By Larry Dandridge
According to the VA, webpage found at https://bit.ly/3QXp9fO, there are numerous ways to apply for VA benefits depending on the type of benefit a veteran or his family member is seeking. Veterans and their families should use a VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO), attorney, or claims agent to help them with the VA claims and appeals process. VA-accredited representatives are:
- Recommended for accreditation by a Veterans Service Organization (American Legion, VVA, VFW, DAV. PAV, AMVETS, etc.).
- Trusted by the VA because they are trained by the VA, a Veterans Service Organization, and the state Department of Veteran Affairs, must pass a comprehensive exam, are police background checked, required to complete continuing education, and must swear to provide honest and ethical services to veterans.
Veteran Service Organizations
Veteran Service Organizations, like the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), and others are also called VSOs. To become a Veterans Service Officer, a person has to be recommended by a Veterans Service Organization.
Veteran Service Officers
VSO services are free and normally it is a VSO that a veteran should use to navigate the VA system. Attorneys and claims agents charge for services. Attorneys are better suited for helping with difficult appeals and are often used to help with complicated situations.
Veteran Service Officers will help veterans and their family members write and submit their benefits claims to the VA. VSOs will also help veterans and family members gather the information and evidence that supports their claims. Once the claim is filed, VSOs will help track the claim through the system. VSOs will also help veterans and eligible family members file appeals for denied claims.
There are lots of ways to find a VSO.
VA VSO Search
Veterans can find and appoint a VA-accredited representative (VSO, attorney, agent) online at https://bit.ly/3eXpwpO. Veterans can find accredited representatives by using the VA Accreditation Search web page at https://bit.ly/3QnCk5M. Veterans can also search for VA-accredited representatives at VA regional offices at https://www.benefits.va.gov/vso/varo.asp.
SC & GA State and County VSOs
Veterans can also contact their state Department of Veteran Affairs to find a county or area VSO. The S.C. Department of Veteran Affairs web page is https://scdva.sc.gov. There is a County Veterans Service Office in each county of S.C. Veterans can find S.C. County VSOs at https://bit.ly/3qbLVSL. They can find Georgia VSOs at https://bit.ly/44KMVA7.
Some S.C. VSOs in the footprint of The Island News include:
- Beaufort County, 100 Clear Water Way, Beaufort, S.C. 29906, 843-255-6880, website https://https://bit.ly/3qVRmcg (Dr. Caroline P. Fermin is the new Director).
- Beaufort DAV Chapter, VSO Michael Vergantino, 843-301-2543 and mlv1030@gmail.com.
- Jasper County, Alton Jenkins, 651 Grays Highway, Ridgeland, S.C. 29936843-726-7727, ajenkins@jaspercountysc.gov and jcwebsite@jaspercountysc.gov.
- Colleton County, Janet Smith, 219 S. Lemacks Street, Suite 124, Walterboro, S.C. 29488, 843-549-1412, cvao@colletoncounty.org.
Some Georgia VSOs in the footprint of The Island News:
- Chatham County, Ga., Manager Miguel Rivera (Bi-Lingual), 912-920-0214, Ext. 2412191, Miguel.rivera5@va.gov, 1170 Shawnee Street, Savannah, Ga., 31419. Also, VSO Sheri Shellman, 912-920-0214 Extension 412194, and VSO Robert Jones 912-920-0214, Extension 412193. Located in the Savannah VA Outpatient Clinic.
- Liberty County & Hinesville, Ga., Shannon Daniels, 912-408-2948, shannon.daniels@vs.state.ga.us, and Dennis Boothe, 912-408-2900 ext. 352750, dennis.boothe@vs.state.ga.us, 500 East Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville, Ga., 31313. Located inside the Hinesville VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic.
- Brunswick Ga., Veterans Field Service Office (located in the VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic), 93 Benchmark Way, Brunswick, Ga., 31520, Manager Stephanie Jordon, Phone: 912-264-7360, Email stephanie.jordan1@vs.state.ga.us
Appoint a VSO (Officer)
Veterans can (and should) appoint a VSO to help them understand their VA benefits (federal and state benefits) and help them file their claims and appeals, by completing VA Form 21-22a, Appointment of Individual as Claimant’s Representative as Claimant’s Representative. Only one VSO can represent a veteran to the VA at any one time. A veteran can appoint an Attorney, Claims Agent, or individual Veterans Service Officer to represent them.
Appoint a VSO (Organization)
If a veteran prefers to have a Veterans Service Organization instead of an individual, veterans can appoint a VSO to help them understand their VA benefits (federal and state benefits) and help them file their claims and appeals, by completing VA Form 21-22, Appointment of Veterans Service Organization as Claimant’s Representative. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3qS2abu. State and county Veterans Service Officers are accredited by a Veterans Service Organization and they can call on their Veterans Service Organization to represent and help them and the veteran.
Warning
Follow the advice of Mike Figlioli, Army Veteran and VFW Director of National Veterans Services Veterans (see the VA SITREP titled 3 TIPS for Finding a Good VSO at https://bit.ly/3EicX1N). Veterans must make sure they know who they are dealing with is accredited by the VA and are recognized to present claims for prosecution for benefits before the VA.
Do not sign a contract! If you are offered a contract and that person is not accredited, or they do not present to you a VA Form 21-22, which is a limited power of attorney for the VSO to look at your VA healthcare record or your VA medical records, and provide that claim, you need to leave that person’s office and not look back. Those people are not recognized by the VA, and they are more than likely looking to rip you off for a good percentage of your fees.
Help kill the three myths (lies)
Help kill the myth that VA benefits are only for the veterans who need them the most. Help kill the myth that the VA only has funding for the most severely wounded, ill, injured, and needy veterans. Help kill the myth that if a veteran takes advantage of a benefit, then a more needy veteran will lose out on that benefit.
The truth is the VA is funded to provide all benefits that every veteran is eligible for including healthcare, disability compensation, pension, VR&E, DIC, education, training, home loan, home modification, life insurance, automobile modification, and others.
The bottom line
Quit procrastinating! Go ahead and ask a VSO to help you understand your VA benefits (both federal and state benefits) and apply for those benefits that you are eligible for. After all, you (the veteran and the veteran’s family) paid for those benefits with your blood, sweat, tears, trauma, wounds, injuries, hazardous material (Agent Orange, Burn Pits, etc.) contaminations, frequent and lonely separations from loved ones, and more.
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 free-lance writer with the Island News. Contact him at LDandridge@earthlink.net or 843-276-7164.
