Events
Honor and Ride Snowmobile Event Madelia, MN - Saturday, January 7, 2012
Get Active!
Minnesota Warriors Hockey- Visit the web page to learn more about this great opportunity for veterans seeking to build camaraderie and a sense of community.
Resources and Benefits
Disabled Veterans National Foundation Veteran’s Appreciation Day Program - $2,000 grans for Veterans across the country to celebrate Veterans Day within a group setting- for example, gathering Veterans for a special outing or hosting a celebration within a Veteran’s nursing home, homeless or transitional shelter or in PTSD groups. See more details at
Help with Hearing Aids for Military Retirees - Military retirees from active duty, Guard, and Reserve units who have hearing loss and/or tinnitus are eligible to participate in this program. Retired Commissioned Officers of the US Public Health Service are also eligible for this program at military treatment facilities, under certain conditions.
Retirees can obtain hearing aids at significant savings by using our program. Two hearing aids can usually be purchased for less than $2,000. Exact costs are variable and subject to change at any time without notice. Contact your nearest audiology clinic for further details.
Dependents of military retirees are ineligible to participate in this program throughout the US. See our website for more information.
What is a VA Compromise Sale?
For many reasons someone with a VA mortgage may choose or have to sell their home and move and this could include PCS orders. In some instances that may lead to lower bids on the home and a potential loss on the sale.
Fortunately, some VA mortgage holders have an alternative called the VA compromise sale. If you put your home up for sale and get an offer lower than the payoff amount on the VA home loan, you can send a request to the VA for a compromise sale. Once the VA receives your request, a representative reviews your VA loan with the finance company.
If you are approved for a compromise sale, the VA steps in to pay the difference between the offer and the amount that remains due on the VA mortgage. There are several requirements that must be met for the VA to approve a compromise sale.
For more information on a Compromise Sale go to the VA Loans Website.
Gulf War Claims Deadline
For Gulf War veterans with certain ailments like: Chronic fatigue syndrome; Fibromyalgia; Functional gastrointestinal disorders; and other undiagnosed illnesses the current deadline for when the condition must have "appeared" is on or before Dec. 31, 2011. If you have any conditions that are "undiagnosed" and you did a tour in the Middle East, this could apply to you. The VA is working to extend the deadline to Dec. 31, 2018. If this occurs, it will be great news for veterans and military members who develop symptoms after the 2011 cut-off. However, since there is no guarantee that the deadline will be extended veterans suffering from undiagnosed conditions are encouraged to talk with a Veteran Service Officer about filing a disability claim for these conditions.
VA Pays $Billions in Retroactive Pay
In a press release announcement, VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki said that more than $2.2 billion in retroactive benefits has been paid to date to approximately 89,000 Vietnam Veterans and their survivors who filed claims related to one of three new Agent Orange presumptive conditions.
A year ago, on Aug. 31, 2010, the VA amended its regulations to add ischemic heart disease, hairy cell leukemia and other chronic B-cell leukemias, and Parkinson's disease to the list of presumptive diseases related to exposure to Agent Orange.
For new claims, VA may authorize up to one year of retroactive benefits if a veteran can show that he or she has experienced one of those conditions since the date of the regulatory change.
VA has reviewed, and continues to review, thousands of previously filed claims that may qualify for retroactive benefits under a long-standing court order of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in Nehmer vs. U.S. Veterans Administration.
Potentially eligible veterans include those who were exposed based on duty or visitation in Vietnam or on its inland waterways between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975; exposed along the demilitarized zone in Korea between April 1, 1968, and August 31, 1971; or exposed due to herbicide tests and storage at military bases within and outside of the United States.
A special Agent Orange Claims Processing System may be used to submit claims related to the three new presumptive conditions.
New Vietnam Veterans Ship List
VA has release a list of US Navy and Coast Guard ships that operated in Vietnam. Visit the VA webpage to learn more.
NPRC - National Personnel Records Center has a new address:
National Personnel Records Center
1 Archives Drive
St Louis, MO 63138-1002
As a reminder, the preferred method of submitting a request to the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) for your military records or copies of information in them is via the Internet. Please note that in some cases using a browser other than Internet Explorer may create problems with data entry. As you know, the NPRC provides copies of documents from military personnel records to authorized requesters. Our web-based application will provide better service on these requests by eliminating our mailroom processing time. Also, since the requester will be prompted to supply all information essential for us to process the request, delays that occur when we must go back for more information will be minimized. (Application)
This improved on-line request process should be used INSTEAD OF Standard Form 180 for requests from the veteran or the veteran’s next of kin, if possible. Your assistance with this initiative will allow us, and you, to better serve the needs of our veterans. If you do not wish to use the Internet, you should use Standard Form 180. (Form)
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