Homeless Veterans: Introduction

United States Armed Forces homeless veterans with a dishonorable discharge do not have medical benefits available to them through the Veteran’s Affairs. Men and woman that so bravely fought for our country should not be without medical benefits. They put their lives at risk defending our country they should at least have the right to medical benefits. The possibility that the effects of combat, post-traumatic stress disorder, or the anxiety of the pressures that the military has on soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines could have caused the behaviors that warranted the dishonorable discharge.

“If you served in the active military service and were separated under any condition other than dishonorable, you may qualify for VA health care benefits. Current and former members of the Reserves or National Guard who were called to active duty by a federal order and completed the full period for which they were called or ordered to active duty may be eligible for VA health benefits as well” (Retrieved from http://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/apply/veterans.asp). The problem is that we have veterans that do not have medical benefits, are unable to pay for Obama care SSI. Because the veteran has a dishonorable discharge that may have been due to service related stresses they are unable to receive these medical benefits. Everyone has made mistakes in their lives that they regret, but having a dishonorable discharge has to be changed by a court of law but they are very difficult to be turned over.

“A Veteran’s character of discharge (COD) must be under other than dishonorable conditions to establish eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits based on that individual’s military service. A dishonorable discharge or a statutory bar deprives a claimant of all VA benefits. Exception: A dishonorable discharge or statutory bar is not binding on VA if it is determined that the individual was insane when committing the acts which resulted in the discharge” (M21-1MR, Part III, Subpart v. Chapter 1, section B. p. 1-B-2).

References

United States Department of Veterans Affairs. (2014). Basic eligibility of medical benefits for veterans. Retrieved from http://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/apply/veterans.asp

Statutory Bar to Benefits and Character of Discharge (COD) Overview. M21-1MR, Part III, Subpart v. Chapter 1, section B. Department of Veterans Affairs.