 Welcome to Voice of the Veteran on ThinkTech Live Streaming Network series, broadcasting from our downtown studio at Pioneer Plaza at the core of downtown Honolulu. I'm your host, Helen Dora Highton, Veterans Advocate. Remember that our talk shows are streamed live on the internet from 12 noon to 5 p.m. every weekday, and earlier shows are streamed all night long. All our shows are streamed on livestream.com. If you want the links to our live streams or previous broadcasts, which are available on YouTube.com, or if you want to subscribe to our programs or get on our mailing list and get our program advisories, go to ThinkTechHawaii.com. If you want to pose a question or a comment during one of our shows, please tweet us at ThinkTechHI. We'll try to get to some questions by the end of the show. Today I plan on sharing with the audience some information about upcoming events and things that are going around in the community and some great information. As a fellow veteran, I just want you to know that I've navigated the VA since 1994, and I've found some tips and tricks that have helped me get ahead of the game a little bit and understand the process, and I'd like to share that with you now. So, tips for success. First, make sure you educate yourself on benefits and how the VA rates you. It's really important that UGDOT become intimately familiar with your records. It's surprising. Make sure that they're yours number one. Ensure that the diagnosis are current and correct, and that you put them in order from head to toe. Make a list of all that you find. Make a complete copy for your records, and do not manipulate the records in any way. No binding, no stapling, no hole punching, no highlighting. And the most important thing, utilize a veteran's service organization. There's multiple service organizations to choose from. Most of them are located at the Tripler E-Wing. Please make an appointment. They all have various hours of operation. And, you know, we all use E-benefits for understanding our benefits through the VA, but there's a button on there that talks about e-filing your benefits. Please take my advice. Use a service organization first, and do not file your claims electronically. It is to your best advantage. These veteran service organizations are there. They are free to you. They are chartered by Congress, and you do a huge service to review your records, and you have a veteran's advocate helping you walk through the process. You are not alone. The next thing I like to talk about is a lot of veterans don't understand VA, so I prepared a slide for you called VA in a snapshot. There are three components of the VA. The Veterans Benefits Administration, better known as VBA, and it's located at the Honolulu Regional Benefits Office, 459 Patterson Road, East Wing Tripler. The other part of VA is the VHA, which is the Veterans Health Care Administration. That is on the back side of Tripler. It's the SPART-M Matsunuga VA Medical Center. Their phone number is 808-433-0600. Go in there. There's an information desk. The best place to start is on the second floor with registration. Those folks are great. They can direct you to anywhere you need to go. The third component under VA is the National Cemetery Administration. The National Cemetery, the Pacific phone number is 808-532-3720. The last component that is part of VA but isn't, and I will have them as guests in the future shows, is the Vet Centers. These are counseling people that work with combat vets, veterans with military sexual trauma. They are outside of the main VA. The Honolulu Vet Center is 808-973-8387. The Western Oahu Vet Center is 808-674-2414. As a fellow veteran, I have used all these services, both here in Hawaii and in other states. Sometimes people get confused about the Vet Center and the VA's relationship. The best way it was described to me is that the Vet Center's counselors can look at your records from the VA point of view, but the VA cannot look at Vet Center's records. And sometimes veterans feel more comfortable talking to the counselors at the Vet Center. Please use whatever services are out there to your best advantage and to your best benefits for you and your family members. The resources that I've provided next are va.gov resources. There's a link for HTTPS, colon, backslash, backslash, www.va.gov. Now please use this for any information for the VA. There's a lot of resources out there from different organizations that post information about veteran rights, veteran benefits. I like going to the horse's mouth. Go straight to va.gov. You will find everything there. It's a plethora of information. A lot of times veterans, when they do out-processing, excuse me, active duty, when they do out-processing at the tap briefings, veteran advocates come out there, VA employees come out there, but it's so much information to take home with you. Just remember va.gov and use that link. There's toll-free numbers that are posted. The next thing I want to talk to you about is fully developed claims. Now, fully developed claims are what you want to submit to the VA because then you've submitted everything. You don't have to go back and retrieve any records or documents. Work with your service organization that you pick to talk about fully developed claims. A lot of veterans, they had a pilot program that they used called Fully Developed Claim Processing, and it shortened the claims time. The next thing that a lot of veterans are not familiar with is the electronic code of federal regulations, Title 38, Chapter 1, Part 4. The link is provided. This is an invaluable document. When you look at this, it breaks the VA and how they rate you down. There's no science to this. It is a document that is used. It is the law. When you look at this document, the body is broken down into different parts and components, but at the end of every component, there's a piece called Schedule of Disability Ratings. I teach everybody to look at that and understand the different symptomologies between 10%, 0%, 100%. It breaks it all down. Really, this is the key that I teach people on how to educate themselves, but the service officers that you work with are all trained in this, but it's up to you. It's up to you as a fellow veteran to know what you're being rated on. It's up to you to get educated. This is a source that I teach everybody about. The other thing that you want to use to help you in your claims process is disability benefits questionnaires. They're called DBQs. The link is there for you to use. If you want to review any of these links, they will be provided on my show for the future, and you can check them out anytime. But please contact me if you have any questions about any of these things that I'm talking to you about today. The last thing I want to talk to you about is the Veterans Crisis Line. Everybody does not want to talk about this, it seems. Especially veterans that are struggling. I want you to know, as a personal note, I have used that crisis line before. It's an amazing, amazing, excuse me, I get choked up when I talk about this because I've lost so many friends due to suicide. And if anybody can relate to me, they'll understand why I get so choked up. The Veterans Crisis Line has helped save people. I know for me personally, it has helped me. They don't know who you are. They're 24-7 to talk to you. They're there to help you. And I can tell you that because I've used them, and I encourage everybody to use them. You know, people want to talk about everything other than mental health issues in the VA as far as personal issues. Please don't be afraid. Don't live in secret. Don't live in darkness. Reach out. The mental health providers here on this island at the VA are so amazing. I have used them multiple times, and they're there for us. The best thing that I can tell you that I learned from them is their philosophy here on Island is so different than anywhere in the nation. You are an expert of you, and they work with you. They are not there to drug you and not talk to you. They're there to help you. Help you figure out what's working for you, what needs to happen to help you live a quality life. Reach out. Please. And if you have anything or concerns, please talk to me about that because I have taken vets up there myself personally and sat with them. And once you get over the fear factor, you will come to love them as much as I do. Okay, we're taking a short break. I'm Helen Dora Haydn, Veterans Advocate. This is Voice of the Veteran on ThinkTech Live, streaming network series. We're talking today about veterans issues and events. Veteran, my victory was finding the strength to be a champion. My victory is having a job I can be proud of. At DAV, we help veterans get the benefits they've earned. My victory was finishing my education. My victory was getting help to put our lives back together. DAV provides veterans with a lifetime of support. My victory is being there for my family. Help us support more victories for veterans. Go to DAV.org. I'm good. I'm good. I'm good. But I have a story and I don't know where to start. I feel alone in a crowd. I can't sleep. I feel overwhelmed. I don't even know who I am anymore. I still have nightmares. I can't live like this anymore. I'm really not so good. But are you ready to listen? We're back. We're live. I'm Helen Dora Haydn, Veteran Advocate. And this is Voice of the Veteran on ThinkTech Live, streaming network series. Talking about veteran issues and events. I'm here to also share with you more information with events going around the state. We're going to put up some slides. Please, upcoming events for July. Tonight, please come out in force. The Oahu Town Hall Veterans Meeting. It's tonight from 5 to 6.30. It's at the Oahu Veterans Center. 1298 Kikila Street, Honolulu, Hawaii. It's near Force Village. So tonight, the staff from the VA, the new director, Jennifer, will be hosting a town hall to share information and resources. They want to hear from you. They will have an entire staff there to answer your questions about benefits, memorial affairs, health care. There'll be counselors there to assist with claims processing. This is our time to come out and show that we have concerns and they will be addressed there. I'll be there also tonight early about 4.30 to see if anybody would like to be interviewed about this town hall meeting. So please come and find me. I'm in the red, white and blue shirt. I'll be there to talk about my concerns. The next thing on the agenda is Thursday, 7.27. The VA Interant Visit at the Big Island Hilo from 9.15 a.m. to 1.15 p.m. at the Hilo Federal Building, 154 Wainu Avenue, Hilo. The VA counselors will be available to answer questions about VA benefits and assist with claims processing to be scheduled to meet with the counselor. Please either telephone Ms. Veronica Como at 808-935-2451 or email her at PCTC.VBAHON at VA.gov. In August we have some exciting events coming. The Lanai Town Hall is meeting Tuesday, August 1st from 5 to 6.30 at the Lanai Senior Center 309 7th Street, Lanai City, Hawaii. This is another Town Hall meeting where just like the one being held tonight in Oahu they'll be representatives from the VA to discuss VA health care benefits and memorial affairs. Counselors will also be there to answer any questions about VA benefits and assist with claims processing. Also in Lanai on a different date on the 812-17 there'll be a benefits and workshop in Claims Clinic from 9 a.m. to noon at the Lanai Senior Center 309 7th Street, Lanai City, Lanai, Hawaii. That's a VA benefits workshop in Claims Clinic. The Counselors will be there to answer any questions and assist in claims processing. In America, Samoa there's been a date change for their events. It's going to be at the American Samoa Government Veterans Affairs Office at the industrial park Pego Pego AS it's a VA benefits workshop in Claims Clinic. They'll be talking about VA benefits loan guarantees, vocational rehabilitation and employment, death benefits and education benefits. There'll be Counselors there available at the American Samoa Veterans Center Equator Building Autovill Road Pego Pego Tuesday 815, Wednesday 816 Friday 818 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Please make sure you resource that wonderful event. The Hawaii chapter of the Nakoa Wounded Warrior Canoe Regatta the contact information is Matt McCarville 609-851-8348 or you can email him at warrior at nakoaregatta.org There's a reception on 817 from 6 to 10 p.m. Keep checking back on their location. I'll update you as the time gets near. They're also having a Hawaii Warrior job fair on the 18th of August at the Halakoa Hotel from 8 to 2. Veterans get your resumes ready. There's going to be employers that are ready to hire. The regatta is at the Halakoa Beach Park on 819 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The next thing I want to talk to you about is the Oahu Veterans Council Meeting. It's once a month. We just recently had our meeting last Saturday. It meets from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The next meeting is on 826 at the Oahu Veterans Center 1298 Kukuli Street in Honolulu at Foster Village. This is an amazing group of people. Over 40 veteran organizations and other state and federal organizations are represented. Let me tell you, being a member of that organization has got me really plugged into all the events and resources out here in Hawaii. So, anybody can come. Anybody can join. It's an open forum. You'll learn so much. So, next time is, like I said, on 826. Hope to see you there. The next one is the Benefits Workshop and Claims Clinic in Saipan, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands. It's Thursday, 831 from 9 30 a.m. to 12 30 p.m. It's the location is the Governor Pedro Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center Susubi Saipan, NP. That is another Veterans Workshop and Claims Clinic. The workshop topics will include VA benefits, loan guarantees, vocational rehab and employment, death benefits and education benefits. Counselors will be there to assist with claims processing as well. The next event I'd like to talk to you about is the Veterans Standout to try to eliminate homelessness. Let's put an end to homelessness is the campaign name for this event. It will be it's an amazing event and to share a side note I too was once homeless and it was situational homelessness and a lot of people are one paycheck away from being there. Those of us that live on benefits. So please understand that there's a lot of resources out there for you if you find yourself in that situation but I was homeless in a red BMW convertible and when people see that car no one wants to help. So I was lucky I was down in the state of Texas when that happened to me and a bunch of Houston Veterans helped me that day to get to some assistance but just don't judge, just help. That's my motto because you never really know the situation as to why people are homeless just reach out and help but the stand down is at the stand down will be at Friday September 1st from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Wailua Community Association Building 66434 Kamehameha Highway and Halieva, Hawaii Jackie Nguyen at 808 3474412 or Curtis Ching at 808 430357 are your points of contact. Just so that you know majority of this information is on va.gov just go and look and you'll see the events that are happening. Last thing I want to leave you with is the additional websites. The eBenefits that I spoke to you about earlier the website is HTTPS colon backslash www.ebenefits.gov va.gov backslash eBenefits backslash homepage. Check that out. Make sure you sign up no matter what and there's a system to get to priority and once you get to priority you can then sign up for MyHealthyVets. With MyHealthyVets you can renew your prescriptions make sure you update if you make any changes make sure you update at the benefits and the MyHealthyVet page. The Sparks Matt Nuska VA Medical Center address is at the VA Pacific Islands Healthcare System 459 Patterson Road, Honolulu, Hawaii that is on the backside of Tripler their phone number is 808-433-0600 and the last thing I want to leave you is the Hawaii VA directory. This directory is a guide for everything that is VA veteran related for the state of Hawaii. Check out that site you can start calling and make contacts with any resources that you need. Last but not least I just want to let you know if you want to get on this calendar events please make sure you reach out to me at Helen Dora Hayden host Voice of the Veteran on ThickTech Hawaii Helen Dora Hayden at gmail.com so you can contact the station. Okay, it looks like we are out of time and we're going to have to wrap things up but before I do I just want to share one last thing with you. It has been an amazing journey to be able to bring all this information to you and share all this information to you. Please reach out to me, please reach out to the station and get the word out. The Oahu Veterans there's a meetup group that I talked to today and it's for veterans only but it's a wonderful resource and a way to connect with other veterans on this island. I'm Helen Dora Hayden Veterans Advocate, Voice of the Veteran on ThickTech live streaming network series. Thank you to our broadcast engineer Ray and Cindy our floor manager and especially to Jay Fidel our executive producer who puts all this programming together. Thanks to you especially to our listeners for listening. ThickTech will be back tomorrow for the next show in our ThickTech live streaming network series. Please tune in and tell your friends to tune in then too. If you want to get to our email and social media program advisories click the link on ThickTechHawaii.com If you'd like to be a guest, underwriter or volunteer or if you want to join us in our downtown studio studio in Pioneer Plaza contact Jay at ThickTechHawaii.com If you want the links to our live streams or our previous broadcasts on Ustream TV or YouTube.com just go to ThickTechHawaii.com Go there and to our Facebook page and tell them that you like us We'd love for you to like us and of course I'll see you next Thursday at one for more Voice of the Veteran on ThickTech. I'm Helen Dora Haydn Veteran Advocate Aloha everyone.