VA’s “Your Service. Our Mission: Bringing VA Benefits Home” Campaign is having a direct, tangible impact on the lives of thousands of previously unreached Veterans and their spouses.
WHAT: “Your Service. Our Mission: Bringing VA Benefits Home,” U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Presumptive Conditions Campaign Event
Tribal Veteran Service Officers and other knowledgeable advocates will be present to assist with filling out VA claim paperwork. Staff from the Muskogee VA Regional Office will review claims on-the-spot with the hope of same day approval.
The Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System and the Oklahoma City VA Health Care System will be on-hand to enroll any Veterans not currently enrolled in VA health care.
Veteran benefit information and assistance will be available from local Vet Centers, the State Department of Veterans Affairs, Advocate Services, and Tribal HUD-VASH for homeless Veterans, and respective Tribal services.
This event is free and lunch will be provided.
WHEN: Wednesday, October 12, 2022, 8:30 am – 3:30 p.m.
WHO: Veterans and their spouses/widows/widowers
WHERE: Muscogee Nation Indian Community, 2710 N. Miami Ave, Okmulgee, OK 74447
HOW: Veterans are asked to bring the following documents, if available. This will help expedite and process your claim quicker and more efficiently.
- Medical records/medical evidence (e.g., doctor or hospital reports)
- Any documents that provide historical or military information needed for the disability you are claiming
- Discharge or separation papers (DD 214 or equivalent)
- Dependent records (e.g., marriage certificate, death certificate, children birth certificates),
BACKGROUND:
On October 12, 2022, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Muscogee Nation of Oklahoma will host a VA Presumptive Conditions Campaign event focused on identifying and assisting Veterans across Muscogee Nation and Eastern Oklahoma who may have presumptive disabilities and might be eligible for a VA pension claim.
A presumptive disability is a condition that VA presumes are related to military service, although the condition may first appear after discharge from the military. These conditions may qualify for VA compensation payments.
Partnering with tribal communities, VA has conducted numerous disability enrollment claim events for Indian Country Veterans in the last four years. The event in Okmulgee is the first in Oklahoma for fiscal year 2023. Tribal communities in several states have already confirmed their future participation in VA “Your Service. Our Mission: Bringing VA Benefits Home” campaign events.
VA realizes this initiative has had a direct, tangible impact on the lives of thousands of previously unreached Veterans and their spouses.
“With the focus on Veterans with presumptive disabilities and those who are pension eligible, VA is hopeful we can help Indian Country Veterans access the full range of benefits they have courageously earned through their service,” said Stephanie Birdwell, director, VA’s Office of Tribal Government Relations.
In addition, spouses and widows/widowers may be eligible for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) when a Veteran dies as a result of these presumptive disabilities.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.