Local View: Helping those who served

By Bill Dieckman

Read it in the Lincoln Journal Star

Bill Dieckman

Addressing the well-being of the more than 106,000 courageous individuals living in Nebraska who have served in the military, defending our nation and championing freedom, poses challenges that go back not just decades but to the Revolutionary War at our nation’s founding.

Our veterans deserve a system that is accessible, easy to navigate and provides options that allow them to achieve the best possible outcome – but today that is not the case.

Veterans living in Nebraska have been forced to contend with a flawed system made up of underfunded healthcare services and an often perplexing VA disability benefits program that has left many of them without the resources that they need and deserve.

Fortunately, elected officials at both the state and federal level are working to rectify these issues.

Congress is currently considering two pieces of legislation impacting veterans' access to VA disability benefits – the GUARD VA Benefits Act and the PLUS for the Veterans Act of 2023 – and in Nebraska Legislative Bill 1037 has been put forward for consideration. While all these bills aim to support veterans, we must carefully navigate these proposals to ensure they achieve the desired outcome.

The GUARD Act aims to protect veterans from exploitation, a noble goal. However, its proposed implementation could inadvertently harm those it seeks to help by preventing private companies from assisting veterans in filing a claim for VA disability benefits. This would restrict veterans' choices and potentially delay their access to benefits by forcing them to either navigate the process themselves or turn to other sources of support that have limited abilities to assist in the process.

Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs), for example, play a vital role in assisting veterans, but since they are primarily staffed by volunteers, they may not have the manpower to meet the growing demand for services. In Nebraska, like in other states, VSO resources are stretched thin too often, leaving veterans with limited access to support.

Attorneys, on the other hand, are paid by the VA and work on a fee-for-service model, but under the current system they only step in when a claim has been denied or an appeal is necessary. This has unintentionally fostered a reverse incentive structure and caused delays in providing essential relief to those who have served.

Experienced private consultants, meanwhile, can be invaluable allies, guiding veterans through the intricate VA system and maximizing their chances of success. Many operate on a contingency basis, ensuring their interests align with the veterans.

That is why an alternative approach offered by the PLUS Act is the best path forward. It introduces safeguards to protect veterans from bad actors while allowing private sector involvement through a rigorous accreditation process. This ensures quality standards and empowers veterans to choose the assistance that best suits their needs.

With progress on both these bills stalled out at the federal level, the Nebraska Legislature has taken it upon itself to push a similar initiative. But they have decided to proceed with LB1037 which, unfortunately, would effectively enact the GUARD VA benefits Act at the state level and limit veteran choice. While there is no doubt the intentions behind this effort are well-meaning, state legislators should reject this proposal in favor of some of the better solutions under consideration.

Instead of limiting veteran choice, state leaders should work with Nebraska’s congressional delegation to design ways to expand assistance and choices for our servicemen and servicewomen to obtain the VA benefits they rightfully deserve. It's time for legislators, VSOs, and the private sector to sit across the table, armed with the insights and feedback from the very veterans they aim to serve and craft a solution that fosters a system where veterans' needs are met with dignity and respect.

Nebraska veterans deserve the best possible support. Let us ensure they have access to the resources and expertise needed to navigate the VA system and receive the benefits they have rightly earned.

Bill Dieckman of Lincoln, is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served for five years including in Operation Desert Storm and Somalia.

The quote in this piece from an unnamed official from the Secretary of State's Office has been corrected. Writer Matt Schulte alerted us to the fact that he accidentally misquoted the person.