The Post # 60 News

*** Valley County Service Officer ***

Recent Service Officer Reports

VALLEY COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER

Each state has a federally mandated Department of Veterans Affairs. These state departments are staffed, for the most part, by veterans who are licensed, bonded and trained to act as advocates for the veterans in their state seeking health care, service-connected pensions or compensation for disabilities incurred during military service. Idaho Department of Veterans Affairs is located near the Boise Veterans Administration Hospital, and the service officer who serves Southwestern Idaho is Jim Philpott, who is a retired US Army National Guard Tank Officer.

Each county has their own veterans service officer who coordinates with their respective state service officer to arrange appointments, gather information and assist veterans in their county with questions about the Veterans Administration (VA) concerning health care and other benefits.

It is important to understand that the state and county service officers are not affiliated with the VA; their responsibilities are focused on helping a veteran apply for health care benefits. Our mission is to assist those veterans with bona fide claims for a service-connected disability or pension, and in the event that their claim is denied, we assist in the appeal process. We generally do not get involved in the areas of VA home loans, VA vocational technical programs, VA education programs, etc., but we do direct the veteran to the right office in Boise.

Here in Valley County the service officer is recruited from Post 119 in McCall or from Post 60. I'm from Post 60, and have been the Valley County Veterans Service Officer since November, 2021. Some counties hire their service officers on a full-time paid basis; this usually occurs in counties with a large population base. I present to the Commissioners a quarterly written report detailing those actions I have taken during the previous three or four months.

Jim Philpot and I meet veterans on an appointment basis the first Friday of each month at Post 60 - walk-ins are also welcome. The majority of my time is devoted to answering telephone or email queries from veterans who have questions about eligibility for VA health care programs. I also make home visits and well-being visits to veterans on an as needed basis for follow-up. I can usually determine during a telephone call or a face-to-face discussion whether a veteran needs to schedule an appointment with Jim or me, and can direct him/her to go see one of the benefits/eligibility clerks at the VA Hospital.

Based on the fact that Jim is one of the best veteran advocates I have ever met, I always urge a veteran who I believe has a valid case, to come and see him so that he can ascertain the facts, fill out the appropriate paperwork and then represent him in his claim submission to the VA.

I also assist in getting elderly veterans with disability issues admission to the State Veterans Home; and when necessary I help the families of deceased veterans obtain death and burial benefits.

For the most part this job is very enjoyable and rewarding, helping fellow veterans get the help they need is worthwhile. I strongly encourage every veteran to make sure their DD-214 is recorded at the Valley County Clerk’s office for safekeeping, this record is the primary means to prove your stats as a veteran and is key when submitting any requests to the VA.

Please contact me at 880-8727 if you have any questions. Jamie Coffey-Kelly