VA hosts clinic for local veterans

Photo By Sgt. Juanita Philip | Officials from the regional and local offices of Veterans Affairs, along with representatives from the Disabled American Veterans group conducted a veterans' benefit and information and claims clinic at the Estate Bethlehem Military Compound, Mar. 15. The clinic was held to provide VA benefits, information and services which include personal assistance in claims processing and inquiries.  

ST. CROIX, UNITED STATES

03.16.2018

Courtesy Story

Virgin Islands National Guard State Public Affairs Office

VIRGIN ISLANDS -- The Virgin Islands Office of Veterans Affairs, with support from the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs, hosted a clinic for St. Croix veterans on Mar. 15 at the Estate Bethlehem Military Compound.

Hundreds of local veterans, retirees along with Soldiers, and Airmen from the Virgin Islands National Guard availed themselves to the Veterans Claims Clinic provided by a team of VA officials and representatives from the Disabled American Veterans nonprofit organization.

Staff from the San Juan office of Veterans Affairs were invited to conduct the clinic as part of a push to provide relevant care, information and service to veterans, by the local VA director, Patrick Farrell.

“We have the privilege to come to the Virgin Islands to create the first claims clinic for 2018, in St. Croix,” said Dan Massa, public contact chief, for the regional office of the Department of Veterans Affairs, of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. “Today they can look forward to getting information and eradicating any lack of knowledge.”

The National Guard enables productive partnerships to mutually strengthen readiness. Other services were provided as well at the claims clinic; Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation New Dawn orientation, readjustment counseling, women’s health orientation, general health orientation, compensation, eBenefits enrollment, and burial and memorial benefits.

“In addition, we have the health department here and the Disabled American Veterans. We’re here to talk to them about their benefits, check the status of their claims or put in a claim for them if we can,” Massa said.

Most of the staffers at the clinic came from the VA’s Guaynabo office to conduct the event. “We all came in from Puerto Rico to get this going, because really we are just one group-the Virgin Islands and us [Puerto Rico], so here we are,” Massa stated. “If they have documents that they do not understand, we have access to the regional office in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and we can show them the information that is provided to them.”

“Sometimes the language is complicated, it’s a judicial language, so we’re here to provide them that understanding,” he explained.

The staff commented that this was the largest crowd that they had ever seen for a VA event in the territory. Many of the veterans came to gain information on the DAV, with the line extending from the drill floor down the hall into the building’s lobby.

“The DAV is here today to provide benefit vouchers, for the people who have suffered any damages during the hurricanes,” he said. “They’re here to take care of the veterans, which is what DAV does.” According to Massa, the DAV is a service organization, trained by the Department of Veterans Affairs to help veterans obtain their services free of charge. They are educated on the principles of law and the judicial system.

As the tempo picked up, Massa took the time to remind everyone of two important things that day, supporting women and each other in general, after the devastating storms last year.

“I want to congratulate everyone; we are celebrating the Military Women’s Month; it is very important that we not only promote our women veterans, but our women in general,” he said of women all over the world.

“Our brothers here in the Virgin Islands- St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas can rest assured that the Department of Veterans Affairs and Mr. Bernard Johnson, the director of the department is willing to do to everything to ensure they get their benefits,” he added passionately.

The National Guard is firmly committed to programs supporting military members and families. A claims clinic for St. Thomas/St. John district is in the works for some time later this year. St. Croix’s clinic was planned first to accommodate the larger amount of veterans.

• Date Taken: 03.16.2018
• Date Posted: 04.03.2018 10:58
• Story ID: 271616
• Location: ST. CROIX, US
• Hometown: SAN JUAN, PR
• Hometown: ST. CROIX, VI