INDIANAPOLIS — Veterans Day is November 11. It is a day to honor all veterans, living and deceased. The official Veterans Day celebrations will be held at the Indiana War Memorial beginning at 10:30 a.m. There will be a service at 11 a.m., followed by a parade downtown.
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, as of Sept. 30, 2014, there were 476,000 veterans in the state of Indiana, with 36,000 of them women, and 207,000 over 65. There are only three VA hospitals in the state, and 18 community-based outpatient clinics serving the population. Only 189,409 veterans in Indiana are enrolled in the VA health care system.
If you or someone you know is a veteran and seeking assistance from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), please contact one of the many VA recognized veteran service organizations that can help cut the red tape when you, as a veteran, or a veteran’s dependent, are attempting to obtain compensation and benefits from the VA. This service is at no charge, nor membership required for veterans and their families to be represented.
The Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs is a state agency that will provide state benefits information to the veterans of Indiana, based on their length of residency and service connected disabled percentages once a claim has been granted by the VA. A reduced fee hunting and fishing license and a property tax deduction are just a couple of examples.
If you’re thinking of filing a claim with the VA for disability compensation, here are three simple steps to follow that will facilitate the process. Think of them as the Three C’s — consult, collect and contact.
Step 1: Consult With a Veterans Service Officer. You can e-mail Joe Fuller at joseph.fuller@va.gov or stop by the office at 575 N. Pennsylvania, Indianapolis IN 46204 on Wednesdays from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Talk with Veterans Service Officer (VSO) about the condition for which you are considering filing a claim. If, as a result of your discussion with the VSO, the claim appears warranted, go to:
Step 2: Collect Documentation. Gather the following documents to support your claim:
• Service medical records
• Private physician’s records
• DD Form 214
• Marriage certificate
• Birth certificates of children
• Copies of dependents’ Social Security cards
After assembling these records and forms, take:
Step 3: Contact Your VSO again. Discuss with the VSO your findings and what more, if anything, needs to be done to document your claim.
Fuller is also looking to get the word out to local veterans by engaging neighborhood organizations where he could speak with large groups about benefits. Contact him via e-mail for more information.