Veterans need to be well organized when it comes to keeping records for our significant others. They will
be stressed out enough dealing with our passing. They do not need the added chore of trying to find critical
items necessary for planning funerals and other issues. What follows is a list of documents that are
necessary to ensure that things get taken care of in a timely manner when we die.
The first item is a copy of your DD-214. This is the most important document relating to your military
service. It shows a funeral director that you are a veteran and, in some cases, determines the level of
services you are eligible for. If you are drawing benefits from the VA and you do not have a copy of your
DD-214, log on to www.ebenefits.va.gov where you will be able to find and print a copy, as well as review
your disability rating.
The second item is a copy of your award letter from the VA. This document shows what your
disabilities are and their percentages. If you are a 100 percent permanent and totally disabled veteran, the 
letter will save your significant other a lot of headaches when it comes to filing for Dependent Indemnity
Compensation. It also gives the physician who fills out the death certificate a list of conditions that should
be named as contributing factors to the veteran’s death.
During the pandemic the primary cause of death listed for many veterans has been COVID-19. But the
veteran’s service-connected conditions in most cases were contributing factors. COPD and diabetes, for
example, often are contributing factors. By having the doctor list a service-connected condition as a
contributing factor on the death certificate, the widow will not have any difficulty getting the DIC claim
approved. As a 100 percent permanent and totally disabled veteran, you are authorized a free death
insurance policy providing you filed for that benefit within two years after you received your rating award
letter. Locate the phone number for the insurance agency and keep it with the policy.
Then you need to compile all the documents listed below. The items and all pertinent information
should be kept in a folder.
 Will
 Do Not Resuscitate statement
 Obituary
 Funeral wishes
 Passwords for computers and other items
 List of people to contact other than family (old military buddies,
 etc.)
It’s also important to contact your nearest Casualty Assistance Office, which can help you file whatever
documents are necessary for retirement pay and other issues. If your significant other is not a member of
a Veterans Service Organization, locate the nearest VSO that helps with filing DIC claims and performs
graveside honors.
This list is by no means complete. However, it will give you a starting point and provide critical
information necessary to take care of the most time-sensitive items. AVVA offers a Paper Safe. Most
funeral homes have guides, and will provide additional guidance. Please take the time and make this one
of your priorities. As Vietnam veterans, we are all living on borrowed time. For more information, see
“Navigating the VA Widow’s Benefits Maze: Get the Facts and Don’t Give Up,” by Claudia Gary, in the
July/August 2019 issue of The VVA Veteran (http://vvaveteran.org).

(332) How To Win Your PTSD Claim without Diagnosis (Don't Fall for this common Grift!) - YouTube

it doesn't just apply to PTSD..WATCH this video!!

08-01-2021, 08:57 PM

My HealtheVet, VA’s online patient portal, gives you access to your VA health information so
you can understand and manage your VA care. Beginning in September 2021, My HealtheVet
Advanced accounts will be discontinued. If you have an Advanced account today and do not
upgrade to a Premium account, your account will revert to a Basic account. If that occurs, you will
lose access to the pharmacy features, including the ability to request and track your VA
prescription refills. That means… it’s time to upgrade to a Premium account. With a free Premium
account, you can securely access your VA health information, 24/7.

Using your My HealtheVet Premium account, you will be able to:
 Request VA prescription refills, track your VA medications, and access your current VA
prescriptions and prescription history.
 View, download and print your VA health information, reports and images from your VA
medical record.
 Send online secure messages to your VA care team to ask them non-urgent health
questions; ask to renew your medications; and send updates on your condition.
 View, schedule, reschedule and cancel VA appointments.

How to get started
If you are new to My HealtheVet, create an account by visiting the My HealtheVet website,
selecting Register, and filling out the required fields. Make sure to check the boxes verifying that
you are a VA patient and Veteran. If you are already a user, you may have a Premium account. If
you do, there will be a “P” icon next to your name. Also, if you currently use secure messaging on
My HealtheVet, you’re all set. Patients who use secure messaging already have a Premium
account.

Three ways to upgrade to Premium level
If you have an Advanced account, there are three ways to upgrade to Premium level: in person,
online or through a video appointment. Upgrading your account is free. If you want to upgrade in
person or through a video appointment, contact the My HealtheVet coordinator in your local VA
facility. Ask about upgrading to a Premium account. You can locate your VA facility’s contact
information through VA’s facility locator tool. To upgrade online, you’ll need to use your DS
Logon Premium or ID.me secure sign-in credentials. You can learn more about the online
upgrading process on the My HealtheVet blog post.

Effective August 5,2021 there are now 3 presumptive conditions for "particulate matter exposures during military service in several "Gulf War" regions that are likely to have caused or aggravated the following conditions:

Asthma

Sinusitis

Rhinitis (or Rhinosinusitis which is inflammation of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses)

Hopefully this is just a start but good news for many of our brothers and sisters out there

Airborne Hazards and Burn Pit Exposures - Public Health (va.gov)

Curious as to what the VA is considering adding to the presumptive list for "Burn Pit" we;;, here you go as of 11/15/2021

Conditions used as new process proof of concept

Rhinitis Completed

Sinusitis Completed

Asthma Completed

Conditions that may be reviewed during the pilot (Nov 21 - Apr 22)

Rare Cancers Under Review

Constrictive bronchiolitis Under Review

Acute eosinophilic pneumonia Under Review

Lung Cancer Under Review

Oral, Nasal and Pharyngeal cancers Under Review


Conditions that will be reviewed pending outcome of pilot results (Maybe after Apr 22)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Future Review

Emphysema Future Review

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis Future Review

Esophageal cancer Future Review

Laryngeal cancer Future Review

Note: List based on conditions possibly associated with deployment to Southwest Asia by National Academy of Science, Engineering
and Medicine

Information on this "Pilot" they speak of follows:

Secretary approved the draft presumptive conditions model on
October 26, 2021 and approved initiating the pilot from November 2021-April 2022 on October
29, 2021.

Pilot process: November 15, 2021-April 1, 2022

Conduct pilot progress check in and revise decision model to EESC
(as required): January 14, February 14, and March 14, 2022

Monthly updates to EBPC: January, February and March 2022

Decision brief of pilot to VAOB/VAEB: Last week of March 2022

Initiate implementation of new process: April 1, 2022

So basically what this means is that the VA is going to be examining Veterans to determine just what "presumptives" actually occurred due to exposure and which conditions scientifically match up so according to this we SHOULD see more presumptives added in April 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 11, 2021
VA pilots evaluation model to determine potential exposure to environmental
hazards while serving

WASHINGTON — The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today it is
piloting a comprehensive military exposure model to consider possible relationships of
in-service environmental hazards to medical conditions. The goal of this new model is to
lower the burden of proof for Veterans impacted by exposures and speed up the
delivery of health care and benefits that they need.
The new model will continue to leverage scientific findings from the National Academies
of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), available and relevant scientific
research data, surveillance of Veterans’ health outcomes, and adding the review of VA
claims data and military environmental research for trends and identify new concerns.
At the direction of the President, the first conditions this pilot will actively consider are
rare respiratory cancers and constrictive bronchiolitis. Consistent with the President’s
demands, VA anticipates answers on these conditions by mid-2022.
“We are seeking more information from Veterans, more evidence from more sources,
and looking to take every avenue possible to determine where a potential presumptive
illness based on military service location may exist in a more expedient and holistic
manner, “said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “We want all Veterans who may have
been impacted to file a claim even if it was previously denied.”
The presumptive decision model pilot will run from Nov. 15 to April 1, 2022. VA will look
to use the results of the pilot to formalize the model after April 1, 2022. Over the last six
months, VA has extended benefits and services to Veterans impacted by military
exposures due to Agent Orange and particulate matter.
If a Veteran has a condition they believe is attributed to an event during military service,
they are highly encouraged to file a claim. More information about VA benefits and
eligibility, or how to file a claim may be found on VA’s website at www.va.gov or by
calling toll-free at 800-827-1000.