VA OCONUS Connection

Update on Overseas Military Service Coordinators

Due to COVID-19,  Overseas Military Services Coordinators are currently providing support to Veterans, service members, and dependents living overseas at the e-mail addresses below. Please use the e-mail address for the installation nearest to your residence. The OMSCs are monitoring the e-mails daily, and providing FaceTime and phone interviews where possible for those who wish to arrange these services.

Veteran Service Officers

In a recent issue of the OCONUS Connection, we provided information pertaining to VFW representatives located in various countries.  After the publication of that issue, we received notification of additional VSO contacts abroad and prepared an updated list below:

Discontinuance of Publicly Available Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs)

The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) has sunset publicly available DBQs on our website. VBA will continue to accept any evidence that Veterans or their accredited representatives wish to submit in support of disability compensation or pension claims. 

Why has VA removed DBQs from its public-facing website?

VA continues to use DBQs during C&P exams conducted by VHA and VA’s contracted vendor clinicians. There are several reasons why VA decided to discontinue making DBQs available for public use.

• We have modernized. VBA is currently more than half-way through the process of updating all body systems in the VASRD. This is the first complete update of the VASRD since the 1945 Schedule. As each body system is updated, so are the corresponding DBQs. For DBQs used internally by VA, the updated forms are available immediately. However, for DBQs available publicly, VA must engage in the formal process required any time a public-facing form is modified, which can take more than a year. This has resulted in outdated forms being available publicly, which can result in a Veteran submitting a DBQ from a private doctor and then being scheduled for a VA C&P exam to gather more information.
• We have increased our capacity to conduct C&P exams. To supplement VHA’s internal capacity to conduct C&P exams, VBA has contracted with three primary vendors to provide exams across the country. This has expanded the agency’s ability to conduct exams in more places than just traditional VA Medical Centers and Outpatient Clinics. The contracted clinicians can provide wider coverage, especially in rural areas and in conducting exams in federal and state prison facilities. Also, one of VBA’s contract vendors conducts C&P exams in 33 countries overseas, where VHA does not have a presence.
• We are safeguarding against fraud. In the past few years, we have seen a growing industry of individuals and companies marketing the service of completing DBQs for Veterans. Some have provided honest, valuable service to Veterans. However, VA has made hundreds of referrals to the VA Office of Inspector General of individuals and companies who are engaged in questionable, even fraudulent, practices that include charging high prices for completing DBQs or submitting DBQs with findings that are vastly different than the other evidence in the Veteran’s claims folder. Also, it is a requirement that DBQs submitted by a private provider must be based on an exam conducted in person. VA’s OIG recently issued an audit report about providers who were completing DBQs for Veterans remotely and recommended that VA revisit its practice of making public-facing DBQs available.

Will VA continue to accept evidence from my private physician?

• Yes. VA accepts any evidence that a Veteran or his/her accredited representative chooses to submit in support of a claim. Once all evidence is received, VBA claims processors review and weigh the evidence overall as part of the decision-making process.
• Veterans may submit private treatment records or request that VBA obtain those records on their behalf in support of their claims.
• Key methods that private medical records can be submitted are as follows:
• Veteran/Private treatment provider can send medical records directly to the Department of Veterans Affairs Claims Intake Center P.O. Box 4444, Janesville, WI., 53547-4444 or submit to VA regional office.
• VA will request records with a VA Form 21-4142 and VA Form 21-4142a signed by the Veteran.
• Private treatment records can be uploaded as part of an on-line submission of a claim at https://www.va.gov/disability/how-to-file-claim/

Resources

• We encourage all Veterans to work with an accredited organization for assistance in completing claims for VA benefits. The accredited representative can help in guiding the Veteran in submitting applicable medical records for consideration in his or her claim.
• A list of accredited organizations can be found on the Office of General Counsel site at this link: Search the VA Office of the General Counsel’s list.

Questions on Claims?

You can start and continue to file claims with no delay.

How to start or continue a claim:

1. File a claim online at https://www.va.gov/disability/how-to-file-claim/ or https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/
2. Fax a claim to VA’s Centralized Mail hub at (844) 531-7818
3. Submit completed applications by paper mail

For individuals who need more assistance, VBA offers robust resources through the National Call Center (NCC) at 1-800-827-1000.

Intent to file a claim:

• Faxing or mailing a completed VA Form 21-0966, Intent to File a Claim for Compensation and/or Pension, or Survivors Pension and/or DIC,
• Calling the NCC or Veterans Service Center,
• Starting a claim online, or
• Asking a Veterans Service Organization (VSO) to complete one on a claimant’s behalf.

Note: Intent to file a claim will preserve a potential effective date and allow the Veteran up to one year to submit a completed claim form. Veterans can also work with a local VSO to submit claims electronically or by mail.

Did You Know?  

If you go back on active duty, you must notify the VA to stop your compensation payments. Once you are off active duty, VA can restart them.  Individuals are not entitled to both active duty pay and VA compensation. You will not lose your rating - you will be able to resume your benefits at the same service-connected percentage when you are no longer on active duty.

VA Welcome Kit

Whether you’re just getting out of the service or you’ve been a civilian for years now, the VA Welcome Kit can help guide you to the benefits and services you’ve earned.

Based on where you are in life, your VA benefits and services can support you in different ways. Keep your welcome kit handy so you can turn to it throughout your life—like when it’s time to go to school, get a job, buy a house, get health care, retire, or make plans for your care as you age.

Feel free to share this guide with friends or family members who need help with their benefits too. Download your VA Welcome Kit and print out copies for yourself and others!

Veterans Crisis Line

Crisis feels different for everybody and can be caused by a wide range of situations before, during, or after military service.  The Military Crisis Line is staffed by caring, qualified responders from VA — some of whom have served in the military themselves.

Confidential support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year through the Military Crisis Line (1-800-273-8255 and Press 1), online chat and text (838255).

You can visit this link to see how Veterans, Service members or their loved ones can reach VCL from Europe, Korea and Afghanistan.

• In Europe call 00800 1273 8255 or DSN 118 *
• In Korea call 0808 555 118 or DSN 118
• In Afghanistan call 00 1 800 273 8255 or DSN 111

* In Europe, toll-free service may not be available through all carriers or in all countries

eBenefits

What is eBenefits?

Enrolling in eBenefits is easy. Just visit www.eBenefits.va.gov for more information.

How to get an eBenefits account

If you don’t already have an eBenefits account, you can register on the DS Logon Registration page. Instead of using your APO address for registering on eBenefits, use your last recorded United States address.

For dependents of Veterans without a social security number, you must do the following:

Contact the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) at 1-800-538-9552.

• Provide your dependent's Foreign ID number.
• Obtain a generated social security number provided by DMDC.
• Use the generated social security number for registration in eBenefits.
• You can visit the eBenefits help page for assistance with registering for an account or you can call 1-800 372-7437.

Contact Information:  BDD Offices in

Germany & Korea

The Landstuhl, Germany office can be reached by e-mail at GermanyBDD.vbapit@va.gov.

The Camp Humphreys, South Korea office can be reached by email at KoreaBDD.vbapit@va.gov.

Help Us Spread the Word

Please encourage Veterans residing abroad with whom you come in contact to subscribe to “Veterans Abroad” to receive bulletins and information specific to Veterans residing abroad. 

Subscribe here

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