Federal Benefits

Veterans Health Care Administration (VHA)

The VHA was established to provide medical care to veterans who are determined by the Federal Government to be eligible for enrollment. This is not insurance and does not, under most circumstances, provide payment to private physicians or hospitals.

Veterans must first enroll in the facility of their choice. In Ashland County most veterans enroll at the Mansfield Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC).

Since 2003 veterans who submit enrollment paperwork are placed in one of eight priority groups based on either the nature of their service or income and assets. The staff at the Ashland County Veterans Service Office will assist with enrollment and with annual means tests (income) certain veterans are required to complete in order to continue to use the VA Health Care System.

The means test is based on prior year’s income and is done annually. However, you can apply for an exemption from paying those co-payments to avoid a hardship if projections of your income for the current year will be substantially below the applicable income threshold.

More Information

My Health eVet Page

Eligibility for VA Health Care

Each veteran who submits an enrollment form will be placed in one of eight priority groups. All veterans can enroll in the VA Health Care System. Some veterans will be placed in a subcategory of Priority Group 8 and will not be eligible for health care services. Eligibility for services is determined by the following conditions:

  • Former Prisoner of War (POW) – Is a person who, while serving in the active military, naval, or air service, was forcibly detained or interned in the line of duty.
  • In receipt of the Purple Heart Medal.
  • In receipt of the Medal of Honor.
  • Have a VA awarded service-connected disability of 10% or more.
  • In receipt of a VA Pension.
  • Were discharged or separated for medical reasons, early out, or hardship.
  • Were discharged from the military because of a disability (not preexisting)
  • Are found by VA to be Catastrophically Disabled.
  • Previous years’ household income is below VA’s National Income or Geographical-Adjusted Thresholds. Hardship applications are available if current year’s income is significantly lower than previous year’s income.
  • Served in the Republic of Vietnam from January 9, 1962 to May 7, 1975 or the Persian Gulf from August 2, 1990 to November 11, 1998.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Service members are at risk for death or injury. They may see others hurt or killed. They may have to kill or wound others. They are on alert around the clock. These and other factors can increase chances of having PTSD or other mental health issues. When trauma is happening, it often creates feelings of intense fear, helplessness, or horror for those who experience them. In the days and weeks that follow, they often create longer-lasting stress reactions that can be surprising, distressing, and difficult to understand. By understanding traumatic stress re-actions better, War Veterans can become less fearful of them and better able to cope with them.

The following lists provide warning signs and symptoms of PTSD. Many resources are available to veterans. Contact us for more information on dealing with PTSD.

Warning Signs
  • Intrusive, upsetting memories of the event
  • Flashbacks (acting or feeling like the event is happening again)
  • Nightmares (either of the event or of other frightening things)
  • Feelings of intense distress when reminded of the trauma
  • Intense physical reactions to reminders of the event (e.g. pounding heart, rapid breathing, nausea, muscle tension, sweating)
Symptom: Avoidance and Numbing
  • Avoiding activities, places, thoughts, or feelings that remind you of the trauma
  • Inability to remember important aspects of the trauma
  • Loss of interest in activities and life in general
  • Feeling detached from others and emotionally numb
  • Sense of a limited future (you don’t expect to live a normal life span, get married, have a career)
Symptom: Increased Anxiety and Emotional Arousal
  • Difficulty falling or staying asleep
  • Irritability or outbursts of anger
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Hypervigilance (on constant “red alert”)
  • Feeling jumpy and easily startled
Other Common Symptoms
  • Anger and irritability
  • Guilt, shame, or self-blame
  • Substance abuse
  • Feelings of mistrust and betrayal
  • Depression and hopelessness
  • Suicidal thoughts and feelings
  • Feeling alienated and alone
  • Physical aches and pains