Pacific Island Veterans! Do You Have Health and Benefits Questions? Ask Your Questions Now!

RallyPoint News — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 11:26:32 -0400

On August 29th, 10 - 11 AM HST, VA and community experts will be here to answer your questions on benefits, claims, and peer support resources. Type your questions in now!

You can ask questions to the following people:
» Wilfred Lee - Chief, Veteran Experience Service, VA Pacific Islands Health Care System
» Tanya Eubanks - VSO, Guam Office of Veterans Affairs
» Marianne Delatorre - HHCC Program Coordinator, Elizabeth Dole Foundation
» Sgt Christopher Vidaurre - Senior Program Manager, George W. Bush Presidential Center
» CPO Missina Schallus - Communications Manager, Center for Women Veterans
» Melissa Comeau - Director, Military and Veteran Caregiver Network, American Red Cross
» Sgt Ed McEvoy - National Outreach Specialist, VA Vet Center
» Sgt Jay Dalrymple - Director, National Cemetery Scheduling Office, VA
» PO3 Douglas Webb - Management Analyst, Veterans Experience Office, VA
» CMSgt Dr. Andree' Sutton - Director, VMSTEP, VA
» Court Ogilvie - Executive Director, Code of Support
» Joseph Meno - Guam Office of Veterans Services
» Eric Gaskin - Coach, Honolulu Regional Office, Veterans Benefits Administration

VAPIHCS Veteran Experience Service:
The VAPIHCS Veteran Experience Service seeks to ensure Veterans and their families are at the center of every process, and our system ensures that every Veteran has a consistent, exceptional experience no matter where they go for care so Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors choose VA. The Veteran Experience Service includes the Center for Development and Civic Engagement, Patient Advocates, and Employee Engagement.

Guam Office of Veterans Affairs (VSO Tanya Eubanks):
Tanya Eubanks is an accredited Veteran Service Officer with the Guam Office of Veterans Affairs. She supports Veterans and their families by educating and assisting them with VA benefits and navigating them through complex application processes. She is heavily involved in the Veteran community outside of her day-to-day job and has an innate passion for serving our Nation’s Veterans and their families.

Response by SGT Ruben Lozada made Aug 7 at 2023 6:39 PM

SGT Ruben Lozada — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 18:39:17 -0400

Good evening. Excellent post. Thank You for sharing this.

Response by CPT Gurinder (Gene) Rana made Aug 9 at 2023 5:51 AM

CPT Gurinder (Gene) Rana — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 05:51:20 -0400

If someone worked in Kunia Tunnel, can he or she become mentally unstable, given the extensive use of asbestos and pesticides?

Response by SN Warren Doyle made Aug 11 at 2023 7:00 AM

SN Warren Doyle — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 07:00:58 -0400

Thanks for the infor, always good to be in the know especially asking the right questions to the right people.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Aug 13 at 2023 9:32 AM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Sun, 13 Aug 2023 09:32:27 -0400

thanks for sharing

Response by SSgt Brian King made Aug 13 at 2023 11:06 PM

SSgt Brian King — Sun, 13 Aug 2023 23:06:06 -0400

Good info. Thanks for sharing.

Response by SGT Ruben Lozada made Aug 18 at 2023 5:10 PM

SGT Ruben Lozada — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 17:10:26 -0400

Good afternoon. Excellent post. Thank you for sharing this.

Response by Sgt Evelyn Casiano made Aug 28 at 2023 5:39 PM

Sgt Evelyn Casiano — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 17:39:55 -0400

New to this site. How do you register for this event? Is this a virtual meeting or just accessed via chat?

Response by Sgt Evelyn Casiano made Aug 29 at 2023 10:42 AM

Sgt Evelyn Casiano — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 10:42:50 -0400

As a research assistant in the VA working on protocols focusing on Veterans within the Asian American, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community, I just wanted to thank the long list of community experts on this panel! Thank you very much for your time today and for your support of PI Vets!

Response by Sgt Ed McEvoy made Aug 29 at 2023 3:55 PM

Sgt Ed McEvoy — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 15:55:26 -0400

Hello, I am Ed with VA’s Vet Center program. Vet Centers have been proudly providing counseling, referral, and community engagement services to Veterans, service members, including members of the National Guard and Reserve, and their families since 1979.

Vet Centers offer community based counseling services, community engagement, and referral services to eligible Veterans, active duty service members and their families (when it is found to aid in the readjustment or transition of the Veteran or service member).

If you are interested in Vet Center services, you can reach us 24/7 by calling the Vet Center Call Center at [login to see] or find us online at http://www.vetcenter.va.gov.

I am also happy to help link you with your local Vet Center.

VA.gov | Veterans Affairs

Apply for and manage the VA benefits and services you’ve earned as a Veteran, Servicemember, or family member—like health care, disability, education, and more.

Response by PO3 Douglas Webb made Aug 29 at 2023 3:58 PM

PO3 Douglas Webb — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 15:58:09 -0400

Thanks to all of YOU for joining us today! The Q&A will be live from 10am-11am HST; please feel free to ask your questions to our amazing Community & VA Experts!
Please note this is a typed-only chat forum with no additional connection(s) for audio or video. Simply type and post questions and comments in the chat box (and please remember to refresh and expand all comments).

Response by Sgt Christopher Vidaurre made Aug 29 at 2023 4:00 PM

Sgt Christopher Vidaurre — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 16:00:09 -0400

Hello All, My name is Christopher Vidaurre, I am the Senior Program Manager at the George W. Bush Institute. I am here on behalf of the Veterans Wellness Alliance to share “Check-In” Check-In is a first-of-its-kind network that unites peer-led organizations and mental and brain health service providers to connect veterans and their families with high-quality care for mental and brain health services. Please go to veterancheckin.org and fill out our short form to get connected to care. Once you fill out the form within in 72 business hours our Care Coordinator will reach out to you and find the most appropriate care and get you connected. If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask. Thank you.

https://www.veterancheckin.org

Check In

Connecting veterans with the support and services they need to live happier, healthier, more successful lives-and to make sure veterans are treated like people, not case numbers, every step of the care journey.

Response by CPO Missina Schallus made Aug 29 at 2023 4:00 PM

CPO Missina Schallus — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 16:00:36 -0400

Hello, I am Missina Schallus, from the VA Center for Women Veterans and am Happy to be here to answer any questions you may have regarding women Veteran benefits and services. Find us online at http://www.va.gov/womenvet or on Facebook and Twitter @VAWomenVets

VA.gov | Veterans Affairs

Apply for and manage the VA benefits and services you’ve earned as a Veteran, Servicemember, or family member—like health care, disability, education, and more.

Response by Sgt Joseph Villa made Aug 29 at 2023 4:03 PM

Sgt Joseph Villa — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 16:03:46 -0400

Just joined Rallypoint. Is this were ask questions regarding VA healthcare?

Response by Melissa Comeau made Aug 29 at 2023 4:08 PM

Melissa Comeau — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 16:08:08 -0400

Greetings! My name is Melissa Comeau and I am the Director of the Military and Veteran Caregiver Network at the American Red Cross. I am also a caregiver for my husband a combat wounded Marine. The Military and Veteran Caregiver Network serves caregivers of all eras, all realtionships, across all locations. Please join us by visiting http://www.redcross.org/caregivers

Military and Veteran Caregiver Network

The Military Veteran Caregiver Network provides our nation’s pre- and post-9/11-era military and veteran caregivers with peer support.

Response by Tanya Eubanks made Aug 29 at 2023 4:11 PM

Tanya Eubanks — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 16:11:08 -0400

Hafa Adai from Guam! I am Tanya Eubanks, VSO with the Guam Office of Veterans Affairs. I provide support to Veterans, Service Members and their families by educating and assisting them with VA claims and navigating them through complex application processes. I'm happy to be here to answer any questions you may have.

Response by Sgt Jay Dalrymple made Aug 29 at 2023 4:15 PM

Sgt Jay Dalrymple — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 16:15:52 -0400

Hello! My name is Jay Dalrymple and I am the Director at the VA National Cemetery Administration's Scheduling Office. My team is responsible for verifying a Veteran's eligibility for burial and scheduling burial services for all NCA National Cemeteries. We also have a Pre-Need program if Veterans are planning for their final resting place and want to confirm their eligibility for burial.

VA has a number of burial benefits available to our Veterans. You can find out more information at: https://www.va.gov/burials-memorials/ .

I am here to answer any burial and memorial questions you may have.

VA burial benefits and memorial items | Veterans Affairs

VA burial benefits can help service members, Veterans, and their family members plan and pay for a burial or memorial service in a VA national cemetery. Family members can also order memorial items to honor the service of a Veteran. Find out how to apply for the burial benefits you've earned, and how to plan for a burial in advance or at time of need.

Response by Melissa Comeau made Aug 29 at 2023 4:16 PM

Melissa Comeau — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 16:16:06 -0400

I also want to share Amercan Red Cross Pacific Islands Region which includes the state of Hawaii, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa. https://www.redcross.org/local/hawaii.html

Hawaii Wildfires
During this frustrating and uncertain time, the American Red Cross and partners are working tirelessly to get help to people as quickly as possible. Red Cross disaster teams are working 24/7 to provide them with a safe place to stay, food to eat and emotional support.

American Red Cross of Hawaii

The American Red Cross Honolulu Hawaii Chapter is a non-profit humanitarian organization that provides disaster relief and helps people during disasters.

Response by PO3 Douglas Webb made Aug 29 at 2023 4:41 PM

PO3 Douglas Webb — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 16:41:23 -0400

OAHU Veterans, Military Families, Caregivers, and Survivors: Join us in-person for a Veterans Experience Action Center (VEAC) on August 31st from 8am-4pm HST and September 1st from 8am-12pm HST at the Oahu Veterans Center located at 1298 Kukila Street Honolulu, HI 96818. VEACs offer direct, comprehensive services such as VA Benefits, VA Health Care, Peer to Peer Networks, Community Services, Veteran Service Organizations, Crisis Resources, and more. Registration will be onsite; first come, first serve; and all Veterans served.

Response by SPC Fred D made Aug 29 at 2023 4:44 PM

SPC Fred D — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 16:44:36 -0400

I would like assistance to file a claim for things the va denied me. I keep hearing to go to all these different places on Guam but I don't know which one to turn to. Is there a list of orgs out there that are legit? I don't want to be given the run around like in the past and be charged an arm and a leg only to get denied by the va. Any help in the right direction is appreciated.

Response by A1C Barry Werthwine made Aug 29 at 2023 5:24 PM

A1C Barry Werthwine — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 17:24:39 -0400

I have recently been upgraded to 40% disability for my Parkinson’s. I have 2 questions:
My neurologist is on Oahu and I live on Kauai, will my transportation charges now be covered?
Will my copay for Parkinson’s Rx now be $0 dollars?
Thank you
Barry Werthwine