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

Among Those Who Could See Retired Pay Restored

Could you explain the Obama administration's proposal for expanding concurrent receipt as it applies to me? I have been waiting with great anticipation for the law to change.

I'm a medically retired Army captain. I was drafted in 1971, spent five-and-a-half years as enlisted, and then got my commission through ROTC. I was a Command and General Staff College graduate.

After 16 years of active duty, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and medically retired in 1991 with a 60 percent disability rating. In 1995, the VA rated me 100 percent disabled and qualified for Special Monthly Compensation.

I clearly would have retired from the Army if I had been allowed to stay in. I know my medical retirement wasn't the result of combat. Nonetheless, I'm just as disabled. Also, I trained for combat and could have gone at anytime.

So will there ever be a provision to include veterans like myself for concurrent receipt? Right now my medical retirement is offset by my VA compensation. Will it ever change so I can collect both?

MICHAEL O. CAMPBELL
Via e-mail

The Obama administration's proposal to expand concurrent receipt benefits to all Chapter 61 retirees, if approved by Congress, would allow you to receive a non-disabled retirement from the Army, based on your 16 years of active duty service (2.5 percent of base pay multiplied by 16), and continue to receive VA disability compensation. Chapter 61 retirees with 100- and 90-percent disability ratings would be the first to receive concurrent receipt effective Jan. 1, 2010. – Tom Philpott

Blocked By Income

I am an 86-year- old World War II veteran. I recently filled out a request for VA assistance and stated my complete retired income on the form. My request was denied. "INCOME ABOVE MINIMUM!"

Our new President recently stated that he would make all veterans eligible for VA health care regardless of income. Has there been any progress with the VA in that area?

It really gripes me that when that order was installed [in 2003] all veterans receiving assistance, regardless of income did not have to re-state their incomes. I know some veterans who filed for enrollment before that order who are millionaires and still getting benefits.

Typical U.S. politics: grossly unfair.

HERMAN ZERINGUE
Via e-mail

In his 2010 budget request for the Department of Veterans Affairs, the president seeks funding to allow the VA health care system to enroll up to 550,000 new Priority Group 8 veterans by 2013. These veterans have no service-connected ailments and incomes deemed adequate based on family size and geographic location. But VA would raise its income thresholds enough to make this many more lower income veterans eligible for care.

The 555,000 of new enrollees over the next five years includes 266,000 Group 8 veterans already slated to enroll in VA health system starting this summer under a funding initiative Congress passed last fall. – T. P.

Back To 9/11

Thanks so much for your columns. They are my primary method of obtaining information on military benefit matters.

In a recent Military Update, you wrote that new Physical Disability Board of Review (PDBR) would now operate more as Congress intended. What I did not read was if they were going to review records back to 9/11, or if the cutoff was still going to be 2008 when the law was enacted?

BILL MILLER
Lieutenant Colonel, USAFR-Ret.
Shalimar Fla.

By law, the PDBR is to review disability ratings set below 30 percent and awarded to service members separated since 9/11. Veterans, however, must apply to have their ratings reviewed. The PDBR mailing address is: SAF/MRBR, 550 C Street West, Suite 41, Randolph AFB, Texas 78150-4743.

Regarding Defense Secretary Robert Gates' comments on raising fees for TRICARE beneficiaries, I wouldn't mind an increase for "younger, working" retirees if the services offered would be sufficient. Right now we are in the targeted group and use TRICARE as our primary health insurance. But the services have gone down hill so fast in the last year that I am angry.

My husband spent 29 years in the Marine Corps, and one of the primary benefits promised was adequate health services in retirement. That has not been the case.

Services are denied and prescriptions are not always available – even though we [try to get] our medicines from Bethesda Naval Medical Center!

I cannot get needles for a medicine that must be injected each month. When I asked what I am suppose to do, the military pharmacy system suggested I get them outside and pay for them! I asked what they do for diabetics. They said, "Oh we have needles for that."

Referrals are made to civilian doctors but when surgery is recommended, TRICARE denies coverage.

So we are stuck with a broken system that does not deliver what was promised. Twenty-nine years and when you want to use the services promised you are told no. This is unacceptable and a disgrace!

KATHY THEDEN
Great Mill, Md.

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