Claims

In September, a veteran in El Paso was awarded a retro payment over $553,085 with the help of Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) Claims Benefits Advisor and Army veteran Roberto Macias.

The veteran served as a Weapons-Technician in the Navy during his service of at least two tours in Vietnam (RVN area) and earned the RVN Gallantry Cross.

In winning the retro payment, Macias worked to secure documentation and provided it to the VA that the veteran had served in Vietnam and made ...

“I initially filed a claim back in 1974 when I left active duty. Back then, I was not aware that TVC existed. I simply filed out the form and submitted it to the VA,” said veteran Joe Deosdade. When his Claim was denied, Deosdade dismissed the VA and “went on with my life.” He said that years passed before a friend convinced him to reapply. “His reasoning was, ‘you served, you deserve.’” Deosdade said the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) Claims ...

“We pride ourselves in getting our veterans the compensation that they deserve, but it is a nice feeling when we overcome a previous denial, or we are able to get DIC (Dependency and Indemnity Compensation) approval for a widow whose spouse never filed a claim through the VA,” said Ruben Gonzalez, Chief, Medina County Veteran Services. “The highest backpay we have gotten on a claim has been $360K. Our team, Brian, Garry and I, are standing by to assist our ...

“Anytime you have a service connected disability that has increased in severity you can apply for an increase in your evaluation providing that disability is not at the maximum percentage for that disability according to the rating schedule,” advises Phil Kraus, Claims Benefits Advisor (CBA) who heads up  the Texas Veterans Commission’s (TVC) Houston Regional Office “Strike Force”.

He also notes that if a new disability is created that is caused by a service connection condition, that new condition may be ...

“Just because a buddy says he or she is getting a particular benefit does not mean you are going to be eligible for the same benefit. Everyone’s circumstances are going to be different,” said Michaelle Davis, Comal County Veteran Service Officer (VSO) and Air Force veteran. “The best advice I can give to anyone needing assistance or information about the VA and programs is get your information from a reliable source such as a VSO or the VA directly.”

Her team ...

Huey Helicopters and F-4 Phantom models plus other Vietnam memorabilia greet those arriving to see Donald Phillips, Denton County Assistant Veteran Service Officer (ASVO)and Navy veteran.

“I see more Vietnam veterans than any other veterans,” said Phillips.

“What inspired me to create this wall was my uncle who was a Huey Pilot in Vietnam and was shot ...

An Air Force veteran contacted the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) Claims office on July 27, 2021 and had a 0% service-connected disability rating. About a month and a half later, on Sept. 15, his compensation rating went to 100%. That awarded him a monthly compensation over $3,320 and granted a retroactive payment of $185,660.15.

“My first ...

Out in west Texas, Ward County is home to flat land, a big sky, the Pyote Rattlesnake Bomber Base and Veteran County Service Officer (VCSO) Willie Andino.

“Come see the Veteran Service Officer in your community; or, if you’re thinking of filing a claim and haven’t started, call 800-827-1000 and let the VA know you have an ITF (intent to file),” said Willie Andino, Ward County VCSO and Army veteran.

Andino assists veterans in Ward and surrounding counties with any paperwork needed ...

“All VCSOs (Veteran County Service Officers) have success stories. It’s the veteran we don’t get through to their benefits or have challenges with that we should focus on,” said Sabine County Veteran Service Officer and Navy veteran Thomas “Shorty” Warren.

And succeed he does, as exemplified by a WWII veteran who was assigned to Howitzer unit in Austria. “He came to me wanting hearing aids. We got him hearing aids and also $600 per month and $78,000 back pay,” said Warren.

He ...

A winter (snowbird)Texan checks in at the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) Claims office in Harlingen and gets a rating upgrade. Veterans on a weekend retreat meet a TVC Claims Benefits Advisor and get help with their VA health care and claims issues. A CBA goes cross country to advocate for a surviving spouse. All are recent examples of the TVC Claims team connecting with veterans and providing a range of assistance, free.

A veteran residing in Harlingen during winter contacted the ...