VSO Delivers $90,000 “Surprise” from the VA to Veteran

By Chuck N. Baker

(Nevada) —Veterans Service Officers (VSO’s) who work for NDVS are continually praised for their work in providing support to veterans in filing claims to the VA. But recently, a department VSO, who has since moved on to another position, received a phone call from an excited veteran. While the exact words were not recorded, the voice on the other end of call went something like, “I just looked at my bank account and the VA deposited $90,000!! Thank you! Thank you! You are wonderful!”

While the VA did in fact send an advance award letter to all concerned, the earned financial benefit arrived in the bank account before the letter was received and it knocked everyone off their proverbial chair. VSO supervisor Lisa Maciel explained that the initial claim had been filed elsewhere two years prior, but the veteran got discouraged and brought it to NDVS. “Our VSO was able to submit more relevant evidence to the VA resulting in a 100 percent rating. The veteran called us in a panic to see if it was a mistake. He wanted to know if he could he spend it!”

While this kind of surprise does not happen often, it can and does occur. Another Nevadan reported a similar experience several years ago. Barbara Rodgick Meehan is a Nevada widow whose husband passed away from illnesses attributed to Agent Orange. While her husband Bill was receiving civilian medical treatment, they were initially unaware of any entitlements he may have been eligible to apply for through the VA. By chance, while searching the internet, she learned about specific ailments said to be caused by Agent Orange. The couple contacted a VSO to file a claim. And with no advance warning from the VSO or the VA, two months later Bill walked into his wife’s office with a wide grin and explained, “I just had $36,000 deposited in my account from the VA!” It was a satori moment. Meehan said, “We were dumbstruck!”

A postscript from Meehan’s experience: She has embarked on a crusade to have medical professionals and social service employees to “Ask the Question,” which is, “Have you served in the military,” when seeing clients. Her efforts support an NDVS initiative which is currently providing health care providers across Nevada with education and resources, including pocket cards that prompt providers to “ask the question” of their patients. The cards also provide information about pre-existing conditions, as well as resources available. The bottom line is that veterans should be encouraged to visit the VA or see a VSO and determine if they are eligible for earned benefits. In doing so, both the veteran and the VSO just might wake up one morning with a bright surprise served with their coffee. And veterans can always use more bright surprises.

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