The Veterans Benefits Shortcut

Episode summary

Two veterans who now help families through the system join the show: Jessica, an Air Force veteran with over 20 years in the medical field including work as a medic and in flight medicine, and Drisuk Thuie, who spent almost 22 years across the Massachusetts Army National Guard and the Department of the Air Force, much of it as an advocate. They explain VA Aid and Attendance, a benefit the guests say can add roughly $1,500 to over $2,000 a month toward assisted living, memory care or independent living, and that a surviving spouse may also be able to apply. They describe the shock of leaving the service and suddenly paying for healthcare, and why their first piece of advice is a local veteran service officer (VSO), who helps get a claim filed with the right documents so it is not kicked back. For veterans whose symptoms get brushed off, they point to My HealtheVet, VA patient advocates and community care. Because mesothelioma can appear decades after exposure, they stress keeping every medical record, every imaging disk and buddy letters, since in their words, if it wasn't documented, it wasn't done.

Key takeaways

Source: Drisuk Thuie, speaking in this episode.

• The guests say VA Aid and Attendance can add roughly $1,500 to over $2,000 a month toward assisted living or memory care costs.
• Both guests name a local VSO as the first call: free help filing a claim with the right documents so it is not sent back.
• Sign up for My HealtheVet even if you never plan to use the VA; test results land there and it eases later care such as home health.
• Keep copies of all medical records, imaging disks and buddy letters, since exposure related illness can surface decades after service.

Terms explained in this episode

VA Aid and Attendance

A VA benefit for veterans needing help with activities of daily living who can no longer safely live at home, potentially providing $1,500 to over $2,000 per month. Surviving spouses may also qualify.

VSO (Veteran Service Officer)

A local, free resource Jessica describes as a one-stop shop that helps veterans with disability claims, ensures correct documentation is submitted, and translates veterans' experiences into VA language.

Buddy letter

Described by Drisuk Thuie as a sworn affidavit written by someone who witnessed a service-connected injury or its aftermath, used to support VA claims especially when the veteran is deceased.

Community care

A VA option Jessica and Drisuk Thuie explain allows veterans to receive care outside the VA healthcare system when they cannot be seen within the required timeline for an appointment or test.

Full transcript

Welcome To MISO Podcast

You're listening to MESO, the Mesothelioma podcast, where support, education, and outreach come together for families facing mesothelioma.

Hi,

Meet The Veteran Guests

good afternoon, everyone. I thank you so much for being here today. We have um our guest uh Lisa and Ellie that are here with me today to talk to two veterans um that have quite a number of years um in the system. And we have Jershuk and we have Jessica. So I don't know, I don't know if I said that right. I hope I said that right. But um if you can just kind of give me a little bit about your background um and I don't know who wants to start first, and you can say your name, and that way we uh uh we have a better understanding of how to pronounce the name that we I had trouble pronouncing. So um Jessica, you want to go first?

Jessica okay, I will. So I'm an Air Force veteran and I worked in the medical field and I have over 20 years of experience in the medical field because prior to service I worked in the nursing home, then I was a medic in the Air Force, and then I worked flight medicine. So I've worked all environments, even med surge while serving at Nellis Air Force Base. Um, so yeah, I have that experience, and now we're doing Trua, which is a senior living locator.

Yeah, I think that's amazing. Okay, your turn.

Thank you. Hello everyone. My name is Drisuk Thuie. Uh, last name has like an invisible H in there somewhere. Thank you. Uh my background stands about um encompassing the military and civilian service within the military community. Um, I spent about 20, almost 22 years in totality, serving as a soldier in the Massachusetts Army National Guard, six years active, six years inactive. Um, and then the rest of the time another about 10 years working for the DoD Department of the Air Force. And uh so my work pretty much started off as become being a police officer and then later on becoming an advocate. So it's pretty much centered on advocacy, sexual assault prevention and response, supporting service members through the like these incredibly tough times of their lives. So um having experienced military in both ends as a soldier and even as a civilian, you know, in a uniform, um I was able to really, you know, help folks in the in this people-centered um type of programs. Uh throughout these roles, you know, the common thread has always been advocacy, which I'm really big on, um and helping people understand their options, navigate like all these complicated systems and resources, and and really kind of being there along the way to help them figure out, you know, where they want to be, need to be to be healthier um and to survive um those really those hardships that they endured. Uh so today, as Jesse already mentioned, we are with true of Greater Boston, another um people-centered um position, helping those um, you know, just helping them transition and finding their places um in the community that that makes them happy and healthy. Um yeah.

Wow. You guys have a lot of experience between the two of you, just like Ellie and Lisa back there in their um uh quite a bit of experience.

What Advocacy Looks Like Daily

Um so so what is your um what does your typical day look like in your role as a veteran? Um I I called it a liaison. Um I know that you mentioned uh Jershuk um about you know helping veterans um through the process. Um tell me a little bit about that.

I feel like personally, professionally, we don't really have a typical day that we know we always have a plan. And uh do we always follow those plans, especially as single moms, you know, being you know, community advocates and and just you know, every every case, everyone everyone has their own story and needs and wants, you know. Um, so uh, and I know that you mentioned um veteran liaison. Um we try not to say that we are the the liaisons for veterans in that way, um, but we do try to be, we don't try to be everything to everyone because you know we know that we don't replace um experts. But if someone do come to us and they're overwhelmed, um we certainly want to get them close to the answers that they need and want or searching for. So um, and you know, we're not gonna say that's not our job because we know how it is to, you know, be lost in a sauce, you know, um to look for help in the system, to be navigated into, you know, you're ending up in a in a cold corner of a wall and you know, not getting the service support or even the love that you need. So I would say that, you know, we're gonna do whatever we can with enough capacity in making the right connections, and that's just really who we are. So somehow we've kind of liaised, um, but you know, just just being veterans ourselves, we you know, and people who not even as veterans as human beings to navigate a system and being alone. So we we just want to be able to help provide that comfort and that that support for folks.

You know, I I know um with experience, uh a lot of the uh uh veterans uh when they call, they they really don't know what to do. I mean, they they have absolutely no idea. Um so um what inspired you to transition from your own service or professional background into advoc advocacy? I mean, what what I mean I and it sounds like it's just in your in your own um, you know, with with the uh business that you you all are are are doing now, but what inspired you to help veterans? Did you did you see that there was a need for each one? Um I I I do see that in in what we do, and I'm always but I have no you know military background at all. So can you give me a little bit on that?

VA Aid And Attendance Explained

Yeah, of course. So a lot of veterans, there's benefits out there that they don't know that are available. So if a veteran's family they are looking into assisted living or memory care and even independent living, there is a program called VAAid in attendance. And if they've served in the Korean War, World War II, Vietnam, Gulf War, um, they are eligible for this benefit, serving those wars. And there's some regulations. So if they need help with activities of daily living, such as dressing or helping put on their shoes, and it's not safe for them to live at home anymore, they can apply for this benefit. And, you know, there's when people go into care, they look at all aspects. And with the VAA in attendance, they don't count like vehicles as assets or their home, which is which is nice. And it kind of gives them a benefit like around it can be anywhere from 1,500 to over $2,000 for a veteran. And then let's say the veteran passes, but their spouse is still living. If the spouse, the spouse can also apply for this benefit as well, if they had served in those wars that I mentioned. So it's really important because the cost of living, the cost of care only rises each year, and just that extra couple thousand dollars makes all the difference sometimes.

Yeah, so there's obviously a lot of things available to veterans that they have absolutely no idea that are available. I know that a lot of times um, you know, just survival for some um, you know, is really hard because they don't know that they're or or they have requested, but obviously they're not requesting it in the way they should they need to request it. And I think that's the hardest thing. And I think that's what's so important about having you know a support, you know, advocacy or support uh to help them through that process. I know there's been many people that are in the that have come out of the military and have absolutely no idea what's the first step. Um all I can do is guide them briefly on go on the web. There's some forms to fill out, but what do they fill out and what's available? I don't know. Um and it's always great to have someone um that's there that can that can help them through. And uh a lot of times I'll just say, have you tried calling, you know, American Legion or or someone you know that might be able to, you know, put you together with? But I'm I'm so glad to hear that that uh you all are available to help in in that way.

The Hardest Parts Of Transition

Um what are the most common challenges veterans face when they transition back to civilian life? Do you can you give me something on that? Just like that. That could be your challenge.

Yeah, like where do we start? I find that sometimes we're spoiled, right, Jesse. You know, being in the military, you know, you don't have to you only you have really a couple of uniforms to pick from, like different types of uniforms to pick from. You wear the same thing, the standard uniform every day, you wear the same boots, if anything, you can maybe have another boot to maybe, you know, to back up the primary one that you wear, um, healthcare, you know, life insurance. I mean, everything is really available like on an installation for you, or just given to you in that way. Like, you know, I mean, it's not someone's doing the job to help you with these benefits and and having given you that military type of lifestyle. But um, but man, when you leave and you learn that you're a real civilian and you're like, I have to pay for healthcare, and this is how much it costs. Um, yeah, and I don't have SGLI anymore, or how can I have a SGLI is insurance or you know, housing even. Um, you learn a nut everything's included in housing in your in your payment, your rent. Um, you know, so it's just it's just really, you know, it goes it goes to say what you don't know is what you don't know. Um, and and that's why we count on our community members, our, you know, our SMEs, the people that, you know, are the service providers to really give that guidance to be like, hey, you know, you might not have considered this, um, but these are some options for you. Or I'm not too sure what your situation is, but here's some benefits for you. Um, these are your rights, you know, um, by law, this and this and this. So um I know that Jesse and I did, you know, have that experience having to navigate a lot of the civilian life ourselves. Um, and and and we found out a lot of things that we were, you know, we're we we could have benefited from by asking questions or maybe even after the fact. And the things that we weren't given, we're now like, okay, now it's not back pocket, it's an online, and we can share that with folks just in case, you know, like, hey, these are what we learned, and this is we what we know that's available. We're learning each and every day from so many community members and other service providers that we meet um and engage with, and we're like, hey, nope, you know, like I said, we we're not we don't claim to be experts in everything. So we're like, hey, no, you know, we know Lisa, we know Ellie, we know uh we know folks that could possibly help in this aspect. Um, but it it's difficult because like I said, you just you kind of have to navigate because they don't always give you like the the full checklist, you know, um when you leave.

So can I ask this? Um, is is there like in and is there is there an exit interview that that you get when you leave the military? And if there is, is it just that people aren't listening? They're just ready to get out.

So

TAPS Guidance And The VSO

they have a thing that's uh taps, it's like a transition program that you attend a full week um when you're getting out of the military. And they were great at the base I was, but sometimes people are in remote areas and they may not have a robust program, but that program kind of guides you like with budgeting and just civilian life things that you know in the military, everything was done for you. Um, and the one word of advice I can give everyone is get with your local VSO. And you can look that up, uh a veteran service officer, and they are the one-stop shop for all veterans free, of course. They can help with disability claims, and they are also they help ensure that you have the correct documentation when you submit the claim so it's not kicked back and forth and things like that. So, yes, get with the local VSO. And also, I remember in taps of all things, my medical background. Once you get out, even if you're not a hundred percent VA disabled or you're not filing a claim, sign up for my healthy vet. That's with the VA and where you can access things um because you will need it uh eventually. And I think some people get lost in the sauce if you know they're not signing up for that and don't know, like, hey, I was uh rated like 10% for my knee. I can I'm I can be seen for my knee pain for the rest of my life for free from the VA, that type of thing. And then they have different types of priorities, even if you're it's one through six, six being the lowest. So if you wanted to go in for an appointment, it may take some time, but I still recommend because as we age, you know, we're not thinking about that because we're doing the transition into civilian life, but if you're in their system, it's really it's much easier when you require additional medical assistance, such as home health care. If you're enrolled in my healthy vet and have something going on, depending, you know, you'll see a VA provider and they will rate how many hours that the VA will pay for of home health care, even. So that's really important. Uh, we are running into, you know, it's not with transitioning from the military necessarily, but people that have been out for many years and they didn't enroll in anything, or the VA told them, oh, you don't need to, you don't have any disability claim. And then they need home health care, and then they've got to apply, and it sometimes the family needs it sooner rather than later. Most of them, yeah.

Most of what we see in Ellie and Lisa can um tell me if I'm wrong, is individuals that are probably more in their 60s, uh, 65. I mean, that's kind of young for what you know we deal with. Um, you know, we're also looking at 70, 80.

Self Advocacy During Diagnosis Delays

Um used to we see a lot of older 70, 80, but now we're getting the 60, 62, 65 that have been diagnosed with uh mesothelioma or lung cancer. And um, I know some of what they or some of the uh difficulties they have, and and you tell me what you recommend um is actually getting diagnosed. Um they they go to a doctor, they're not told what's going on, or they're they're brushed off a little bit. Um what what would you say to someone that's going through that? So are they are they going through the VA system or are they VA system and um they're not um I I I've had someone say no one ever told me I had lung cancer, and it's been, you know, and it was diagnosed um, you know, last year, and and here we're pulling up, and and obviously, you know, I a lot of us are give me my paperwork so I can see or I can have my own, you know, personal records. Um, but there are a lot of people that are uh what's the word do you say laxidasical about, you know, okay, well, they're not telling me I'm dying or they're not telling me that anything's wrong. I'm not gonna worry about looking at my, you know, what the results of that uh x-ray was, um, and they find out later that you know they've had lung cancer for a while. Um it typically, you know, and and you tell me if I'm wrong, typically what I tell individuals is that you have to be an advocate for yourself, uh, for your own medical um, you know, you have to know, you have to ask, you have to, you know, ask for, you know, the copies of the paperwork uh of, you know, uh, because one of the questions I say, well, what does the paperwork say? Can you read it to me? Oh, I don't have it. I'm like, okay, but that's the first thing. Let's go that route. Let's go to your um your portal and and let's look at what you have. And and I don't know, Lisa or Ellie, did you guys ever um get veterans that um really didn't know that there was a diagnosis or there was a problem?

Well, you know, it's mesothelioma is a tough one to diagnose, right? So sometimes they come in.

Well, it gets to the point, yeah, it gets to the point where I mean, you can't breathe, you can't breathe. There's there's a problem, right? But I think for um I I've actually had I've actually had one individual um that had mesothelioma, and I kept saying, Your dad has mesothelioma. I I'm pretty sure on that you need to go somewhere else and get re-di or you know, uh goes uh get a second opinion. And and sure enough they did, and it was really sad that they had to go through so much. Um, so there's a lot of in in and correct me if I'm wrong, you know, there's a lot of like red tape or uh bureaucratic roadblocks that that are there. I mean, what would you say to someone uh when they're going through uh such a difficult time trying to get diagnosed?

My HealtheVet Patient Advocates Community Care

So I'm glad that's a really good question. Um back to my healthy vet. That's why when I went through taps, he stressed it. He's like, whatever you do, even if you plan to never set foot in a VA, sign up for My Healthy Bet. When you're seen at the VA and any labs, any tests that you have done there, the results automatically go in your My Healthy Bet. You can view it immediately as soon as the results come back. Now, for if they are requesting tests and it's not getting done, there are patient advocates, and I strongly, strongly recommend anyone having problems to go to the patient advocate at the VA and let them know what's going on. Like, hey, I'm having these symptoms, they're not ordering for me. Um and that that kind of helps cut that red tape.

Yeah, pushes it all over.

And the VA too, they you know, they have a lot of appointments or they can't be seen, and they also have community care available too. Like, hey, I need this test done. But what I would really recommend as well, the medical facility that they've had that those tests done, make sure they sign a release of information to give to the VA and get copies themselves and make sure that the VA gets that.

And to be clear, every VA um healthcare system has a PCA, a patient care advocate available. Um, and some of them have up to maybe four even for their for their campus. Um, so it's really important to know that that they're available. Um, and like Jesse mentioned, the community care aspect when you talk about the red tape. Um, you know, certain sometimes there's certain times, timelines when a person needs to be seen. And when they cannot be seen within that timeline, what happens is community care can kick in where they can go up to the outside of the VE healthcare system to get that care.

Yeah, I do have I do I've talked to a couple of people that have gone outside, and it's probably for that reason that there's just not enough time or there's not any appointments available in the time span between the time they really need to be seen and they've gone outside. Um uh, but I I guess not everyone knows that. Um so I and I and you may have already answered this because my question is what is the single best piece of advice you give to a newly separated serviceman? And you mentioned my healthy bet. That was um that to me, I mean, I I'm definitely gonna tell people that. But is there something else um that you feel is important for them to know?

Connect with the VSO, the VSO, find the closest VSO. Um and I also oh go ahead. I also find um social groups um like Facebook groups. There are you know, veteran groups, there are you know, just there some could be a little bit more specialized, but there are veteran groups online on Facebook or IG, but I say Facebook is probably the best place. Um they're very they're very freely giving information of sharing their own experiences that you know they may have a question, they put it out there too, you know, um on they may post a question to say, hey, this is what's happening, um, any questions or any answers or any help you can send, you know, guide and you'll just get you'll see like 200 comments um for just one letting you from one one um question posted. Um and I can share that with you too. And I bet um it's it's yeah, it's uh I'd say those be my advice would be um VSO and getting with these other groups. Yeah.

And if they're medically retiring, so um, if you have medically retired from the service, they'll give you a certain rating. And if it's over 30 percent, I think. I believe it's you are eligible for you know the tri-care for life. And then you can also go with the VA is to they will also file the claim while you're in service. So that's a really good aspect. But to further bring that point, if someone's in that position and they, you know, have a disability rating, they don't know what to do after they get out. Um there's VRE uh program as well that I highly recommend. And they, you know, they help veterans with going into college and ensuring, you know, that they get you know their their payments every month. They pay for the books, they pay for the classes, and so that's a and then they also help with the job search too.

That's awesome. How

Claims Timelines Records And Proof

long does it take um to file a claim? Is there not a specific time? It depends. I mean, I know that's a pretty big question.

Um I'm hearing that it's coming back a lot quicker, but it's all really important to have all the documentation. And also another good point is when you get out of the service, request a copy of your medical records, all of them, have it printed out, even if it's five stacks, have that on you. And if you go to file a claim, you know, comb through it and the VSO can help as well. But having that information, and even when you're in service, every disk you get for an MRI, just keep it.

Keep it, I know, right?

They say, you know, there's a program, JLV is what it's called, that's supposed to communicate with the VA, but uh, I can tell you from my personal experience that it did not, and they needed a disk and I couldn't find it, so I had to have the test done again.

So that's that is a really good point because most people that develop mesothelioma, they don't develop it until decades later after their exposure in the server, you know, if it's in from the service.

So and while while they're in, yeah, while they're in, the they have deployment health assessments and they document where you've been. And I stress to anyone in active duty, please let them know every symptom.

Yeah.

All the places if you can say like where you've been deployed, because just like the PACT Act, it came out a few years ago, and the middle, you know, burn pits, all of these places that several service members have been exposed to. And if you have that documentation, it's easier now. Um, you know, with the older vets, people didn't go to the doctor as much, you know. But even like a buddy letter, having someone write a buddy letter.

Yeah.

I was just gonna say that the buddy letter, which is a sword it's like a sworn affidavit of someone witnessing maybe the injury and the aftermath or a combination thereof. So we call it the buddy letter.

We sometimes need those um with some of the cases that we do handle, especially if someone is deceased. And um, you know, aside from the DD 214, you know, it's someone that uh was with him, a buddy. I I didn't know that's what it was called, but that's yeah, basically what they need in order to file, you know, um the case for mesothelioma. Um and I was gonna ask what paperwork you need, but you've already kind of said, you know, there's certain, you know, you should keep any uh doctor's visits that you've had. Um is there anything um I I think online there is a form for asbestos to complete? Um are most of the forms online that you can pull for the, you know, if you're gonna file for um, you know, uh VA benefits, uh, are most of the forms online or are the and and are they specific to certain things?

So there's a certain form that you fill out with the uh VA and the VSO, the VSO in your local town can help you do that and ensure that you have the correct documents because things change every year, rates sometimes they'll change the forms or they'll have a new updated version, and you don't want to have any reason for them to kick it back and be like, denied a little more time.

Yeah, I understand that. I I I've also heard, and I and I don't know if um that there's you could have one individual file for let's say asbestosis, that they've been exposed and they have a disease called asbestosis, and then and they're they're approved, and then you have another person um that had the same disease um and for whatever reason are denied. And um what I've heard from uh someone in the past was if you don't word it correctly that they will deny it, which makes absolutely no sense to me because how do I know what you're expecting you know me to say? And we're talking about you know the same things, apples and apples, right? Um, I mean, is is um if you were to go to your VSO uh person, would they be able to tell you exactly how they want you to, or or maybe to you how they want it to be um said?

Yeah, I don't believe the VSO is gonna tell you exactly how it should be said, but what they will do is you know, you'll they'll help you articulate, you know, to kind of convert that into the VA lingo and language of what they're looking for. So they they you know, the VASOs that we've known and met with, and they um they they're they're they're pretty much they're sneeze, they're experts. They've done these, these, you know, uh packets several times before. And so when they you know they want to hear your story. Um, I know from my experience, when I I went through the evaluation process twice, the first time, and then the second time was to increase my benefits, my rating. Um, and it was just, hey, they want what is your story? What has happened? What do you what are you making a claim for? So I'll say it in my own words and and what they do, being the experts that they are, will help articulate that into you know, to saying, okay, so what I'm hearing is this. Does it sound like that? And then you have a chance to review your own packet as well. Um, but yes, that's that's how that's how it's been in my experience, and that's how I known other VSOs, you know, to kind of process.

Well, that's good to know that they will guide them in the in that way. Um, I know it's it's very difficult to um transition from uh military to civilian life in itself, you know, to have to deal with, you know, the the the VA and to get benefits and to struggle through that, especially since you've dedicated your life for such a period of time, and yet they're making it difficult for me to get the benefits that I thought I deserved. Um that's really hard to hear sometimes. And I know that it's happened quite a bit, but it's but I'm so glad that you guys um are here to help us through some of that. Um, I think that it's helpful to know, especially through the experience that you guys have been through, um to to share with with others that have that are have gone through it or going through it or have some questions about it. Um I'm so glad you mentioned uh quite a few things that I think would be really helpful. And I appreciate everything that you guys uh do and and I appreciate you guys being there for us. Um Ellie or uh Lisa, do you have any questions for the ladies?

Oh thank you. It was very interesting.

I think people are yeah, I think you're a great resource, and we're lucky that we found you. So I I yeah, I'm I'm just um I'm excited. Uh I've learned quite a bit from you guys today, and uh quite a few things that I I definitely will share with individuals that I talk to. I I know that we talk to uh veterans every day, um, some days are more than others, and um they're just at the beginning of of of their uh diagnosis or um they're really not sure what to do. And and it's I I'm not familiar with any of this other than I usually say, you know, contact a VSO in your area um and they may be able to help you. And uh sometimes they want more than that. And um but I'm grateful. Thank you so much. I had I I just so enjoyed this conversation that we had. Was there something you guys wanted to share with us?

I have two things to share, but first I want to kind of go back to maybe to help veterans.

Pride Transparency And Better Outcomes

Jesse and I have had this experience in helping veterans that I think when you deal with veterans that you deal with the pride and the ego and they won't admit how much pain they're in from the injury. So I think being transparent and having the foresight to be like, you know what, this is if I am not transparent, if I've you know, if I don't put it all out there, you know, I may not get the benefits that I should have my rights. And so I just think that really being transparent, be like, you know what, swallow that pride, say what you need to say, say what really hurts you, and be honest, right? Like if you're getting up every single day and you realize you're hitting the last step of your, you know, of your stairway um down the hall and that really pains you, then say that because you had a busted knee that blew out and you had two surgeries in the military, but you're like, you know, it's just really just sharing that information. Like, hey, this is be raw and real and be really sensitive to your needs. And and you say it earlier to really advocate for yourself. Um, I think that's really important. Just, you know, no one's gonna look at them like, oh, you are weak or you're this, you're that. No, we are here to help them. We're here to bring awareness to their pains and injury and get them the help that they need to help, you know, them live a healthier lifestyle and less pain or at least learn how to manage it better. So I think that's just really where I see some issues with when you deal with military, when you work with military, not deal, but you know.

Yeah. And and also with the claims, they so let's just give an example, some knee pain. What they're looking for, because they have a saying, if it wasn't documented, it wasn't done. Um, but getting that, like I said, a desk or a printout of all their medical records, and basically the VA goes through this process. What was the diagnosis? When were you diagnosed? Who saw you? How many times were you seen for that condition? Was there physical therapy done for it? Did you have an MRI? You know, what are the results of those testings? And you know, did it continue, the pain continue or worsen? Things like that.

That's how you prove your documentation here again. Documentation, keep a copy of it. And um, I know I I try to um, you know, I'm not I'm not a veteran, but but it it goes the same with anyone that's outside of the VA as well. Keep your paperwork. But um, yeah, it's really it, it, you know, I you know, again, I, you know, thank you so much. I mean, um there's been quite a bit that I've learned from you guys today, and and um, you know, I I look forward to working with you guys and and you know, maybe you know, being able to help a number of veterans uh go through the process. And um yeah, I I I um am so grateful that you guys came out today.

Oh, thank you. We're here to support, like you say, help help them go through the process. And that even includes what we do for work, which is we're a senior living locator. So we find, you know, we we know with everything that you mentioned, Mr. Thelioma, we Louis body disease, all these um dementia, louvified dementia, but you know, we we help with placements on top of everything. So I say that we don't always just have these core roles that

Final Takeaways And Resources

we do, right? As I go, you know, so I say we always say, Jesse, what do we say? Wouldn't doubt? Give us a shout. We maybe see the living advisors and veterans, but you know, we can be helpful many ways.

Well, thanks again, ladies. And um, I look forward to maybe doing another podcast with you guys and you know, sharing a little bit more. Um, maybe be a little, you know, something else that we uh that's new or or anything changes that we could talk about. Oh, thank you again. You guys have a great evening. Okay. Thank you.

Thank you for listening to MESO, the MESO Thelioma podcast. For more information, resources, and support, visit our sponsors Danziger and Deiano at dandel.com.

Frequently asked questions

Source: Drisuk Thuie, speaking in this episode.

Sources

• VA Aid and Attendance: Aid and Attendance benefits, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• VSO (Veteran Service Officer): Get help from a VA accredited representative or VSO, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• Buddy letter: Lay/Witness Statement (VA Form 21-10210), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• Community care: Community Care, Veterans Health Administration

Veterans: explore your options