$1 Million ($1,000,000) In VA back pay! New Bill re-introduced. #va #disability #benefits

$1 Million ($1,000,000) In VA back pay! New Bill re-introduced. #va #disability #benefits

REPS. CARBAJAL AND BACON REINTRODUCE BILL TO EXPAND BENEFITS FOR VETERAN SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT WITH SUPPORT OF OLDEST WAR VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATION IN U.S.

Congressman Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) and Congressman Don Bacon (R-NE-02) are reintroducing bipartisan legislation today to expand benefits for veterans who experienced sexual trauma during their service.

The Veteran Restitution and Justice Act would change the effective date of a veteran’s claim to allow veterans who experience sexual trauma during their service to receive retroactive disability benefits, starting from the date after their discharge from service rather than the claim file date.

The Veteran Restitution and Justice Act, first introduced in 2022, has also earned the endorsement of Veterans of Foreign Wars, the largest and oldest war veterans service organization in the U.S.

The bll would change the effective date of a veteran’s claim to allow veterans who experience sexual trauma during their service to receive retroactive disability benefits, starting from the date after their discharge from service rather than the claim file date.

“My office and I recently had the chance to work with a veteran from the Central Coast who had finally mustered up the courage to report her own history of military sexual trauma more than 25 years after the incident, only to be told her benefits would only be considered back to the day she spoke up,” said Rep. Carbajal. “Our veterans deserve better when it comes to this historically underreported injury, especially as we acknowledge the stigma around this issue. That’s why I’ve worked across the aisle with Congressman Bacon—a fellow veteran in Congress—to craft legislation to deliver restitution for these survivors of sexual trauma and justice for the many veterans who we know faced these injuries while serving our nation.”

“One sexual assault in the military is one too many. Sexual assault in the military leaves behind a wake of trauma, anxiety, and depression,” said Rep. Bacon. “As Wing Commander at Ramstein, I established the best sexual assault prevention program in the Air Force because I recognize the importance of keeping our service members safe from this kind of violence. For those service members who do, tragically, experience sexual assault, we should ensure that they receive payment for treatments to help them recover. Changing the effective date from when veterans receive payments is the right thing to do.”

Currently, most benefits provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are calculated using the day the claim was filed.

But with survivors of military sexual traumas (including unwanted sexual contact or advances), there is a historical trend of stigma and underreporting, meaning veterans may wait years before filing a VA claim.

Congressman Carbajal and his team worked with one such case: a female veteran from the Central Coast of California who was granted benefits related to PTSD caused by a sexual trauma during her service but filed a claim more than 25 years after the injury, diminishing the total benefit that she qualified to receive.

The bill has earned the endorsement of Veterans of Foreign Wars, the largest and oldest war veterans service organization in the U.S.

“The VFW appreciates the consideration that Representative Salud Carbajal put into drafting this bill as MST is a priority for our advocacy efforts. The VFW continues to advocate in favor of the earliest dates possible for all service-connected disabilities as the Department of Veteran Affairs has implemented processes to determine the effective dates of compensation,” said Quandrea Patterson, Associate Director of VFW’s National Legislative Service.

The VA estimates that 1 in 3 female veterans and 1 in 50 male veterans experienced sexual trauma in some form during their service.

In certain cases, like exposure to Agent Orange or other toxic chemicals, the VA has granted retroactive benefits. But no such retroactivity exists for claims related to sexual trauma, despite the enduring effects these injuries can have on a veteran.

The full text of the Veteran Restitution and Justice Act, which was first introduced in 2022, can be found here.

Congressman Carbajal served eight years in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, including active duty service during the Gulf War in 1992, where he was mobilized to Jacksonville, North Carolina.

Congressman Bacon served in the U.S. Air Force for nearly 30 years, retiring as a Brigadier General in 2014.

The two lawmakers are part of the For Country Caucus, a non-partisan group of military veterans serving in Congress who are dedicated to working together in a nonpartisan way to create a more productive government.

[MrAbsalomdavid]

In my humble opinion, ANY injury established as “service connected” should autoMATically be paid back to separation. The idea of “effective dates” outright makes no sense whatsoever unless the one and only reason is to not compensate veterans. Full stop.

[jamesw]

If the va agrees that your condition is connected to your service, shouldn’t every claim be backpaid to your military time?

[JamesBraziel]

All claims that started in service should be back dated to the discharge date.

[Adrian-run]

I took almost 10yrs getting tested at the VA to feel comfortable applying for disability, I got 90% but went almost 10yrs with zero income.

[grimreaper]

We need support this and do it for PTSD..They owe us!!!! LET’S GO!! #USN #USMC #ARMY #AIRFORCE #COASTGUARD

[proudasiangirl]

Thank you for ALWAYS keeping us veterans on the forefront with the latest news.

[JeanMurphy-wkph]

Hi. I contacted the American Legion about the Restitution Act and spoke to an Eric Johnson at the American Legion in D.C. I am a mbr of the largest American Legion in the world which is in Florida. I am waiting for a call from the commander of that legion. I will try to persuade him to take action to become involved in the process to support the bill. PLZ, any of you American Legion Mars talk to yr commander and ask him/her to support the bill!!!

[realspitkenny]

When this passes, can lead to more disabled conditions that backpays from Date Of Seperation‼️

[proudasiangirl]

As a MST veteran myself of 10 years, yes 10 years of enduring sexual harassment and an assault during my service time, from the time I was at MEPS to when I was discharged, it took me 26 years after discharge to finally ever being able to verbalize my past traumas. I volunteered to serve my country. I didn't ask nor did I deserve to be harrassed and assaulted. I totally support this bill. I have just written to my local Congressional District Rep. The key words to use are to 1) asking for his/her support with this bill but 2) MOST IMPORTANTLY to "co-sponsor" the bill that's being spearheaded by Congressmen Carbajal and Bacon. I can tell you first hand that those past traumatic experiences have changed the trajectory of my life and I am still trying to deal with them today, decades later.

[christybahr]

I am a Vietnam era vet on 100% disability because of MST, It was 46 years before I filed my claim.

[wonkachocolates]

Let’s hope this happens before all funds go to support Illegal Migration Benefits.
I hate seeing homeless or impoverished Veterans suffer when we house illegals.

[jayakashine]

your the only YouTuber talking about The Veteran Restitution and Justice Act H.R. 9164. Keep it up please and keep spreading the word. Thanks man. I didnt know about this until I saw you video. Took me 20 years to file after I got out. But i was a victim during basic training in 1998. I am currently rated 100% for my - Service connection for bipolar disorder mixed with most recent episodes (MRE)
depressed (claimed as major depression, anxiety and military sexual trauma (MST).

[celiatx]

It took me many, many years to file. I was almost killed in my barracks room by someone who got past the CQ & Fireguard on duty. On a 3 day weekend when everyone the barracks was almost gone - it was like a ghost town. Those minutes of being sexually assaulted & then being smothered by a pillow felt like an eternity. I lost consciousness until there was a knock on my door by CQ & the MP's who arrested him. So yes, Id say this bill should be supported & passed. This event has negatively impacted my life on so many levels. I'm not the person I used to be. I never will be.

[mykidsagoalie]

You are the only social media influencer that has given this matter the attention it deserves. I appreciate it. It's not just the sexual assault but also the retaliation that veterans suffer. The retaliation I suffered was horrible. My ROTC teacher from high school told me that I was treated worse than a prisoner of war. He couldn't believe what I went through and what kind of shape I was in. Thank you so much!

[pennyderenobe]

Thank you for seeing what so many had taken so long to come forward

[OneFaithFilledLady]

This needs to be for all injuries that happened in service. I was injured in the military (documented date of event) and been fighting with the VA since 2005 for compensation... rhe crazy part is that they havent even put it service connected when it clearly happened in the service... i was young in 2005 and knew no better and at the same time i was discriminated by the doctors after getting out and going to my first c&p.. he told me i wasnt going to get anything because i was young and healthy and that i didnt act hurt... from that day forward i had extreme anxiety about going to the doctors because i didnt understand how to "act" hurt... I was in extreme pain which was the reason i was there and the test showed problems but of course whatever he said got me denied. If i wouldve known what i know now, i wouldve sued him for discrimination of my age.

And the VA daf or advisors (i forgot what there called lol) are no help.

[cathylaraya]

I had an MST incident prior to getting out in 2000 by a military medical provider. Filed a couple of times and got denied by the VA because there was no proof in my medical file. Felt defeated, but now seeing a therapist and now I can see how that incident has affected me for the past 23 years. Refiled and currently waiting to see what the VA have to say and see if they are going to rate me or deny me again

Update: I have been trying to get a C&P exam for the PTSD and I have been calling damn near every month for a status update since June 2023. Even though I can see it online, I still call the VA to get a status. They are not being transparent. Sometimes I get they are going to call and sometimes they said that they are going to refer me. Seems like the are just sitting on it. Yeah, I’m seeing a therapist on a weekly basis, pretty much to get me thru the week until I see my therapist again. I can tell that it is affecting me physically and mentally.

[RandyRhode-yqhq]

A year ago I received 100% P&T for a rare condition which started to show symptoms April 1974, 3 months before separation. Myasthenia gravis is on the chronic disease presumption list. Due to the rarity, it wasn't diagnosed until 10 years ago. I didn't find the proof until late 2020 because my Army eye exams were not in the usual files. They were in my VA C-file. My retro pay was for only about a year. In 2017 I filed a claim, but no one would help me because I didn't have the hidden proof. Presently I filed a BVA appeal but that will take years. At least I get to move ahead in line when I am 73 in December 2024.

[jaimeflores]

I like that this specific trauma is being looked at as an actual injury and compensation. However, I can think of a good addition to this bill. I think it would help minimize these experiences if the perpetrator lost all VA benefits IF they were found guilty of sexually assaulting our brothers and sisters.

[abeautifullife]

Already sent in to my Congressman and woman from your first output yesterday...