It’s not often an agency of the United State Government admits they were wrong, and it’s even more rare when they send you a check to clear up the error.
But that’s exactly what happened for one military veteran in Buchanan.
Berrien County Veteran Services (BCVS) Director Maureen Adams was at the Berrien County Commission meeting Thursday and said she and her team recently met a veteran who opened a claim for benefits with the Veterans Administration (VA). He waited, but was never able to receive any updates or a decision on his claim.
Adams says her team followed up for the veteran (with his consent), reached out to the VA, and found out the claim was closed back in 2019 with no provided reason, notice, or payment. BCVS reopened the claim and the VA approved it.
“ So he had been rated at a 10 percent rating. His rating went up to a 100 percent. So the VA then took that 100 percent (rating) and paid him back retroactively to 2019 because it was their error in closing the claim. So the gentleman received, I believe it was $100,451 and some change.”
This particular veteran served in the military during World War II, and last December he turned 101 years young.
