Free Veterans Event to Explain VA Disability Claims Process Set for Saturday
Veterans can learn how to begin a disability claim, seek an increased rating and determine whether they may qualify for benefits
ASHLAND — Veterans seeking help navigating the Department of Veterans Affairs disability process are invited to attend a free educational event Saturday, Aug. 15, from 11 a.m. to approximately 12:30 p.m. in the Ashland Theater.
Organizer Ed Kieper, himself a veteran, said the idea grew from his own experience seeking disability benefits and discovering how difficult it can be to understand the process.
“I went through the whole process,” he said. “Veterans don’t have an information network. How do I go about asking for disability? How do I get more disability? What are the channels to do that?”
Those questions led him to contact numerous individuals and organizations to bring information together in one place. Representatives from the VA, Catholic Charities, KADA, Appleseed, Silent Hope and the Honor Bus are expected to participate.
A representative from the VA facility on Trimble Road in Mansfield may also attend to discuss the medical services and other assistance available to area veterans.
The program is open to veterans along with their family, including those who are disabled, believe they may qualify for disability benefits or want to seek an increased disability rating. Veterans do not need to have served in combat to attend or ask questions.
During the event, representatives will sit on a panel and answer questions about eligibility, filing claims and navigating the disability process. Microphones will be available so attendees can direct questions to participating organizations.
While most organizations will provide information rather than immediately opening cases, veterans are expected to have an opportunity to schedule follow-up appointments with the VA.
The organizer stressed that veterans should not automatically assume they are ineligible because they did not serve in combat or spent only a limited amount of time in the military.
“Allow the military to tell you no,” he said. “Don’t assume because you didn’t go to combat. Don’t assume that because you were only in for a certain amount of time that you don’t get disability. You let them tell you whether you do or whether you don’t.”
The event is intended to give veterans the information they need to begin a disability claim, determine whether they qualify or request an increase in their current disability rating.
Admission is free, and pizza will be provided. The program is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday in the Ashland Theater’s main auditorium.
