Hall Obtains Over $600,000 for Hudson Valley Veterans

Purdys, NY – Today U.S. Rep. John Hall (D-NY19) presented 88 year old WWII veteran James Dawson with a large check representing the $15,550 in back pension benefits owed to him. After Mr. Dawson applied for the VA pension rightfully owed to him, his application was stuck in the VA's backlog for nine months until his daughter contacted Congressman Hall's office for help and Hall intervened. Hall has helped veterans in his District receive over $600,000 in back benefits wrongfully denied to them by the Veterans Administration.

"Mr. Dawson is a member of America's Greatest Generation who put his life on the line during World War II," said Hall. "Unfortunately his case is another example of the VA mistreating a soldier who served his country. The VA desperately needs to update its archaic and mistaken protocol, so that veterans no longer have to fight 'the war after the war' to receive their well earned benefits. This is why I am pushing harder than ever to pass my Disability Claims Modernization Act so veterans can finally receive the benefits they deserve."

Mr. Dawson received $15,550 in back pension benefits and will collect $1,500 per month. Dawson was drafted into the Army when he was 21 years old during World War II.  He served in New Zealand and Burma where he helped build the Burma Wall.

Hall, who serves as Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, wrote comprehensive legislation to overhaul the VA’s claims processing system and help end the VA’s huge backlog that caused Mr. Dawson’s case to be delayed. Hall’s legislation, the Disability Claims Modernization Act (H.R. 5892) passed the House unanimously in July and has been introduced in the Senate by U.S. Senators Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Charles Schumer (D-NY).

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