Honolulu crisis center making a difference

Like she does every week, Honolulu resident Esther C. listened to host Rick Hamada on “The Veterans Movement” radio show on KHVH 830 AM. Hearing a plug for the Legion’s Veterans Crisis Command Center (VCCC) that was coming to her area this week ended up being pretty beneficial for Esther.

After coming to the VCCC and meeting with Legion and Department of Veterans Affairs representatives, Esther found out she likely will be receiving close to $30,000 in retroactive compensation from VA. That news spurred Esther to hug Verna Jones, director of the Legion’s Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Division.

“This means a lot,” said Esther, who lives on the island of Oahu. “I was confused about what I was entitled to. That’s why I came in. VA wasn’t doing the right thing until I came in here today.”

The widow of a Vietnam War veteran who passed away from heart failure as a result of his exposure to Agent Orange, Esther eventually began receiving Death Indemnity Compensation (DIC) payments after her husband’s death, but it took more than a year for them to kick in.

So she came to the crisis center and met with American Legion service officer Ron Abrams. After meeting with Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) reps, Abrams said Esther would be receiving 12 months worth of DIC payments – roughly $1,200 a month – that should have started right after Moses, her husband, had passed away. She also is expected to get more than a year’s worth of Individual Unemployability payments that her husband should have been receiving before he died.

“If Moses was here, he’d be smiling right now,” Esther said.

Esther was one of more than 60 Hawaii residents who sought help at the Legion’s VCCC, which was open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sept. 9 and 8 a.m.-7 p.m. on Sept. 10. The center also will be open from 8 a.m.-noon on Sept. 12 at the Oahu Veterans Center, located at 1298 Kukila St.

Legion staff and Department of Hawaii Legionnaires were on hand to assist in filing benefits claims. VBA and Veterans Health Administration employees also were there to review claims and schedule health-care appointments.

“By (the Legion) making this effort to come here, it shows they care to a lot to veterans – especially to guys who are having problems,” said Department of Hawaii Commander Dennis Zatecka. “I think (Hawaii) veterans feel they sometimes have to wait a long time to see a doctor. There are guys who have waited a while. That shouldn’t be.”

Zatecka said issues facing Hawaiian veterans include “getting to see a doctor – especially ones who first register with the VA. It’s them getting through all that (red tape) and getting their first visit with the doctor. And if they have a claim, it’s a process that needs to be somehow sped up.”

As a Vietnam War U.S. Navy veteran, Armando Gomez has dealt with that process. He had a heart attack three years ago that he says came about as a direct result of handling canisters of Agent Orange during his service.

“I’ve been through numerous hearings and had claim denials,” Gomez said. “I wasn’t really satisfied with the outcome. I had proof about my claim, and I was unhappy with the process I went through … to try to get my claim looked at or get me some answers. So I thought I’d come here and tell my side of the story.”

Gomez said it was good to talk to someone in person. “I was quite satisfied,” he said. “They were truly concerned with my issues and my problems. I’m glad I came here today. I got the help I was looking for. We’ll see what happens down the line with my claim.”

Samuel Hernandez came to the VCCC somewhat frustrated. While he was visiting family in the states, his wife received a call from VA to schedule a Compensation & Pension Exam. When his wife told VA that Hernandez was off the island and didn’t know for sure when he’d be home, the appointment was scheduled anyway.

Hernandez missed the appointment, which was scheduled for May. He still hasn’t seen a physician. “It’s frustrating for me,” he said. “How can I respond to them if I’m not there and they know I’m not there? I’ve got an injury that dates back to my service in Vietnam. I’m not going to let this issue go.”

Hernandez was put in contact with a VA employee who said she’d have someone call him within 24 hours to reschedule his appointment.

Tuivalentino Kaho, 24, left the Army in March. The Afghanistan combat veteran said navigating the civilian world has been difficult and that having several VA services in the same room at the same time was a big step in getting some help.

“It was very valuable,” said Kaho, who was able to arrange a health-care appointment. “(Abrams) said he could help me out. This is a whole different game when you (leave the military). Having all of this help here really helps out.”

Calvin Griffin, a U.S. Army veteran, came to the center to check on the status of his own claim and to gain information he can share with others. Griffin said he hosts a program on public access television and wants to explain the VA process during the program.

“And today, I’m going to go out and talk to everyone I can about what (the Legion is) doing,” Griffin said. “While you guys are here, there’s going to be a lot that’s going to be done for (veterans).”