Veteran Affairs

September 11, 2015

Veterans: Speak Now – Or Forever Withhold Your Peace Of Mind

by Eleanor K. Meltzer for the Law Office of Robert B. Goss

No time like never!

The heartbreaking anniversary of 9/11 brings to mind a less well-known event that continues to impact Veterans. Ever since the Veterans Claims Adjudication Commission (VCAC) issued its recommendations almost 20 years ago, the thought that Veterans should have less time – not more – to file claims and responses has been as evergreen as Texas cedar. And just as much of a nuisance.

Veterans, be warned. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has already moved one step closer to reducing its backlog by breaking your back. The VA continues to be busy figuring out ways to lighten its backlog of unexamined and pending claims by taking away rights and getting you to do their work. One goodie they added this year is the so-called “Intention to File a Claim” form. Continue reading

September 10, 2015

VA’s Notice of Disagreement (NOD) Form Is a Trap

by Eleanor K. Meltzer for the Law Office of Robert B. Goss

VA is even better at hiding your benefits!

If you want to challenge a credit-card charge, you write a letter. If you question denial of an insurance claim, you write a letter. Even if you represent yourself in court, you can write a letter!

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is apparently more busy than credit-card companies and more important than our nation’s courts. Unlike other public and private entities who let you challenge their actions by writing to them in your own words, using your own e-mail or stationery, VA now requires you to use a specific form. Especially maddening is the fact that VA requires that you use a specific form to file a Notice of Disagreement, or NOD. Remember in kindergarten when someone was mad at you and said “I can’t hear you!” The mandatory use of forms seems like VA’s special way of saying “I can’t hear you!” Continue reading

September 8, 2015

Texas Veterans Commission vs. VA or – Why Is VA Hiding From You?

by Eleanor K. Meltzer for the Law Office of Robert B. Goss

Why is VA ducking you?

If you need to call or e-mail someone working for the Texas Veterans Commission, it really couldn’t be easier. The Texas Veterans Commission offers Veterans a full employee directory. By golly, it’s even updated for 2015. The same is true for most other states, starting with Alabama and ending with Wyoming.

Now, let’s try our Federal Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). You know, the agency which is costing us $165B (as in “billion”) every year. Apparently, VA is too poor to pay attention, because they can’t offer you an employee directory. They can’t even offer you Regional Office directories. Why is that? It certainly isn’t illegal for VA to post civil-servant names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses. Heck, the Department of Commerce lets you search by name or office and serves up employee e-mail and phone numbers, right from their website homepage.

March 13, 2015

Is there a cure for Hepatitis C?

by Bob Goss

Many veteran’s suffer from Hepatitis C. A horrible disease with no cure, until maybe now.

A few weeks ago I met and discussed Hepatitis C with a Bristol drug representative who discussed how the new Hep C medicines were actually curing people with Hep C.

The following article discusses some of what the represenative stated http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/01/29/hepatitis-c-treatment/5029179/

March 6, 2015

179 Years ago Today, the Alamo and all of the Defenders Fell

by Bob Goss

Today, the Alamo fell to the Mexican Army under the command of General Santa Ana.

After holding off a far numerically superior army for 13 days the final assault began shortly after midnight. Using darkness and a calm the Mexican army crept close to the Alamo, and at approximately 0530 began the final assault. By 0630 all the Texican forces, defenders of liberty were dead.

The Texas defenders and Army, however, won the war 6 weeks later as Gen. Sam Houston defeated Gen. Santa Ana and his army at San Jacinto, TX.

November 5, 2014

2014 Veterans Day Free Meals and Discounts

by Bob Goss

The following list was sent to us by one of our good friends, Chip Beazley, of Alabama.

We take pride the members of the Law Office of Robert B. Goss, P.C. https://www.attorneyforveterans.com are all military veterans or the spouse of a veteran.

As such we wish each and every active duty, veteran, and their family members our thanks and hope the list below allows you to enjoy Veteran’s Day.

The Law Office of Robert B. Goss, P.C. https://www.attorneyforveterans.com, salutes all veterans and thanks you for your sacrifice.
Continue reading

November 3, 2014

Veterans Day 2014 Concert

by Bob Goss

ALL:

The Morton Ranch High School Choir (Katy) will be presenting a:

Veteran’s Day Concert on

May 26, 2014

Wishing you a safe and reflective Memorial Day

by Bob Goss

The Law Office of Robert B. Goss, P.C. https://www.attorneyforveterans.com wishes you a safe, reflective , and peaceful Memorial Day.

Thank you to our veterans. Serving is difficult for both the service member and their families. We thank you and your families. The Law Office of Robert B. Goss, P.C. fights every day to help veterans obtain their benefits earned through their courage and sacrifice.

If you or a veteran you know needs help obtaining their benefits contact the Law Office of Robert B. Goss, P.C., https://www.attorneyforveterans.com/lawyer-attorney-1303360.html.

May 24, 2014

VA Health Care system to allow veterans to go to private providers

by Bob Goss

On Saturday, May 24th, 2014, Sec. Shinseki announced the besieged VA Health Care system is making changes to allow some veterans to obtain treatment at private facilities.

This link is to an article published on Saturday, May 24th, 2014,

http://www.komonews.com/news/national/Veteran-Affairs-OK-more-private-care-for-veterans-260546891.html.

April 28, 2014

VA’s Benefits Phone: 1-800-827-1000

by Bob Goss

Several years ago the VA lumped all VA Regional Offices into 8 call centers to handle all the calls from anywhere in the nation.

Because you may think you are talking to your Regional Office, I wanted to explain what you need to know about this number:

What calling 1-800-827-1000, mean to you. Let’s say you are calling the Benefits line at 1-800-827-1000, from San Diego, CA. The assumption is you think you are calling the Regional Office handling your claim, correct? Wrong.