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Common Terms / Definitions / Acronyms

A&A: Aid & Attendance is a benefit paid in addition to monthly pension. Require the aid of another person to perform activities of daily living OR be blind or meet other specific visual acuity requirements OR be a patient in a nursing home because of physical or mental incapacity.

ALS: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease

Annuity: A monthly source of spousal income provided in return for reduced retirement benefits.

BDD: Benefits Delivery at Discharge Service members who are separating and plan to file for disability can file their claim before separation. This is done thru the VA BDD program. This program allows service members to apply for VA disability compensation benefits prior to separation. Claims must be filed between 180 to 90 days prior to separation.

C&P Exam: Compensation & Pension Exam

CBOC: Community Based Out Patient Clinic - To make access to health care easier, VHA utilizes CBOCs across the country. These clinics provide the most common outpatient services, including health and wellness visits, without the hassle of visiting a larger medical center. VHA continues to expand the network of CBOCs to include more rural locations, putting access to care closer to home.

CFS: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

CHAMPVA: Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs

CRRC: Community Resource and Referral Center

DBQ: Disabilities Benefits Questionnaire

DD214: A military separation document issued to Veterans after 1949.

DEA: Dependents Educational Assistance

Dependents: Spouses, children and certain parents of veterans.

DFAS: Defense Finance & Accounting Service

DIC: Dependency & Indemnity Compensation Monthly benefit paid to eligible survivors of service members who died while on active duty, active duty for training or inactive duty training, OR Veterans who died as a result of a service-connected injury or disease, OR Veterans who did not die as a result of a service-connected injury or disease, but were totally disabled by a service-connected disability.

DMC: Debt Management Center

DNR: Department of Natural Resources

DoD: Department of Defense

DoEd: Department of Education

eBenefits: A secure web site used by service members, Veterans, and their families that allows access to many VA & DoD online benefits and resources.

Entitlement Program: A government program that guarantees and provides benefits to a particular group.

FHA: Federal Housing Authority

Fiduciary: An individual or entity who has been approved by the VA to receive VA benefits on behalf of a beneficiary for the use and benefit of the beneficiary and the beneficiary’s dependents.

Housebound: An increased monthly pension amount paid to permanently disabled Veterans who are greatly confined to their homes.

IBS: Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Net Worth: Includes assets such as bank accounts, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, annuities, and any other property other than your residence and a reasonable lot area. VA will determine whether assets are of a sufficiently large amount that one could live off them for a reasonable period of time.

NSCP: Non Service-Connected Pension

P&T: Permanent & Total

POW: Prisoner of War

PTSD: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

SGLI: Service Members’ Group Life Insurance

TBI: Traumatic Brain Injury

TPD: Total & Permanent Disability

TRICARE: Health insurance program for military members, their dependents, retirees, and some survivors and former spouses around the world.

VAMC: Veterans Affairs Medical Center

VARO: VA Regional Office

VGLI: Veterans’ Group Life Insurance: Allows Veterans to convert their SGLI to a civilian program of lifetime renewable term coverage after separation from service.

Veterans Pension: Tax-free monetary benefit payable to low-income wartime Veterans.

VETS: Veteran & Employment Training Service

VHIC: Veteran Health Identification Card

VIC: Veterans Identification Card

Contact

Veterans Affairs

Lonnie Hamilton III, Public Services Building
Suite B-154 (First Floor)
4045 Bridge View Drive
North Charleston, SC 29405

Phone: (843)974-6360
Fax: (843)745-2354
Email: vaoffice@charlestoncounty.org

Office Hours:
Mon. - Fri. 8am - 4pm

Staff

David J. LeBlanc, Sr.
Director

Melody S. Popovich
Deputy Director

Anne S. Owen
Veterans Service Officer

Christine S. Rucker
Veterans Service Officer

Amily Williams
Veterans Service Officer

Elissa Chanco
Veterans Service Officer

Kathryn O. Tillman
Administrative Assistant

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