NewsTroubleshooters

Actions

Troubleshooters to help local family try to secure veteran's benefits

Veteran's Sister Asks Troubleshooters for Help
Posted at 3:24 PM, Sep 02, 2019
and last updated 2019-09-02 19:01:09-04

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Morris Chapman first shared his story nearly 5 years ago. He's a U.S. Air Force veteran who served during the Vietnam war.
Years later, he was diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic.

In February 2011, the VA determined Chapman was 100 % incompetent and because of that, his more than $3500.00 monthly benefit was reduced, by more than half.
The balance to be put into a savings account for him.

The VA also appointed local attorney John Miller to be Chapman's fiduciary. Miller would become the person who would handle Chapman's benefits, pay Chapman's bills, then give him additional money to live.

Madeline Chapman is Morris' sister, and she claims the VA did that because they didn't want his family stealing his money. She's called the Troubleshooters for help.

"He was gettin' a pension. $900.00 and something dollars, when he was supposed to be gettin' 100%," she told us.

This all happened years after Morris Chapman was honorably discharged in 1970 according to VA records. He passed away earlier this year.
Now, his sister wants the Troubleshooters to help her find out where the rest of his money is.

"They owe him a fortune still. And they wont give it to me even tho I'm sole executor and beneficiary of his estate," said Chapman.

Madeline Chapman has all the paperwork showing the struggle she's gone through with the VA to secure her brother's benefits. Madeline says she took over as her brother's primary caretaker in 2010. She tells Troubleshooters that she's certainly not going to stop now.

"I've gone out of state to AMVET. I've gone to the Congressman Abel Herrero. Farenthold. I've gone to Congressman Cornyn. I've gone to Senator Feinstein in California."

It's going to take some time for the Troubleshooters to find specific answers to Madeline Chapman's answers.
But as soon as we do, we'll let her and you know what they are.