Veterans Corner Radio

Charmain Bogue, is the Executive Director of the Veterans Benefits Administration Education Service in Washington DC. Director Bogue administers the VA's education programs that provide education and training benefits to eligible Active Duty, National Guard, and Reserve Service members, Veterans, and their dependents. They discuss how the GI Bill has changed and improved. Under this program,...

If you are already going to the VA for your health care, have you ever checked on your eligibility for Dental Care? Too many veterans just assume that they do not qualify. Dr. Irma Tassi, chief of Dental Services, James A Haley VA Hospital, Tampa FL, discusses the various ways one might qualify and how to verify if you are eligible. She also speaks to the possibility of going to a local dentist&ap...

On the east side of Tampa Bay several communities have banded together to help ensure veterans have access to both the James A Haley VA Hospital (up to an hour drive) and the new area clinic in River View (a 20 min. drive) Learn from Past President Charlie Brown, Pres of the Valencia Lakes Veterans club and Don DeCort, DAV chapter 110 Van Transportation Coordinator how these communities came toget...

While the Volunteer Services Department in the VA has a brand-new name, it still provides the same great service to our veterans and other stakeholders. VA hospitals, like other medical facilities, have a great need for volunteers for a variety of jobs. The Center for Development and Civic Engagement is responsible for finding and training prospective volunteers along with working with civic organ...

Southeastern Guide Dogs is one of the most respected supplier of guide dogs for the blind in the world. They have a lesser-known program that provides service dogs to military veterans and they do it at no charge to the veteran. Listen in to hear the list of capabilities these canine buddies bring to the relationship with their veteran and how one qualifies for the service and so much more.  Our l...

Many of us who have served have had our hearing take a beating. As we grow older, however, the problem continues to get worse. VA patients have a great advantage over those in the civilian world in that the VA has no profit motive and only deals in the best of equipment. Dr. Megan Sullivan was so interesting and shared so much information that we asked her to come back. If you have a hearing probl...

Have you ever wondered where the information went when you filled out a VA questionnaire or submitted one of the comment slips around the VA hospital?  Well, wonder no more. The buck stops HERE. Performance improvement gets to see and process all the comments and suggestions, they do not fall into a deep dark hole to be forever forgotten. Believe it or not, they actually solicit ideas from VA pati...

Dr. Patricia Hayes is the Chief Consultant for VHA Women’s Health services and is in the forefront of the development of programs necessary to keep our female veterans healthy both physically and mentally. As you listen in you will hear of the improvements they have already made in the area of specialty clinics and the plans for expansion of women’s services. Season 2 Episode 14 Our library of sho...

On March 31, 2020, we started this program as a way to get information out to our veterans and their families during what looked like and turned out to be a very dark time. The pandemic isolated a lot of people and this program strived to help them connect and stay current on the benefits they were earned and were entitled to. We had no idea it would be so popular but with two days to go we have c...

Dr. Slonim heads up the James A Haley VA Hospital Optical Center and explains the variety of services available to our Veterans. With 14 + specialties at the clinic and the resources of the University of Southern Florida Medical school across the street, this facility is a powerhouse in the field of Optical care. Listen in to hear just how they may provide services to you even if you come from out...

  The U.S. Army has agreed to reconsider the cases of thousands of veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars era with mental health conditions who received other-than-honorable discharges. The decision is part of a settlement agreement in a class-action lawsuit brought by two Connecticut veterans. Scott Hope, Deputy Director of Legislative Services for  Disabled American Veterans will discuss the...

Julie Borgen, Social Work Service Section Chief, Caregiver Support Program Manager Bay Pines VA Healthcare System has a lot of experience in helping Caregivers. Listen in to hear more. The VA Healthcare system has a variety of resources for Veterans and Caregivers that may vary from facility to facility.  There are two programs that are at every VA.  One is the Program of General Caregiver Support...

Dr. Elizabeth Brill, Chief Medical Officer, Office of Community Care, U.S. Veterans Administration, Washington DC. What happens if you find yourself in a hospital far from a VA facility, or in need of specialized care that your VA Hospital does not offer? That is when the Office of Community Care steps in and helps with the cost. Listen in to see how you can take advantage of this program. Season...

Joe Marino, Executive Director of Veterans Florida has a great story to tell.  Veterans Florida is an initiative started by the State of Florida to tap into the huge gold mine of trained workers, emanating from the various military bases here in the state and also to draw qualified individuals from other military bases to Florida. Hear how they can offer free placement services, resume writing, an...

Colonel DJ Reyes, US Army retired is an interesting man and one who works tirelessly for his fellow veterans. He was mentor number one in our Veterans Treatment Court and was very instrumental in helping to pass the Federal level bills that now establish this court all over the country. Tune in to hear Colonel Reyes talk about the early days of the court and how it is constantly adapting to meet c...

Originally opened in 1933, Bay Pines is a major VA hospital. The main medical center is located on 337 acres situated on the Gulf of Mexico approximately eight miles northwest of downtown Saint Petersburg, FL. Director Paul Russo is rightly proud of the many services offered by the hospital and its satellite clinics. Listen in to hear what services are available including a Military Sexual Trauma...

Part 2 of 2 A discussion of VA Aid and Attendance benefits and Housebound allowance with Sarah Bursey, Pension and Fiduciary and Cleveland Karren, Compensation Services  VA Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits provide monthly payments added to the amount of a monthly VA pension for qualified Veterans and survivors. If you need help with daily activities, or you’re housebound, find out if you...

Part 1 pf 2 A discussion of VA Aid and Attendance benefits and Housebound allowance with Sarah Bursey, Pension and Fiduciary and Cleveland Karren, Compensation Services  VA Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits provide monthly payments added to the amount of a monthly VA pension for qualified Veterans and survivors. If you need help with daily activities, or you’re housebound, find out if you...

My Warriors Place (MYP) is a wonderful respite center for Veterans and their families. It was founded by Gold Star Mother Kelly Kowall after her son was killed by enemy action. Her story of how it got started is covered in previous episodes and can be found in the Veterans Corner Radio podcast library. In today's podcast, we concentrate on how MWP is serving veterans from all over the nation...

If you want to get something done in Congress then the Military Affairs Committee is the place to go. Congressman Greg Steube shares an insight into the operation of the Veterans Affairs Committee and what is planned in the future for our veterans.  Our library of shows can be found at www.veteranscornerradio.com Join us on Facebook at the page Veterans Corner Radio You can contact our host Joe Mu...

Congressman Vern Buchanan discusses with Bill the ever-increasing problem of training accidents claiming military lives. Congressman Buchanan’s amendment requires the Department of Defense to examine emergency response capabilities and services available at all U.S. bases around the world. They will be required to address the potential benefits and practicality to have properly functioning medical...

Corona19 Virus vaccination update. Chief of Staff, Dr. Colleen Jakey for the James A Haley Veterans Hospital shares with our listeners the plan that has been worked out to ensure that the Corona19 Virus vaccinations are carried out in a fair and medically sound manner. The James A Haley VA Hospital is one of the largest in the 170 VA Medical Centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of the VA and will ce...

In recent years some of the VA Health Services money has been judiciously applied to defeating illness by helping VA patients to make healthy choices and now the program has been extended to the entire family. Mr. Roy Sevalia Whole Health Services, James A Haley VA Hospital. Mr. Sevalia discusses the VA’s push to keep us healthy rather than reacting to illnesses.  Tune in to see how this proactive...

To ease financial difficulties during the pandemic, the VA Debt Management Center (DMC) suspended issuing debt notification letters and suspended collection action on debts established after April 3, 2020, through January 1, 2021. DMC also offered suspensions or extended repayment plans for debts established prior to April 3, 2020. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN 2021 If your debt was established after April...

VA has a variety of resources for you as a VA patient to help you in urgent care or emergency situations. You can call and talk with a nurse or make arrangements to go to an urgent care center that is privately operated but in the VA network. Listen in to get the phone number to call to talk with a VA nurse who may be able to help you without your going anywhere or assist you in knowing what to do...