Going virtual to help our veterans with VA claims

Over 225,000 veterans — American patriots — call Nevada home. These courageous men and women have sacrificed so much for our freedom and for our nation, and they deserve our full support. As one of Nevada’s U.S. senators, I have made it a top priority to ensure that our veterans know that my office has a team in place that can connect them with resources and services they have earned, or assist them if they are facing challenges communicating directly with a federal agency like the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). That is why my office launched our first annual Veterans’ Resource Fair last year to reach out and help those who have served our nation proudly. Unfortunately, due to the health risks of the COVID-19 pandemic, we were unable to stage our event in person this year, but Nevada veterans still need help. So, with some minor tweaks, we were able to make this year’s fair, held earlier this month, a virtual event.

Nevada veterans up and down the state took part in our resource fair, where they were able to hear from the outreach members of my team, as well as experts, including a Veteran Service Officer and representatives from both the state and U.S. VA departments.

Together, we provided the veterans who joined us with useful information on the resources and services available to them.

We decided to center this event around an issue that affects countless veterans in Nevada and across our country — the VA claims process. In their military service, veterans can experience sickness, injury or exposure to toxins. For some, their military service can make an existing condition worse. As discussed during our virtual fair, many of our veterans, as far back as the Vietnam War, have experienced everything from hearing loss to physical injury or PTSD, and are unaware that they are deserving of benefits from the VA. These benefits include medical treatment for their service-connected disabilities, as well as various financial compensation payments that go toward improving their quality of life.

Working through the VA claims process can often be a complicated and time-intensive process made more challenging by the COVID-19 pandemic. During the virtual fair, my office and our expert guests walked through the step-by-step process for filing a claim with the VA and the information and materials that will often be needed to successfully file their claims. This process can be daunting, and that’s why we brought experts together to give information and insight to veterans.

Whether it takes weeks, months or even years to complete, my team is committed to seeing that all Nevada veterans receive all the benefits they have earned and are entitled to. Over the past two years, my office has been able to help over 120 Nevada veterans receive their earned benefits. In Congress, I’ve helped introduce bipartisan legislation to streamline and expand the benefits given to veterans exposed to chemicals such as Agent Orange or as a result of exposure to burn pits. I’m proud to report that both pieces of legislation have become law. I’ve also introduced bipartisan legislation that would help set up a simple, easy-to-remember three-digit hotline for veterans to obtain information about the VA’s benefits and services.

We will never let anything get in the way of serving our great patriots — our Nevada veterans, our heroes. This year’s virtual resource fair was a great success and we look forward to holding in-person events soon.

My team and I are dedicated to the mission of helping all Nevada veterans and their families with their VA claims or any other needs they may have. If you are a veteran in need, please contact my office in Las Vegas (702-3880205) or Reno (775-337-0110). My team is ready to listen and to help.