Gil Rodriguez, Author at AGIF of Texas, Inc.

GI Forum Firecracker Golf Tournament Classic Returns to San Marcos

by Jesse Sanchez, SMAGIF Scholarship Chairman

American GI Forum of Texas, Inc. Report SAN MARCOS, Texas – (Friday, July 2, 2021) On Monday, July 5, the American GI Forum of San Marcos Men Chapter will be having its 21st annual Veterans/Scholarship Fundraiser with the “Firecracker Golf Tournament Classic.” The popular July Independence Day weekend tournament event will be held at the Plum Creek Golf Course in Kyle on Monday, July 5, commencing with a patriotic salute and a shotgun start at 8 a.m. for participating players. The tournament format is a three-person scramble with team handicap consisting of male or female players.

As of Friday, June 25, the chapter has registered 16 teams and is considered full. Any additional single player or teams will be placed on waitlist. For tournament information, you can contact Tournament Director Jesse Sanchez at

512-665-0881 or email at [email protected] of available entry. Proceeds of the tournament will be used for granting assistance to Veterans and Scholarships in the San Marcos area. The San Marcos Chapter recently awarded $6,000 in scholarships to 10 San Marcos High School graduates. This annual event would not be possible without the loyal local sponsors that continue to support us year after year. We are grateful for all who participate in so many ways.

Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) announced that the Federal Register will publish on Jan. 18 regulations accompanying the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017 (AMA), which will help Veterans experience a more transparent claims decision-review process.

After publication of the regulations, VA Secretary Robert Wilkie will certify the department’s readiness to implement appeals modernization, which will transform a complex appeals process into one that is simple, timely and provides greater choice to Veterans who disagree with a VA decision.

Implementation will occur 30 days after the Secretary certifies, as required by law. Accordingly, the AMA will become effective Feb 19.

“VA has been preparing for full implementation of the Appeals Modernization Act over the past 18 months,” Wilkie said. “Our staff has worked diligently, particularly in the last few weeks, to ensure the new, streamlined process is available to Veterans in February.

The AMA was signed into law Aug. 23, 2017. Under the act, Veterans will now have three options for claims and appeals: (1) supplemental claim; (2) higher-level review; or (3) direct appeals to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals. All decision reviews submitted after February 2019 will fall under the new system.

Once the Appeals Modernization Act is fully implemented, VA’s goal is to complete supplemental claims and higher-level reviews averaging 125 days. Decisions appealed to the Board under its direct docket will average 365 days. Under the legacy process, appeal resolutions averaged three to seven years.

For more information about VA appeals modernization,visit https://benefits.va.gov/benefits/appeals.asp and https://www.bva.va.gov/

VA Disability Claims Application Process for Veterans

American GI Forum of Texas, STATE OFFICE, AUSTIN, Texas –The AGIFTX is publishing the fllowing information for our members and other veterans in the hope of helping them in seeking help from the VA.

In the face of dramatically increasing workloads and a backlog that affects Veterans of all eras – and both first-time filers and Veterans coming back to VA for a supplementary claim – the Veterans Benefits Administration must deliver first-rate, timely benefits and services, faster and more effectively than ever before. The steps that we publish below are to help you file a service Claim with the Department of Veterans Affairs. You may click on any of the links we are providing for you to get the maximum help when filing your claim.

More information about VA Forms 21-526EZ, 21-527EZ, 21-534EZ or VA Form 21-0958, Notice of Disagreement, may be found at www.ebenefits.va.gov or www.va.gov/vaforms/.The VA must help you meet your needs. You can find a list of all the benefits by going to http://www.benefits.va.gov/ or by uploading the General Overview of Filing a Service Claim with the Department of Veterans Affairs here.

To achieve our goals for improving the delivery of benefits to Veterans, we are paroviding a General overview of filing a service claim with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Transformation Plan that includes initiatives to re-train and reorganize our people, streamline VA business processes, and build and implement new technology solutions to eliminate the claims backlog and process all claims faster and at a higher quality.

TTexas Veterans and AGIFTX members can get more information form the Texas Veterans commission here http://www.tvc.state.tx.us/ or http://www.agif-nvop.org

VA Announces Rollout and Application Process for New Veterans ID Card

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that the application process for the national Veterans Identification Card (VIC) is now available for Veterans — yet another action honoring their service.

This has been mandated through legislation since 2015 to honor Veterans, and today’s rollout of the ID card fulfills that overdue promise.

Only those Veterans with honorable service will be able to apply for the ID card, which will provide proof of military service, and may be accepted by retailers in lieu of the standard DD-214 form to obtain promotional discounts and other services where offered to Veterans.

“The new Veterans Identification Card provides a safer and more convenient and efficient way for most Veterans to show proof of service,” said VA Secretary Dr. David J. Shulkin. “With the card, Veterans with honorable service to our nation will no longer need to carry around their paper DD-214s to obtain Veteran discounts and other services.”

The VIC provides a more portable and secure alternative for those who served the minimum obligated time in service, but did not meet the retirement or medical discharge threshold. Veterans who served in the armed forces, including the reserve components, and who have a discharge of honorable or general (under honorable conditions) can request a VIC.

To request a VIC, Veterans must visit vets.gov, click on “Apply for Printed Veteran ID Card” on the bottom left of the page and sign in or create an account.

Veterans who apply for a card should receive it within 60 days and can check delivery status of their cards at vets.gov. A digital version of the VIC will be available online by mid-December.