Beginning Monday, Oct. 16, eligible disabled Veterans will be able to receive disabled veterans license plates from the Virgin Islands Office of Veterans Affairs.
The purpose of veterans’ license plates bearing the disabled emblem, “disabled veteran” means a person who has been designated as such by federal law, as evidenced by the presentation of a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Benefit Summary Letter issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs – Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA).
The Benefit Summary Letter must identify the veteran as “permanently disabled” or “totally and permanently disabled.” Injuries must be related to when the veteran was serving in the United States Armed Forces or any of its reserve components.
Eligible veterans can obtain their Benefit Summary Letter by logging on to their www.va.gov/my-va/ account or by calling 1-800-827-1000 and requesting that their benefit letter be emailed or mailed to them.
Any veteran needing additional assistance obtaining their Benefit Summary Letter can visit the Office of Veterans Affairs in their district between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
“The terms ‘permanently disabled’ or ‘totally and permanently disabled’ are medical designations used by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs; however, they may not be as bad as they sound. Hearing these terminologies, you may think that one is totally incapacitated, but that’s not the case. There are many veterans among us with this designation, but it’s not evident with the naked eye; however, their condition warrants the assistance provided via a disabled license plate,” said Virgin Islands Office of Veterans Affairs Director Patrick Farrell.
