Veterans Group Pleased With Ombudsman's Recommendations on Burial Regulations
Veterans Burial Regulations & the Last Post Fund
In compiling his report,
This issue came to national prominence last year when the family of decorated Korean War hero Kenneth Barwise was left with funeral expenses they could not afford. The Department rejected their application arguing that his pensioned conditions, together with a significant number of non-pensioned conditions, did not provide sufficient eligibility for this financial assistance. Barwise was a double-leg amputee, leading The War Amps to pay these outstanding costs as a humanitarian gesture.
The NCVA filed an appeal under the Pension Act, the Veterans Burial Regulations and the Department of Veterans Affairs Act on behalf of Kenneth Barwise in
Chadderton and Forbes noted that the NCVA has long taken the position that it is often impossible to distinguish between the impacts of pensioned and non-pensioned conditions in relation to a Seriously Disabled Veteran profile. In nearly all other areas of VAC adjudication and administration, the Department has eliminated the complication of distinguishing between these conditions and has provided the veteran with an appropriate disability pension, special allowance or health care benefit in such circumstances.
They also cited surveys by the NCVA which indicated that the most seriously disabled veterans, such as members of The War Amps and the
The NCVA is looking forward to the Department implementing these longstanding recommendations through amendments to the Veterans Burial Regulations and/or the Last Post Fund.
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