1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:07,320 Speaker 1: Station. If you have KCD talk station. You know me. 2 00:00:07,400 --> 00:00:09,680 Speaker 1: I love helping my American veteran friends. And I know 3 00:00:09,760 --> 00:00:11,799 Speaker 1: somebody that even more so loved to help his American 4 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:15,440 Speaker 1: American veteran friends. Fellow veteran Steve Belzow in studio from 5 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:19,480 Speaker 1: the Klamat County Veteran Services Commission Steve again in studio. 6 00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:21,599 Speaker 1: I appreciate you coming in and I appreciate what you 7 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:24,600 Speaker 1: and the Veteran Services Commissioner doing for the American veterans. 8 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:25,760 Speaker 1: Good to have you back in the studio. 9 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:29,880 Speaker 2: Brian's good to be back with you always educating the masses. 10 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:31,960 Speaker 1: So thanks for what you do, and I appreciate your 11 00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:36,199 Speaker 1: notes in Oh shocking, this complexity of filling the or 12 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:40,160 Speaker 1: filing VA claims. You mean the federal government makes things complex. 13 00:00:40,240 --> 00:00:40,960 Speaker 2: Can you imagine? 14 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:42,479 Speaker 1: Oh my god, that never happens. 15 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:47,120 Speaker 2: Can you imagine? Jeez? I mean, we have workers compensation 16 00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:50,879 Speaker 2: insurance on every business that's out there, but yet the 17 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:55,160 Speaker 2: federal government can sends you away without a even a 18 00:00:55,240 --> 00:01:00,320 Speaker 2: token of responsibility for your injuries incurred while serving them. 19 00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:02,760 Speaker 1: Well, that's why we have the Claimont County Veteran Services 20 00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:05,759 Speaker 1: and the other Veteran Service organizations to help along with these. 21 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 1: So how does filing acclaim with the claimart County Veteran 22 00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:09,840 Speaker 1: Service Office differ from others. 23 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:14,720 Speaker 2: The uniqueness about our not just Claremont, but County Veteran 24 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:15,840 Speaker 2: Service offices. 25 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:18,399 Speaker 1: You're going to give love to the other ones out 26 00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:18,880 Speaker 1: of the world. 27 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 2: Hey, you know what we're serving veterans, right, So we 28 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:27,360 Speaker 2: have large veteran service organizations, the VFW, Veterans of Foreign Wars, 29 00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:33,440 Speaker 2: Vietnam Veterans America pow right. So we have these organizations 30 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:37,200 Speaker 2: that are federally mandated to file on behalf of veterans 31 00:01:37,920 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 2: in that process in the umbrella of applying, they don't 32 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:46,960 Speaker 2: have the depth to see into the VA. They can 33 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:49,600 Speaker 2: apply on your behalf. They know the forms to apply, 34 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:52,200 Speaker 2: they know the process to apply. What's different about a 35 00:01:52,240 --> 00:01:56,400 Speaker 2: County Veteran Service Office is because of the accreditations they receive, 36 00:01:56,800 --> 00:01:59,640 Speaker 2: they can look into the VA records to see where 37 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 2: you've ben, what you have filed for, how it's been 38 00:02:03,640 --> 00:02:06,800 Speaker 2: filed for you, and then move it forward. Does it 39 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:09,640 Speaker 2: need to go into appeal instead of doing the same 40 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:12,960 Speaker 2: form again, thinking you're changing small dog to puppy and 41 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:15,160 Speaker 2: this time it's going to get through. No, it should 42 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:17,680 Speaker 2: have been in an additional form to be filed in 43 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:19,919 Speaker 2: accordance with the claim you're filing for. 44 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:22,400 Speaker 1: See, this is something you know. I of course have 45 00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:26,000 Speaker 1: no idea what you're talking about. That's why we have you, 46 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:28,440 Speaker 1: That's why the veterans tay you. You get this little 47 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:30,880 Speaker 1: bureaucratic layer all sorted out. You know what needs to 48 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:32,880 Speaker 1: be done, absolutely right, All right, since we're up to 49 00:02:32,919 --> 00:02:34,840 Speaker 1: a break, we're going to continue this process because you 50 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:36,400 Speaker 1: know we need to know. You know, what does it 51 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:39,119 Speaker 1: cost money file acclaim? How to veterans? See the talk 52 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:43,560 Speaker 1: station A forty NFTY five kc DE talk station Brian 53 00:02:43,639 --> 00:02:46,960 Speaker 1: Thomas with Steve Belzo, count County Veteran Services Commission. I 54 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:50,440 Speaker 1: am I am reeling over this reality. I mean, you 55 00:02:50,440 --> 00:02:53,000 Speaker 1: brought me some notes and the idea that I'm staring 56 00:02:53,040 --> 00:02:57,920 Speaker 1: at that a veteran could be charged to have a 57 00:02:57,919 --> 00:03:01,639 Speaker 1: claim process for his VA bennett or her VA benefits. Steve, am, 58 00:03:01,680 --> 00:03:03,280 Speaker 1: I understanding that right. 59 00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:08,160 Speaker 2: It is a one it's filing claims, right, So. 60 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:11,480 Speaker 1: Just just walk through step I said, how a veteran 61 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:14,320 Speaker 1: might be charged under this considering as you point out 62 00:03:14,639 --> 00:03:17,520 Speaker 1: it there is no charge in connection with final acclaim. 63 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:18,240 Speaker 2: That's correct. 64 00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 1: So if you spring from that proposition, how am ice 65 00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:23,000 Speaker 1: looking at something that says the veterans may be charged. 66 00:03:23,639 --> 00:03:27,639 Speaker 2: It's because veterans don't know. Oh Via do Gov has 67 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:29,960 Speaker 2: a way that you can file on your own behalf 68 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:34,240 Speaker 2: on the website when you established a website free now convoluted, 69 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:37,920 Speaker 2: but free Veteran service officers. Every county in Ohio has 70 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:40,920 Speaker 2: a Veteran Service office who has been trained up to 71 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:44,120 Speaker 2: six time continuing education every year credits they have to 72 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:48,640 Speaker 2: receive file on your behalf for free free. Not only that, 73 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:50,720 Speaker 2: know how to obtain your d D two fourteen. If 74 00:03:50,760 --> 00:03:52,720 Speaker 2: you don't have it, we'll give your website to get 75 00:03:52,760 --> 00:03:55,200 Speaker 2: it to have it right for free. We will put 76 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 2: it under county records for you for free. As a 77 00:03:57,960 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 2: matter of fact, we will give you a free Veterans 78 00:03:59,840 --> 00:04:02,680 Speaker 2: i D Card instead of carrying your DD two fourteen 79 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:05,920 Speaker 2: that you can prove you're a veteran. And yet we 80 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:09,640 Speaker 2: have these these companies making business nature of barre is 81 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:13,000 Speaker 2: a vacuum. And don't businesses love an open way to 82 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:14,920 Speaker 2: move into grab some capital here? 83 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:17,359 Speaker 1: So so a veteran who's not aware of the Veterans 84 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:19,880 Speaker 1: Service office in their county. That they would get all 85 00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:22,440 Speaker 1: this for free is kind of a wash in this 86 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:27,400 Speaker 1: weird sea of convoluted regulations. Ergo, some company pops up 87 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:29,719 Speaker 1: and says, hi, we're here to help you out, for 88 00:04:29,880 --> 00:04:31,160 Speaker 1: which they charge money. 89 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:39,520 Speaker 2: Absolutely, or what if you didn't supply enough corroborating evidence 90 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:42,839 Speaker 2: to show this occurred on active duty and it's still 91 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 2: affecting you today and you were denied, Well, now there's 92 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:48,240 Speaker 2: an appeals process you would go through. 93 00:04:48,279 --> 00:04:51,920 Speaker 1: Okay, this is determination the precentage disability right, Okay. 94 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:54,960 Speaker 2: Absolutely, So the veterer says, well, that's ridiculous. I'm going 95 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:57,960 Speaker 2: to go hire a lawyer. Now what happens is there 96 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:01,960 Speaker 2: are individuals out there who are accredited with doing this, 97 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:06,760 Speaker 2: and what they will do is they're not allowed to 98 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:10,680 Speaker 2: charge you. Potentially on the front side House Bill seven 99 00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:13,640 Speaker 2: o eight sitting on the House floor now is a 100 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:17,799 Speaker 2: measure to start to corral some of this. But listen 101 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:21,719 Speaker 2: to the final end of this. It is compensation must 102 00:05:21,720 --> 00:05:26,880 Speaker 2: be contingent on an increase in awarded benefits and is 103 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:33,600 Speaker 2: capped at five times the monthly increase achieved. So if 104 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:38,280 Speaker 2: I'm Johnny Bonnott's and I've never received a compensation for 105 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:41,040 Speaker 2: my disabilities from active duty, and all of a sudden, 106 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:44,400 Speaker 2: the VA says, you know what, Yes, we're gonna call 107 00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:47,599 Speaker 2: you fifty percent disabled based on your disabilities, and we're 108 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:52,280 Speaker 2: gonna do a retroactive pay to nineteen eighty nineteen seventy five. 109 00:05:52,480 --> 00:05:54,919 Speaker 2: I mean, there's times we see retroactive pay coming in 110 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:58,120 Speaker 2: at hundreds of thousands of dollars because of these injuries. 111 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:02,960 Speaker 1: Asian Orton exposed, fill in the bank. 112 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:08,880 Speaker 2: Right awarded benefits is capped at five times the monthly 113 00:06:09,040 --> 00:06:15,200 Speaker 2: increase achieved five times fivefold. How long is that veteran 114 00:06:15,279 --> 00:06:18,280 Speaker 2: going to pay before he ever he or she ever 115 00:06:18,440 --> 00:06:24,120 Speaker 2: receives their benefit Because the filing individual outside of a 116 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:28,320 Speaker 2: veteran service organization or the commission in the county is 117 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:31,600 Speaker 2: able to charge back, and that money comes direct from 118 00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:36,640 Speaker 2: the federal government to that organization before it comes to 119 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:37,719 Speaker 2: the veteran, So they. 120 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:40,039 Speaker 1: Get their slice of the take first, and the veteran 121 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:43,640 Speaker 1: gets what's left over until it's paid. And this is 122 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:45,000 Speaker 1: the proposed legislation. 123 00:06:45,279 --> 00:06:48,080 Speaker 2: This is putting a cap on what is happening. 124 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:49,400 Speaker 1: Oh, I see a cap. 125 00:06:49,720 --> 00:06:51,720 Speaker 2: So right now, there was a veteran came up from 126 00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:55,039 Speaker 2: Georgia to come see my office. Turns out he had 127 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:58,880 Speaker 2: a an individual out in the some county in Georgia 128 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 2: who had a certi of a probably a national certification 129 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:05,120 Speaker 2: to file benefits and they have to have a power 130 00:07:05,120 --> 00:07:07,960 Speaker 2: of attorney to file on your behalf. But what happens 131 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:10,640 Speaker 2: is is they hold on to that power of attorney 132 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:16,240 Speaker 2: and won't release it until they receive their funds. So 133 00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:19,200 Speaker 2: if there's other issues you need to file for, you 134 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:22,520 Speaker 2: have to go back to that individual to keep filing 135 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:26,120 Speaker 2: or wait until they're paid that they'll release the power 136 00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:28,680 Speaker 2: of attorney that a county service officer then can take 137 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:29,080 Speaker 2: your file. 138 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:30,080 Speaker 1: It's like extortion. 139 00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:32,280 Speaker 2: It aps. Oh my gosh, it is. 140 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:35,640 Speaker 1: Yes. I asked you off air if there were attorney 141 00:07:35,800 --> 00:07:38,680 Speaker 1: attorneys general or attorney general in state of Hiring today 142 00:07:38,920 --> 00:07:41,400 Speaker 1: looking at this, because it sounds to me nefarious. I 143 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:43,280 Speaker 1: don't want to say out loud criminal even though it 144 00:07:43,400 --> 00:07:45,640 Speaker 1: just did right, but you know, not knowing enough about 145 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:48,440 Speaker 1: this particular scenario, it sounds like it could be criminal. 146 00:07:48,520 --> 00:07:51,480 Speaker 2: Well, and I think that's why they're putting Ohio House 147 00:07:51,520 --> 00:07:53,680 Speaker 2: Bill seven to eight on the floor. And it's least 148 00:07:53,680 --> 00:07:59,280 Speaker 2: to draw this in somewhat right, so you can't have 149 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:03,080 Speaker 2: access fees anymore, even though five times the allotted benefit 150 00:08:03,320 --> 00:08:09,880 Speaker 2: I still consider excessive. Protecting veterans from deceptive or exploitive practices. Right, 151 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:11,760 Speaker 2: So you get a letter in the mail, and how 152 00:08:11,800 --> 00:08:15,400 Speaker 2: many times do they come like car insurance, Hey, this 153 00:08:15,440 --> 00:08:17,560 Speaker 2: is the last time we're gonna connect you. Right, it's 154 00:08:17,560 --> 00:08:18,480 Speaker 2: a marketing. 155 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:21,280 Speaker 1: Thing, send out to veterans who don't know the complexities 156 00:08:21,280 --> 00:08:24,200 Speaker 1: of what they're dealing with. So moving away from this 157 00:08:24,440 --> 00:08:26,600 Speaker 1: nonsense that's going on out there. And God love the 158 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:30,800 Speaker 1: American veteran that's why you're there. That's Claremont Veteran Services. 159 00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:33,000 Speaker 1: You understand all this. You can steer them away from 160 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:37,040 Speaker 1: the potentially unlawful activity that's going on out there. That's 161 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:39,600 Speaker 1: why I perceive it right and send them down the path. 162 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:44,480 Speaker 2: With free absolutely right now, there are some I want 163 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:46,920 Speaker 2: my money. I want my money now, they're going to 164 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:52,360 Speaker 2: elect these these routes. It is not it is not 165 00:08:52,520 --> 00:08:56,840 Speaker 2: to your benefit just because of you believe. It's speed 166 00:08:57,360 --> 00:09:01,000 Speaker 2: to the end. It's about doing it right and assuring 167 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:04,640 Speaker 2: it's established. And then once we have that core issue 168 00:09:04,640 --> 00:09:09,600 Speaker 2: identified benefited now we can work on tertiary issues that 169 00:09:09,720 --> 00:09:12,440 Speaker 2: may stem from that, but many do it in an 170 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:15,319 Speaker 2: opposite direction, and the VA just keeps denying because it's 171 00:09:15,360 --> 00:09:18,800 Speaker 2: not the core issue. There's a methodology to the schematic 172 00:09:18,880 --> 00:09:19,240 Speaker 2: of this. 173 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:22,760 Speaker 1: Thing, and you're trained over and over and over again, 174 00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:26,000 Speaker 1: correct annual training and upgrade training, and you know, like 175 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:29,439 Speaker 1: continuing legal education, which I have to take. That's the 176 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:32,400 Speaker 1: Claremont County Veteran Services and the other Veteran Services Commissions 177 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:36,280 Speaker 1: in each county. Please, veterans utilize and rely on these resources. 178 00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:37,880 Speaker 1: They're there for you. They're going to keep you out 179 00:09:37,920 --> 00:09:40,360 Speaker 1: of these problems in troubles and may take a little time, 180 00:09:40,400 --> 00:09:42,440 Speaker 1: but at least it's better than trying to go off 181 00:09:42,480 --> 00:09:43,000 Speaker 1: on your own. 182 00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:47,280 Speaker 2: Oh my word, the loss of revenue to support your family, 183 00:09:47,360 --> 00:09:50,200 Speaker 2: to support your issue. Right, all this is off to 184 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:54,080 Speaker 2: offset that which you're abated in life because of your 185 00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:55,240 Speaker 2: service on active duty. 186 00:09:56,080 --> 00:09:58,280 Speaker 1: Thank you so much, Deeve, for your ongoing commitment to 187 00:09:58,280 --> 00:10:00,400 Speaker 1: the American veteran and for your prior service to our country. 188 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:02,360 Speaker 1: Appreciate what you and all the folks at Claremont County 189 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:05,000 Speaker 1: Veterans Service Commissioner are doing. I'll look forward to having 190 00:10:05,040 --> 00:10:07,560 Speaker 1: you back and keep spreading the information so my veterans 191 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:10,079 Speaker 1: can stay out of trouble and get that well oiled 192 00:10:10,160 --> 00:10:13,720 Speaker 1: machine that you provide working for them right, including transportation 193 00:10:13,840 --> 00:10:17,840 Speaker 1: to their medical appointments. Take care of my friend. It's 194 00:10:17,880 --> 00:10:20,240 Speaker 1: always a pleasure having you here. Stick around, folks, f 195 00:10:20,280 --> 00:10:22,920 Speaker 1: o he. President ken Kober returns to the program after 196 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:23,480 Speaker 1: the top of the hour.