What Veterans need to know about VSOs, VA Healthcare, more

By Larry Dandridge

Veterans and their family members continue to ask me the following questions:

1. What is a VSO, and why do I need to use one?
2. What is the PACT ACT?
3. Am I eligible for VA healthcare?
4. What are VA healthcare benefits?
5. How do I know if I am eligible for VA Healthcare?
6. Why should I enroll in VA healthcare when I have other insurance?
7. How do I enroll in VA Healthcare?
8. How do I get a Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)?
9. Once I enroll in VA Healthcare, how do I know what VA priority group I will be assigned to?
10. How do I find out what the VA copay rates are?
11. What is the Foreign Medical Program (FMP)?
12. What are the Family and Care Giver health benefits?
13. What are VA Priority Groups?

This article and the next four will answer the above questions.

What is a VSO, and why use one?

Veterans and their families have sacrificed and served selflessly their fellow military members and our great nation. Because filing for VA benefits and services can be complex, and usually require many hours of work, a computer, a copier, a scanner, and a phone, veterans and their family members should ask a VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO), Attorney, or a Claims Agent to help them understand what their VA benefits (federal and state) are and how to claim those benefits.

VSO services are free

Because VSO services are “free” and because VSOs are background checked, trained by a Veterans Service Organization (VFW, American Legion, VVA, DAV, and over 25 others.), must pass a comprehensive exam, swear to serve with honesty, and complete continuing education courses, VSOs should be the first choice when seeking help with claims and appeals.

Warning

There is a shortage of VA-accredited VSOs. There is also often a backlog of veterans and family members waiting to see VSOs. Therefore, veterans need to make an appointment to see a VSO, as walk-ins are not ordinarily available. Veterans and their family members also need to do their homework and read the information at www.va.gov, the info in The Island News articles, and other publications on VA benefits. 

They also need to assemble the necessary documents, records, and evidence (DD214/separation documents, military/VA/civilian medical records, military service records, Lay Witness Statements, Nexus Letters, etc.) they need to support their claims and appeals.

You may need an attorney for complicated appeals

In some complex claims and appeals, a veteran may want to seek the help of a VA-accredited Attorney. VSOs sometimes recommend that veterans and their families seek the help of a VA-accredited attorney. VA-accredited Attorneys and Claims Agents charge for their services.

VSO’s work for veterans, their families

VSO’s work for military members and veterans, and their families, caregivers, and survivors. VSOs do not work for the VA, but they do work with the VA to ensure their customers get their federal and state benefits. VSOs also work for the Veterans Service Organizations that sponsor and train them.

Where to find VSOs

VSOs can be found working in most states in County or State Regional Veterans Affairs (Service) Offices. They are also collocated with Veterans Benefit Administration (VBA) Regional Offices, collocated in some Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Medical Centers, in Veterans Service Organizations’ State Department Offices, and a very few VSO Posts and Chapters. There is a County Veterans Affairs Office in each county of South Carolina and most counties of North Carolina.

The Beaufort County Veterans Affairs Office

The office website is found at https://bit.ly/4ldYkzy. Caroline Fermin is the Beaufort County Director of Veteran Affairs. Six VA-accredited VSOs work in the Beaufort County Offices. The office provides services from three locations:

1. Beaufort Office: 100 Clear Water Way, Beaufort, S.C. 29906, Phone: 843-255-6880, Monday-Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, Appointment only.
2. Government Center South: 539 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island, S.C. 29928, Phone: 843-255-6886, Tuesdays and Thursdays, Appointment only.
3. Bluffton Office: 9 Benton Field Road, Bluffton, S.C. 29910, Phone: 843-255-6880, Monday-Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, Appointment only.

County VSOs

Find S.C. County VSOs online at https://bit.ly/3JkRj2w.

Find Georgia County/Regional VSOs online at https://bit.ly/3HaZk9N.

Find North Carolina County VSOs online at https://bit.ly/4lzJ2Wd.

VSOs nationwide

Search online using the VA Search page for VSOs nationwide. Veterans can search for VA-accredited representatives nationwide at the VA’s “Accreditation Search” webpage at https://bit.ly/45EYlYI.

VSOs at VBA Regional Offices

Veterans can search for VA-accredited VSOs at VBA Regional Offices at https://bit.ly/4fmc6yI.

Columbia, SC, VSOs co-located with the Columbia, S.C. VBA Regional Office frequently travel throughout the state to help veterans. Contact them at:

• Disabled American Veterans (DAV) – 803-647-2422.
• American Legion/SCDVA – 803-647-2434.
• Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) – 803-647-2443.
• Paralyzed Veterans (PVA) – 803-647-2432.

Winston-Salem, N.C., VSOs are co-located in the N.C. Regional VBA Office. Located at 251 N. Main Street, Winston-Salem, N.C. 27101. Contact phone numbers are available online at https://bit.ly/41w1fwl. Contact them at:

• American Legion, Suite 420, 336-631-5471.
• DAV, Suite 151, 336-631-5481.
• POAV, Suite 430, 336-251-0836.
• VFW, Suite 490, 336-631-5457.
• National Association of Black Veterans, Suite 169, 336-251-0776.
• NC Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, Suite 190, 336-251-0677.

More about VA-accredited VSOs, Claims Agents, Attorneys

• Get help from a VA-accredited representative or VSO webpage at https://bit.ly/3J9cggR.
• VA Accredited Representative Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) webpage at https://bit.ly/3TcLOoK or https://bit.ly/46LHWmi.
• The VA online list of VA-recognized Veterans Service Organizations at https://bit.ly/4onXV0b.
• The VA “Request Help From a VA Accredited Representative or VSO (VA form 21-22 and VA Form 21-22a)” webpage at https://bit.ly/3HlwzHi.
• VA Office of General Counsel “How to Challenge a Fee” webpage at https://bit.ly/47c4jzu or https://bit.ly/4lYtoo4.
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Warning Article titled “WARNO: They call themselves ‘coaches’ or ‘consultants’ and advertise their ability to assist you with your VA benefits claim but may not be accredited to practice before the VA,” By Joshua Friedman and Krystle Good, dated Feb. 15, 2023, at https://bit.ly/3ZaPqeO or https://bit.ly/3Uhw5oz.
• Office of General Counsel FAQ at https://bit.ly/4dMBb4q or https://bit.ly/3UhaxbS.
• The VA phone question center is 800-698-2411, ext. 0 (TTY: 711). The phone is answered 24/7.
• The S.C. Department of Veteran Affairs website at https://scdva.sc.gov.
• The N.C. Department of Military and Veterans Affairs website at https://www.milvets.nc.gov.
• The Georgia Department of Veterans Services at https://veterans.georgia.gov.

Continued next week.

Larry Dandridge is a Vietnam War wounded warrior, disabled veteran, ex-Enlisted Infantryman, ex-Warrant Officer Pilot, and retired Lt. Colonel. He is a past Veterans Service Officer, a Patient Adviser at the RHJ VA Hospital, the Fisher House Charleston Good Will Ambassador, and the VP for Veteran Affairs for the local Army Association Chapter. Larry is also the author of the award-winning Blades of Thunder (Book One) and a contributing freelance writer with the Island News. Contact him at LDandridge@earthlink.net or 843-276-7164.