By Tricia Bear,
Service Officer,
Henryetta VFW Post 539
Do you know about the following military benefits that you’re eligible to apply for due to your military service? 
If you go to my website: www.theamericansoldier.org and click on the “Resources” area of my website I’ve posted Title 38 which governs the conditions that soldiers/veterans can file a disability claim for if they have a medical diagnosis of the condition and the condition is service-connected.
There are several conditions that don’t develop until after your time in service has ended. For example the condition tinnitus (ringing in the ears) may develop while you’re in the service, but then there are several conditions that develop after your time in service that may be secondary and caused by tinnitus such as migraines, PTSD, depression, anxiety, sleep apnea, vertigo, etc. The tinnitus condition is a VA disability percentage of 10 percent which is $147.00 a month.
However, those conditions that are caused by tinnitus could range from 30 percent up to 70 percent if the VA determines that your conditions are serviced connected. The VA disability pay rates can be reviewed at www.va.gov/disability/.
If you are rated as 100 percent permanently and totally VA disabled, then you could receive up to $3,300 a month in VA disability pay. You would also be entitled to the Oklahoma tax exemption card in which you don’t have to pay sales tax on purchases up to $25,000 each year. You also are eligible for property tax exemption.
Also, if you receive at least a 0% percent VA disability, then you are eligible to sign up for $10,000 worth of life insurance which the cost is based on your age and which of the nine sevice-disabled veterans life insurance (S-DVI) policies that you want to apply for. However; if you are rated as 100 percent permanently and totally VA disabled, then the $10,000 worth of life insurance doesn’t cost you anything each month. You can apply for S-DVI if you meet the following 4 criteria:
You were released from active duty under other than dishonorable conditions on or after April 25, 1951;
You were rated for a service-connected disability (even if only 0%);
You are in good health except for any service-connected conditions;
You apply within 2 years from the date you were informed that VA granted your NEW service-connected disability.
If a soldier is 100 percent permanently and totally disabled, their spouse is eligible to sign up for Champ VA medical insurance that is free for the dependent.
Also, if you’re rated as 100 percent VA disabled….. then you, your spouse, and your children up until the age of 23 qualify for the DEA education benefits which is survivors and dependents education assistance. If you are rated at least 30 percent VA disabled, then you can also receive additional money for your dependents and then you’re allowed to file for mileage reimbursement every time that you go to the doctor at the VA hospital or another doctor that your VA doctor referred you to. For example: driving from Henryetta to the Muskogee VA Hospital is a $34.00 of travel reimbursement.
The other important document that I put on my website is the Presumptive War Illness list which identifies the conditions that are presumed to have come from a specific war zone. It is also located under the resources area on my website: www.theamericansoldier.org. I conducted a 30 minute radio interview with the radio station 89.9 in Tulsa which is located under the “Interview” section on my website. I discuss some of the important VA benefits that veterans or their dependents are authorized.
I wrote a song about Soldiers in memory of my deceased brother…Teddy Samuel Bear…called “March on Soldiers” which is Part 1 of “The American Spirit” picture montage video that can be viewed on my website. MSG Del Ford, also a retired Soldier, wrote a song called “Country, God, and Flag” which is Part two of “The American Spirit” video. I wrote the song “March on Soldiers” to encourage all soldiers to never give up hope.
The VFW Post 539 mission is to honor our deceased soldiers by helping the living Soldiers and their dependents. Family members are very important to the success of soldiers so the VFW lobbies in congress for soldiers and their dependents benefits.
If you need assistance filling out paperwork for VA benefits or have any questions, please call me at (479) 414-0952. The VFW Post 539 is located at 404 Jack Gibson Drive Henryetta, Oklahoma 74437 which is directly behind Love’s gas station….next to the ballpark.
If you need any assistance, please call Tricia Bear – VFW Post 539 Veteran Service Officer in Henryetta, Oklahoma. Phone (479) 414-0952 e-mail address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. She served in the military for 21 years, 4 years in the Marines and 17 years in the Arkansas Army National Guard on active duty.
