RESOURCE - Veterans Information and Benefits

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LtCol J. Krusinski: May 7, 2013; by Fluffdaddy

MonkeyWash posted:

My radiation exposure is from depleted uranium in wartime and stupidity from the peacetime army at the Trinity site. I doubt sights would do it but who the gently caress knows? There could well be lawyer commercials in the future asking if you or a loved one were exposed to tritium.

Tritium is extremely weak, radioactivity wise. 0.0185 MeV beta decays aren�t really too spooky, your skin provides plenty of protection.

Now if you were chugging Gatorade made from tritiated water, you�d be in for a real bad time. (Actually less exposure than a little is a problem internally but.. whatever) but luckily that�s never happened.

I wouldn�t be losing too much sleep from being around tritium sights. Standing near the Bananas in the grocery store is a larger radiation exposure.

# ¿ Dec 4, 2022 01:43

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# ¿ May 17, 2024 12:11

LtCol J. Krusinski: May 7, 2013; by Fluffdaddy

Mr. Nice! posted:

I�ve got a question: my mom was in the AF for 20 days when she found out she was pregnant with my sister.

She did not get an ELS, though. Her DD-214 has an honorable characterization, she has AF paperwork saying honorable, and she has a dd-256 honorable discharge certificate.

I can�t find anything specific about the history of the ELS un-characterized discharge. The oldest milpersman I�ve found is from 2002. Anyone seen a personnel manual from the 70s or 80s to see if it has a different categorization for ELS?

Ooof. Finding old regs could be hard but I�ve got a few ideas so I�ll get back to you on this later today.

RE: Honorable Discharge, are you trying to find paperwork on her having an ELS or is some federal agency asking for discharge bona fides or something? I ask because typically it�s better to have an Honorable in your hand than a (modern? Might not apply to your mom in the 70�s..) ELS paper trail as far as I understand it.

# ¿ Dec 9, 2022 20:16

LtCol J. Krusinski: May 7, 2013; by Fluffdaddy

Yeah man, she�s fine. The rules are pretty black and white. If ELS�s existed in 1980 they hooked her up and got her an honorable, or ELS�s didn�t exist then, in which case oh well she�s well within the rules.

Either way your mom appears to be entitled to claim veteran�s preference.

# ¿ Dec 9, 2022 21:16

LtCol J. Krusinski: May 7, 2013; by Fluffdaddy

Hekk posted:

Is there a way for the off base doctor to send the RX to the VA? There has to be a way for the doctor in town can share your medical records with the VA so someone can put two and two together and figure out that this is something that should be covered.

I am retired and have TriCare select but also 100% so I have my non VA PCM send my prescriptions to the VA and just have them mailed to my house.

Hekk- Question for you. I�m retired, have TRICare Prime, also 100% P&T. Can my non VA PCM I use send RX�s to the VA and I can get them for free? Or cheap? I don�t use the VA for anything other than my fun bux and education benefits. What is the process to get setup similar to what your doing?

Also, will the VA fill things with less bullshit than TRICare? My Doctor tried to get me on Mounjaro and TRICare said no, try these other alternatives and when my doc tried to put me on them they continued to decline filling it because TRICare says I have to take Metformin, some other drug, and then some other drug before I can be prescribed the Mounjaro alternatives.

Sorry for wall of text. :shobon:

# ¿ Feb 1, 2023 01:42

LtCol J. Krusinski: May 7, 2013; by Fluffdaddy

What about medical retired?

# ¿ Mar 1, 2023 19:50

LtCol J. Krusinski: May 7, 2013; by Fluffdaddy

lite_sleepr posted:

Would the post 9/11 gi bill cover a 12,475 dollar computer security course?

Who�s the provider? Is it SAP? And does it lead to a certification or qualification or the right to test for such?

# ¿ Mar 19, 2023 15:39

LtCol J. Krusinski: May 7, 2013; by Fluffdaddy

I went to give advice and remembered I retired and got my rating over a decade ago and there is 0% chance my experience is useful.

I�m trying to think of what GiP folks we�ve had transition out in the last year and all I keep coming back to is Elviscat.

# ¿ Jun 5, 2023 15:47

LtCol J. Krusinski: May 7, 2013; by Fluffdaddy

US Berder Patrol posted:

Ok, thanks. Yep, this is the same link the VRC sent me. I'll just have to see what the CWT people at the local VAMC have to say.

and buddy I am

I tried to get VRE back in 2015 when I started at Cattle State Research University studying geology. The counselor told me they didn't really recommend university attendance for me, so I said thanks for your time and used my GI Bill to get that degree. Then, I had a VRE claim about 2 years ago. As I mentioned, I didn't like my job pouring biopsy tissues pickled in methylated spirits from little drums into big drums, so I came up with a plan to get a vocational certificate in GIS from the local public university CE program. The VRC approved of it and told me I was good to go, so I resigned from my job. Then the university postponed class starts for two weeks, and then on the day classes were supposed to start... whoops, we can't certify this. The program, the CE school, they aren't in WEAMS. Would've been nice to know, but I never heard of it and didn't know I had to look that up, so I never did. Hell, they got an extra two weeks where they could have told me! Lol. At this point, obviously, it was way too late to line up a slate of classes there or anywhere else, so I just asked VRE to close my case and set about looking for work. The actual financial fallout was not too bad, but I think I am still kind of reckoning with the damage to my work history, as I've only been able to get hired for a couple of temp contracts in the in the meantime. Luckily the spotty employment I'm getting gives me plenty of time to work on getting myself through a community college program. I have been setting myself up to get a full time in person semester together to get that GI Bill money this fall, but I was already not really relying on VRE to come through for me. I filed this latest VRE claim because the state veterans employment dude told me to when I filed for unemployment at the end of my last temp job. They've never been helpful for me in the past and I didn't really expect them to help me this time. I'm glad y'all are getting good effect on target, but I'm just explaining my history with the Chapter 31 program and why I'm just as happy to move on without their help.

If you are willing to fight, you can win.
If you are not, that�s perfectly ok.
I�m not willing to fight the VA on some things, but I was given 100% P&T at retirement so I don�t really have too much to fight with them on, with some exceptions the VA has been pretty good to me.

I�m sorry you got / are getting hosed by these people. TheWeedNumber is definitely the guy to talk/listen to about this poo poo. If you see Mr. Nice he�s like an old Jedi master with a few VA things, so that�s worthwhile.

I wish I knew how to help you somehow, but having lived a semi-charmed kinda life with the VA (Those song lyrics actually go with being a Vet in a VA parking lot pretty good for the record) I just don�t know how to fight-fight them, they�ve always just reached out and helped me more or less. Only really had to ask a handful of times and was practically waited on hand and foot.

Sorry dude. Seriously. It varies so goddamn much. We need to fight to get the VA overhauled so that we just get people getting a consistently fair equitable treatment based on the law for healthcare and benefits you loving deserve for serving.

# ¿ Jun 18, 2023 17:48

LtCol J. Krusinski: May 7, 2013; by Fluffdaddy

lite_sleepr posted:

Is TheWeedNumber the ol' Lt Col J Krusinski guy

# ¿ Jun 18, 2023 19:30

LtCol J. Krusinski: May 7, 2013; by Fluffdaddy

They are your advocate, why are you getting squirrelly about them seeing your pediatric TRICare records? The government has access to those by default, if you are worried something might get flagged as pre-existing or non service related because of poo poo in your dependent records, don�t be. Your VSO isn�t going to draw those kinds of connections or point them out to the VA.

I mean.. it�s your medical records. The ones the government already has, and maintains, you are just shutting out your own advocate, while giving the government an upper hand.

Seems silly?

I dunno, maybe you have your reasons.

# ¿ Jun 29, 2023 14:11

LtCol J. Krusinski: May 7, 2013; by Fluffdaddy

I�ve been going against my own advice and enrolled with the VA just so I could see a therapist. There was over an 8 month wait using my TRICare and the VA got me a therapist in a few weeks.

This therapist may not be the best but it beats talking to my dogs and crying while I drink a fifth of bourbon and chain smoke.

I withdraw my opinion that the VA is the worst and never use them. My new stance is: The VA is the worst, but can be better than nothing.

Sign up. Even if you never use it, just having your name in the system means you can �quickly� use VA health services after that. They offer some things that are actually really good and if you don�t have TRICare like me and Hekk they beat dying under a bridge.

I no longer believe the VA will give you HIV but I will never not poo poo on the VA as an organization.

�Grats on the sweet job with the sweet benefits though brother. Sounds like you are living your best life and that�s awesome.

# ¿ Sep 16, 2023 14:21

LtCol J. Krusinski: May 7, 2013; by Fluffdaddy

feverish and oversexed posted:

Hey all, looking for advice:

I am currently in an appeal for an increase in my mental health rating (30%) due to multiple issues in my life and coming up with a late diagnose PTSD assessment (and getting told I can't combine it/replace it etc). Long story short, in working with the DAV with my appeals, they triggered a TDIU form to be sent to me since my combined total is 70% ( I also have a physical rating). I called my rep (DAV) but the guy was terse and kinda unhelpful overall, so I thought I might ask here.

Looking for some advice on how to fill this out to be most helpful to me? Last "long term job" I got fired from in 2019, I've had like 2 other jobs that gave out w2s (they were temp jobs, too physical for me to continue) since then but I've just been riding my GI bill for money since I've been fighting my appeal and stuff (I am in my last semester).

Open to DMs as well, thanks in advance.

I've never filled out a TDIU form, but I have a good friend and fellow GIP'er that gets TDIU, and he might be able to help you.

He doesn't post here anymore because reasons but I bet he'd be willing to PM you if he's willing to help.

Keep an eye on your PM's, no promises but I'm calling him tomorrow morning to talk poo poo anyway.

# ¿ Nov 2, 2023 03:04

LtCol J. Krusinski: May 7, 2013; by Fluffdaddy

Marijuana is cool and good, I and if it doesn�t affected disability or pensions I�d know.

Your good

# ¿ Nov 4, 2023 20:27

LtCol J. Krusinski: May 7, 2013; by Fluffdaddy

PageMaster posted:

Thanks! I've never had it either so I can't say what it would do, but again I'm so uneducated on the subject I didn't know weed was different from CBD, I just lump weed, marijuana, CBD, and THC as the same thing

Not trying to Doxx you or anything, but what state do you live in? That kind of influences further advice I give on this topic.

# ¿ Nov 5, 2023 01:50

LtCol J. Krusinski: May 7, 2013; by Fluffdaddy

Hahahaha getting Wegovy on TRICare.

Lol

No.

You might be able to get on Ozempic if you�ve got Type 2 Brimleys.

Semaglutide for weightloss is non formulary. Hell semaglutide is non formulary period. There�s diabetes drugs other than Ozempic that TRIcare wants your doctor to try. You can get Ozempic but your starting metformin and �diet and lifestyle� change first if you�ve got type 2 almost every time.

I have no idea what the VA�s rules on semaglutide are but I doubt they�re better than TRIcare. But it wouldn�t shock me if they were.

It was easier for me to eat better and work out than get in on government subsidized semaglutide through the channels available to me.

Always take the TRICare option, it�s great to have if you need it, and you can always use VA whenever too once your in their system. Meanwhile TRIcare has an enrollment season, and is dirt cheap; so use it.

# ¿ Jan 13, 2024 07:44

LtCol J. Krusinski: May 7, 2013; by Fluffdaddy

GoGoGadget posted:

Is Tricare cheaper than $12 a month? That's what my employer health care would cost due to being heavily subsidized by the university. Dental and vision are also free through the university so I don't have to worry about that.

I am happy with all the medications I get through the VA currently, with the exception of having to go to a specialist to get the 300mg version of Wellbutrin because my PCM wasn't comfortable prescribing more than 150mg...

I don't believe it has a cheaper per month fee than that, no.

The fee you pay each month is usually not the expensive part of health insurance, however.

# ¿ Jan 13, 2024 19:43

LtCol J. Krusinski: May 7, 2013; by Fluffdaddy

He�s banned right now and out of pocket for a bit- But �The Weed Number� has jumped through every VR&E hoop there is. He knows how to maximize your benefits and go above those gate keeping counselors to get you where you want to go. He got a year at Columbia that way.

Hopefully when he comes back he can give you some insight.

Heads up he�s not your neurotypical person so he can come across as abrasive or trying to hard but the guys heart is sincerely in the right place.

I�d text him to come to this thread but he�s in dispose.

# ¿ Feb 2, 2024 07:19

LtCol J. Krusinski: May 7, 2013; by Fluffdaddy

I have 28 months of gi bill eligibility.

I want to change tracks and go IT- specifically cloud stuff. $900 a month for BAH for online kinda blows. If I take a local community college class in something using GI bill, while doing full time online at a separate school can I get in person BAH?

# ¿ Feb 7, 2024 22:21

LtCol J. Krusinski: May 7, 2013; by Fluffdaddy

Meshka posted:

I dont believe so. You would have to do one program, full time, with at least 1 in person class. Though maybe if you can prove that the second online program will full-fill first in person programs requirements.

That�s kind of what I figured but it was worth a shot.

# ¿ Feb 8, 2024 04:45

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# ¿ May 17, 2024 12:11

LtCol J. Krusinski: May 7, 2013; by Fluffdaddy

Mr. Nice! posted:

https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/23pdf/22-888_1b8e.pdf

I don't know exactly how this is going to work, but those of us with multiple periods of service where we qualify for both MGIB and post-9/11 are now eligible to use either of them up to 48 months of total benefits. Based upon my reading, those who have exhausted post-9/11 but also qualify for MGIB should have another year of benefits.

So I'm not a lawyer, and I really don't know how to read a SCOTUS brief..

I have 11 months of post 9/11 GI Bill remaining, and never used any of my MGIB benefits but I did pay in my $1200 my first year of service..

Does this mean instead of 11 months of benefits left I actually have 23 months of benefits left?

# ¿ Apr 17, 2024 04:30

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