GI Bill benefits denied!

[Debau2005]

My fiance has been denied GI Bill benefits for truck driving school. He served in the Navy, Army, and National Guard for a total of 16 years. After his tour in Iraq in 2006 - 2007, he left the military when his time was up, August 2007.

He witnessed the death of two of his fellow soldiers, and could not face another deployment. They changed his unit from a calvary unit to infantry, so he had to change units. The unit he changed to, had not been deployed, so he had the fear that he would have to go back.

He is suffering from some PTSD, and of course, the VA has been no help there either, but, we are working through it.

He needed a change in career, which has helped his PTSD tremendously. So he went to truck driving school and got his CDL. The school applied for the GI Bill for him in December. He was sent denial letters the first of February. He has been so upset, that he just threw the letters in a pile and tried to forget them. I found them this weekend, we are preparing his house to be sold.

Does anyone know what the percentage of a successful appeal is? Do we need to go ahead and get a VA Representative through a Veteran's Service Organization? We certainly can't afford an attorney!

Thanks for any advice that anyone has!

[katandmoon]

1. I'm so sorry -- and I have no expertise in this but I suggest he contact his congressman

That worked for a friend of mine who was denied Social Security disability benefits.

[Submariner]

2. Defienitely seek help from your congress critters

I hope you have a Democratic Rep, because I would expect no sympathy for your plight from the Bush admin or their cronies. Good luck.

[Ilsa]

3. I think katandmoon may be right -- Congresspeople are pretty good at

cutting through the red tape for their veteran constituents. One of Ron Paul's ads features a veteran with multiple purple hearts who still needed Paul's intervention.

Best wishes and good luck to you and your fiance!

[DrDan]

4. here are the eligibility rules

http://education.military.com/money-for-school/gi-bill/gi-bill-eligibility-details

I suggest these be reviewed very carefully first. For example, High School grad or equivalancy? Military pay was reduced $100/month? Honorable discharge?

I would certainly review these rules before contacting any congressman.

[Lasher]

5. After you follow DrDan's good advice,

contact the Disabled American Veterans. They should be able and willing to help.

[Debau2005]

6. Thanks all,

We'll review the requirements. He is still in shock and mad, so I wasn't able to get a lot of info from him. But I have some places to investigate and questions to ask him!

Unfortunately my representative is the heinous Tom Price! But my fiance is another district, I'll look his up. He did meet one of our Senators at a tribute to one of his fallen friends, and I believe he had his picture made. I'll look that up as well.

[rakeeb]

7. was there any reason given in any of the letters?

[Debau2005]

8. No

Just how to appeal.

We are sitting down this weekend and starting our appeal. My fiance tends to shut down when he gets mad. He is not a politically motivated person, like me! :hippie:

So, I'll guide him gently into the process!!

[NYVet]

9. I would also talk to the school to confirm that they were accredited

and eligible for participation under the Montgomery GI Bill and Army College fund.

Then talk to the VA and Congress reps