Who Served (NAPSA)—Americans can always be counted on to defend their nation in time of war. Some of these men and women becomedisabled, as we know, but so do many of those who serve in peacetime. They may be hurt during training or in their off-duty time. Others becomeill, or may aggravate a preexisting medical condition. Fortunately, these veterans qualify for disability compensation from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. If granted, they will receive free health care for at least their disabilities. Compensation levels range up to 100 percent and can amountto as much as $2,000 a month tax-free. Veterans can contact VA at (800) 827-1000 for the necessary forms andfile a claim for these benefits on their own. Easier, though,is to contact a federally chartered veterans service organization, such as AMVETS,andlet one of its trained and accredited professionals handle the case, for which there is no charge. To provide this support, AMVETS has more than 100 national and state service officers in 37 states. Over the last year, these dedicated men and women handled some 97,000 claimsfor vet- erans, providing them $455 million in benefits. To learn more, call toll- free (877) 726-8387 or visit www.amvets.org.
