Veterans Smiles

Veterans, the men and women who have served for our country. They have put their lives on the line against foreign and domestic threats to our nation. They spent months and months away from their friends and family. They sacrificed day in and day out for our rights and freedoms.

When the soldiers of our military come home for good whether it they are medically retired or they just served their X amount of years and decide not to go back, they get complete medical coverage compliments of our government. Good Job USA. You got something right. The US government offers many benefits for our soldiers and their families.

Unfortunately they do not give our veterans dental care. Its an amazing sight seeing our veterans smile. Whether its when they are reminiscing on fond memories of the time they served, receiving thanks for their sacrifices, getting a card or letter from kids around the country wishing them a happy holiday or a speedy recovery. Many veterans do not smile because they need dental work and are embarrassed.

Many will doubt what i have written. "There's no way, they have to have dental". Im here to tell you that no they don't. I know for a fact that they don't. My dad is a veteran of US Army, and i can't tell you how many times we have talked about it, how many times it has come up in conversations when we go to the VA hospital or his doctors appointments.

I think its outrageous that they don't have dental. If we can give them full medical i think we can give them dental. Medically they pay for MRI's, CT scans, lab work, prescriptions, Doctors visits, Surgeries etc. Why cant they cover the annual teeth cleaning, fillings, sealants, extraction etc??

Veterans can only receive dental care if they are eligible for a certain level of care.The guidelines according to the Veteran Affairs Health Care Website are as follows:

1. Have a service-connected compensable dental disability or condition.
2. Are a former prisoner of war
3. Have service-connected disabilities rated 100% disabling or are unemployable and paid at the 100% rate due to service connected conditions
4. Apply for dental care within 180 days of discharge or release(under conditions other than dishonorable) from a period of active duty of 90 days or more during the Persian Gulf War era.
5. Have a Service-connected noncompensable dental condition or disability resulting from combat wounds or service trauma.
6. have a dental condition clinically determined by VA to be associated with and aggravating a service-connected medical condition
7. Are actively engaged in a 38 USC Chapter 31 vocational rehabilitation program.
8. Are receiving VA care or scheduled for inpatient care and require dental care for a condition complicating a medical condition currently under treatment.
9. Are an enrolled Veteran who may be homeless and receiving care under VHA Directive 2007-039.

Does that even make sense?!?! NO! To me is doesn't. In my mind, if anyone in this country was to be treated like a celebrity and idolized by our friends,family, and children it should be the Soldiers that put their lives on the line everyday so that we can continue to live the way we do. We can own guns, have as many kids as we want, talk to who we want, marry who we want. We can vote, we can go to court, we can wear what we want, and believe what we want. The next time you see a veteran, or a soldier, young or old, disabled or healthy, do you know what you need to do?

I DONT CARE HOW BUSY YOU ARE OR HOW MUCH OF A HURRY YOU ARE. YOU TAKE YOU FREE ASS OVER TO THAT AMERICAN SOLDIER AND YOU SHAKE THEIR HAND AND YOU THANK THEM FOR EVERYTHING THEY HAVE DONE FOR THIS COUNTRY THAT YOU CALL HOME. THANK THEM FOR PROTECTING YOUR RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS! THANK THEM FOR SERVING THIS COUNTRY!! YOU OWE THEM THAT MUCH!!!



If you would like to help put a smile on a soldiers face then check out:   https://www.facebook.com/opwritehome or http://operationwritehome.org/