In 2015, Chuck Osier, Air Force veteran and Sherrill native, died. His wife, Donna Osier requested a burial marker or medallion from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The paperwork was provided by her husband’s funeral director. Donna hoped to receive a medallion to go along with her husband’s flag, which would be left in a shadow box and given to their son. Unfortunately, the VA denied her request and stated that her husband could not…

Whether you have been out of the service for years or you are just getting out, the VA Welcome Kit can help guide you through the process of seeing how VA benefits can support you. Your earned benefits can help you in a myriad of ways, and this is an excellent resource that helps you comb through all that the VA has to offer. Benefits are impacted by where you are in life, and at…

Last week, top officials at the Department of Veterans Health Administration brought up concerns about the distribution of coronavirus vaccines. Dr. Richard Stone, head of the Veterans Health Administration, said that the nation’s largest health care system does not have enough of the vaccine to cover all of its patients and staff. Following the FDA’s approval, the VA planned to administer 73,000 initial doses of the Pfizer vaccine to its patients and staff. The department…

Earlier this month, a settlement was reached in a lawsuit against the U.S. Army. The settlement would require the branch of the military to review and potentially upgrade thousands of bad paper discharges dating back to April 2011. Bad paper discharges refer to those veterans who received other-than-honorable discharges, which negatively impacts the benefits they are eligible to receive from the VA. The agreement, that is now pending approval by the U.S. District Court for…

On Thursday, Nov 12th, a federal judge ruled that the VA must honor the terms of a 1991 settlement and pay retroactive benefits to blue water veterans. The decision will affect thousands of veterans who have previously been denied support from the VA. Stephen Kinnaird, the attorney fighting for this decision, was very excited about the outcome of the case. “It makes a huge difference to veterans and their families,” he said in an interview…

Marine veteran Brian Tally woke up one morning in 2016 will severe, debilitating back pain. Unable to stand or walk, he immediately sought help at the VA. Though Tally believed otherwise at the time, the specific practice he attended was not that of a VA doctor, but an independent contractor. The doctor made an incorrect diagnosis and denied Tally critical care for months. After Tally and his family were forced to pay out-of-pocket for private…

Despite the Trump campaign’s unwillingness to provide a peaceful transition of power, the Biden team appears to be moving forward in preparation for January 20th. President-elect Joe Biden’s transition team for the Department of Veterans Affairs includes several alumni from the Obama administration. The Trump Administration has declined to offer any transition assistance which extends down to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie who said he will not begin transition work until receiving instruction from the White…