The Right to Choose Should Not Be Up for Debate
This Military Appreciation Month, the National Association for Veteran Rights (NAVR) launched its Right to Choose: Veterans Helping Veterans campaign—a documentary-style video series sharing the firsthand experiences of Veterans navigating the VA benefits system and the challenges they faced accessing the support they needed. The campaign is an important reminder of something we see…
Read MoreWilliam Carter Duberry: Veteran of the Month | May 2026
At just 17 years old, William “Carter” Duberry voluntarily enlisted in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. He was born on December 31, 1956, and raised in the small town of Mount Pleasant, Tennessee, located about 60 miles south of Nashville. Duberry was the second-oldest of four children, with two brothers and…
Read MoreJeff Wideman: Veteran of the Month | April 2026
Jeff Wideman’s path to a 25-year military career began in St. Louis, Missouri, where he was born in April 1972. He grew up in Florissant and later graduated from Oakville High School in 1991. He was the younger of two boys in the household. As a kid, Wideman loved the outdoors. He loved playing football…
Read MoreAn Afternoon with Rocky Sickmann: Surviving 444 Days
On April 8, the Veterans Care Coordination team gathered to celebrate a milestone—15 years of helping Veterans and their families access the care and support they deserve. For many employees, it was a moment to reflect on the thousands of Veterans VCC has assisted over the years and the meaningful role each team member plays…
Read MoreRudy Escobar: Veteran of the Month | March 2026
Rudy Escobar was born in Selma, California, near Fresno, at the Selma Sanitarium—a detail he enjoys sharing because of the reactions he often gets. Growing up in a large family, Rudy is one of six children—four boys and two girls. He is the third child and second son in the family. With a significant age…
Read MoreKyle Laramie Named Founding Member of NAVR’s Aid & Attendance Division
Veterans Care Coordination (VCC) is proud to announce its role as the founding member of the newly launched Aid & Attendance Division of the National Association for Veteran Rights (NAVR). The initiative represents an important step toward strengthening ethical advocacy and improving access to earned benefits for Veterans and their families. NAVR’s expansion reflects the…
Read MoreJames Bodenheimer: Veteran of the Month | February 2026
James Bodenheimer was born on September 8, 1950, in Jefferson City, Tennessee. When he was three years old, his family moved to Knoxville, where he grew up on the outskirts of the city with two older sisters, a younger sister, and a younger brother. He remarked that there was always something happening when he…
Read MoreWhen a DNQ Becomes an Opportunity
If you’ve ever submitted a referral and later found out that it did not qualify (DNQ), you are not alone—and we understand how frustrating that can be. At Veterans Care Coordination (VCC), we work daily with families and home care partners who are navigating a detailed, time-sensitive, and often emotional process. Our role is to…
Read MoreNathan Havice: Veteran of the Month | January 2026
Nathan Havice grew up in a small town in the Pacific Northwest called Oakridge, Oregon. He was raised with two brothers and two sisters, with family now living across the Northwest, Vermont, and Nova Scotia, Canada. As a child, Havice stated, “I was always outside,” and spent much of his time fishing, hiking, biking, and…
Read MoreWhat the 2026 Cost of Living Adjustment Means for the Veterans You Serve
The Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for Veterans and surviving spouses who receive VA pension benefits, including Pension with Aid and Attendance, is an annual increase intended to help benefits keep pace with inflation. The adjustment is based on changes to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), specifically the CPI-W (Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage…
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