|
|
|
|
The Larimer County Veterans Service Office will be CLOSED:
Thursday and Friday, December 24 - 25, for the Christmas holiday
Thursday and Friday, January 1 - 2, for the New Year holiday
Monday, January 19, for the MLK, Jr. holiday
VA Disability Rating Criteria Changes Expected in 2026
The VA is proposing several significant changes to disability rating criteria in 2026 that veterans should watch closely. Specifically, the most notable conditions subject to proposed changes include:
- Sleep apnea
- Tinnitus and hearing-related disorders
- Mental health
For service-connected sleep apnea, the proposed changes eliminate the automatic 50% rating for veterans using a CPAP machine. Instead, ratings would be based on measurable functional impairment and whether treatment successfully controls symptoms. Likewise, tinnitus may no longer qualify for a standalone 10% rating and would instead be evaluated in relation to associated hearing conditions.
Proposed mental-health rating revisions could benefit some veterans by making the minimum rating 10% instead of 0% and replacing the current "occupational and social impairment" model with a functional-impact assessment that evaluates areas like cognitive ability, daily self-care, and ability to safely navigate environments.
The implementation dates for these specific changes are unknown and depend on the finalization of the rulemaking process. It is possible they could be finalized in 2026. Veterans already rated under current rules will be grandfathered in if changes are finalized, meaning their existing ratings should remain protected. Historically, this has been the standard practice for any changes to rating criteria.
The bottom line is if you’re a veteran who’s been putting off filing your VA disability claim, now is the time to act. Don’t wait until these changes take effect. Reach out to our office - or any accredited VSO you trust - so we can help you secure the benefits you’ve earned before time runs out.
Honoring Service and Preserving the Legacy of Military Women
 Established in 1997 at the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery, the Military Women's Memorial is the nation's only major monument honoring all women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Through permanent and rotating exhibits covering every conflict from the American Revolution to the present, and by preserving uniforms, oral histories, photographs, and personal memorabilia, the Memorial ensures the voices and experiences of women service members, from nurses to combat veterans, are protected and shared.
Women veterans are encouraged to submit their service record to the Memorial's Registry, ensuring their contributions, sacrifices, and stories become part of a permanent, publicly accessible archive. Registration is free and open to all women veterans, including those who served on active duty, in the Reserve or National Guard, and in related uniformed services.
More than 255 Colorado women veterans added their stories in 2025, contributing to over 300,000 records collected since the Memorial's founding. Taking a few minutes to register helps ensure future generations - historians, researchers, family members, fellow veterans, and the public - can learn from and honor your service. It is a simple but powerful way to preserve your legacy and ensure your service is remembered.
The opinions expressed in this letter are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of LCEWD or the Larimer County Commissioners.
|
|
Cost-of-Living Adjustment Boosts VA Benefits
Cost-of-living increases of 2.8% for disability ratings - and related VA benefits such as Individual Unemployability, Special Monthly Compensation (SMC), Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), pensions, and more - went into effect on December 1. Because VA pays benefits at the end of the month, recipients will see the increase in January. These adjustments are automatic.
|
|
|
Northern Colorado Veterans Network
Veterans seeking employment opportunities and veteran-friendly employers ready to hire are welcome to network with each other, as well as advocates and support organizations operating at the local, county, state, and national level. This monthly event is a grassroots initiative positioned to create meaningful employment and relationships for veterans. The next event will be on Tuesday, December 16, from 5:30 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. at Crooked Beach Brewing at 131 N Garfield, Loveland. Please RSVP and/or request additional information by emailing ncve...@gmail.com.
Long Resumes Are Out: A New Standard for Federal Applicants
Applicants for federal jobs should be aware of new guidance on resume submissions. In the past, candidates were encouraged to submit lengthy, comprehensive resumes that detailed all of their experience. That approach has now changed. Current guidance limits resumes to no more than two pages, placing greater emphasis on clarity, relevance, and results. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has posted an excellent video explaining this new guidance and offering tips on how to optimize your resume within these limits.
|
|
Obsolete U.S. Army Ranks
A quick guide to Army grades that once existed but have since been retired
Enlisted and NCO
- Lance Corporal - A brief post-World War I rank, later dropped in favor of today’s E3–E4 structure.
- Specialist 5, 6, and 7 - Removed in 1985 when the Army streamlined the specialist system into a single E4 grade.
- Technician 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade (T/3, T/4, T/5) - WWII-era technical NCO roles, discontinued in 1948.
- Color Sergeant and Battalion Color Sergeant - Ceremonial NCO titles phased out as responsibilities shifted to standard NCO ranks.
- Field Musician ranks - Musician, Principal Musician, and Chief Musician, replaced by modern band MOS positions.
Warrant Officer
- Army Field Clerk and Quartermaster Clerk - WWI administrative roles later absorbed into the warrant officer system.
- Army Mine Planter Service Warrants - Specialized maritime warrants tied to coastal mine operations, retired with the service’s closure.
Officer
- Ensign - An early junior commissioned rank, removed in the early 1800s.
- Assistant Surgeon with rank of Lieutenant or Captain - A medical title system replaced by standard officer grades.
- General of the Armies - Held by Washington and Pershing; still legally possible but inactive in the modern Army.
|
|
Honoring Ron Kessinger
 Ron Kessinger served with the Army's 22nd Finance Division in the finance and records office at the base in Tuy Hoa, Vietnam. After his service, went on to have a long career in the trucking industry and was badly burnt in a grain elevator explosion. Today he volunteers as a veteran's advocate and runs veteran programs through the Elks Lodge #804 in Fort Collins.
Remember and Honor, an organization dedicated to the preservation of veterans' stories, has recorded interviews with approximately 600 northern Colorado veterans since 2006. Many of these can now be viewed on their YouTube channel. Subscribe, watch and share.
|
|
|
If your veteran-related non-profit or service organization has an upcoming event you’d like mentioned here, send us the details. Email: lco...@larimer.org
- Sunday, December 7, 12:00 P.M. - 1:00 P.M. Pearl Harbor Remembrance Ceremony hosted by American Legion Post 2000 at Dwayne Webster Park in Loveland. Always a moving ceremony featuring Mountain View Battalion JROTC color guard, singing of the national anthem, guest speakers. This year will also feature the Honor Bell and buglers playing Taps.
- Friday, December 12 - Sunday, December 14, The VFW “Operation Airlift” returns delivering food, toys, and essential supplies to veteran families across rural and underserved communities in Colorado. Coordinated by the VFW Department of Colorado with support from the Colorado National Guard and local Posts, the annual holiday airlift is one of the state’s most impactful veteran service efforts. Veterans, Posts, and community partners interested in supporting flights, volunteering, or identifying families in need can learn more at the VFW Department of Colorado Airlift webpage.
- Tuesday, December 16, 7:00 P.M. Associated Veterans of Loveland, 305 S Cleveland Ave, Loveland. Join us for an informative Veterans Service Officer Q&A session. Subject matter experts from the Larimer County Veterans Service Office will be on hand to answer questions about disability benefits, pensions, burial benefits, and just about any other VA benefits for veterans, spouses, survivors, and dependents. Representatives from the Cheyenne VA Medical Center will also be present to address VA healthcare questions.
Recurring Events
- Mondays, 7:30 A.M. Veteran Breakfast Club at IHOP, 5450 Stone Creek Cir., Loveland.
- Third Monday of Every Month, 10:00 A.M - 2:00 P.M. Larimer County VSO personnel will be in the lobby of the VA Northern Colorado Outpatient Clinic at 4575 Byrd Dr., Loveland, to answer questions and assist with claims on-the-spot.
- Third Wednesday of Every Month, 8:00 A.M. Fort Collins Veterans Breakfast at the Breakfast Club, 121 W Monroe Dr., Fort Collins. Questions, please contact Dale Tasker at dalet...@msn.com or (970) 472-1291.
- Third Thursday of Every Month, 5:30 P.M. - 6:30 P.M Veterans Plaza of Northern Colorado has their working committee meetings on the third Thursday of each month at the Re/Max Office, 4703 Boardwalk Dr. Fort Collins. Volunteers are needed to help with the many events they put on each year. Interested persons should contact Dennis Grunstad for information.
- Last Thursday of Every Month, 4:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. Veteran Meet Up in the Erion Room of the Loveland Public Library. Connect with veterans from Loveland and Northern Colorado, explore resources from local veteran-friendly organizations, and get answers to your questions.
- Saturdays, 8:30 A.M. PAMVET Breakfast Club at Golden Corral, 1360 Sculptor Dr., Loveland. A gathering of veterans that started in Loveland in 2008 with two veterans, it has grown to more than 150 veterans every week. Enjoy a buffet breakfast for about $12.00 plus tip. Hang out with AWESOME people. Veterans Honoring Veterans recognizes the service of local veterans with statue presentations at this event on the first and third Saturday of every month.
Volunteer Opportunities
If you are looking for volunteer opportunities in the local veteran community, we have a list of organizations on our website that are eager to hear from you. If you are an organization that would like to be included, please contact our office.
|
|
|
|
|
|
External Link Disclaimer: This site contains links that may take you outside of the Larimer County website. Larimer County does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of the linked websites.
Larimer County Economic and Workforce Development is an equal opportunity agency and supports veterans priority of service. Qualified persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations with seven business days' notice by emailing lcew...@larimer.org or calling 970.498.6600 or Relay Colorado 711. Accommodation requests will be honored when possible but may be unavailable if advance notice is not provided.
Copyright © 2020 Larimer County Economic and Workforce Development, All rights reserved.
Get Connected | Stay Connected 
larimer.org/veterans | 970.498.7390
Our Location
200 West Oak Street, Suite 5000
Fort Collins, Colorado, 80521
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can subscribe, update your preferences, or unsubscribe from this list.
|
|
|
|
|
