Overton Brooks VAMC Shreveport, Louisiana

Applying for VA Health Care, Nursing Home, Domiciliary or Dental Benefits

You can apply for VA health care, Nursing Home, Domiciliary or Dental Benefits by completing VA Form 10-10EZ, Application for Health Benefits. Be sure you sign and date the application. You can obtain this form by:

• Accessing the VA web site, 1010EZ, or
• Visiting, calling or writing Overton Brooks VAMC at:
  • Overton Brooks VA Medical Center / 136A1
    Eligibility
    510 East Stoner Ave
    Shreveport, LA 71101
  • 318-221-8411 ext. 6394 or 1-800-863-7441 ext. 6394
• Calling VA’s Health Benefits Service Center, toll free at 877-222-VETS (8387), Monday through Friday between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. eastern

VA will provide you priority access to care if you are a veteran who:

• Needs care of a service-connected disability or
• Are 50 percent service-connected or higher and need care for any condition.

In this case, VA will schedule you for a primary care evaluation within 30 days of desired date. If your outpatient appointment cannot be scheduled within this timeframe, VA will arrange to have you seen within 30 days at another VA health care facility or obtain the services on fee basis, under a sharing agreement or contract at VA expense.

All other veterans will be scheduled for a Primary Care appointment as soon as one becomes available.

Long Term Care benefits provide for a range of long-term care services, including nursing home care, domiciliary care, adult day health care, geriatric evaluation and respite care.

Nonservice-connected and zero percent service-connected enrolled veterans with income over the single pension rate will need to complete VA Form 10-10EC, Application for Extended Care Services in addition to a VA Form 10-10EZ.

Form 10-10EC is used to measure your family's current income and assets to determine if you will be charged copays for long term care.

Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability are exempt from long-term care copays.

To reduce processing time, you may submit the following paperwork

• a copy of your discharge papers (DD-214 or “WD” form) if you are not currently receiving benefits from VA,
• military service records indicating that you received a Purple Heart Medal, or
• evidence that you received hostile fire or imminent danger pay or a combat medal after this date if you indicated that you were in combat after November 11, 1998

The new law requires that the VA obtain any records in the VA's possession, or within any other Federal agency. The law also mandates the VA tell the claimant what evidence is needed to support their claim. The VA now must make several efforts to obtain any evidence identified by the claimant.

By law, the burden of proof falls on the veteran or dependent. Even though the VA is now required to look for evidence, this may take many months. You can help your claim and speed up the process if you can obtain supporting evidence.

Evidence can be any number of items:

1. The veteran's statements, especially those of combat veterans claiming a "combat related" injury or illness;
2. Statements from friends, relatives or anyone that has knowledge of your disability and its relationship to service;
3. Medical evidence.

Any lay statements must fit certain criteria and are not always helpful. Some can be harmful to your claim. You should discuss any statements with your veterans representative before submitting it to the VA.

If you need assistance completing the form, contact:

• The Enrollment Coordinator at Overton Brooks VAMC (318-221-8411 ext. 6394).
• VA’s Health Benefits Service Center at 877-222-VETS (8387),
• A State or County Veterans Service Officer, or
• A Service Officer with a Veteran Service Organization

You or the person acting as your Power of Attorney must sign and date the form.

If your Power of Attorney signs and dates the form you must submit a copy of the Power of Attorney with the form.

If you sign with an “X”, then two people that you know should witness you as you sign. They must also sign and print their names on the form.

Mail the original application with a copy of your supporting materials to:
Overton Brooks VA Medical Center / 136A1
Eligibility
510 East Stoner Ave
Shreveport, LA 71101

Once your application for enrollment in VA health care system is processed, VA’s Health Eligibility Center will send you a letter informing you of your enrollment priority group assignment and whether you were enrolled.

The letter will also give you instructions on how to appeal the decision if you do not agree with it.

Veterans who are enrolled will remain enrolled without having to reapply for benefit annually. However, some veterans will need to update their financial information yearly to keep their enrollment priority current. VA will contact these veterans when it is time to update their financial information.