Angie Papple Johnston joined the U.S. Army in 2006 as a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Specialist, ready to tackle chemical weapons in a Level-A HAZMAT suit. During her second deployment as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Angie became her battalion’s public affairs representative. She also served as the Lead Cadre for the Texas Army National Guard’s Recruit Sustainment program.

• Introduction 1Part 1: Writing Your Next Chapter 5Chapter 1: Gearing Up for That DD-214 Life 7Chapter 2: Tying Your Discharge Status into Benefits 21Chapter 3: Navigating VA Claims and Appeals 39Part 2: Medical Care, Life Insurance, and Compensation Programs 57Chapter 4: Helping Yourself to Health Benefits 59Chapter 5: Exploring VA Healthcare 69Chapter 6: Probing into TRICARE 95Chapter 7: Securing Your Family’s Future with VA Life Insurance 111Chapter 8: Cashing In on Military Pensions, Severance Pay, and the TSP 119Chapter 9: Taking a Close Look at Disability Pay 137Part 3: Employment, Education, and Housing Programs 159Chapter 10: Applying to Employment Programs 161Chapter 11: Transitioning from the Military to More Government Employment 177Chapter 12: Building Your Own Business with Veterans Benefits 187Chapter 13: Bringing Receipts: Using Your GI Bill 199Chapter 14: Staking Your Claim on Other Education Programs 217Chapter 15: Buying into Post-Military Life with Your VA Loan Benefit 229Chapter 16: Enjoying Your Golden Years in a Military Retirement Home 239Part 4: Burial and Memorial Benefits, Survivor Benefits, and More 245Chapter 17: Accessing Benefits for Homeless Vets 247Chapter 18: Using Benefits While Incarcerated 257Chapter 19: Applying for Benefits for Women, Minority, and LGBTQ+ Vets 265Chapter 20: Zeroing In on Claims for Vets of Specific Wars, Former POWs, and Disabled Vets 269Chapter 21: Diving into Benefits for Spouses, Dependents, and Caregivers 295Chapter 22: Examining Burial and Memorial Benefits 305Chapter 23: Surveying Survivor Benefits 315Chapter 24: Shopping ‘til You Drop: Benefits for Retirees and Other ID Cardholders 323Chapter 25: Seeing the World with Travel Benefits 329Chapter 26: Sidling up to State Veterans Benefits 337Part 5: The Part of Tens 347Chapter 27: Ten Ways to Get Your Disability Claim Denied 349Chapter 28: Ten Tips to Maximize Your Benefits 353Index 357

Angie Papple Johnston joined the U.S. Army in 2006 as a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Specialist, ready to tackle chemical weapons in a Level-A HAZMAT suit. During her second deployment as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Angie became her battalion’s public affairs representative. She also served as the Lead Cadre for the Texas Army National Guard’s Recruit Sustainment program.

• Introduction 1Part 1: Writing Your Next Chapter 5Chapter 1: Gearing Up for That DD-214 Life 7Chapter 2: Tying Your Discharge Status into Benefits 21Chapter 3: Navigating VA Claims and Appeals 39Part 2: Medical Care, Life Insurance, and Compensation Programs 57Chapter 4: Helping Yourself to Health Benefits 59Chapter 5: Exploring VA Healthcare 69Chapter 6: Probing into TRICARE 95Chapter 7: Securing Your Family’s Future with VA Life Insurance 111Chapter 8: Cashing In on Military Pensions, Severance Pay, and the TSP 119Chapter 9: Taking a Close Look at Disability Pay 137Part 3: Employment, Education, and Housing Programs 159Chapter 10: Applying to Employment Programs 161Chapter 11: Transitioning from the Military to More Government Employment 177Chapter 12: Building Your Own Business with Veterans Benefits 187Chapter 13: Bringing Receipts: Using Your GI Bill 199Chapter 14: Staking Your Claim on Other Education Programs 217Chapter 15: Buying into Post-Military Life with Your VA Loan Benefit 229Chapter 16: Enjoying Your Golden Years in a Military Retirement Home 239Part 4: Burial and Memorial Benefits, Survivor Benefits, and More 245Chapter 17: Accessing Benefits for Homeless Vets 247Chapter 18: Using Benefits While Incarcerated 257Chapter 19: Applying for Benefits for Women, Minority, and LGBTQ+ Vets 265Chapter 20: Zeroing In on Claims for Vets of Specific Wars, Former POWs, and Disabled Vets 269Chapter 21: Diving into Benefits for Spouses, Dependents, and Caregivers 295Chapter 22: Examining Burial and Memorial Benefits 305Chapter 23: Surveying Survivor Benefits 315Chapter 24: Shopping ‘til You Drop: Benefits for Retirees and Other ID Cardholders 323Chapter 25: Seeing the World with Travel Benefits 329Chapter 26: Sidling up to State Veterans Benefits 337Part 5: The Part of Tens 347Chapter 27: Ten Ways to Get Your Disability Claim Denied 349Chapter 28: Ten Tips to Maximize Your Benefits 353Index 357

Angie Papple Johnston joined the U.S. Army in 2006 as a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Specialist, ready to tackle chemical weapons in a Level-A HAZMAT suit. During her second deployment as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Angie became her battalion’s public affairs representative. She also served as the Lead Cadre for the Texas Army National Guard’s Recruit Sustainment program.

• Introduction 1Part 1: Writing Your Next Chapter 5Chapter 1: Gearing Up for That DD-214 Life 7Chapter 2: Tying Your Discharge Status into Benefits 21Chapter 3: Navigating VA Claims and Appeals 39Part 2: Medical Care, Life Insurance, and Compensation Programs 57Chapter 4: Helping Yourself to Health Benefits 59Chapter 5: Exploring VA Healthcare 69Chapter 6: Probing into TRICARE 95Chapter 7: Securing Your Family’s Future with VA Life Insurance 111Chapter 8: Cashing In on Military Pensions, Severance Pay, and the TSP 119Chapter 9: Taking a Close Look at Disability Pay 137Part 3: Employment, Education, and Housing Programs 159Chapter 10: Applying to Employment Programs 161Chapter 11: Transitioning from the Military to More Government Employment 177Chapter 12: Building Your Own Business with Veterans Benefits 187Chapter 13: Bringing Receipts: Using Your GI Bill 199Chapter 14: Staking Your Claim on Other Education Programs 217Chapter 15: Buying into Post-Military Life with Your VA Loan Benefit 229Chapter 16: Enjoying Your Golden Years in a Military Retirement Home 239Part 4: Burial and Memorial Benefits, Survivor Benefits, and More 245Chapter 17: Accessing Benefits for Homeless Vets 247Chapter 18: Using Benefits While Incarcerated 257Chapter 19: Applying for Benefits for Women, Minority, and LGBTQ+ Vets 265Chapter 20: Zeroing In on Claims for Vets of Specific Wars, Former POWs, and Disabled Vets 269Chapter 21: Diving into Benefits for Spouses, Dependents, and Caregivers 295Chapter 22: Examining Burial and Memorial Benefits 305Chapter 23: Surveying Survivor Benefits 315Chapter 24: Shopping ‘til You Drop: Benefits for Retirees and Other ID Cardholders 323Chapter 25: Seeing the World with Travel Benefits 329Chapter 26: Sidling up to State Veterans Benefits 337Part 5: The Part of Tens 347Chapter 27: Ten Ways to Get Your Disability Claim Denied 349Chapter 28: Ten Tips to Maximize Your Benefits 353Index 357