From Bamafanb4u at aol.com Fri Mar 17 04:57:16 2000
Subject: Listing of Veterans Groups/Help for everyone
Someone sent this to me, and I am sending it to you, because I think that if anyone needs any assistance, it might help.
-- -- Jimmy Nail
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Legal/Congressional Matters
Pitts and Associates
Attorneys at Law
8866 Gulf Freeway, Suite 117
Houston, TX 77017-6528
(800) 269-6345
and
Schecter & Marshall L.L.P.
3200 Travis St.
Houston, TX 77006
800) 282-2122
National Veterans Legal Services Program
http://www.nvlsp.org More on this below.
and
Vietnam Veterans of America
http://www.vva.org
Legal Aid and and Legal Services Offices
Free representation by lawyers or paralegals at legal aid or legal services offices in your county may be available if your family is considered low income. Even when they can not represent you directly, many have access to resources and guides that you may find helpful and they may let you use.
Private Attorneys
A strange, but true, government regulation disallows veterans from hiring a lawyer (at market rate) to represent them during the VA claims process. You may pay a private lawyer to represent you regarding a VA claim, but only under certain specific restrictions. You must have filed a "notice of disagreement" with a VA regional office on or after Nov. 18, 1988 and the Board of Veterans' Appeals must have subsequently issued a decision denying your appeal. You can then pay a lawyer to reopen your claim at the VA regional office or appeal the BVA decision to the Court of Veterans' Appeals. You must hire the lawyer within one year of the BVA decision. These regulations do not apply if a lawyer is willing to represent you for free or if someone who does not have an interest in the claim pays the lawyer.
If, or when, you receive a denial from the Social Security Administration, you are free to retain a lawyer. Often it is advised, as they can help you through the difficult process. They may represent you for a portion of the retroactive award, or, if you are low income, you may find a pro-bono lawyer or a local legal assistance society. Look to law schools in your area.
The organizations listed below may represent you or provide a referral to lawyers specializing in GI or veterans' issues.
Citizen Soldier, Inc.
175 Fifth Ave., Suite 2135
New York, NY 10010
(212) 679-2250 Fax: (212) 679-2252
Contact: Tod Ensign
Free legal representation on veterans claims, medical discharge and other military matters.
GI Rights Hotline
1-800-FYI95GI and 1-800-394-9544
This is a free, confidential, non-governmental, nationwide hotline for information about discharges, discrimination, and legal referrals.
National Veterans Legal Services Project (NVLSP)
2001 S Street NW, Suite 610
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 265-8305
Email: NVLSP at aol.com
NVLSP assists some veterans with appeals at the Court of Veterans Appeals and publishes a wide variety of documents and guides that can be of assistance to veterans. NVLSP is a nonprofit law firm which serves as a national support center in the area of veterans law.
National Organization of Veterans' Advocates
P.O. Box 42334
Washington, DC 20015
The National Organization of Veterans' Advocates provides referrals to lawyers specializing in veterans' issues.
Veterans Due Process, Inc.
P.O. Box 68237
Portland, OR 97268
(503) 659-9912
Veterans Due Process is a private organization that advocates on veterans' legal issues.
Veterans Service Organizations
Free representation at hearings before a VA regional office, the Board of Veterans' Appeals, or the Court of Veterans' Appeals may be available through a veterans service organization. Their veterans' service officers (VSOs) may be able to offer substantial assistance in preparing and submitting claims to the VA.
These organizations generally have local service representatives in VA regional offices and hospitals. Contact a VSO at the nearest VA office or hospital, locate a service organization in your local phone book, or contact the organizations national office for a referral at the addresses listed below.
American Legion
1608 K Street NW
Washington, DC 20006
(800) 433-3318
http://www.amleg.org
To order the Undiagnosed Illness VA Claims Worksheet, email TAL at iquest.net
National Gulf War Resource Center
http://www.ngwrc.org
New York State POW/MIA Action Group
30 Ballantyne Brae
Utica, NY 14445
Reserve Officers Association, Inc.
1 Constitution Avenue NE
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 479-2200 Fax: (202) 479-0416
Veterans Speakers Alliance
P.O. Box 40430
San Francisco, CA 94140
(415) 255-7331
VietNow, Inc.
1835 Broadway
Rockford, IL 61104
(815) 227-5100 Fax: (815) 227-5127
Contact: Rich Sanders
State and County Agencies
Almost every state has a state department of veterans affairs. Many cities and counties also have veterans services offices that provide representation and assistance to veterans and their families at no charge. Look in the government section (usually in front) of your local telephone directory for state, county and city veterans services. Often your state will have special programs not available elsewhere, such as Texas Land Commission and California's CalVet low interest home loans.
State Level Veterans Affairs Sites
National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs
http://www.nasdva.com/Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs
http://webserver.dsmd.state.al.us/va/
Alaska
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
http://www.state.ak.us/local/akpages/MILITARY/home.htm
Arizona
State Veterans Service Commission
http://www.syspac.com/~avsc-phx/
California
Department of Veterans Affairs
http://www.ns.net/cadva/
Connecticut
Department of Veterans Affairs
http://www.state.ct.us/ctva/
Delaware
Commission of Veterans Affairs
http://www.state.de.us/govern/agencies/sos/veteran/welcome.htm
Florida
Department of Veterans Affairs
http://www.state.fl.us/fdva/
Georgia
Department of Veterans Service
http://www2.state.ga.us/Departments/Veterans/
Hawaii
Office of Veterans Services
http://www.dod.hawaii.gov/ovs/
Illinois
Department of Veterans Affairs
http://www.state.il.us/dva/
Indiana
Department of Veterans Affairs
http://www.ai.org/veteran/index.html
Kentucky
Department of Veterans Affairs
http://www.state.ky.us/agencies/military/kcva.htm
Maine
Veterans Services
http://www.state.me.us/va/defense/hmpgmvs.htm
Maryland
Veterans Commission
http://199.75.169.31/mvc/
Michigan
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
http://www.voyager.net/goguard/
Minnesota
Department of Veterans Affairs
http://www.mdva.state.mn.us/
Missouri
Veterans Commission
http://www.dps.state.mo.us/dps/mvc/vc.htm
Nebraska
Department of Veterans' Affairs info
http://www.hhs.state.ne.us/ags/vets.htm
New Jersey
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
http://www.state.nj.us/military/
New York
State Dept. of Labor:Veterans' Services
http://www.labor.state.ny.us/vets.htm
Ohio
Veterans Home
http://www.state.oh.us/ovh/
Oklahoma
Department of Veterans Affairs
http://www.odva.state.ok.us/
Oregon
Department of Veterans Affairs
http://www.odva.state.or.us/
Pennsylvannia
Bureau of Veterans Affairs
http://www.state.pa.us/PA_Exec/Military_Affairs/va.htm
South Carolina
Division of Veterans Affairs
http://www.leginfo.state.sc.us/man97/stategov/state170.html
South Dakota
Division of Veterans Affairs
http://www.state.sd.us/state/executive/military/VetAffairs/sdmva.htm
Tennessee
Department of Veterans Affairs
http://www.state.tn.us/veteran/
Texas
Veterans Commission
http://www.main.org/tvc/
Utah
Office of Veterans Affairs
http://www.ce.ex.state.ut.us/veterans/welcome.htm
Washington
State Department of Veterans Affairs
http://www.wa.gov/dva/Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs
http://badger.state.wi.us/agencies/dva/
Wyoming
Veterans Affairs Council
http://www.state.wy.us/governor/boards/veterans/page17.html
State Level Veterans Groups
Desert Storm Veterans of North Carolina:
http://www.uncg.edu/~kptreibe/dsvnc.html
North Carolina Veterans Homepage:
http://www.uncg.edu/~kptreibe/ncvet.html
Gulf War Research Foundation, Inc. (Pending)
Email: gulfwarwisc at geocities.com
