Obama Pays Tribute to War Survivors on Veterans Day

As the entire country commemorates the people who have served in armed service on Veterans Day, U.S. President Barack Obama likewise paid tribute to their patriotism by honoring them in a speech.

After offering wreaths at the tomb of the veterans who have given their lives defending the country, Obama addressed his remarks to the surviving veterans who were present at the event held at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia to celebrate Veterans Day.

“This is the life of one American veteran — living proud and strong in the land he helped keep free,” said the commander the chief, Pres. Obama.

“We will never forget those who fought, bled and died for their country, even as the nation moves past wars in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Obama added.

Obama also guaranteed the veterans that he will keep going just to make sure that his administration is providing unprecedented support to the heroes of the nation. In fact, he proudly announced that his current administration has already reduced the backlogs of disability benefit claims at the Department of Veterans Affairs by a third since March

Furthermore, Obama assured young veterans that even though the time of war is coming soon to an end, the administration’s time of service will still resume.

Unfortunately, a veteran’s service on the war zone was not always equaled by the respect that he deserves at home.

While Obama was giving a standing ovation to the veterans, the latter acknowledge his tribute and were pretty overjoyed about his remarks.

In Los Angeles, wherein obtaining and facilitating the release of a disability claim is never easy, a social security disability firm suggests that it is a wise move to have someone to provide them with legal assistance, and represent them in various review hearings and appeals regarding their disability benefit claim to obtain much needed advantages in winning disability claim.

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Bill to Help Military Sexual Harassment Victims to Get Disability Benefits Moves Forward

A few weeks after two Democratic legislators in the U.S. Congress first introduced the bill that would help military sexual harassment victims to get disability benefits, a slightly revised version of the same has finally earned a go signal from the Congress. Thus, it is now making its way through the Senate.

Early this year, the said bill that was named after the Navy veteran who was left homeless and mentally ill after being repeatedly raped way back in 1987 by her supervisor was initially introduced by Sen. John Tester D-Mont. and Rep. Chellie Pingree. The said bill called the Ruth Moore Act, aims to make it easier for sexual assault victim veterans to prove that their mental health problems were as a result of sexual harassments while in service with the U.S. military.

The said effort is in light of the overly-high threshold for the survivors that make it impossible for them to be seen as eligible for disability benefits. In fact, out of three claims of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) resulting from Military Sexual Trauma (MST), only one has been approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) between 2008 and 2010.

Under the original proposal, it was noted that veterans who claimed they were victims of military-related sexual trauma would have their claims accepted if a mental health professional attested that their condition is consistent with sexual trauma and their claims are not opposed by evidence.

Now, the new version of the bill that is making its way through the Senate House made it clear that supporting documents like the official record of assault and medical reports are no longer required. The survivor’s testimony could now be enough as solid evidence. Also, the legislation seeks to require anyone found guilty of a sex-related crime to receive a punishment that includes but not limited to a dismissal from military service or a dishonorable discharge.

Apparently, the bill aims to ensure that the survivors who have suffered such horrific crime must be completely confident that the VA will provide them with care, assistance and support they deserve, lauded by a Los Angeles permanent disability lawyer.

So far, the bill is scheduled to be reviewed today, June 12 on a defense policy bill that eliminate the power of military commanders to overturn convictions in rape and assault cases.

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