New Windsor, NY – U.S. Rep. John Hall (D-NY19) today honored Rosemarie Greene for her dedication to her disabled WWII veteran husband for over 37 years and her husband Bud Greene's service and sacrifice for his country. Hall helped Mrs. Greene obtain her deserved benefits that the Veterans Administration (VA) wrongfully denied her since her husband died almost 20 months ago.

 

When Mr. Greene died last February the VA denied her petition for widow's benefits. Mrs. Greene needed the continuation of her husband's VA benefits to pay her bills and keep her house.  During an obvious time of grief, Mrs. Greene was forced to appeal the decision and called Congressman Hall's office for help.

 

Hall and his staff were able to cut through the red tape at the VA and get the VA to reconsider Mrs. Greene's case. The original claim denial was an error by the VA. Due to Hall's help, Mrs. Greene will now receive the monthly stipend she relied on from the VA. With her financial security rightfully ensured, Mrs. Greene says she now has "peace of mind."

 

"The VA has an obligation to care for veterans' survivors as it does veterans," said Hall. "Mistakes, denials and delays by the VA can cause severe hardship to the families of veterans with legitimate claims. I'm working to change the way the VA works so that veterans and their survivors receive their earned benefits promptly."

 

Last month the House passed Hall's legislation that would greatly improve the VA benefits claims system for disabled veterans as well as their survivors. Hall's legislation creates a special department within the VA dedicated to veterans' survivors.  The bill also changes current law so that family members surviving a disabled veteran who dies while the veteran's claim is still being processed will not be subject to extended waiting periods and will be able to take the veteran's place in line.

 

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