Q. Will I be receiving a cost of living increase in my disability benefits check this year?
A. About 3.4 million veterans and family members will receive a 2.1 percent increase in their monthly VA benefits checks. The increase matches the rate hike for Social Security benefits.
The increase goes to veterans getting disability compensation and wartime pensions, and to survivors of veterans who died from a service-related condition or while receiving VA pensions.
Recipients should see the increase in the benefits checks they get in the beginning of January, which applies to benefits earned in December.
Q. I served in the Gulf War in 1991 and recently received a survey in the mail from VA with health questions. Is this a legitimate survey?
A. Yes, VA is contacting veterans from the first Gulf War as a follow-up to a 1995 study. It's called the Longitudinal Health Study of Gulf War Era Veterans.
Selected veterans are being asked about their general health, functional status, chronic medical conditions, unexplained illnesses, plus visits to doctors and hospitals. Participation is voluntary, and all information is confidential.
Not all Gulf War veterans will get the survey.
Information from the survey will help VA's continuing research into the causes, treatments and long-term health effects from service in the Gulf.
Q. Can a language other than English be used for inscriptions on VA furnished headstones and markers?
A. Inscriptions, such as terms of endearment, are permitted on VA headstones in a language other than English. Those inscriptions must be based on the Latin alphabet and be compatible with VA’s mission to honor deceased veterans.
Standard inscription items – the veteran’s name, date of birth, date of death and military information – must be in English.
These rules apply to headstones in VA-run national cemeteries and to headstones and markers provided by VA for use in other cemeteries.
For further information about VA financial payments, call 1-800-827-1000. For information about VA health care, call 1-877-222-8387. Or visit VA’s Web page at <www.va.gov>.
