June 9 Chilliwack Coffee Klatch

The biggest takeaway was that application for benefits falls under the Entitlement Eligibility Guidlines (if you Google that you will find the starting page) and the bottom line is that your injury must have occurred as a result of your duty of employment with the RCMP, it must be documented in your Health Service File (or you still carry the news report of the event or copy of the investigation file), and you have had it assessed by a medical professional that will document and relate your injury to the event.  Yes it’s complex and I can answer some questions you may have.  Secondly, many of our injuries are consequences of a previous injury.  For instance, an Operational Stress Injury is often the significant injury that creates further problems as we suffer differently and age.  Those other consequential injuries may me related to stress and are Sleep Disorders, Irritable Bowel Disorder and other digestive problems, TMJ or Bruxism, and several others.  Then there is pain and suffering caused by an injury that we worked through after an arrest, car accident, or falling off a roof.  We sucked it up and kept going and we might have reported it or took over the counter meds to relieve the pain.  Now that we are older, those injuries have turned into arthritis problems that include pain in the back and neck, lower back, and sciatica.  If it’s related to an injury obtained while working, you have a disability claim to apply for.  This could even be an injury you received while doing a force related community event like playing hockey on the local Mountie team.

Chris also talked about obtaining a disability rating over 48%, and the additional benefits available at 98%.  This can be obtained through reassessment of established disabilities that have gotten worse over age.  But you need to apply for reassessment and go through a medical evaluation with your doctor or specialist.  Those additional benefits relate to death benefits, attendance allowance and exceptional incapacity allowance.

Additional items were touched on briefly.  Two of consequence.  If you were in ident section working with chemical agents and have a lung disease, this is now been accepted by Veterans Affairs.  Lastly, if you are retired and remained as a reservist, if you are injured as a reservist that is not covered by Veterans Affairs, and it is a Workers Compensation issue.  Worker’s Compensation coverage ends at 65 year of age, whereas Veterans Affairs Disability coverage is for life (and tax free)

All in all it was a great coffee meeting with special thanks to Insp. Bowerman, who, through his magic got us the venue, coffee and treats.

Chris McNeil was thanked personally and on behalf of the RCMP Vancouver Veterans Association presented a Veteran Paul McCarl original jade orca whale.  Special thanks to Paul McCarl for this special gift.