Veterans Corner Radio

David Tosstenrude VA Director of National Wheelchair Games is with us to share information on the VA Adaptive Sports program and how all veterans that are eligible for VA health care are also eligible to request inclusions in the games. I won’t try to answer how many sports are involved but will mention one this is sweeping the land, Pickleball, is again being expanded. I your think is Skiing or T...

The war is over but not everyone came home. However, if this agency has anything to do with it they will. Director Kelly McKeague of the  Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has dedicated a lot of his life both as a Major General in the USAF and as a civilian to locating our lost comrades and reuniting them with their families. Listen in to see what they are doing and how you can help them in their...

 Learn about filing VA claims from the Disabled American Veterans organization. Probably the organization filing the most claims for Veterans every year. There are things you should do and certainly, there are things you should not do. The trick is to know the difference and Steven Wolf, DAV asst. National Service Director will share some ideas that will help you know the difference. Our library o...

Dr. Lisa Arfons, Ex. Dir., Integrated Field Operations, VHA Office of Integrated Care, shares information on Community Care, who is eligible and how you get it, under the Mission Act. How does one apply for community care (care outside of the VA system) in order to keep a specialist or get one if the VA can’t provide for your needs in a timely manner and within a reasonable driving distance? BTW t...

Terrence Hayes, Press Secretary of the Veterans Administration, helps us to look deeper in the Sgt. First Class, Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics act. VA has received over 300,000 new claims and has already approved over 60,000. He points out several avenues for claim processing and ways to get into the VA system if you are not already there. This is not your fat...

Dr. Kenneth Hartman, President and Founder of,  Our Community Salutes, USA has something exciting to tell us about a send-off for our local high school graduates.  I remember when high school was over and, in my instance, a disastrous year at college ended there was no fanfare when I got on the bus to head for basic training. Looking back, it was lonely and a bit scary. Today there is a program th...

Brad Hibbard Program Manager for America’s VetDogs presents and interesting story of not only assisting Veterans with Service Dogs but also providing Combat Stress Control Dogs to active duty units, many of whom have been raised by prison inmates, who have benefited from the puppy-raising process. Listen in to hear about the variety of Service Dogs and how the dog and the vet are paired up. If you...

Ryan Gallucci, VFW Dir of National Veterans Services shares his knowledge of the new PACT act. He speaks of a special open season to get into the VA and discusses some of the Presumptive illnesses contained in the act. During his comments, he shared a special website set up by VFW to get help and answer questions. Most importantly he stresses the point that one does not have to be a VFW member to...

 | Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Memorial Affairs, Matthew Quinn, discusses the new Legacy Program being rolled out by the VA among a plethora of other things.  Including the reopening of certain cemeteries because of the addition of a Columbarium. Over 150,000 veterans and their eligible dependents were interned over the last year and keep in mind not one family received a bill   Our li...

John Bell, Executive. Director of the VA Home Loan Guaranty program, explains how veterans and their families can benefit from the VA Home Loan process. He points out that these loans have no down payment required, limited closing costs, competitive low interest rates, no private mortgage insurance requirement, no maximum loan amount for those with only one VA loan and many other benefits includin...

Mr. Patrick Diggs oversees at Bay Pines VA Hospital in St. Petersburg Florida one of the largest in-patient Military Sexual Trauma (MST) Units in the VA and most likely in the country. This interview explores what constitutes sexual assault the reporting process (For the most part there are no time limits) through trained and confidential resources and gives that source for every VA hospital. No m...

No matter where in the world you happen to find yourself if you are a vet or the family of a vet you can call upon Vets4Warriors for immediate peer support and guidance. They answer right away no matter the time of day and can start you on the way to getting help. Their network of caring organizations can provide a multitude of services. Major General Mark Graham the executive director is a Gold S...

January/February is military organization month on Veterans Corner Radio. This is a chance to hear from the leaders of some of our veterans’ organizations. DAV holds a very special place in my heart as they were the organization that guided me through the VA claims process. In return I bought a Life Membership with my first disability check. Listen in to hear what Disabled American Veterans Nation...

January/February is military organization month on Veterans Corner Radio. It is a chance to hear from the leaders of some of our veterans’ organizations. This week we will hear from the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) CINC Timothy Borland. I caught up with Commander Borland for one of the over 300 days he spends on the road sharing the VFW message and he tells me that membership is growing dramatic...

  January/February is military organization month on Veterans Corner Radio. It is a chance to hear from the leaders of some of our veterans’ organizations. This week we will hear from Vincent (Jim) Troiola, National Commander of the American Legion. He will share with us the legislative activities of the American Legion along with some opportunities for you to be of service to your brothers and si...

Michael Okins is the Commander In Chief (CINC) or the Military Order Of World Wars (MOWW). This group of military officers provides local assistance to various veteran’s projects and has an emphasis on youth programs. They have a new program that started a year ago called the Patriot program that invites nonmilitary officers to join them in their quest to live up to their credo, “It is nobler to s...

January/February is military organization month on Veterans Corner Radio. It is a chance to hear from the leaders of some of our veterans’ organizations. The Military Officers Association of America has a new leader. Replacing retired USAF Lt. Gen Atkins is retired USAF General Brian Kelly. MOAA is strong and growing stronger by the day with membership climbing and new legislative challenges being...

Dr. Chad Kessler, VA Executive Director of the Emergency Program Office discusses the reasons why going to a VA Emergency Room may be your best option. The Mission Act gives us all the right to utilize Commercial Emergency Rooms but is it the right choice?  In many instances, it is not. Listen in to hear why going to the VA medical center Emergency Room might be your smartest move.  Our library of...

Walt Fricke is the Airboss and Founder of the Veterans Airlift Command. He saw a need for a private, not-for-profit organization that would fly combat wounded veterans to appointments and treatment facilities. He has built an organization of thousands of pilots and their airplanes that now fill that mission. Even if you do not need transportation, do listen in because the stories he shares will wa...

Ken Smith, Assistant Deputy Secretary for VA Field Operations brings you another unbundling of the new PACT program. PACT is a mammoth piece of legislation that endeavors to right some wrongs of the past. It provides additional opportunities for veterans to get help with claims for a multitude of maladies contracted during or injuries that happened going back to Vietnam and coming forward to Afgha...

Dan Newpher Assistant Deputy Director of VA Pensions and Fiduciary Services answers some questions.  Director Newpher sheds some light on the types of spousal pensions that are available from the VA. He highlights the types of payment, both continuing and lump sum, that are available. Discover how one qualifies and what criteria must be met to receive a check from the VA for a surviving spouse. Ou...

Dr. Patricia Arola, Asst. Under Sec. for health for Dentistry outlines who is eligible for dental care through the VA system and also discusses lower-cost options for government-sponsored dental insurance. More importantly, she also suggested there might be a path to dental care through a referral from your primary care doctor. Listen in to hear the details.  Our library of shows can be found at w...

Lu Ann Swehla, VA Chief Nutrition and Whole Health Officer discusses Veterans Canteen Services.  Ever wondered about VA Veterans Canteen Services (VCS)? Who runs the stores and Canteens in the hospitals, how you can get discounted food or merchandise from them or for that matter who can avail themselves of their services? Well, they serve all veterans and their families and provide everything from...

 VA Press Secretary Terrence Hayes is back to discuss more of the PACT act, specifically the situation with Camp Lejeune. It is important to remember that the situation causing problems on the base affected not only the military members but their dependents and therefore the remedies are different for each. Before you fall prey to the predatory tactics used by some in the legal profession, be sure...

VA Press SecretaryTerrence Hayes shares his thoughts on the new Congressional PACT program and how this act of congress will affect our vets going back as far as Vietnam. He talks about how the VA has been working to be ready to handle the hundreds of thousands of claims that are expected. Listen in for some tips to get you started. This is part one of a two-part series; the second part discusses...