Top Veterans Administration Drug & Alcohol Rehabs

By John Willis

If you're a veteran suffering from substance abuse, you may qualify for treatment through the Department of Veteran's Affairs. If you think you have a problem, immediately go to "Locations" page in the resource section or the "National Veteran's Helpline" listed here, for top Veterans Administration drug and alcohol rehabilitation.

The best VA drug and alcohol rehab for you is probably the closest. At least it's the one you should consider first. VA care has been highly criticized, but that's true of private healthcare, too. VA healthcare has reformed itself over the last twenty years. In many cases, VA care is equal to or exceeds the care you would find in any private hospital. All states have Veterans Affairs facilities, but not all states have facilities specializing in drug and alcohol rehabilitation.

50 Irving St NW

Washington, DC 20422-0001

(202) 745-8251

Drug Dependence Treatment Program

10701 East Boulevard

Cleveland, OH,

(440) 526-3030

11301 Wilshire Blvd,

Los Angeles, CA 90073

(310) 471-3711

If you need further assistance locating the best VA treatment facility for you, check the locator website or call the National Veterans Helpline:

1-800-507-4571

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Tips on Applying for VA Disability

By Lee Grayson

Disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs provides benefits to current or former service members for injuries or diseases incurred while on active duty in the military. Conditions aggravated by military service may also qualify for benefits. Recipients discharged from service under dishonorable conditions usually do not qualify for benefits, even if the disability is service-related. Spouses, children or parents of disabled veterans may also qualify for benefits. Applications may be filed in person, by mail or online.

Letters to the Department of Veterans Affairs or local VA office must include a specific claim, dates and copies of any documentation and proof you have in your possession. Do not, under any circumstances, send original documents. Send the application forms and paperwork to the exact return address on the form or letter or deliver in person to a VA office. If an agent is listed, send the package to the full address listed for correspondence and note the name of the agent requesting the forms, if there is one.

#1, #3 & #4

Specific requirements must be met to confirm a disability. Documents showing proof that the claimant served in the military and that the illness or injury was sustained while on active duty should be included if possible. Current medical records describing the condition may also be supplied. VA investigators have access to service and battle records, but specific dates of service and a narrative of the causes of the condition help staff research records. Some medical conditions, classified as "presumptive service related," are recognized by the VA as directly linked to service even though diagnosed later in life. Examples include exposure to chemicals such as Agent Orange, which has been linked to certain diseases.

Disability claims work through the system in an organized fashion. Filing a duplicate requires the claim to return to the original status for processing. Claims may be amended at any time to include additional conditions, but these changes require additional documentation and processing. Continually adding conditions to an open claim generally delays the VA's decision on the claim. Follow up with a letter or telephone call to determine the status of your claim, but avoid sending a duplicate claim.

Legal counsel may assist in filing claims and requesting status information on current claims, but a lawyer is not required for filing a disability claim. Local VA offices assist in completing forms and collecting documentation necessary to make claims. The Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion and other veterans' service organizations offer free or low-cost assistance in completing forms and putting together documentation to accompany claims. VA does not recognize power of attorney for a family member.

Send as many relevant documents as possible either with the original claim or in response to VA requests for evidence. Many documents arriving at various times can delay the claims process by becoming separated or misfiled. Send information with a confirmation of delivery so you'll know that the package arrived. Be aware that VA compensation and pension claims are deeply backlogged at various offices due to many returning veterans from current conflicts.

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The History of the Veterans Health Administration

By Lisa Roner

The Veterans Health Administration, the largest integrated health system in the United States, has a rich history which can be traced back to the earliest settlers of our nation. Since the pilgrims of the Plymouth Colony passed a law that provided support for disabled soldiers of its war with the Pequot Indians, the U.S. has made caring for its military veterans a national priority.

From pensions for disabled veterans of the Revolutionary War and veterans homes and hospitals for soldiers of the Civil War to disability benefits, health insurance and vocational rehabilitation for veterans of World War I, the U.S. has continuously expanded and refined its veterans programs. But with an increase in the veteran population after World War I, the system grew more complex and cumbersome with oversight of veterans' affairs the responsibility of a number of federal agencies, including the Veterans Bureau, the Bureau of Pension of the Interior Department and the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers.

In 1930, the U.S. Congress authorized the President to "consolidate and coordinate activities affecting war veterans" and established the Veterans Administration (VA). The need for services grew rapidly following World War II as more than 1 million returning troops were guaranteed specialized assistance with rehabilitative physical and emotional care under the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, also known as the GI Bill of Rights. According to the House of Representatives Committee on Veteran's Affairs, in 1946, the Department of Medicine and Surgery was established (this department later became known as the Veterans Health Services and Research Administration).

In 1989, the VA was elevated to Cabinet level status, and health care services were consolidated in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The Veterans Administration is overseen by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, while the Under Secretary for Health serves as the chief executive officer of the VHA.

"There is only one place for the veterans of America, in the Cabinet Room, at the table with the President of the United States of America," said President Bush as he marked the occasion.

According to a November 2004 examination by Perlin, Kolodner and Roswell in "The American Journal of Managed Care," the VA transitioned from a hospital system made of independent and sometimes even competing facilities, to a true health care system in the mid-1990s. In 1995, 22 geographically defined Veterans Integrated Service Networks were established to more effectively administer resources and reflect the geographically shifting veteran population.

According to the Veteran's Administration, the VA health care system has grown from 54 hospitals in 1930, to 171 medical centers, more than 350 outpatient and community clinics, 126 nursing home care units and 35 domiciliary facilities today. In 2009, more than 8 million veterans and their family members were enrolled in the VA health care system.

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The Effects of a Foreclosure in VA

By Bill Herrfeldt

Foreclosures happen for a variety of reasons. For example, you suddenly lose your job and you have no wherewithal to pay your mortgage. Or you suffer a debilitating illness and the medical bills are more than you can handle, both financially and emotionally. If you live in Virginia, and the foreclosure of your real estate is imminent, it pays to know the effects that a foreclosure can have on your life.

With some exceptions, the equity in one's home goes up periodically. In addition, you'll continue making payments on your mortgage, thus reducing what you owe. You will be walking away from the combination of increased value and the reduction of your loan balance. Over time, this could amount to a loss of thousands of dollars.

When a lender recovers less from a foreclosure and sale than what he is owed, he is obligated to report that loss to the Internal Revenue Service. That loss represents ordinary income to you and you will possibly owe taxes on the amount.

In Virginia, a lender can sue you for the balance of what you owe after the proceeds of the real estate sale are applied.

A foreclosure has a devastating effect on your credit rating. It will appear on your three credit reports for about seven years, during which time you will have trouble getting new credit; and if you do, you are likely to pay dearly for it. Furthermore, your bad credit will impede your ability to rent an apartment and it might even affect your ability to find employment.

Many employers have turned to credit reports to determine the long-term worth of an employee. In some cases, when they are aware that an employee has been foreclosed upon, employers have the right to terminate that employee. Even if you do keep your job, the foreclosure could hinder your advancement.

Going through foreclosure can have a serious effect on your emotional well-being and possibly your health. You can become depressed and develop a feeling of less worth which can lead to a lack of motivation and even serious physical problems. If these begin happening to you, seek professional help.

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The Difference Between Veterans Affairs & Veterans Administration

By Pamela Hilliard Owens, M.

The Veterans Affairs Department, which is a Cabinet-level administration, is a government-run benefits administration program. The United States Veterans Administration, which provides financial and other types of benefits to veterans and their dependents, is a part of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The Veterans Affairs Department is responsible for patient care and the distribution of federal benefits to veterans and their dependents.

America's veterans have been cared for by either the states or the federal government since the pre-colonial days. After the Revolutionary War, veterans were offered pensions or public land grants. After the U.S. Constitution was ratified, Congress passed the first pension law in 1789 for disabled veterans; and a Bureau of Pensions was established in 1808 for all veterans.
After the Civil War, the number of veterans increased from 80,000 to 1.9 million; but Confederate veterans were neither counted nor entitled to benefits until 1958 when Congress pardoned all Confederate soldiers. In 1890, the Pension Act was expanded to include dependents and all veterans at age 62, whether they were disabled or not.
After World War I, a Federal Board for Vocational Education was established for veterans. In 1919, Congress established the Veteran's Bureau to consolidate three of the five veteran's programs; and expanded to include veterans from the Spanish American War.
President Herbert Hoover signed an executive order establishing the Veterans Administration on July 21, 1930. In 1944, during World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt signed the "GI Bill of Rights" which extended many economic, financial, and medical benefits to all veterans and their dependents. ("GI" stands for "Government Issue.") The "GI Bill" provided 1) four years of education training with paid books and subsistence aid; 2) federally guaranteed home, farm and business loans; and 3) unemployment compensation. By the end of the original 1944 "GI Bill or Rights" in 1956, 7.8 million veterans had received training, and 5.9 million home loans had been guaranteed by the VA totaling $50.1 billion.
In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill to make the Veterans Administration a Cabinet-level agency, and on March 15, 1989, the Veterans Administration became the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Department of Veterans Affairs includes the Veterans Health Services and Research Administration (now called the Veterans Health Administration), the Veterans Benefits Administration and the National Cemetery System. The Veterans Health Administration and the Veterans Benefits Administration, which are part of the Department of Veterans Affairs, are usually what many people think of when they hear the term "the VA"; although "VA" should stand for "Veterans Affairs." The Veterans Health Administration now includes divisions specifically for women's health issues and diseases from toxic and environmental exposure from Vietnam and the Persian Gulf.

The Veterans Administration is the second-largest federal agency of the United States. As of September 2008, there were 275,000 employees and approximately 63 million people, including veterans and their dependents, were eligible for benefits. The Veterans Administration issues millions of checks monthly for disability, education and pensions; operates hundreds of medical facilities, and supervises over 125 national cemeteries.

Building on the legacy of the "GI Bill," the function of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs---according to the website of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs---continues to oversee several types of veterans' benefits packages. These include: transitioning to civilian life, education and job training, finding good employment, starting a small business, re-employing reservists, buying first homes, compensating the disabled, serving the former POW (Prisoner of War), caring for widows/widowers and burying loved ones.

The Veterans Benefits Administration, which is the most well known division of the Department of Veterans Affairs, oversees six major benefits areas: 1) education, 2) home loans, 3) compensation and pensions, 4) survivor's benefits, 5) vocational rehabilitation and 6) life insurance.

For any and all Americans who receive a general or honorable discharge from any branch of the United State military service, the Department of Veterans Administration operates four major benefits programs: disability compensation, veterans' pensions programs, medical care through VA facilities or hospitals, and education programs. Additionally, other benefits include housing, home loan guarantees, job training, small business loans, counseling, burials and memorials.

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The Difference Between FHA & VA Loans

By JaKaye Jesse

The main purpose of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and the Veterans Administration (VA) is to provide an opportunity for individuals with lower income to purchase a home. Both departments do not actually provide loans; they insure loans that are made to individuals by private lenders. Each program will take into consideration your credit rating. The main difference between the two programs is that FHA loans are open to the general public and VA loans are open to military personnel.

In 1934, during the Great Depression the Federal Housing Administration was created to give lower income individuals the chance to own a piece of the American dream. The department is part of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD provides an added level of security by insuring the loans made by private insurers. One of the advantages of applying for a FHA loan is that you don’t need a high level of income to qualify.

The Veterans Administration Home Loan Guaranty Program was enacted as a part of the Serviceman’s Readjustment Act of 1944. The program is a part of the Veterans Administration and it insures loans made by private lenders to eligible program participants. The main advantage is that any current or former reservist of the armed service can apply to the home loan program without income level restriction. Eligibility is determined by the VA.

FHA loans requires a down payment as low as 3 percent of the home purchase price versus the 20 percent down payment usually required to purchase a home.

VA loans do not have a required minimal down payment. The down payment for a VA loan can be as low as 0 percent on a home up to $417,000. All program participants can apply for a loan over and over again as long as they meet the VA requirements.

FHA and VA loans both offer low interest rates that are generally below the standard market rate. Monthly payments will be low on a newly purchased home.

FHA and VA loans prohibit certain types of fees charged by private lenders, escrow companies, settlement agencies and title companies. These fees are usually paid by the seller, but the catch is that the seller may not want to negotiate or be flexible with the price of the home.

FHA loans require the program participant to pay a Mortgage Insurance Premium (MID) which is usually higher than for a conventional program loan. For FHA loans, the program participant will be charged an MID that is equal to 1.5 percent of the purchase price of the home and a renewal premium of .500 percent for the subsequent years of the loan. The MID can be financed into the mortgage.

VA loans usually require that the participant pay a funding fee, but the fee can be added and financed into the loan. If the program participant can prove disability, a fee exemption is applied.

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The Best Ways to Qualify for a VA Home Loan

By Kristie Lorette

VA loans assist those who have served their country in the military realize the dream of owning a home. Because VA loans are government-backed, it may seem like qualifying for a VA home loan may be more complicated than a traditional loan program. There are ways you can maneuver the process that makes it simpler and easier to qualify.

To qualify for a VA home loan, you first have to obtain your certificate of eligibility. The form for requesting your certificate is Form 26-1880 and can be obtained from any VA Eligibility Center around the country or online at https://www.va.gov/vaforms/form_detail.asp?FormNo=26-1880.

Once you submit the form to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, your paperwork will be processed and a certificate will be mailed to the address you included on your application. To qualify for a certificate, you must prove that you have been a member of active duty since Sept. 16, 1940. You also have to prove what type of discharge you obtained from the military if you are no longer active duty.

It's also easier to qualify for a VA loan if you know the types of properties that are eligible for VA financing. This will help to narrow your options when you're shopping for a property and keep you from wasting time looking at properties that aren't eligible.

You can finance the purchase of a property with a VA loan if it is a single-family home, an apartment, condo or townhouse. You can also finance the construction of a single-family home. You cannot finance commercial properties, investment properties, and second homes with a VA loan, so the home you are purchasing must be your primary residence--the home where you will live.

Various lenders, banks and mortgage brokers offer VA loans. Check with the bank where you have your savings and checking account to see if they offer VA loan financing options. If you apply for a mortgage with a lender where you already have some form of an established financial relationship, it can make it easier for you to qualify for the loan.

You can also shop and compare local credit unions or mortgage brokers in your area. Because the VA is not the lender, you have to obtain the mortgage through a bank, mortgage lender or mortgage broker that offers VA loans. All VA loan lenders are not the same, however, so you want to shop and compare at least three lenders before deciding which mortgage option is the right one or you.

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