Veterans Service Office offers resources, help

Sheila Wundrow, the Taylor County Veteran’s Service Offi cer along with Veterans Service Specialist Karyn Gebert represent Taylor County Veterans in obtaining benefits that they may be eligible for according to the Veterans Affair (VA).

With there being over 2,000 veterans in Taylor County alone, the office helps numerous individuals on a daily basis. Some examples of how the Veteran’s Officer helps veterans are if the individual hurt themselves, while in the line of duty, Wundrow’s job is to develop that person’s claim. She assists in guiding the veteran in what documents they need to accumulate to help her start that claim. So the individual would have to go to the doctor to get a diagnosis, need to get medical records stating that this happened in active duty, and not 10 years later at home somewhere. Service call records are also needed to get VA paperwork started.

VA paperwork can begin when they prove that they are entitled to benefits for service connected disability. The start of the paperwork is to have their DD214 (discharge papers) paperwork with them. Once that is proved, the filing process can begin. Once that is complete, the VA will give them a certain percentage of a rating to which benefits they are entitled to. After the paperwork is started, within 30 days, it has to be filed.

Some events that the office does annually to get the word out about their services are participating in outreach events, to connect them to the services that are available to them. Another part is getting donations for unmet needs that the veterans may have.

Veteran’s Service Office fo-

The new Veteran’s Resource Center offers two private spaces where veterans can check out laptops for telehealth or other appointments. cuses on serving the needs of veterans. Active military personnel have other resources available.

The Taylor County Veteran’s Service office also provides resources to empower people to take control of their own claims or conduct veteran-related online matters.

Veteran’s Resource Center, located across the hall from the Veteran’s Service Office in the courthouse has two private rooms with laptops. Veterans can schedule an appointment to use the laptops for:

• Telehealth Appointments • Travel Pay Reimbursement • My HealtheVet

• Veteran and Service Member Life Insurance Office staff is there to assist with any questions or to help get veterans set up for their meetings.

While the office works extensively with living veterans, they are also there to serve the widows and loved ones of veterans who have passed. As with everything else, planning ahead can help avoid headaches down the road.

Preparing for the passing of a loved one, or even oneself, can be a difficult and confusing time. The following informs you of what you may need to do, and when, to ensure your survivors have the information and documents needed to obtain the benefits for which they may be entitled.

For the Veteran, when discussing your final wishes with your loved ones:

• Discuss your military service and any VA disability rating information with your family and if possible, locate copies of your military separation document(s), such as your DD214.

• Use VA-Form 21-686C to document you and your spouse’s marital histories. This information may be needed if your spouse applies for VA benefits after your passing.

• Discuss your final wishes regarding your remains. If you wish to be buried in a national cemetery after your passing, consider applying now for preneed burial eligibility.

• Be sure to complete and annually review your life insurance beneficiarydesignation(s), which will make it much easier to file a claim and receive benefi ts quickly.

For the Veteran’s family, as the Veteran is approaching end of life:

• Speak to the doctor about how to obtain copies of medical records before and after the Veteran’s passing, in case they may be needed in the future.

• Discuss with the Veteran where and when they have received treatment for any medical conditions which you believe may have been incurred in, or exacerbated by, their military service.

• If you believe the Veteran may be entering into their period of final illness, begin keeping a record of any medical expenses related to that final illness.

• If the Veteran wishes to be interred in a national cemetery, locate their pre-need burial approval (if they applied), or clarify their wishes as to where they would like to be interred.

For the Veteran’s parents, spouse, or dependent children, after the Veteran’s passing:

• Consider if you wish to apply for VA Survivors Pension or DIC.

• If the Veteran had a VA Life Insurance policy, or other policy, prepare and submit a claim with required supporting documentation.

• If you have a medical condition, disease, or injury which necessitates the aid and attendance of another person in performing your activities of daily life, or are housebound, have your physician complete a statement outlining your medical condition.

• If you believe the Veteran’s death was related to a condition incurred during military service, or exacerbated by military service, obtain copies of any private medical records from the Veteran’s physician (VA hospital records and military medical records can be obtained by VA).