'Slap in the face': VA halts rule that would of cut disability benefits amid outrage 

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The Department of Veterans Affairs is walking backmost a caller regularisation that would person changed however disablement payments are determined. It came aft wide outrage from aggregate veterans groups.

John Schuler served successful the Army for 25 years. For the 73yearold veteran, his VA disablement benefits are a substance of beingness oregon death.

"I got crushed coming backmost from Bosnia. I got crushed by a railcar. It shattered my full pelvis and broke my back," says Schuler.

Schuler is among astir 50,000 vets surviving successful Fresno County, galore of whom trust connected disablement benefits determined by the Department of Veterans Affairs successful a process that tin instrumentality years.

On Tuesday, the bureau announced a caller rule: a veteran's disablement level would beryllium based connected however good they relation portion connected medication, alternatively than the impairment itself.

"It causes a seasoned to determine whether they should beryllium taking their medicine oregon their livelihood, if they beryllium connected the compensation coming successful each month," says Kyle Pennington, Veterans Service Officer for Fresno County.

The alteration sparked contiguous outrage and fear.

The Fresno County Veterans Service Office says they were inundated with calls.

"It was contiguous concern, confusion, and truly wondering what it means," says Eric Ornelas, Veterans' Service Representative.

Following the backlash, VA Secretary Doug Collins walked the regularisation back. In a station connected X Thursday, helium wrote, "To alleviate these concerns, (the) VA volition proceed to cod nationalist comments regarding the rule, but it volition not beryllium enforced astatine immoderate clip successful the future."

Irania Linares served successful the Army for 10 years. She wants the VA to cognize their decisions person existent consequences.

"We person radical who jumped retired of airplanes who were repealing retired of helicopters; they person a batch of things that halt them from day-to-day activities, from picking up their kids, walking agelong distance, oregon lasting successful lines," says Linares.

"The terms of state is disposable here."

That connection sits extracurricular the beforehand doors of the VA infirmary successful Fresno, a reminder of the carnal sacrifices made by veterans.

"If you're consenting to springiness your beingness for your country, astatine slightest your state tin instrumentality attraction of you erstwhile you travel home," says Schuler.

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