Beware of new house bill

Veterans Talk

Here are some bits and pieces of information that may be of interest to some of you. First, please be aware of House Bill HR5739 called the Blast Exposure Protection ACT of 2020. This bill, if passed, would establish a presumption of service-connection for disabilities associated with blast exposures. This would include traumatic brain injury and other conditions associated with blast exposure. Many service members go untreated for blast injuries while in the service, which makes it difficult to prove that these conditions were caused by an event in service. I’m sure there will be more to come on this issue, so stay tuned if you are one of those who was exposed.

Another Veterans Affairs health support item is MST (Military Sexual Trauma). Survivors of this condition often exhibit symptoms such as anxiety, sleeplessness, intrusive thoughts, agitation and an inability to concentrate. Many survivors of MST do not report their assaults to their commanders or medical professionals, which makes it difficult to develop a VA claim. These claims MUST be evaluated fairly and treated with dignity.

Veterans who are over 65 years of age and have Medicare or disabled Veterans who receive Medicare benefits listen up. The Veterans Choice Act allows you to coordinate your VA and Medicare benefits and receive up to $125 back on your Part B Medicare Premium that will increase the amount you receive on your monthly Social Security Check without affecting any of your VA benefits. We suggest that you contact Michael Schlichte at 281-773-3465, or email him at mikeschlichte@hotmail.com for further information. Until next time, I want to thank you for your service and ask that God will bless Texas and the USA!

Carl Dry is a Korean War veteran, a former Grimes County Veterans Service Officer and former VFW Post 4006 Commander.