Let me start this column by stating I am not speaking for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the State of Maine Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management and the Maine Veterans’ Services. I will also state I cannot determine what benefits a veteran is entitled to. But what I am most happy about writing in this column is that there has been a huge improvement in the quality of medical care that I receive from the VA from my first visit to the Togus VA Hospital in 1988 to my present visits including both the Togus VA and the Portland VA clinic located on Fore Street in Portland.

After my first visit to Togus I wanted to shun the place. I have seen such huge improvement in medical care that I felt comfortable asking my friends who are veterans to get into the system as well. I must state that every employee of the VA understands veterans and their needs. Since the opening of the Portland VA Clinic, every friend I have recommended to transfer there is impressed with the medical services they have received.

I could use several columns to go into depth as to each and every benefit that a veteran could be entitled to because of their military service. I know more about what a Vietnam veteran is entitled to because I am one. What I want to stress the most is that if a veteran never gets into the system, then that veteran, if entitled to benefits, gets nothing. For example, I have heart-related disability because of exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. If I die of that disease, my wife receives a stipend because of that disability. Any veteran who is diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s Disease, or ALS, is also entitled for VA benefits. As this disease is always fatal, a surviving spouse receives benefits as well.

What I recommend is that each veteran enroll in the VA system to see if they qualify for benefits of one kind or another. The greatest disappointment is to see an elderly veteran that waited until the last minute to inquire about benefits they may be entitled to and then not live long enough to receive them. It’s important to remember that just because a veteran did not initially receive benefits to begin with, circumstances such as loss of income could change the veteran’s status with the VA.

Benefits can change as well and the best example I am familiar with is the service-connected disabilities associated with exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam, certain years at the demilitarizated zone between North and South Korea and some National Guard training areas. The most common disabilities are heart disease, Type II diabetes and several forms of cancer.

I believe the most important step that a veteran must take in applying for VA benefits is making sure that they use a veteran’s advocate to ensure that all required paperwork is completed properly. Many benefits require that the VA obtain the veteran’s medical records and other medical documentation as well. Unfortunately many World War II and Korean War medical records were destroyed in a massive fire at a records-holding area in St. Louis. A veteran may choose a service organization like the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion or Disabled American Veterans as they have people trained to assist veterans in obtaining benefits. I highly recommend using the Maine Veterans’ Services officer that comes to the Windham Veterans Center located behind Hannaford in North Windham on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month from 9 a.m. till noon. The trip into the VA system can be complicated and overwhelming but it goes much smoother when one has assistance from someone who knows how the system operates. I’ve been there and learned that lesson well.

I also recommend that all veterans apply for benefits from the VA now instead of later. Our national defense budget is facing huge cuts, which could seriously cut veterans’ promised benefits.

Lane Hiltunen lives in Windham although maybe not for long.