in hand with tribal government leaders to roll out these claims events. With the focus on veterans and their widows with presumptive disabilities and those who are pension eligible, VA is hopeful we can help Indian country veterans access the full range of benefits they have courageously earned through their service."

VA staff stated that the VA realizes that reaching these veterans could have a direct, tangible impact on their lives and that of their families.

Thayer Verschoor, executive director of VA's intergovernmental affairs, said, "This nationwide outreach campaign will focus on identifying and assisting veterans across Indian Country to come and fill out disability and pension claims."

Stephanie Birdwell, director, VA'sOffice of Tribal Government Relations, added, "We appreciate the participation of our 20 tribal communities who have shown interest. This helps VA enhance and improve the experience for all veterans and their spouses. We are hopeful as word spreads and tribal communities see the benefit from these events, requests to schedule more will occur."

Presumptive disability

The "Your Service. Our Mission: Bringing Benefits Home" nationwide campaign focuses on identifying and assisting veterans who may have presumptive disabilities and may be eligible for a VA pension claim.

VA staff stated that a presumptive disability is a condition that the VA presumes are related to military service, although the condition may first appear after discharge from the military. These conditions may qualify for VA compensation payments.

According to the VA office, spouses of veterans may also be eligible for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation when the veteran dies because of presumptive disabilities.

"Many tribal veterans and families may not realize the VA presumes that certain medical conditions are related to military service, although these conditions may first appear after discharge," Frueh noted. "In addition, spouses may be eligible for certain benefits when the veteran dies as a result of what VA calls presumptive disabilities."

During the event, health information and other benefits will be available. The VA will have staff on hand to review claims, with the goal of completing the claim the same day.

Birdwell added, "With the focus on veterans with presumptive disabilities and those who are pension eligible, VA is hopeful we can help Indian Country veterans access the full range of benefits they have courageously earned through their service."

Begay also thanked the local veterans' organizations, chapter officials, Navajo Tribal Utility Authority Choice Wireless, the Apache County Sheriff's Office, and many others for assisting in coordinating the two events.

VA staff stated that there will have VA employees on hand to review claims on the spot, with the goal of completing the claim same day.

They added that letters were mailed to more than 500 tribal communities nationwide last year regarding the VA's Your Service. Our Mission: Bringing Benefits Home campaign.

The 20 tribal communities currently scheduled for claim clinics in 2018 are: ¦¦ Alaska

Copper River Native Association Native Village of White Mountain ¦¦ Arizona Navajo Nation Pasqui Yaqui Tribe San Carlos Apache Tohono O'odham Nation ¦¦ California Tule River Tribe ¦¦ Michigan

Bay Mills Indian Community ¦¦ Minnesota White Earth Nation ¦¦ Oklahoma Osage Nation

Seminole Nation of Oklahoma Eastern Shawnee Tribe Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma ¦¦ New Mexico Kewa Pueblo

Pueblo of Pojoaque Taos Pueblo ¦¦ Nevada

Walker River Paiute Tribe ¦¦ Oregon Siletz Tribe

¦¦ Washington

Nooksack Indian Tribe ¦¦ Wisconsin

Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians

To learn more about VA tribal government programs, benefits, services and how to qualify visit https://www.va.gov/TRIBALGOVERNMENT/locations.asp or https://benefits. va.gov/BENEFITS/factsheets.asp. Information: Lorae Homana Pawiki with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Office of

Tribal Government Relations, 928-776-5306.