Tuscarawas County Veterans Service Office hopes to serve more of the estimated 8,106 military veterans living in the county

  • Jennifer R. Demuth
  • January 3, 2011
  • 369
                        
If there was only one message that Tuscarawas County Veterans Service Office Director, Debbie Cook, could communicate to the estimated 8,106 military veterans living in Tuscarawas County in 2011 it would be to call the office to make an appointment to determine what, if any, benefits and services veterans may be qualified to receive. While the veterans service office is not funded by or associated with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the service officers act as liaisons between veterans and the Veterans Administration and can help veterans and their dependents navigate the often confusing process of submitting claims for compensation or filling out forms for educational benefits, healthcare enrollment and more. Although the five full-time staff at the Tuscarawas County Veterans Service Office (located at 393 16th Street SW, New Philadelphia) serve about 4,000 veterans each year, Cook would like to help even more veterans. Cook explained that scheduling an appointment to meet with someone at the office is something many veterans and their family members don’t do because they assume they don’t qualify for benefits. “We need to get veterans to come see if they qualify for any benefits,” said Cook. “They need to come in and speak to us one-on-one to determine what they and/or their dependents might qualify for. Many veterans assume they don’t qualify, but they need to check in with us to see what benefits there are.” Benefits that veterans and their dependents may qualify for include Veterans Administration (VA) healthcare, compensation for service-connected injuries or diseases, VA non-service connected pension for veterans with financial need, Ohio bonus home loan program, grave markers, transportation to VA health appointments, emergency assistance (to pay for housing, utilities and/or food) for county residents, educational benefits and more. In 2009, nearly $12 million in VA compensations and pensions were paid to Tuscarawas County veterans, and Cook noted that it’s possible that county veterans qualify for more than they realize since new definitions for receiving benefits are added regularly. For example, Cook said that Vietnam veterans especially should check in with her office since a number of illnesses and diseases are eligible for service-connected compensation due to the effects of Agent Orange, a chemical herbicide that was sprayed throughout Southeast Asia between 1962 and 1971 to deprive enemy forces of ground cover. The VA presumes that all veterans who served in Vietnam have been exposed to the herbicide. Some of the diseases that are presumed to be service-connected for veterans exposed to Agent Orange include many types of cancer, lung cancers and disorders, Type II diabetes, and more. Recently added to the list was ischemic heart disease and Parkinson’s disease. Cook noted that many veterans are surprised to learn of some of the benefits they might qualify for such as help with nursing home expenses for wartime veterans and wartime widows. Cook’s office can also help veterans and/or their families get medals that weren’t received because the government ran out of medals at the time when they were awarded. Before scheduling an appointment to meet with a service officer, veterans must locate their DD214 (also known as a separation paper). The office cannot assist veterans in filing for any benefits without the DD214. However, those who cannot locate the paperwork can still contact the office to obtain help in locating the document. Helping veterans through the often confusing and complicated process of filing for claims or benefits is what Cook and her staff love to do. And who better to help than Cook and her staff who are all veterans themselves? “I love veterans,” shared Cook. “We can’t guarantee anything. The VA makes the decisions, but I want to make sure they’re (veterans) getting what they qualify for.” “Bring in that VA mail, and let me tell you what we need to do,” Cook advised veterans. “If you get a denial letter, we’ll help you appeal it. We’ll help you re-open a claim if further medical complications develop.” The Tuscarawas County Veterans Service Office also works with local service organizations to provide flag holders on the graves of veterans year-round and supplies flags for the graves annually at Memorial Day. As of early December 2010, 11,449 veterans had been buried in Tuscarawas County. The office can even assist surviving relatives in obtaining a grave marker for a veteran. Scheduling an appointment with a service officer is relatively easy since the office is open from 8 am to 4 pm, Monday through Friday. Upon request, appointments outside of those hours can be made, and service officers are willing to meet at the homes of veterans who are unable to get to the office. To schedule an appointment, call 330-339-1163 or toll free 1-800-801-5326. Cook added, “If you are a veteran or a dependent of a veteran in financial need or you believe you have a claim for benefits through the VA, I encourage you to call our office for an appointment. It is best to see if you are eligible now than to wait to file and find out that you have been eligible for years.”


Loading next article...

End of content

No more pages to load