Getting help with the VA

by Richard Herbst
(Fort Lauderdale FL)

Written on behalf of my father, Fred Herbst (FWH). Fred served as an air officer in the US Navy from 1942 to 1945 and was honorably discharged. He did not apply for VA benefits until he was 86 years old. He was originally denied benefits because of an improperly completed application which was resubmitted six months ago. He is presently in declining health in a nursing home and before he dies I would like the VA to fulfill its promise to him and at the very least provide for a burial. All contact with the VA has been a bureaucratic race with time. It appears that attrition is actively employed in budget cuts.

FWH voluntarily served in wartime, was an officer and was discharged as a Lt. Commander. He deserves better than to be a file shuffled between cabinets and desktops, and delaying his application in hopes of relieving the VA of one more obligation is pretty shabby treatment.