News from the Veterans Assistance Commission

October 2, 2023

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Veteran Memorials

Around Lake County -

Libertyville

Thanks and prayers to all our

Women Warriors

Article Heading

Congratulations to

John Murray

recently approved by the Commission to be the Assistant Superintendent for the VAC - effective immediately!

And say hello to the whole VAC team!

Dates for Veterans Assistance Commission Meetings in 2023

The VAC Commissioners meetings for 2023 will be held on the following dates

November 15, 2023

At the Gurnee American Legion Post 771

(749 Milwaukee Ave).

Meetings begin at 10:30 am. Visitors are welcome.

You can also use the link below to log into the meeting: https://meet.goto.com/754472005

OR dial in using your phone.

in United States, call: +1 (312) 757-3121

and use Access Code: 754-472-005

Pact Act: Presumptive Conditions

21 Aug 2023

Military.com | By Amanda Miller

The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that "potentially millions" more veterans or their survivors could be eligible to receive health care or financial compensation for toxic exposure-related medical conditions newly considered presumptive under the PACT Act, said Steve Miska, PACT Act transitional executive director.

The law's presumptive aspect "gives us the opportunity to automatically assume, that by virtue of a veteran having this condition, it must be due to their service," Miska told Military.com. "That is a game changer in terms of how veterans historically have had to file a claim" for PACT Act conditions: "Not only did they have to prove that those conditions were manifesting, but they also had to prove the service connection."

The law added what Miska described as 23 new "buckets of conditions," amounting to more than 330 medical conditions altogether. Some of the buckets contain, for example, a number of types of cancers.

Whereas in the past, the VA approved about 25% of claims related to burn pit exposures, the rate was about 78.6% for PACT Act claims in the first year, Miska said.

The PACT Act presumes a service connection -- provided the veteran served in a certain place at a certain time -- for the following conditions related to toxic exposures from burn pits, contaminated water at Marine Corps bases in North Carolina, and the Vietnam-era chemical defoliant, Agent Orange.

What Survivors of Veterans Need to Know About the PACT Act

The PACT Act linked medical conditions with certain toxins common during some eras or circumstances of military service. Here are some of the most important things survivors need to know if they think they may qualify for compensation under the new law.

31 Jul 2023 Military.com | By Amanda Miller

Surviving spouses, dependent children and some parents of deceased U.S. military veterans may have become newly eligible for compensation following Congress's creation of the PACT Act in 2022. Survivors may even qualify for backdated compensation if they filed a claim following the death of their family member from a now-"presumptive" medical condition that was originally denied.

Click here for some of the most important things survivors need to know if they think they may qualify.

Iraq and Afghanistan

Veterans of America

IAVA is a small, innovative nonprofit organization dedicated to the newest generation of veterans. It is with the help of committed supporters and volunteers that we are able to reach our mission of improving the lives of 2.4 million Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families.

Learn more about IAVA

WE REALLY HAVE MOVED!!!

The VAC is now located at:

Hawkston Hall II

1790 Nations Drive (second entrance to Nations Drive,

north of Grand Avenue, off of Dilley Rd).

Gurnee, IL 60031

Phone - (847) 377-3344

Email - Veterans@lakecountyil.gov

Website - www.vaclc.org

The office looks outstanding and we're open for business again.

Up the center stairs and turn left.

We need your help to get federal grants for supporting County Veterans Assistance Commissions

There are two bills working their way through the House and the Senate respectively that bill authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide grants to states to implement programs that improve outreach and assistance to veterans and their families to ensure that such individuals are fully informed about veterans' benefits and programs. The two bills are very similar but there will be a different emphasis on moving these bills through the deliberations.

Specifically, the VA may provide grants to states to (1) implement or enhance outreach activities or activities to assist in the development and submittal of claims for veterans, or (2) increase the number of county or tribal veterans service officers in the state.

The VA must prioritize awarding grants in areas with a critical shortage of county or tribal veterans service officers, areas with high rates of suicide among veterans, and areas with high rates of referrals to the Veterans Crisis Line.

We recommend you send an email to both of our senators supporting Senate bill S 106. Here are their email addresses:

https://www.durbin.senate.gov/contact/email

https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/connect/email-tammy

AND an email to your Congressperson supporting House Bill HR984. Here's a look up to find your congressperson and how to contact them.

https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

The new Covid Booster is approved!

The Food and Drug Administration signed off on updated COVID-19 vaccine and booster shots Monday (9/11/23), moving one step closer to making the new shots available for the public to get boosted for the fall virus season. The decision comes amid an increase in COVID hospitalizations and concern about the spread of several new variants.

Watch for an announcement From the Lovell FHCC for when they will begin providing the shots. We are expecting them to hold a Saturday shot clinic in mid-October.

The James A. Lovell FHCC is ranked 5 Stars!

As you can see, in the chart, the Lovell FHCC is being ranked at the top with the best local civilian hospitals.

Why Our Generals Don't Win

7 Sep 2023

Military.com | By Gary Anderson

The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration.

Operation Desert Storm was the last major conflict that the United States clearly won. It is no coincidence that it was also the last war directed by general officers who were not products of the Goldwater-Nichols and Skelton Panel professional military reforms in military structure and education.

Those "reforms" have resulted in an Army that could not organize an orderly withdrawal from Afghanistan, a Navy that has failed to build enough attack submarines to credibly deter or defeat a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, and a Marine Corps that willingly castrated itself in an idiotic new strategy called Force Design 2030. Click to read the complete article.

Explore the History of VA – Click here for an for an interesting read about the VA in 100 objects

Object 62: 1956 “Clues to Suicide” Study

While suicide takes a toll on lives in every segment of society, Veterans in the post 9-11 era have statistically been more at risk than adults in the general population. VA’s efforts to combat the scourge of Veteran suicide owe a significant debt to the foundational research studies conducted by two VA psychologists in the 1950s. The work of Drs. Edwin S. Shneidman and Norman J. Farberow led to some of the earliest crisis intervention programs at VA and elsewhere and the establishment of the nation’s first dedicated Suicide Prevention Center in Los Angeles, California.

Veterans Property Tax Exemption up to First $250k of EAV

From State Senator Julie Morrison's Office

District Office (847) 945-5200

400 Lake Cook Road #100B, Deerfield, IL 60015

The Governor has signed HB 2507 which includes Page 3 lines 23 and 24 specifically - 3) if the veteran has a service connected disability of 70% or more, as certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as of the date the application is submitted for the exemption under this Section for the applicable taxable year, then the first $250,000 in equalized assessed value (EAV) of the property is exempt from taxation under this Code; Click to read the bill.

Did you know?

Lake County has more veterans and a more rapid growth in veterans than any other county outside of Cook County. The vet count has grown from 31, 000 to over 45,000. We also have the youngest vet population with over 65% of Lake County vets under 60 years old! (That doesn't include me!)

The VAS is all about helping veterans in any way possible. One of those ways to to refer vet-owned businesses to our readers. To see what you can present, Click to go to the Partners page and scroll down to the Veteran Owned Businesses. Send an email to the VAC (veterans@veteransassistancecommission.com) with a subject line of "Veterans Business", or contact the VAC through the VAC website directly.

New calls for help from Maui!

The American Legion in Maui has reached out for donations and help meeting the aftermath of the fire disaster. The Maui Office of Economic Development has a current website providing information of their needs and means to donate. Click here for their website.

Also two vet run disaster support teams are on site - Team Rubicon and Project DYNAMO. Local volunteers from Team Rubicon are in Maui helping those impacted by the wildfires. The volunteers are supporting with logistics, donation management, crowd management and traffic control.

Click here to see their website on what they're doing.

Boys State candidate Animesh Bijawat

wins $2,000 American Legion

Boys State scholarship

American Legion Boys State is offered in 49 states with two representatives from each state selected as senators at Boys Nation in Washington, D.C. Established in 1935, ALA Boys State is funded by local American Legion posts.

Mundelein Post 867 underwrites the registration and transportation cost for two rising Mundelein High School seniors each year.

Mundelein High School senior Animesh Bijawat returned from this year’s American Legion Boys State with a $2,000 scholarship, an honor earned by only four of the 200 program participants. During the week-long mock government program held at Eastern Illinois University, Bijawat was elected City Party Chairman, County Party Chairman, and leader of the Federalist Party. Another MHS senior, Adrian Rosales, also attended Boys State and was elected Alderman and Chief of Militia.

VFW Launches Exclusive Gaming League for Veterans

The VFW aims to foster connections and combat veteran isolation

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Sept. 12, 2023) – The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is proud to announce the launch of its inaugural gaming league, Combat Tested Gaming. Working alongside veteran-owned KC Crew, this landmark initiative provides a new platform for service members and veterans to hone their gaming skills while building camaraderie with other members of the veteran community. Watch the promo.

If someone you know needs help with food

Northern Illinois Food Bank provides food through a network of 900 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, youth and senior centers, and has a number of other direct distribution programs to assist hungry neighbors. The Food Bank acquires donated food directly from manufacturers, as well as retail stores through our Food Recovery and Direct Connect programs.

You might have noticed the schedule of mobile food pantries further down in this newsletter. In the newsletter, these only cover Lake and McHenry Counties. However, there are also mobile pantries in 9 additional Counties. In addition there are "Pantry Express" sites where you can order food to be picked up at one of the Pantry Express locations, or, if you meet to mileage requirement, have the food delivered to your home.

If you are interested in supporting Northern Illinois Food Bank by volunteering (as I do), Click here to see the types of volunteer opportunities you can sign up for and where they are.

If you have any questions, contact Allan Ayers at 847-377-3344

Some of the Emergency Services Your VAC Can Help You With

In all the situations below, you can always contact the VAC (847-377-3344) directly for further assistance. If you are struggling with rent or mortgage payments with the elimination of pandemic forbearance programs, Call the VAC immediately!

Rent or Mortgage payments or Emergency Housing
Utility payments
Food - Northern Illinois Food Bank - See Schedule or
Midwest Veterans Closet (See the calendar below)
Medical Care - Contact VAC when civilian benefits lost - Do not go to VA if not registered with them. Contact the VAC to get you registered.
Family problems - In Lake County, contact 211 for referral to proper resource.

VA Life Insurance

If you still need/want to carry some life insurance, the VA has several different options to satisfy different needs. Click on any of the items below to learn more about the coverage and eligibility requirements.

Options and eligibility

How to Get a VA Certificate of Eligibility

If you couldn’t get in on the low interest rates of earlier this year, but you want to get a VA loan or a Native American Direct Loan to buy a house, interest rates are still about one percent below commercial rates. The first step is to get your COE. National Guard members and reservists are eligible for a VA home loan if they have completed at least six years of honorable service, are mobilized for active duty service for a period of at least 90 days, or are discharged because of a service-connected disability. See the reservist details here.

In any case, the first step is getting your Certificate of Eligibility (COE). It confirms for your lender that you qualify for the VA or NAD home loan benefit. Learn how to apply for your COE online.

Pre-discharge

Disability Claim

If you have an illness or injury that you believe was caused—or made worse—by your active-duty service, you can file a claim for disability benefits 180 to 90 days before you leave the military. This may help speed up the claim decision process so you can get your benefits sooner. Find out how to file a claim through the Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) program—and what to do if you have less than 90 days left on active duty.

The VAC also assists in filing BDD Claims.

You can use the BDD program if you meet all of these requirements.

All of these must be true:

You’re a service member on full-time active duty (including a member of the National Guard, Reserves, or Coast Guard), and
You have a known separation date, and
Your separation date is in the next 180 to 90 days, and
You’re available to go to VA exams for 45 days from the date you submitted your claim, and
You can provide a copy of your service treatment records for your current period of service when you file your claim.

Learn more here.

VA is Here for You During Times of Emotional Distress

Feeling distress is a normal response to negative events, especially events that feel personal. Veterans and those who care about them are encouraged to learn more about available mental health and healing resources.

Call the Veterans Crisis Line 24/7 at 988.

Every VA facility has mental health specialists. Find one near you.

Community-based Vet Centers are available to you. Call 1-877-927-8387 or find one near you.
Maketheconnection.net offers stories of hope and healing for Veterans experiencing challenging life events.
Have a question for VA? 1-800-MyVA411 (800-698-2411) is available 24/7.

Call 211 for Social Services

in Lake County

Anyone in Lake County who needs help finding health and human service support can call 211 and get quickly connected to available resources. Lake County 211, provided by United Way of Lake County, is a free, confidential information and referral helpline that will enable Lake County residents to get the help they need 24 hours a day, regardless of the language they speak or where they live.

The 211 network also answers dozens of crisis hotlines, including the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

Know Someone Who Can Use Veteran Benefit Assistance?

If you have a veteran parent or know someone who might be eligible for some kind of benefits for their service, we encourage you to mention the VAC to them. We can assist with many different issues:

Aid and Attendance Assistance
Emergency Financial Assistance
Survivor spousal benefits
Burial arrangements
Upgrading disability status
Job skill preparation
Referrals for services we cannot support.

If you or another veteran you know needs help, give us a call at 847-377-3344.

Your Coin Helps Vets In Need Through the VAC Not For Profit

Coins are $5.00 and you can pick one up when you come into the office, or you can send a check (make the check out to "Lake County VAC - Not-for-Profit - and mail to the address below) and we'll mail it to you. Mail check to:

Veterans Assistance Commission

Hawkins Hall II

1790 Nations Drive, Suite 221

Gurnee, IL 60031

Who is NAMI?

NAMI, The National Alliance on Mental Illness, is a grassroots organization dedicated to improving the lives of persons and their families affected by mental illness through support, education, advocacy, and research.

Who is NAMI-CCNS?

NAMI CCNS is a grass roots organization and an affiliate of the NAMI National organization. Our affiliate was started in the early 1990’s by a group of family members who were all dealing with the challenges of loved ones with mental illness. They offered a Family to Family class and that was the beginning of our affiliate, which now serves over 17 communities in our catchment area.

We now offer free of charge not only Family to Family but also Basics for Parents classes, and Balance for Success, peer groups and family support groups. We host bimonthly education meetings and advocate for individuals with mental illness. People who have taken our classes and attended our support groups constantly comment about their positive experiences and how NAMI has helped them put their lives back together again.

In 2007 after a successful gala, we were able to open our first office in Northfield and hire an Executive Director and staff. In 2014 we moved our office to the Turning Point building in Skokie, where we serve hundreds of families dealing with mental illness. As an organization, we use a collaborative model, using each other’s strengths to find ways to fulfill our mission every day.

The mission of NAMI Cook County North Suburban is to improve the lives of individuals with serious mental illness and those who love and care for them through education, support and advocacy.

See the flyer below to learn about their Veteran Support Group/Program.

MUNDELEIN HIGH SCHOOL VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10th

Mundelein High School will be hosting their annual Veterans Day Celebration and breakfast on Friday, November 10th. They ask you to arrive no later than 8:00am, and please park in the West District Parking Lot at 1500 West Hawley Street. upon arrival. This is the free standing building adjacent to the high school off Hawley Street.

Agenda:

8:00am: Veterans arrive at the West District Office building at 1500 West Hawley St., Mundelein, IL 60060

8:15am to 10:00am: Breakfast

10:00am: Transition to MHS for the Honors Walk

10:15am to 10:35am: Honors Walk at MHS

10:40: Return to District Office Building and dismissal

Please RSVP by calling Silvia Torres or Yuliana Cordova at Mundelein High School. The main line is 847-949-2200. Then, use extensions 1488 or 1494 to reach Sylvia or Yuliana.

The last day to register for this event is Monday, October 30, 2023.

Watch the VAC Calendar for Upcoming Events

If you're wondering what the VAC and other veterans organizations are doing.

Post Your Event Flyer

If you want a vet-oriented event posted, please send a flyer to the VAC (veterans@lakecountyil.gov) with a subject line of event flyer not later than the 25th of the month for the next month and we'll include it.

Assorted Military Association Meetings

We have now compiled a list of posts, detachments and various associations (currently MOAA, MOWW, ROA, Navy League) and their normal meeting dates and locations. This schedule will expand as we get additional information.

Click here to find your favorite meetings

Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation

Open for your input Sept 26- Oct 17, 2023

The Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation is proud to launch an unprecedented public input campaign inviting the public to share design insight for the National Global War on Terrorism Memorial, which will be built on the National Mall. As part of this campaign, Americans have an opportunity to design history by providing their thoughts, inspiration, and dreams for the Memorial that will honor all those impacted by the Global War on Terrorism. Visit Website

The Illinois Military Veterans Assistance Act (MVAA) Webinars will provide an overview of the Military Veterans Assistance Act (330 ILCS 45) and the recent changes that became effective February 12, 2023, including the role of Veterans Assistance Commissions and county boards in the administration of benefits for military veterans and their families. The MVAA webinars will be held on August 24 and October 26, 2023.

The Illinois Service Member Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (ISERRA) Webinars will provide an overview of ISERRA (330 ILCS 61), including the types of qualifying military service, the employment protections and reemployment rights for members of the National Guard, Reserves and Federal Auxiliaries while completing their military requirements, and the health insurance and pension protections included in ISERRA. The ISERRA webinars will be held on September 28 and October 24, 2023.

Links:

Additional Webinar Information

IL Military & Veterans Rights Bureau Website

Veterans Consumer Alert Brochure

To learn more, visit the Caregiver Support Program Website and informational flyer.

Animal Therapy for Veterans

Veterans and their families are invited to

Veterans’ Weekend at the SOUL Harbour Ranch, Barrington, IL

Last Sunday of each month.

TIME: 10:30am to Noon

WHERE: SOUL Harbour Ranch

22093 N. Countryside Lane, Barrington, IL 60010

www.soulharbourranch.com/

RSVP: Jodie @ 855-408-SOUL (7685)

QUESTIONS: Contact veteran liaison

Lt. Colonel Gina Stramaglio 316-708-9788

Lake County Honor Flight Reunions

Meet 4th Saturday each month

Chicagoland North Chapter, Team RWB

Click for Chapter website

Contact David Christensen

Lots of events scattered around Lake County

Gurnee American Legion Post 771

749 Milwaukee Ave, Gurnee, IL 60031

847-244-9282

Click for website and events

Lake Zurich American Legion Post 964

51 Lions Drive

Lake Zurich, IL 60047

Coffee and Donuts - Every Tuesday, 8:30 - 10:30 AM

Mundelein American Legion Post 867

145 N. Seymour (Behind Taste of Paris, next to Rogan Shoes)

Mundelein, IL 60060

Coffee and Donuts - Every Wednesday, 8:00 - 10:00 AM

Midwest Veterans Closet

Food Pantry, Clothing, Shoes/Boots

Housewares, Linens

Open Monday, Wednesday and Friday - 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Food (Grocery Style selection), Clothing, Housewares, and

LOTS of Furniture

2323 Green Bay Road, North Chicago, IL

847-354-2108

Mundelein Park District

Healthy Minds Healthy Bodies

1401 N. Midlothian Rd, Mundelein, IL

mundeleinparks.org - 847-566-0650

Click for details

Native American Heritage Council

Building 617 - Base Library

Naval Base Great Lakes

2nd Thursday of Month - 10:00 am

Click here to see complete flyer

NAMI-CCNS

Both on line and in person support programs for veterans and families

Click to see programs on the website

Veterans Path to Hope

See website for VPH Support Resources

805 McHenry Ave Ste D, Crystal Lake, IL 60014

815-321-HOPE (4673)

Food Pantry and Home Furnishings

Click for Food Truck - every month, 3rd Thursday)

Click for other upcoming events

Northern Illinois Food Bank

There are three types of resources within NIFB

-- My Pantry Express

Pre-register at the link and order from list of items - limited locations and times -

See below for Lake and McHenry County locations and times, or click on the link below for all the counties.

-- Mobile Food Pantry and CLC Pop-up Pantry

Just for Fun!

Military spouse quotes for deployment

1. “Don’t be sad, laundry. No one is doing me either.”

2. “I wish I could copy and paste you into my bed.”

3. “I really miss you but, I really love not shaving.”

4. “I’m in my bed, you’re in yours - one of us is obviously in the wrong place.”

5. “Don’t you type at me with that tone of voice!”

6. “I am grouchy due to a recent lack of physical intimacy.”

7. “Husband deployed?… ‘wine’ a little, it’ll make you feel better.”

8. “Things to do today: 1. Get up 2. Survive 3. Go back to bed.”

9. “Don’t mind me, this is just my fog of deployment face. Carry on.”

10. “Military wives don’t do spring cleaning…. They do OH NO my husband’s-coming-home-from-deployment cleaning!”

Contents From Our Previous Issue

To read the September 2023 Newsletter, go to our prior edition.

Click here to view a previous issue of the newsletter

Quick Links

Lake County VAC

EBenefits

USA Jobs

Lake County Job Center

Navy Exchange

What to Expect at Your C&P Exam

VA compensation and pension (C&P) exams, which are sometimes also called claim exams, are an important part of your claims process. C&P exams help VA rate your disability, which affects how much disability compensation you’ll receive. Watch our YouTube playlist to learn what to expect during your exam.

A personal lesson learned from my recent exam - the C&P results may have a significant impact on your disability compensation so be prepared to challenge the results with doctor's statements and get the support of the VAC for professional skills at contesting the C&P results.

t Helps to Stay In Touch With the

James A. Lovell FHCC

To stay in touch with the James A. Lovell FHCC, subscribe to the “Launch”, the Lovell Newsletter.

To get a subscription, – click here.

Here is a directory of the resources at James A. Lovell FHCC. To access the electronic directory, click here and scroll down to the bottom of the page.

Herre are the available hot links to some of the various VA Resources available. The actual hot links can be accessed at the

bottom of the welcome kit.

Click here to subscribe to the Weekly VA Newsletter.

Hot tips from the VA Weekly Newsletters

VA Benefits - September 2023

This Benefits Bulletin provides links for vets of all to understand veteran benefits they might be eligible for.