Potential Fraud Alert

The Department of Veterans Affairs has recently been notified of potential fraudulent attempts to contact Veterans using VetSuccess.gov.  These individuals may be operating under company names such as Auto-Desk, Venus Remedies, or Aesculap Implant Systems.  Be aware that these are potential fake inquiries, and you should not communicate with or send any information to these individuals.

If you are contacted by an individual or company that is requesting to communicate with you through a suspicious communication method, do not communicate with these individuals.  If the individual or company has communicated with you through a suspicious email, do not click on any links in the email, and do not provide any personal information to the individual.  If you suspect that you may be victim of these suspicious activities, please contact the VetSuccess.gov team at 202-461-9600.

Do not share any of the following information with these companies or any other suspicious party:

• Social Security Number or other National Identification Number
• Driver's License Number
• Bank Account Information
• Credit Card Information
•  Passwords
• Date of Birth

Please be mindful of the information you share with individuals or a prospective employer until you are confident that the employer and employment opportunity are legitimate.  If you suspect that you may be victim of fraud as a result of these suspicious activities, please contact the VetSuccess.gov team at 202-461-9600.

VetSuccess.gov continues to make every effort to prevent this type of abuse. If you have received a suspicious email, phone call, text, or fax, please report these activities to the VetSuccess.gov team at vetsuccesstech.vbavaco@va.gov.

Curtis L. Coy
Deputy Under Secretary for Economic Opportunity
Veterans Benefits Administration
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Time for Veterans of Gulf War I to Apply For VA Disability Benefits Extended

Veterans of the Persian Gulf War with undiagnosed illnesses have until December 31, 2016 to apply for VA disability benefits. Under the previous VA rule any undiagnosed illnesses used to establish eligibility for VA benefits had to become apparent by Dec. 31, 2011.

When announcing the change Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki said: “Not all the wounds of war are fully understood. When there is uncertainty about the connection between a medical problem and military service, Veterans are entitled to the benefit of the doubt.” Veterans or survivors who believe that they may qualify for these benefits should contact VA at 1-800-827-1000.

Further information about undiagnosed illnesses is available online at: www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/gulfwar and www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/oefoif/index.asp