VETERANS CORNER: Veterans claims offices re-open with delays

Veterans Administration facility at Togus. (Internet photo)

by Gary Kennedy

Finally, the U.S. shutdown has ended after 42 days. This caused the federal employees to go without pay for weeks, suspended food to many low income Americans and delayed or cancelled thousands of flights for airline passengers. My wife and I were lucky the route we took to S.E. Asia went to Korea and was without delay. We were very thankful as our journey is a long one without this problem.

Veteran claims officers have reopened but this event will still take weeks to get claims back to normal. A break like this is never good as the V.A. seems to end up in a state of confusion. Things seem to get confused and delayed. That, unfortunately, is the human element. Some claims that I would have heard from by now will be delayed for a few weeks. Whether that is good or bad is yet to be seen. I am looking for the good of it. We’ll see!

The 328-page bill extends money to most federal agencies until January 31, 2026. Federal workers will receive back pay as well as reverses the related layoffs of thousands of workers. Healthcare issues are still on hold but will be addressed in the near future. This alone makes the shutdown a waste of time and money. Nothing was achieved but a long paid vacation at the tax payers’ expense. At the conclusion of the last shutdown I, like many others, came to the conclusion that Congress should suffer along with the rest of us. The consequences of a shutdown should be shared by all specially those who initiated the events. There are a few member of Congress who agree with me. (Very few)

My primary concern is our military, who keep us safe and our veterans, those who served to make security a reality. Most of us in this country go to bed at night feeling safe and secure. Many don’t stop to think about that security blanket that covers us and keeps us safe. Some won’t until there is threat of a personal nature. Then, they will look to those who are there to keep us safe; the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces. It would be fools play to withhold funding from those we owe our security to.

Unfortunately, most of us don’t speak up. So, we get whatever is dished out. You might notice, however, that during this fiasco our seniors and veterans were paid. Someone sees the bigger picture. The old adage, “don’t bite the hand that feeds you”, the hand that keeps you safe and secure, is well worth keeping in mind. The USA is only as strong as its weakest link and you certainly don’t want that link to be in our military or its veterans.

I was hoping to receive some good news to share with our veterans but nothing has come out of this government shutdown that is helpful to the many cases that have been filed on behalf of our vets. Next week I will share other pathways to V.A. Compensation, what it takes and what is offered. Have a great weekend and God bless you and yours.

The views of the author of this column are not necessarily those of The Town Line newspaper, its staff and board of directors.