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April 2022
Status of Operations:
Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) Offices
Both the Germany and Korea BDD offices are open for in-person assistance by walk-in or by making an appointment through the Visitor Engagement Reporting Application (VERA).
Landstuhl, Germany
- Phone: DSN 314.590.8200; Commercial :+49 (0) 6371 9464 8200
- E-mail: GermanyBDD.VBAPIT@VA.GOV
- Visitor Hours are Monday-Thursday, 9:00am to 12:00pm & 1:15pm to 3:00pm
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Germany Benefits Delivery at Discharge Field Office: Landstuhl
Landstuhl Regional Medical Center
Building 3724, Rooms 110 and 112
Landstuhl, AE 66849
- Visitors seeking assistance from the Germany BDD Team are encouraged to schedule a virtual or in-person appointment on VERA. You will receive email confirmation of your appointment.
Camp Humphreys, South Korea
- Phone: DSN 757-2914; commercial: 050-3357-2914
- E-mail: KoreaBDD.vbapit@va.gov
- Visitor Hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00am to 12:00pm & 1:00pm to 4:00pm
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Korea Benefits Delivery at Discharge Field Office: Camp Humphreys
Department of Veterans Affairs
USAG Camp Humphreys
BLDG P-6400
APO, AP 96271-5228
- Visitors seeking assistance from the Korea BDD Team are encouraged to schedule a virtual or in-person appointment on VERA. You will receive email confirmation of your appointment.
As always, Veterans can continue to get information about benefits or file a claim for benefits by visiting our website at www.va.gov. Veterans with claims specific or other questions may request information via Inquiry Routing & Information System (IRIS) or by telephone at 1-800-827-1000, or 412-395-6272 for Veterans outside the US.
Update: Overseas Military Service Coordinators
Due to COVID-19, Overseas Military Service Coordinators (OMSCs) will be extending virtual support operations to overseas Veterans, Service members, and their dependents through October 1, 2022. OMSCs will be responding to e-mails and arranging phone interviews for those seeking assistance with all VA benefits.
We invite all Veterans, Service members, and dependents who would like to speak to a VA representative about VA benefits to send your contact information to the email address listed for your location to set up a virtual appointment with an OMSC.
Veterans residing in European countries: OMSCGER1.VBAVACO@VA.GOV
Veterans residing in Asian countries: OMSCJAPANOK.VBAVACO@VA.GOV
Attention International Veterans!
 Location: WebEx Virtual Event
Link: Click Here to Join the Symposium
Audience: VA Staff and Veterans abroad in Europe
 Event: Healthy Lifestyle Festival
Date & Time: 14 May 2022, 1000-1400
Location: Pavilion at Downtown Humphreys
Purpose: Army Public Health (APHN) (65th Medical Brigade) and AWC Army Wellness Center (AWC) are pleased to present the Health Lifestyle Festival! Attend to learn more about installation resources available for the promotion of total health and wellness for active duty, beneficiaries, and retirees.
The past two years have proven to be an uncertain and stressful time for the community. Health promotion outside of COVID-19 awareness has not been a priority since the onset of the pandemic. The installation provides a variety of resources to allow for healthy living, but due to restriction of movement, awareness has been limited. The Healthy Lifestyle Festival will provide an opportunity for the installation to showcase what we can provide to the community and re-engage with our population.
Expected Audience: active duty, beneficiaries, and retirees.
For more information, please contact:
CPT Lauren Odegaard (lauren.o.odegaard.mil@mail.mil), DSN 315-737-1457, (Comm: +82 (0) 503-337-1457)
CPT Bernadette Bell (bernadette.a.bell.mil@mail.mil), DSN 315-737-5678, (Comm: +82 (0) 503-337-5678)
Warrior Training Advancement Course (WARTAC)
What is WARTAC?
WARTAC is a skill-bridge education and employment opportunity for Wounded Warriors and transitioning service members to complete a national-level VBA training program while on active duty. Successful completion of this training program leads to an opportunity for service members to be hired at 55 of VBA's 56 Regional Offices.
WARTAC is open to Wounded Warriors and active duty service members in the transition process.
The WARTAC program provides participants with an opportunity to learn the skill set of a VA Veteran Service Representative (VSR) through a 12 week program or Rating Veteran Service Representative (RVSR) through a 14 week program.
VSR Position Description
The VSR explains benefit programs and entitlement criteria, conducts interviews, identifies issues, gathers relevant evidence; adjudicates claims and inputs data necessary to generate the award and notification letter to the Veteran, describing the decision and the reason for it.
The VSR works in a cubicle-style office environment in VA Veteran Service Centers (VSCs) and serves as the primary contact for the Veteran and his/her representative concerning VA compensation claims.
Qualifications:
To quality for the VSR position (GS-0996-07/10), applicants must meet the following requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
Specialized Experience
- Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to a least the next lower grade (GS-05), or
- One full year of graduate-level education, or
- A bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement (SAA)
- SAA is basded on a GPA of 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0; or
- A combination of specialized experience and graduate education
RVSR Position Description & Qualifications
The RVSR analyzes claims to determine if diseases and/or inquiries were incurred or aggravated by military service in the line of duty for purposes of VA benefits. RVSRs determine service-connection percentages of claimed disabilities. The RVSR works in a cubicle-style office environment in VA Veteran Service Centers (VSCs) and serves as the primary contact for assigning disability evaluations.
Qualifications:
To quality for the RVSR position (GS-0996-09/12), applicants must meet the following requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
Specialized Experience
- Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to a least the next lower grade (GS-07), or
- A master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field related to the duties of this position; or
- A combination of specialized experience and graduate education
If you are unsure as to whether you meet the criterion for either position and/or if you need resume assistance, see your Transition Manager.
Eligibility for Special Hiring Authority
WARTAC is open to Wounded Warriors and transition Service members with 180-days or less on active-duty. VRA is an excepted authority that allows agencies to appoint eligible Veterans without competition if the Veteran/service member is:
- in receipt of a campaign badge for service during a war or in a campaign or expedition; OR
- a disabled veteran, OR
- in receipt of an Armed forces Service Medal for participation in a military operation, OR
- a recently separated veteran (within the last 3 years), AND separated under honorable conditions (this means an honorable or general discharge), you are VRA eligible.
Veterans and Family Information Act Provides Greater Access for Non-English Speakers
Veterans with limited English skills soon will have greater access to information about federal benefits. The Veterans and Family Information Act, or H.R. 2093, directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to translate all of its factsheets into Spanish, Tagalog and 10 other common languages. Those translations will also be posted on the VA’s website.
To learn more, visit:
Extension of the Presumptive Period for Compensation for GW Veterans
VA published a final rule to amend its adjudication regulation 38 CFR 3.317 regarding compensation for disabilities suffered by Veterans who served in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations during the Persian Gulf War. This amendment extends the presumptive period through December 31, 2026, during which disabilities associated with undiagnosed illnesses and medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illnesses must become manifest in order for a veteran to be eligible for compensation.
For additional details, please visit the Federal Register:
Extension of the Presumptive Period for Compensation for Gulf War Veterans
Personalized Career Planning and Guidance (PCPG) - Chapter 36
 
Veterans Crisis Line
Crisis feels different for everybody and can be caused by a wide range of situations before, during, or after military service. 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
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Foreign Medical Program (FMP)
The Foreign Medical Program (FMP) is a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care benefits program for U.S. Veterans who are residing or traveling abroad and have VA-rated, service-connected disabilities. Under FMP, VA assumes payment responsibility for certain necessary health care services received in foreign countries and associated with the treatment of service-connected disabilities, or any disability associated with and held to be aggravating a service-connected condition. Additionally, VA may authorize necessary foreign medical services for any condition for a Veteran participating in the VA Vocational Rehabilitation Program (38 U.S.C. 31).
For more information, to include submitting claims for reimbursement, please visit here.
Check Your Claim Status at VA.GOV
Access and manage your VA benefits online. Available services include, but are not limited to:
Disability
Records
Education
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.
Upcoming Live Virtual Events
The Veterans Breakfast Club's live virtual Veterans storytelling programs bring together Veterans from across the nation and beyond. This is a great opportunity to virtually connect with your fellow Veterans! Visit the link below for additional information and a schedule of their live virtual events!
Additionally, a variety of virtual outreach events are being offered in April . To view the full list of virtual offerings, visit the below link:
Feedback Requested
We'd love to hear your feedback regarding the VA OCONUS Connection. we want to provide the information you need - please tell us what topics you would like addressed in the future.
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.
*The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Veterans Affairs of the linked web sites, or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized VA activities, the Department does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. All links are provided with the intent of meeting the mission of the Department. Please let us know about existing external links which you believe are inappropriate and about specific additional external links which you believe ought to be included.
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