Workplace Benefits >>
Overseas Benefits
Small and Disadvantaged Businesses |
Appeals
Medical Benefits
VA will pay for medical
services for the treatment of service-connected disabilities and
related conditions or for medical services needed as part of a
vocational rehabilitation program for veterans living or traveling
outside the U.S. Before using the program, veterans living in
Canada should register with the VA Center in White River Junction,
VT 05009-0001, USA, phone 802-296-6379. Those living in the Philippines
should register with the U.S. VA office in Pasay City, phone 011-632-833-4566.
All other veterans living outside the U.S. should register with
the Denver Foreign Medical Program office, P.O. Box 65021, Denver,
CO 80206-9021, USA, phone 303-331-7590. Outside the United States,
VA pays for nursing-home care only in the Philippines.
Other
Overseas Benefits
VA monetary benefits,
including compensation, pension, educational assistance and burial
allowances, generally are payable overseas. Some programs in foreign
jurisdictions are restricted. Home-loan guaranties are available
only in the United States and selected U.S. territories and possessions.
Educational benefits are limited to approved degree-granting programs
in institutions of higher learning. Beneficiaries residing in
foreign countries should contact the nearest American embassy
or consulate for information and claims assistance. In Canada,
veterans should contact an office of Veterans Affairs Canada.
Additional information on benefits and services available outside
the United States can be found on the World Wide Web (www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/foreign).
Small and Disadvantaged Businesses
VA's Office of Small
and Disadvantaged Business Utilization helps small businesses
obtain information on acquisition opportunities with VA. Like
other Federal offices, VA is required to place a portion of its
contracts and purchases with small and disadvantaged businesses.
For more information, write the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
(OOSB), 810 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20420-0001,
call 1-800-949-8387 toll-free, or visit the Web site at: http://www.va.gov/osdbu.
The Center for Veterans
Enterprise (CVE) helps veterans interested in forming or expanding
small businesses. The CVE helps VA contracting offices identify
veteran-owned small businesses and works with the Small
Business Administration's Veterans Business Development Officers
and Small Business Development Centers nationwide regarding veterans'
business financing, management and technical assistance needs.
For more information, write the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
(OOVE), 810 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20420-0001,
call 1-866-584-2344 toll-free, or visit the web site (http://www.vetbiz.gov).
Appeals
Board of Veterans' Appeals |
U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
Veterans and other claimants
for VA benefits have the right to appeal decisions made by a VA
regional office or medical center. Typical issues appealed are
disability compensation, pension, education benefits, recovery
of overpayments, medication copayment debts and reimbursement
for medical services that were not authorized.
A claimant has one year
from the date of the notification of a VA decision to file an
appeal. The first step in the appeal process is for a claimant
to file a written notice of disagreement with the VA regional
office or medical center that made the decision. This is a written
statement that a claimant disagrees with VA's decision. Following
receipt of the written notice, VA will furnish the claimant a
"Statement of the Case" describing what facts, laws and regulations
were used in deciding the case. To complete the request for appeal,
the claimant must file a "Substantive Appeal" within 60 days of
the mailing of the Statement of the Case, or within one year from
the date VA mailed its decision, whichever period ends later.
Board
of Veterans' Appeals
The Board of Veterans'
Appeals, located in Washington, D.C., makes decisions on appeals
on behalf of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Although
it is not required, a veterans service organization, an agent
or an attorney may represent a claimant. Appellants may present
their case in person to a member of the Board at a hearing in
Washington, D.C., at a VA regional office or by videoconference.
The texts of appeal
decisions made by the Board, as well as a plain-language pamphlet,
"Understanding the Appeal Process," can be found on the Internet
(http://www.va.gov/vbs/bva).
This pamphlet may also be requested by writing to Hearings and
Transcription Unit (0141 A), Board of Veterans' Appeals, 810 Vermont
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420.
U.S.
Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
A final Board of Veterans'
Appeals decision that does not grant a claimant the benefits desired
may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims,
an independent court, not part of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Notice of an appeal
must be received by the court with a postmark that is within 120
days after the date - stamped on the decision - on which the Board
of Veterans' Appeals mailed its decision. The
court reviews the record considered by the Board of Veterans'
Appeals. It does not hold trials or receive new evidence. Appellants
may represent themselves before the court or have lawyers or approved
agents as representatives. Oral argument is held only at the direction
of the court. Either party may appeal a decision of the court
to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and may seek
review in the Supreme Court of the United States.
The court's Internet
website (http://www.vetapp.gov) contains its decisions,
case status information, rules and procedures, and other special
announcements. The court's decisions can also be found in West's
Veterans Appeals Reporter, and on the Westlaw and LEXIS online
services. For other questions, write to the Clerk of the Court,
625 Indiana Ave. NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20004, or call
the clerk's office at 202-501-5970.
Workplace Benefits >>
Table of Contents |
Get the Savvy Consumer Newsletter! (FREE)
