Question:
My father was stationed in Germany in the army in the mid sixties. He was told by VA that he isn't eligible for benefits due to he wasn't boots on the ground in Vietnam. Is this true? Would he be eligible for something?
Jim's Reply:
I may have known him. I was stationed in Germany at the 98th General Hospital in the late 60's. You never know who you may have crossed paths with.
Not eligible for benefits? He misunderstood or there's more to the story. I never went to Vietnam either and I've used my education benefits, home loan benefits, health care benefits, and disability benefits.
The only thing we aren't eligible for would be the wide array of disability benefits attributed to exposure to agent orange. There are plenty of diseases caused or contributed to by agent orange and to receive those benefits you must have been boots on the ground in the RVN or a related category.
Disability benefits don't require service in a combat zone. Military life and training is rougher than any other labor and accidents happen so most who seek disability ratings never walked into a combat zone.
He is eligible for everything I'm eligible for. Start here https://benefits.va.gov/benefits/