Military Discount - Lowes

**orbiker** · 07-21-2018, 08:57 PM

Do you have to be a disabled vet or 20+ career vet to get VA health care?

USN 4 years, KEN

**Jerryr** · 07-21-2018, 09:25 PM

Originally Posted by orbiker

Do you have to be a disabled vet or 20+ career vet to get VA health care?

USN 4 years, KEN

It depends on funding when you apply. At times eligibility was pretty open. Now I hear it’s more restricted.
Here’s a link https://www.vets.gov/health-care/eligibility/

Best to call your local VA and make an appointment to meet with the “Eligibility Clerk” they can help you and advise you.

Once you are in the system you are in. You just need to visit your VA doctor once a year to keep it active.

Jerry

**WhittleBurner** · 07-22-2018, 08:48 AM

When I signed up they would do an assessment then depending on your eligibility you will have a co-pay.

**SouthTX** · 07-22-2018, 09:29 AM

Originally Posted by Jerryr

It depends on funding when you apply. At times eligibility was pretty open. Now I hear it’s more restricted.
Here’s a link https://www.vets.gov/health-care/eligibility/

Best to call your local VA and make an appointment to meet with the “Eligibility Clerk” they can help you and advise you.

Once you are in the system you are in. You just need to visit your VA doctor once a year to keep it active.

Jerry

To add to Jerry's good advice, I'd also suggest visiting with a VSO - Veteran Service Officer - first. They will go out of their way to get a vet qualified where some government employees just process the applications.

There are a number of VSO's - DAV, Legion, VFW, WW, you name it. Most of them have an office in the same building with my local VA clinic. Some of them take weeks to get an appointment so try several before committing to one.

There is also the vetsbenefits.net forum. The forum software and appearance is a little funky, but there are a bunch of current and retired VSO's and VA employees on there and they know their stuff. Lots of support, too, for specific disabilities.

My experience with VA disability ratings is you have to earn them twice. Once when you serve and again when you submit the paperwork.

**WhittleBurner** · 07-22-2018, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by SouthTX

To add to Jerry's good advice, I'd also suggest visiting with a VSO - Veteran Service Officer - first. They will go out of their way to get a vet qualified where some government employees just process the applications.

There are a number of VSO's - DAV, Legion, VFW, WW, you name it. Most of them have an office in the same building with my local VA clinic. Some of them take weeks to get an appointment so try several before committing to one.

There is also the vetsbenefits.net forum. The forum software and appearance is a little funky, but there are a bunch of current and retired VSO's and VA employees on there and they know their stuff. Lots of support, too, for specific disabilities.

My experience with VA disability ratings is you have to earn them twice. Once when you serve and again when you submit the paperwork.

Isn't that the truth, I think I went through more medical exam's than i did when I was getting to basic training. Yes any of the group's John mentioned are great. They will do their very best to get you everything you deserve.

**SouthTX** · 07-22-2018, 11:58 AM

One other thing about the VA is that in most cases, a disability has to be service connected. I didn't know it, but there is a whole list of things that are presumptively considered to be service connected if a vet served in RVN or a couple of other places. Some of these conditions are things that many of us old guys get, anyhow. I had no idea I could receive compensation and healthcare until I stumbled upon the information online. The VA doesn't advertise this stuff. When I talked to a VSO, they suggested I check for things I didn't even know I had.

There are no freebies with the VA. They will check and if you don't qualify they won't give it to you. BUT, if you don't apply you - and your family - won't get anything except a flag when you die.

In all fairness to the VA, they handled my disability application pretty promptly. The VSO submitted my application (they had my power of attorney). Four months later they scheduled me for a physical and two months later I received an award letter. I'm sure not every application is handled as quickly, but I really can't complain about how they treated me. Two months (and counting) to see a doctor does seem a little excessive, though.

**WhittleBurner** · 07-22-2018, 03:15 PM

For my scheduled visits it is set 6 month apart. I time it with going to Florida and going back home. If I need to see my doctor before my appointment I use secure messaging to let my doctor know and she can get me in earlier. My last doctor before he moved gave me his personal cell phone# if I needed to reach him. Wish I had him back.

**2rr2nv2018** · 07-24-2018, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by Jerryr

It depends on funding when you apply. At times eligibility was pretty open. Now I hear it’s more restricted.
Here’s a link https://www.vets.gov/health-care/eligibility/

Best to call your local VA and make an appointment to meet with the “Eligibility Clerk” they can help you and advise you.

Once you are in the system you are in. You just need to visit your VA doctor once a year to keep it active.

Jerry

maybe it has changed, but I haven't seen a VA doc since 2014. still gtg. but of course, everyone's situation is different.

"Zee"

**2rr2nv2018** · 07-24-2018, 01:27 PM

Originally Posted by Jerryr

It depends on funding when you apply. At times eligibility was pretty open. Now I hear it’s more restricted.
Here’s a link https://www.vets.gov/health-care/eligibility/

Best to call your local VA and make an appointment to meet with the “Eligibility Clerk” they can help you and advise you.

Once you are in the system you are in. You just need to visit your VA doctor once a year to keep it active.

Jerry

maybe it has changed, but I haven't seen a VA doc since 2014. still gtg. but of course, everyone's situation is different.

"Zee"

**Outtahere** · 07-31-2018, 09:29 PM

I stopped shopping at Lowes when they insisted that if I wanted my military discount I had to set up an account (not a charge card) using my phone number so they could track my purchases. HD on the other hand, just does it when I show them my retired ID, they record nothing. Like a lot of states, here in CA you can get your driver's license to show your status as a vet if you're not retired, and HD honors that, at least where I live.