#VADisability

[asbestosawarenessondeck]

Important Info for Veterans Exposed to Asbestos

Hey everyone, If you’re a veteran who’s been exposed to asbestos, you need to understand your options. VA Disability covers illnesses linked to your service. VA Pension helps if you have limited income. And asbestos trusts are set up to get you compensation from the companies that caused your exposure.

Understanding the difference can help you get the benefits you deserve.

I put together some info to help you get started.

[lomappreciationblog]

Thinking a bit more about the Dragon Arc -

The bulk of the characterization in this arc goes to Larc and Sierra, and the actual dragons themselves can come across as one-note appearances, especially as Akravator and Jajara are slain in their own quests.

But it's not too bad either, I think of the four dragons as being a representative of the roles dragons usually play in a story:

First off, we have Akravator - I think as a fandom we generally kinda sleep on this guy, what with the unfortunate role as a starter boss, and what with Jajara and Vadise having more unusual and memorable designs.

Akravator serves as the Classic of the group - his name and appearance is what you'd expect from a JRPG dragon. His attributes like being associated with an element (wind in this case) and living on a mountain is also in line with the usual dragon.

Akravator does have a unique aspect to him in that he has several dragoons serving under him when all the other dragons have one. I'm not sure if all Windcallers are considered his dragoons but at least three must be important and powerful enough, serving as barriers in the way.

In that sense, I think we can infer Akravator is also sort a mentor character, a wise dragon in his own way. By the way, if you go out of your way to return to where he is after the Dragon Arc, you can actually re-challenge Akravator to a fight! So it seems he doesn't hold a grudge after everything and is even willing to test your strength under fairer circumstances.

Jajara is what I'd consider the dragon who embodies Mystery - the dragon as a creature one cannot fully comprehend.

Because, really, we don't know much about Jajara as an actual character. Him guarding a Mana Stone seems to be role for the force of good, but the fact that his chosen dragoon is Deathbringer gives ambiguity to Jajara. Deathbringer canonically warred with the Jumi and is implied to be after their cores, is known to brainwash his soldiers, and was looking for "the ultimate firearm" which are all...not very good acts, isn't it? But it's hard to tell whether Jajara approves of Deatbringer's actions, doesn't know, or doesn't care, their relationship isn't really given importance.

Adding to the mystery factor is Jajara's form as a dragon composed of bones. It's definitely a sick character design, ahaha, but he's so different from the other dragons in this sense. Is he undead? The fact that he has a 2nd phase to his boss fight where he rearranges his body also adds to the oddness of it.

We just don't know enough about this guy, and dragons can be representations of that - something powerful, but unknowable and foreign to us.

Vadise's role is obvious enough - she's the Good dragon, benevolent, peaceful and wise.

Vadise's appearance is pretty nonstandard for a dragon, you could even argue she doesn't really look like one, lacking wings and covered with fur rather than the usual reptilian look. Jajara looks odd, but you can still identify him as a dragon, which isn't the case for Vadise. Though, I think Vadise being a fluffy and cute dragon might be a callback to the Mana series's Flammie (and fun fact, Flammie is based off Falkor from The Nevereding Story, as revealed in the art book). The History tome in LOM does state a connection between the Flammie and Dragons, but that's for another post.

Vadise is also different from her fellow dragons in that she lives in the White Forest, a place lush and teeming with life. Akravator does live with multiple dragoons, but Norn Peaks is still a remote location, and while a village exists near Jajara's Bone Fortress, the actual fortress itself is only populated by the undead soldiers. This trait reinforces Vadise's role as one for good, being associated with life.

And of course, Vadise obviously cares for her dragoon, Sierra. She shows concern and affection, but also rebukes Sierra when she's about to do something hasty, and their overall relationship is very close and healthy, which...definitely can't be said for the others lol.

And of course, where there's the obvious Good there is the obvious Villain, and that's where our ol' pal Drakonis comes in. Dragons are many things in different cultures, and one those things is being a symbol of evil, especially in Christian iconography, where the devil is symbolized by dragons in addition to snakes.

And Drakonis does all the evil things - lives in a pulpit of eternal flame, lies for his own benefit, breaks promises, turns people into centaurs, etc.

Appearance-wise, Drakonis is as typical as you can be, being a red dragon and even being associated with fire, the most common dragon-y element. His wings looking more like clawed hands is a bit unusual, but otherwise he looks like what you think a dragon would. It reminds me of the design choice for Fatalis in Monster Hunter, you know, everyone else having more specialized designs, so Fatalis having a classic dragon look makes him stand out.

I'm not sure if this was the intention in writing and designing the dragons, as the art book actually doesn't discuss their creation, despite the Dragon Arc being one of the main three arcs. I'm not sure if it's because those development materials have been lost, or possibly neither Shinichi Kameoka or Nao Ikeda designed them, so they can't provide the concepts. There is concept art for Sierra, the Windcallers, and a cut dragoon character, as they were made by Nao Ikeda, but otherwise the Dragon arc's characters doesn't appear in the art book, sadly.

Another thought finishing this post, generally in fandoms we like the developed or complex characters, so characters that follow tropes, and those with limited appearances at that, don't usually get much appreciation. But typical doesn't mean bad, and there is also charm to be found in making a character whose traits are widely used! So all in all I think the dragon characters are very successful at what they do and I am pretty fond of them all the same.

Vadise is my favorite, but I hope to see more appreciation for Akravator and Jajara as well.

[legacy-solutions-by-erika]

VA Disability Payments in 2025: Supporting Our Heroes

In 2025, millions of U.S. veterans will rely on monthly tax-free disability payments from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to support their lives after service. These payments are crucial for veterans facing injuries or illnesses, such as combat injuries, chronic pain, PTSD, and conditions linked to hazardous exposures like Agent Orange.

With over 6 million veterans expected to receive these payments, the funds significantly cover everyday expenses like housing, food, and medical care. The VA typically releases payments on the first business day of the month, adjusted for weekends or holidays.

Payment amounts depend on each veteran's disability rating, ranging from 10% to 100%. Those rated 30% or above may receive additional support for dependents. Veterans must show that their disabilities are service-related and have an honorable discharge to qualify. Family members may also be eligible for benefits if a veteran passes due to a service-related condition.

The VA adjusts payment amounts annually based on cost-of-living changes, ensuring veterans keep pace with inflation. Veterans are encouraged to update the VA about significant life changes to maintain accurate support.

In addition to VA benefits, veterans can explore financial security through private insurance. An experienced insurance agent can help them find life, health, and annuity products to further secure their families' futures.

By supporting our veterans, we honor their sacrifices and help them navigate new chapters in their lives.

#DrErikaInsures #vadisability #vadisabilitybenefits

[omicheese]

My extremely spoilery take on Visions of Mana

I have three big issues with this game--things that I feel like the story did poorly and could have made better if the writers had tried harder.

The whole game, I was convinced that the concept of turning someone from a corestone back into a person was going to come up. What is the point of having that corestone mechanic if you're not going to engage with it in that way? It felt like a Chekhov's Gun to me, that there would definitely be more to it, that Val would learn to appreciate and control his powers, etc. The fact that they never even mentioned the idea is something that still bothers me. Yeah, I would have liked a happier ending with Hinna, that's a factor in why I'm upset, but if the game wanted her to stay dead then they should have just killed her for real instead of setting it up like that and getting people's hopes up.

I think Cerulia should have died for a more divinely-related reason. 'Random act of murder, whoopsie' felt really cheap, and it felt like a stretch for Daelophos's response to be 'therefore I must kill god.' If it was just 'murdered by bandits,' it would make more sense for him to take it out on people, not the Goddess of Mana. The best way to do it would have been if Cerulia had died offering her soul to the Mana Tree to protect Daelophos while he was out fighting (unbeknownst to him) or something like that. It would even have worked if Cerulia had been seeking refuge in a temple to the Goddess and then murderers came in and profaned the temple or something like that. The Goddess should have been more directly involved in her death, to make it more fitting as a motivation for the Big Bad Of The Whole Story. With her death being so random, it just felt haphazard.

It seemed really wrong that the main characters ended up spending all the fights with Daelophos arguing in favor of the alm system. The game opened with an alm who doesn't want to die, making the player do everything they can to keep her from dying (and then failing, to really make it personal.) Vadise after her fight talks about how this particular group of alms seemed different and might be able to change things, heavily implying that the alm system was what needed changing. After fighting all the Benevodons, it seemed like the game was setting up new reasons for all the alms to want to stay alive and fight for their survival. Hinna got turned into a rock forever because she didn't want to get human sacrificed. To then turn around and yell at Daelophos that the alms throughout history willingly volunteer for noble self-sacrifice and that this is a good thing that must be cherished and respected felt absolutely tone-deaf. Hinna didn't die for you to defend the status quo, guys. It really felt like they just dropped all the themes they'd been building toward and went for a two-dimensional 'beat the bad guy save the world' kind of ending. I know that the credits imply that Val did fix the system enough to allow for all our main characters to live, but that should have been a crowning moment of triumph, not something you just imply through pictures over the credits. We didn't get to see Val arrive at the conclusion that something needed to be done, and we didn't get to see him make his decision. It didn't feel like he ever learned anything. It left me feeling cheated.

I still overall really loved the game, I just really feel like it fumbled the ending. The adventure in getting there is still great, and I don't feel like the bad ending took away from that, I just think that the writers wasted opportunities to make it appropriately satisfying.

[veteransdisability]

I'll host a live Q & A on the VA Disability Claims process on #FB and #youtube on the 1st Thursday of every month at 8PM est. We will have various special guests join the broadcast. Feel free to share this. I'm looking forward to it. See you Thursday night! 🤩💪🏾 #livestreaming #QandA #schedule #veteran #veterans #vetlife #veteransday #veteransbenefits #vadisability #vadisabilityclaims #vadisabilityratingincrease #vadisabilitybenefits #veteranlife #military #combatboots #combatveteran #usmc #coastguard #marines #usarmy #army #usnavy #navy #usairforce #airforce #combatvet #combatveterans #vaclaims (at Camp LeJeune United States Marine Base) https://www.instagram.com/p/CYSsONdOKjI/?utm_medium=tumblr

[vgame-dragons]

Vadise from Legend of Mana

[rallypointapparel-blog]

Worried About My VA Appointments.

Here I sit on Sunday night. I have to be up early and drive an hour an a half to the nearest VA hospital and be there by 0800. I have a series of compensation and pension exams tomorrow for PTSD.

I am already service connected for PTSD, but this for an increase in my rating. Other exams are for anxiety and depression. Both of compensation these conditions the Department of Veterans Affairs has been treating for and prescribing medication for well over ten years now.

As a veteran my faith in the VA's ability to give a fair and just decision  is almost gone. I am honestly apprehensive and border lined scared to go to my appointment s tomorrow. I have good reason to be worried just like so many other veterans are when going through this process.

I will give you some examples why I don't trust the Department of Veterans Affairs. I was diagnosed with a service connected disability of TBI. I was so excited to see that, but when I looked on the right of that I saw I was rated at only 0%. I went through three years on that claim and only to get 0%. Is theVA kidding me?

The VA acknowledged my service connection but gave me 0%. Another example of how the VA has screwed me is they gave me a hearing aid. Then they said I have 0% hearing loss. Explain to me the logic behind that decision.

So I am sitting here at home thinking about the exams tomorrow. I hope ans pray that I get an examiner that does a good job. The Department of Veterans Affairs really needs to work harder at fixing this whole process. Its crap.

I was an Army Ranger had two combat tours. There are many guys just like me that were hurt overseas that struggle to get the right rating from the Department of Veterans Affairs. I hear about people all of the time with 100% disability rating that were in the rear with the gear when they deployed. I think the VA should pull their heads out of their butts and acknowledge the fact that their system is not working for the veterans that need it to.

www.rallypointapparel.com

[hostilebutcuddly]

What if I just... straight up made LoM’s Vadise into a genshin oc?

[shadowbanish-dv]

I was inspired to chuck some pets into the melting pot, to see what would appear, and I got this beautiful ghostly gryphon! <3

I named her Vadise, after the white dragon in Legend of Mana. (Tbqh, DV’s art style gives me Square vibes, which I really love.)

[briarpatch-kids]

I use a walker to get around and let me tell you, this baby would help me get around so much. My town is a quickly #gentrifying poor farming town so all the sidewalks are broken or missing. (Thank you asshole neighbors for REMOVING your sidewalks for aesthetic reasons and effectively trapping me on my block.) It’s been more than a year since I independently left my house because of that. I’m currently saving up for one, but my household income is $17k a year #vadisability right now and the #TrionicTerminator is over $1000. And I really can’t afford this on my own and I would very much appreciate any support you would like to offer. If anyone would like to help me pay for my independence and freedom you can tip me for my art @ Ko-fi.com/thebriarpatchkids https://www.instagram.com/p/Bota9pVBhvO/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=16mjlrsck1jfr

[lomappreciationblog]

Legend of Mana is undeniably a funny game as with my last post, but it also has some of my most favorite poignant writing and dialogue lines ever in games.

So here's a collection of some of them:

Starting with Pokiehl, since, well, can't deny that the Messenger of Cosmic Truth really do be sounding cosmic:

From "Cage of Dreams"

And another noteworthy sequence:

...I just realized, I loved Legend of Mana ever since I was a kid, and I wonder if unconsciously, this was one of the things it instilled into me? That this beautiful world is indeed full of tragedy, but we aren't here to just curl up and despair. We're here to celebrate that beauty and share its love with everyone else.

And this sort of thinking appears in a lot of my favorite media: the Legend of Zelda (Courage is never forgotten; a single person spreads hope even in an hour of darkness), Natsume's Book of Friends (people in this world will love and accept you for who you are; be kindness to one another), Mushi-Shi (human or Mushi, we're all doing our best to live, and though alien to each other, there is beauty to be found in the other), and Ancient Magus's Bride (it may not be what you feel at the moment, but hold onto your life, hold onto it with fingernails - there is a home for you, too). FGO is also pretty blatant about this, I mean, the game is "take back humanity's future" and with that, "there is worth to humanity's journey." Splatoon as well, has a core message of "celebrate life and colors."

I guess, basically, my most favorite/comfort works has this say: despair seems natural in this world, but it doesn't have to be.

(wow that got long, move onto the next screenshot)

Lastly from Pokiehl, in "Legend of Mana."

Now onto another Wisdom - Tote! I'd say he's my second most favorite wisdom, I love just how chill he is, and he's simple. He's just a turtle, but one that lives a good life.

From "In Search of Faeries"

Onto my other most favorite NPC, Monique, from "A Siren's Song,"

It's such a simple statement, but the power behind it, and the scene for it bowls me over to think about.

And another from "The Spirits' Light"

Lay into him Monique!

Now here's our other resident siren, Elle, and her talk with Gaeus:

And lastly, Vadise from "The Crimson Dragon"

....ooof, I just realized, too. Vadise insistently uses "bonds" and the track that plays when your arm is twisted into working for Drakonis, is the rather melancholic version of the main theme for this arc...is "A Bond Bestowed". I'm not completely sure, but it may have been named "Bondage Bestowed" in the PS1 release, which is more accurate to the situation - you had no choice but to work with Larc because you had been dragged into the Underworld and turned into a half-spirit.

So Vadise uses "bond" here as to how it should be - connection to others that comes about out of kindness, not manipulative as Drakonis had been. Though, comedically, gameplay-wise completely NOTHING stops you from not going through with the dragon arc and screwing over Drakonis that way - to unlock the Mana Tree, only one of the main three story quests need to be finished, so if one so chooses they can either complete Star-Crossed Lovers or Jumi Arc and then jaunt on over to the Mana tree despite being supposedly half-dead lol.

There's waaaaaaay more poignant scenes, of course - I just talked about "Can't Look Back", which is all about grief and losing loved ones, and "Diddle's Had it!" is another big quest full of "we're here, and let's live life!" And of course, the Jumi Arc is filled to the brim with heartfelt story scenes.

So this long ass post really is just a small collection of these moments.

What would you say is a dialogue line from LOM that stuck to your mind?

[off-the-path]

"If you'll not settle for anything less than your best, you will be amazed at what you can accomplish in your lives." ~ Vince Lombardi #vaclaims #vaclaimsinsider #veterans #ebenefits #realestatedevelopment #realestate #projectmanger #vadisability

[moknappwriter]

My Claims Journey

New blog post at MoKnapp.com "My Claims Journey", the second in the #veteran series. #vadisability #serviceconnected

I suppose my claims journey began as I was out processing from the Air Force in August of ’99. I was handed a green cardstock form, told to fill it out, and take it to my local VA facility if my shoulder ever bothered me. That was it. No further help or instruction.  I stuck that form in a folder and eventually shredded it along with a bunch of other AF documents after I decided I was no longer…

[veteransdisability]

Make certain you have added all your eligible dependents to your award. Parents are oft forgotten when a lot of you really do support them as they age! Alternatively, be sure you remove dependents in a timely manner when no longer eligible or an overpayment/debt will be created. It adds up. #ProTip #vet #veterans #veteran #disabledveteran #disabledveterans #disabledvet #veteransbenefits #vabenefits #veteranslaw #money #vadisability #vadisabilitybenefits #vadisabilityclaims #vadisabilityratingincrease #varating #military #usmc #usairforce #coastguard #marines #army #navy #info #veteransupport #veteransday #usveterans #veteranlife #veteranwife #combatveteran (at Camp LeJeune United States Marine Base) https://www.instagram.com/p/CYPPJh1OpqB/?utm_medium=tumblr

[veteranownedbusiness]

#SemperFi! Today we salute #MarineCorps #VeteranOwned VetLaw of Winston-Salem. Thank you for 7 years of membership and for helping spread the word about our grassroots, small business movement by including our “Verified Member” badge on your website! Has your VA claim been denied? Get with our good friends VetLaw for a free case evaluation: https://www.veteranownedbusiness.com/business/17769/vetlaw

 #veteranownedsmallbusiness #veteranownedbusiness #smallbusinesses #entrepreneurs #entrepeneur #lawyers #law #legal #lawyer #marines #marinecorps #usmc #marine #semperfi #veteranentrepreneurs #vaclaims #vadisability #free #legalcase

[rallypointapparel-blog]

Veteran Suicide

Veterans Suicide

It is estimated that twenty-two veteran a day commit suicide. That means that 154 veterans a week commit suicide, 660 veterans a month commit suicide, and a staggering 7,920 veterans a year commit suicide. That is a lot of veterans taking their own lives. This is an alarming number.

What is the cause of all of these veterans committing suicide? Many veterans are exposed to multiple combat deployments while enlisted in the military. These deployments are many times under harsh conditions and under heavy duress. Soldiers see things and do things in war that stick with them mentally for the rest of their lives. I am a two time combat veteran myself and I have struggled with PTSD.  

A veteran is very prideful and it’s sometimes really hard to ask for help with PTSD. I self-medicated for years with alcohol to cope with the effects of my PTSD. There are also many other veterans that try and handle PTSD by drugs and alcohol. This pattern of behavior always worsens PTSD.

I came to a point several times where I had contemplated suicide. I joined a peer support group and started talking about my PTSD. This helped me out tremendously. I felt comfortable for once in my life and was able to open up to other veterans that had been where I had been. I encourage every veteran suffering from PTSD to seek help. Let’s raise awareness and help stop veterans suicide.

Rallypointapparel.com