Many veterans continue to ask the following two questions:
- Who can best help me determine what my veterans’ benefits are?
- Who can best help me file a claim with the VA?
The short answer is, “A VA-Accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO), or a VA-Accredited Attorney, or a VA-Accredited Claims Agent.”
Veterans and their family members, caregivers, and survivors can read about who can help them determine VA benefits and how to file a claim at https://bit.ly/3enmCdG and at https://bit.ly/3rNLdvy.
South Carolina residents can also find claims assistance information at https://bit.ly/3CnK570. Veterans can find a complete listing of S.C. County Veterans’ Service Offices at https://bit.ly/3qbLVSL.
If veterans need help filing a claim or appeal, they should consider working with a VSO, a VA-accredited attorney, or a VA-accredited claims agent. The VA trusts these professionals because they’re trained and certified in the VA claims and appeals processes and they have to pass an exam, pass a background check, and take continuing education.
VSOs work for local, state, and county governments and Veterans Service Organizations (American Legion, VFW, DAV, etc.). Both the organizations and the individuals are called VSOs. VSOs and accredited representatives can help veterans and their families to understand and apply for VA benefits, like financial support, education, employment, home loans, life insurance, pension, health care, and burial benefits.
As trained and certified professionals, they can also help veterans:
Gather supporting documents (like medical and personnel records),
File a claim or appeal on the veteran’s behalf.
Help with transport to appointments or emergency funds and more.
In general, no individual or organization may charge a veteran a fee to help him or her file an initial application for benefits. However, accredited claims agents and lawyers may charge veterans for unusual expenses. It is only after the VA has made a decision about the veteran’s original claim that claims agents and attorneys may charge for their services.
Veterans should ask upfront what, if any, fees they will be charged. If a veteran believes they were charged too much, the veteran can challenge it. Read about challenges at https://bit.ly/3fWUNts.
You can find an accredited representative or a VSO in the following ways:
1. S.C. VSO Directory. In S.C., go to the list of names, phone numbers, addresses, and email addresses in the S.C. Directory of VSOs at https://bit.ly/3qbLVSL. Veterans should call them and make an appointment.
2. VSOs at VA Regional Offices. Go to the VA Accredited Representatives VSO Regional Benefit Offices list and locator at https://bit.ly/3TahNn1. The Columbia S.C. Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Regional Office is located at 6437 Garners Ferry Road, Columbia, S.C. 29209, Phone 800-827-1000. Other agencies that are housed at the Columbia, S.C. Regional Office include:
Veteran Readiness & Employment Office, 803-647-2400.
American Legion SC Department, 803-647-2434.
AMVETS, 803-647-2434.
Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), 803-647-2432.
Disabled American Veterans (DVA), 803-647-2422.
Military Order of the Purple Heart, 803-647-2430.
Fiduciary Hub Call Center, 888-407-0144 Option 1.
3. eBenefits Gateway. To find an accredited local representative by state/territory, zip code, or the organization’s name, open https://bit.ly/3enmCdG in your browser and click on Go to eBenefits.
4. DVA General Counsel Veterans and Military Organizations Directory. Search the VA General Counsel’s list at https://bit.ly/3QnCk5M to find VA-recognized organizations and accredited individuals by name, city, state, or zip code.
Veterans can call their county VSO, Regional VBA Office VSO, or another VSO, and set up an appointment, or they can set up an accredited representative or a VSO to work on their behalf by contacting the VA using one of the following methods:
- Use eBenefits to let the VA know you will be working with a representative or to change your current representation.
- To have a VSO help a veteran, the veteran should fill out an Appointment of Veterans Service Organization as the Claimant’s Representative (VA Form 21-22). Download VA Form 21-22 (PDF) at https://bit.ly/3Tf6D0z.
- To have a Claims Agent or Attorney help a veteran, fill out an Appointment of Individual as Claimant’s Representative Form. Download VA Form 21-22a (PDF).
If a veteran is filling out one of the forms, they will need to mail it to their nearest VBA Regional Office. Veterans should speak to the service organization or certified representative before they send their request.
Ralph H. Johnson Health Care System (RHJVAHCS) and Medical Center Area of Operations
The Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System Area of Operations goes from the S.C. and N.C. border to the Hinesville, Ga., area to the south. In general, the RHJVAHCS covers the area east of I-95. The southern area of operations goes from midway between Hinesville and Brunswick, Ga., along the I-95 corridor.
With that being said there is a lot of wiggle room based on where the Veteran lives and which VA is closest to them or which VA the veteran prefers to go to if they are in that middle area.
Below are the phone numbers and email addresses of other S.C. and Ga. County VSOs in or near the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System and Medical Center’s service area.
Beaufort County: 100 Clear Water Way, Beaufort, S.C. 29906, 843-255-6880, FAX 843-255-9445, website https://www.beaufortcountysc.gov/veterans-affairs/index.html.
Colleton County: Janet D. Smith, 843-549-1412, cvao@colletoncounty.org.
Charleston County: David J. LeBlanc, Sr., 843-974-6360, vaoffice@charlestoncounty.org.
Georgetown County: David A. Murphy, 843-545-3330, dmurphy@gtcounty.org.
Horry County: Ronald Elvis, Jr, 843-915-5480, elvisro@horrycounty.org.
Marion County: Gloria J. Evans, 843-423-8255, gevans@marionsc.org.
Florence County: Brandon Hale, 843-665-3045, behale@florenceco.org.
Williamsburg County: David A. Murphy, 843-545-3330, dmurphy@gtcounty.org.
Berkeley County: Jan Helton, 843-377-8506, jan.helton@berkeleycountysc.gov.
Dorchester County: Johnny K. Brown, 843-832-0050, JKBrown@dorchestercountysc.gov.
Hampton County: Sharon Johnson, 803-914-2085/2087, sjohnson@hamptoncountysc.org.
Allendale County: J. Morgan Kearse, 803-584-4226, vaoffice@allendalecounty.com.
Bamberg County: Craig Walker, 803-245-3266, craigtrip@aol.com.
Jasper County: Alton Jenkins, 843-726-7727, ajenkins@jaspercountysc.gov.
Chatham County, Ga.: Reggie Louis, 912-920-0214, Ext. 2194, reggie.lewis2@va.gov, 1170 Shawnee Street, Savannah, Ga. 31419.
Liberty County & Hinesville, Ga.: Charles Isaac, 912-408-2948, charles.isaac@vs.state.ga.us, 500 East Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville, Ga. 31313.
Other VSOs in the Lowcountry
Beaufort DAV Chapter VSO Michael Vergantino, 843-301-2543 and mlv1030@gmail.com.
State of SC VSO, Elizabeth Singleton, in the Ralph H. Johnson VA Med Center, 843-789-7456.
VSO Paula Maloney, Ralph H. Johnson VA Med Center, 803-647-2434, va@admin.sc.gov.
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 the author of the award-winning book Blades of Thunder and a contributing freelance writer with The Island News. Contact him at LDandridge@earthlink.net or 843-276-7164.
