Veterans Administration benefits in this country used to be legendary. After World War II, with the passage of the G.I. Bill, the country really showed its gratitude to all of its returning soldiers. They were great Veterans Administration education benefits. Veterans could pay their way through college on the government's bill. There were, of course, Veterans disability benefits, guaranteeing that soldiers who'd been injured during the war would be well taken care of for the rest of their lives and have their families provided for. There were even financial benefits for veterans trying to buy houses and start a family. Basically, if you had served Uncle Sam, Uncle Sam would take care of you.
It is shameful how veterans administration benefits have declined in the past several years. Although President Bush is particularly notorious for cutting VA benefits, he is not the first one to do it. Basically, for the past few decades, Veterans Administration benefits have been slipping. Homeless veterans on the street are not a new thing, but they are something that our whole society should be ashamed of. A country that spends billions of dollars on weapons won't spend a fraction of that money to make sure that veterans are well taken care of.
The problem is that a lot of veterans – particularly older ones in the autumn of their life – don't really know what their rights are. When there is a cut in the Veterans Administration benefits, they are told that nothing can be done about it. Basically, they are made to believe that they are at the mercy of the government. This, however, is not completely true. In reality, there are often better Veterans Administration benefits available than soldiers are led to believe. When my uncle, a Vietnam vet, was having trouble getting the treatment he needed at the VA hospital, he hired a lawyer. Although they told him that it would make a difference, it really did. A good veteran's lawyer knows what you are entitled to, and knows how to get it for you.
The problem is that the rules are often so complicated that, without a lawyer, veterans can't really figure it out. The rules change every year, and they are often subject to interpretation. No matter how much of a patriot you are, you can't trust Uncle Sam for everything. If he can save some money by cheating you out of your hard-earned benefits, he just might.
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