TAA Case Study Atlanta 2012 Narrator: IN TAA Craig Cooley Facilitator: ND TAA Marilyn Rohrer

SITUATION: Indiana National Guard soldier deployed to Iraq 2008 Soldier severely injured and MEDVAC to LRMC SM Transferred to Landstuhl 1 Sep 08 SM Transferred to Walter Reed 8 Sep 08 Diagnosis - Concussion and TBI SM spent 2 years at WRAMC SM placed on TDRL 4 Mar 2010 SM returned to HOR 5 Mar 2010

SITUATION: SM went to Northern Indiana VHA for healthcare May 2010 VBA rep informed SM he was ineligible for certain benefits because DD Form 214 showed no Foreign Service Indiana State J-1 Medical Contacted TAA CPT Craig Cooley IN TAA contacted SM 29 June 2010

TAA met with SM 29 June 2010 Never properly processed to TDRL Issues identified 1. Correct DD Form eligibility for VBA and health and benefits 2. Per diem/Travel payment from WRAMC 3. Concurrent Receipt of Disability and Retirement Pay INTERVIEW IDENTIFY ISSUES

Issue #1: Correct DD Form Coordinated With: Walter Reed WTB, HRC, NPRC, State J-1 Step 1: Contacted Walter Reed to get Foreign Service Verification from WTU. - No MEDVAC orders or transfer orders to LRMC or WRAMC. - Only orders on hand were for soldier to Iraq. Step 2: Contacted HRC to determine how to adjust DDF 214. Contacted National Personnel Records Center for orders through BN S-1. NPRC sent all files to include orders to TAA (3 Months). PLAN:

Issue #1: Correct DD Form 214(cont) - Coordinated With: Walter Reed WTB, HRC, NPRC, State J-1 - Coordinated With: Walter Reed WTB, HRC, NPRC, State J-1 Step 3: Developed memo with orders for DD-215 and coordinated with HRC to get DD-215 (8 Months of follow up, never received anything) Step 4: Finally spoke with State J-1. Provided memo with orders for DD-215. DD Form 215 was issued. (2 weeks after contacting J-1) Step 5: DDF 215 sent to TAA and SM 13 June 2011

Issue #1: Correct DD Form 214(cont) Lesson Learned: Understand your in-state resources and their capabilities. Get to know them; handshakes work better than phone calls.

Issue #2: Per diem and travel payment while at WRAMC - Coordinated With: Walter Reed WTB, DFAS Step 1: Contacted WRAMC SMs former PSG, CMD and BN S-1 for WTU. Step 2: Worked with BN S-1, Co CMD and PSG and to complete travel voucher for SM. No one would assist in completing the Travel Voucher. Many promises made; nothing ever completed. (3 Months follow up) Step 3: Worked with State pay office and received contact for DFAS Travel Pay. Coordinated to get Travel Voucher processed. Updated SM records in pay system.

Issue #2: Per diem and travel payment while at WRAMC (cont) - Coordinated With: Walter Reed WTB, DFAS Step 4: Completed Travel Voucher and got SMs signature. Step 5: Travel Voucher processed. $2,500 to SM (March 11) Lesson Learned: Sometimes you just have to do the work yourself. You can’t always rely on someone to do their job.

Issue # 3: Concurrent Receipt of Disability and Retirement Pay - Coordinated With: VBA, DFAS, State J-1, CRDP Rep Ft. Knox Step 1: Contacted VBA, Contacted DFAS, Contacted State J-1, Contacted CRDP Rep Ft. Knox Step 2: Submitted documentation for CRDP Step 3: While filling out documentation, read further into case and realized SM has only 3.5 years of service. SM not eligible for benefit.

Issue # 3: Concurrent Receipt of Disability and Retirement Pay - Coordinated With: VBA, DFAS, State J-1, CRDP Rep Ft. Knox Step 4: Called SM to inform him he IS NOT eligible for CRDP. Lesson Learned: Do your research and know the benefits. Never tell a Veteran, “Yes, you’re eligible for that benefit” if you’re not 100% positive.

Discussion