Readers of Tom Philpott’s Military Update column sound off.

VA Loan Funding Fees Discourage Use Of Benefit

I am a veteran who used his VA Loan for a home purchase back in 2000.  When I sold my first home and looked into buying a second, I talked to a lender and told them of my wish to use my VA loan again. They informed me I would pay double this time for a VA funding fee.

We're talking $10,000 for a loan!

I was outraged. I went with a conventional loan. Even with my PMI (private mortgage insurance), I was still better off than using the VA loan. If I would have used my VA loan, I would be upside down [financially] in my house for several years, which is crazy.

So now I pay roughly an additional $200 per month for PMI because I didn’t have 10 percent to put down on a $240,000 home.

This just does not seem fair for the VA to charge so much for a loan, a benefit I've worked so very hard to earn over the past 18 years in service.

As you reported, Rep. Bob Filner's bill, Helping Our Veterans to Keep Their Homes Act (HR 4884), would raise the maximum VA home loan, eliminate a requirement that veterans have 10 percent equity in a home to refinance with a VA loan, and lower VA home loan funding fees by moving to a flat one percent regardless of loan type.

If this bill is passed, I will be one of the first to stand in line to refinance my home with the VA.

PAT SORRELLS
Sergeant First Class, Mississippi Army National Guard
Hattiesburg, Miss.

AGENT ORANGE

My husband was an aircraft mechanic who died from Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.  Because he did not set foot in Vietnam my claim was denied.

No, Agent Orange did not drift out to sea and expose him to its dangers; the dangers were waiting on the exterior of the planes he had to work on.

Is this fair?

CONNIE CARAWAY
Nashville, Tenn.

I was a Navy aviation machinist mate in an antisubmarine warfare squadron. In the mid-1960s our unit sent a detachment of three crews and aircraft -- Lockheed P2Vs -- and ground support to the air base in Saigon.  We were billeted off base with a small allowance for food and lodging and were bussed to and from certain pre-arranged stops off base to work our shifts on base. I was fortunate to work nights and dodge the heat of the day.

Night shift was terribly understaffed and work suffered from interruptions by snipers near the runways, incoming rockets and sometimes an occasional mortar round or two. One of our aircraft took a direct rocket hit behind the port wing as our maintenance crew was servicing it.

I relate this to help you understand that the job still had to be done. Despite interruptions and manpower shortages we pulled together. And you never saw better teamwork.  Marines from one unit would pitch in with Army, Navy and Air Force personnel of other units to load ordinance, fuel aircraft and pump orange, smelly, oily substances into aircraft equipped to spray while airborne. I knew it was to destroy dense jungle growth. The smell was somewhat like the farm fields back home at certain times of the year. Many years later I discovered it was Agent Orange.

Twelve years ago I was diagnosed with degenerate disc disease; Vitaligo, a skin ailment that causes the body to reject its own pigment; back pain with sciatic nerve involvement; heart trouble, high blood pressure and arthritis. Two years ago I was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes.

I received a letter from the VA that I should come in for a physical because of my exposure to Agent Orange. Later I got a letter denying any disability payment.  About the same time a Ranger medic buddy started receiving disability checks for the same ailment. Go figure.

I’m sure there are thousands of veterans with carbon copy stories. All I can say to my fellow veterans is this: War truly is hell.

RICKEY D. CAMPBELL
Germantown, Ohio

Thank you for your column about the problems we Blue Water Navy vets are having getting compensation and treatment for our Agent Orange exposure. It is a tough fight that is important to us and to every member of the military, whether active or not.

We can see the foreshadowing in VA leaders saying PTSD [Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder] is overblown and that military personnel who suffer concussions from explosive devices aren't hurt that bad. Such statements should make all of us vigilant and say enough is enough.

TERRY FITHIAN
Via e-mail

Your last Military Forum contained letters by Vietnam Vets regarding duty on Westpac aircraft carriers in 1964 and 1969.  I was maintenance chief of a photo detachment aboard USS Hancock (1964-65).  Did the Hancock qualify for Agent Orange considerations?

DANIEL W. GATLYN

Senior Chief Aviation Structural Mechanic, USN-Ret.

Macon, Ga.

No.  The Department of Veterans Affairs’ presumption that certain ailments were caused by exposure to Agent Orange does not apply to “Blue Water” sailors from that era unless they can show they set foot in Vietnam.  A deployment history for the USS Hancock (CV-19) shows its ports of call during the WestPac/Vietnam tour of 1964-65 included Pearl Harbor; Yokosuka, Japan; Subic Bay, the Philippines, and Hong Kong but not Vietnam. -- Tom Philpott

DUAL DISABILITY PAY

I am receiving 40-percent VA disability compensation for wounds received in Vietnam and for diabetes, a complication from exposure to Agent Orange.

I have had some other health problems recently and applied for Social Security disability. I am 59 years old.

If I win the Social Security disability, will I have to give up my VA disability?

T. ATWOOD
Via e-mail

No. VA disability compensation is not affected by receipt of social security disability benefits, according to VA officials. – T.P. 

TUITION ASSISTANCE AND MGIB

While on active duty I am obtaining my degree through the Army's tuition assistance program. Although I plan to have my bachelor's degree before I get out, I want to attend another college after completing service to obtain a different bachelor's degree.

Will I be able to use my Montgomery GI Bill benefits even though I already have gotten one bachelor's degree?  I have never used the GI Bill while on active duty.

JADE STONE

Yes.  MGIB benefits are unaffected by the availability and use of service tuition assistance program or by degrees already obtained. – T. P.

Letters may be edited for clarity or length.  Write to Military Forum, P.O. Box 231111, Centreville, VA  20120-1111, send e-mail to militaryforum@aol.com or visit www.militaryupdate.com.