By Larry Dandridge
Editor’s note: This article is the first in a series of three.
National Vietnam War Veterans Day was March 29, 2025, and I am receiving more calls from the families of elderly veterans, who are dying from Agent Orange-caused health conditions. The average age of Vietnam Veterans today is 75 to 88 (based on joining at 18 years old between 1955 and 1975).
The point is that if you served in Vietnam, you are an elderly veteran. If you served in WWII or the Korean War, you are a super senior and one of our cherished elderly veterans.
I also continue to get frequent phone calls, emails, and text messages from elderly veterans and the family members of elderly veterans asking me:
- What are the eligibility requirements for VA healthcare?
- How can a veteran enroll in VA healthcare?
- What VA healthcare benefits are there specifically for elderly veterans?
This article is the first of three to answer the above questions, provide helpful information to elderly veterans, and encourage veterans and their families to oppose the current draconian cuts to VA, Social Security, and other benefits that elderly veterans need.
Ask your VSO for help
If you are a WWII Veteran, Korean War Veteran, Vietnam War Veteran, an elderly veteran of any period, or the son, daughter, spouse, next of kin, or caregiver of an elderly veteran, you should read this article and ask your local VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) to explain your veterans’ federal and state benefits to you. VSOs can also help veterans determine if they are eligible for VA healthcare, enroll in VA healthcare, and request enrollment for veterans’ benefits and services.
Each South Carolina county has a Veterans Affairs Office. Veterans can trust VSOs because they can represent veterans to the VA. VSOs must pass a background check, take a comprehensive examination, take continuing education classes, and be sponsored by a Veteran Service Organization (American Legion, VVA, VFW, DAV, PAV, AMVETS, etc.).
Find a VSO
Veterans can find S.C. County VSOs at https://bit.ly/3qbLVSL. Find Georgia VSOs at https://bit.ly/44KMVA7. Find North Carolina county VSOs at https://bit.ly/4ghZqHW.
Some SC VSOs in The Island News’ footprint:
- Beaufort County, Director Caroline Fermin, 100 Clear Water Way, Beaufort, S.C. 29906, 843-255-6880, caroline.fermin@bcgov.net.
- Beaufort DAV Chapter, Chapter Service Officer (Not a VSO) Michael Vergantino, 843-301-2543 mlv1030@gmail.com.
- Jasper County, Alton Jenkins, 651 Grays Highway, Ridgeland, S.C. 29936, Phone: 843-726-7727, ajenkins@jaspercountysc.gov.
- Hampton County, Daryl Harris, B. T. Deloach Building, 201 Jackson Avenue, West, Hampton, S.C. 29924, 803-914-2085.
- Colleton County, Janet Smith, 219 S. Lemacks Street, Suite 124, Walterboro, S.C. 29488, 843-549-1412, cvao@colletoncounty.org.
- Charleston County, David LeBlanc, Lonnie Hamilton III Public Services Building, Suite B-154 (First Floor),4045 Bridge View Drive, North Charleston, S.C. 29405, 843-974-6360, vaoffice@charlestoncounty.org.
- Berkeley County, Gerald Baxley, 212, Oakley Plantation Drive, Moncks Corner, S.C. 29461, 843-723-3800, Ext. 4023, gerald.baxley@berkeleycountysc.gov, Moncks Corner 843-719-4023, St. Stephen 843-567-3136, Ext. 4023.
- Dorchester County, Johnny Brown, 500 North Main Street, Summerville, S.C., 843-832-0050 (No email listed) and 201 Johnston Street, St. George, S.C., 843-563-0116.
Some Georgia VSOs in The Island News’ footprint:
- 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, Ext. 412194, and VSO Robert Jones, 912-920-0214, Ext. 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.
Search for VSOs nationwide
Veterans and their family members can also search for VA-accredited representatives (VSOs, Attorneys, and Claims Agents) nationwide at the VA’s “Accreditation Search” webpage https://bit.ly/3QnCk5M.
VSOs at VBA Regional Offices
Veterans can also search for VA-accredited representatives (VSOs) at Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Regional Offices at https://bit.ly/3WQp0e3. VSOs co-located in 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.
Do your homework
The more you know about VA benefits and how to apply, the better your chances of filing a successful claim or requesting services. If you want to understand how to enroll in VA healthcare and understand your elderly veteran VA benefits and services, you should talk with your VSO and read the VA webpages referenced in this article and The Island News articles listed below:
1. Things you need to know about Veteran Service Officers, September 4, 2024, by Larry Dandridge, https://bit.ly/3OgLZwl.
2. VA webpage on healthcare eligibility, https://www.va.gov/health-care/eligibility/.
4. VA benefits for elderly veterans (Part 1 of 5), December 4, 2024, by Larry Dandridge, https://bit.ly/4copwZB.
5. VA benefits for elderly veterans (Part 1 of 5), December 4, 2024, by Larry Dandridge, https://bit.ly/4grRyEa.
6. VA benefits for elderly veterans (Part 3 of 5), December 18, 2024
by Larry Dandridge, https://bit.ly/4cec4at.
7. VA benefits for elderly veterans (Part 4 of 5), December 24, 2024, by Larry Dandridge, https://bit.ly/4lav6CQ.
8. VA benefits for elderly veterans (Part 5 of 5), January 1, 2025, by Larry Dandridge, https://bit.ly/43AUJq7.
9. VA Services for aging veterans, August 31, 2022, by Larry Dandridge, https://bit.ly/4cebvh7.
10. Get started with services for Aging Veteran VA Guide dated 10/01/2022, https://bit.ly/4jdjqNW.
11. Reasons all veterans should enroll in VA healthcare, January 3, 2024, by Larry Dandridge, https://bit.ly/3KIolqI.
12. Veterans must know their VA social worker, October 23, 2024, by Larry Dandridge, https://bit.ly/3VllutR.
14. Applying for VA benefits and a veteran’s Character of Discharge
October 9, 2024, by Larry Dandridge, https://bit.ly/4ceceyB.
15. Helpful veteran services contact information, September 6, 2023, by Larry Dandridge, https://bit.ly/42eh8Y2.
16. The (FIVE STAR) Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System, August 9, 2023, by Larry Dandridge, https://bit.ly/3YcOBAJ.
17. How do I get a copy of my DD214, military service personnel, medical, dental, and other records?, May 31, 2023,by Larry Dandridge, https://bit.ly/3RwrD3O.
18. Getting started with State Veteran Benefits and Services? Guide, https://bit.ly/42dSsie.
19. The SC Department of Veterans Affairs (SCDVA), https://scdva.sc.gov, Phone: 803-734-0200.
How to get past The Island News articles on VA Benefits
You can read Larry Dandridge’s past Island News articles on veterans’ benefits, leadership, law enforcement, hospice, and other topics at https://www.yourislandnews.com and click MILITARY.
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 his local VA Hospital, a Fisher House Charleston Good Will Ambassador, and the past VP for Veteran Affairs for his local Association of the US Army (AUSA) and Military Officer Association Chapters. 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.
