VETERAN BENEFITS & ASSISTANCE

Veteran Benefits & Assistance

Originally founded in 1899 as the American Veterans of Foreign Service, the Veterans of Foreign Wars continues to be a voice for returning and currently deployed service members and their families. The Veterans of Foreign Wars is dedicated to supporting those who sacrifice so much for this country, veterans, service members in the US Armed Forces, and their families.
 
Certified Advocates
Throughout the State of Michigan and at the VA Regional Office in Detroit, VFW Service Officers that are Accredited and Certified by the VA fight for the rights of our Nations veterans on a daily basis.  These highly trained professionals, specializing in all programs administered by the VA stand ready and willing to provide whatever VA benefits assistance is required!  These services are available at no cost to veterans or their dependents! Nor does one have to be a member of the VFW to receive our services.
 
From a simple request of a discharge document to a case with complicated issues that may require extensive medical and Court Cases research, we will exhaust all means to obtain a favorable decision.  In the event a claim is denied we will represent the case through the appellate process to the Board of Veterans Appeals (VBA) and if not successful to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) if warranted.
 
How VFW Service Officers Advocate for You:
  • Help you identify issues and develop evidence
  • Answer your requests for assistance
  • File your claims with VA in a timely manner
  • Review your rating decision for accuracy
 
What We Will Do:
  • During your interview, WE WILL review your information and inform you of what benefits you should claim as well as any other benefits that may be available
  • WE ARE trained VA benefits experts who have access to VA computer systems in order to provide you with the information you need for your claim to succeed
  • WE WILL submit your claim to VA in a timely manner to ensure that you receive the maximum benefit to which you are entitled
  • WE WILL conduct a thorough review of your decision before VA sends it to you.  The VFW has a 90% success rate in correcting errors, helping you avoid the lengthy appeals process
  • If you are unsatisfied with the outcome of your claim, WE WILL help you appeal VA's decision


Please feel free to contact a VFW Representative for help with filing a claim for VA benefits, VA health care and all eligible VA benefits at:

VFW Service Office
McNamara Federal Building
477 Michigan Ave, Ste. #1228
Detroit, MI 48226-2588
Phone:  313-964-6510
Fax:  313-964-6545
Email: 
vfwus.vbadet@va.gov
 
Our office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
 
Our well-trained, VA Accredited VFW Representatives are ready to assist you with you!  Please feel free to contact us!  We have VFW Representatives located throughout the State of Michigan!
 
VFW Field Coverage Schedule:

Amanda Klein, Claims Consultant
Lapeer County Veterans Affairs Office
Appointment required at this location. To schedule, please call 810/667-0256
Mon - Fri 7:30 a.m. - 4: 00 p.m.
CELL: 313/529-0041 
email: Forthcoming 

Eddie Dunn, Jr., Assistant State Service Officer
VAMC-Saginaw 
Monday-Thursday 7::00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
CELL: 313/858-1961
email:  eddie.dunn@va.gov  
 
Bonnie (Williams) Gibbs, Assistant State Service Officer
Monday & Thursday: Monroe VFW POST 1138,  8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 
Tuesday & Wednesday: Canton CBOC, 5900 N. Lotz Road:  8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
1st & 3rd Friday:  Dearborn Veteran Resource Center: (Centennial Library)  10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
2nd & 4th Friday:  Monroe VFW Post 1138 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
CELL:  313/977-1802
email:  bonnie.gibbs@va.gov
 
John Howe, Assistant State Service Officer
Lansing CBOC 
Mon - Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
PH: 517/567-3925
CELL: 313/645-0106
email: john.howe4@va.gov 
 
Brian Hutcheon, Assistant State Service Officer
VAMC-Ann Arbor
Tues - Thursday 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. 
CELL:  313/858-0706
email: brian.hutcheon@va.gov 

Marc Johnson, Assistant State Service Officer
Detroit VAMC 
Tuesday-Friday 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Cell: 313/525-0840
email: marc.johnson@va.gov  

Timothy Lewis, Assistant State Service Officer
Shiawassee County: Monday - Thursday 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 
VAMC-Saginaw: Every Friday 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
CELL: 313/645-0198
email:  timothy.lewis329@va.gov

David Moler, Assistant State Service Officer
Muskegon County Veterans Services
Monday - Thursday 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Ph: 231/724-7143
CELL: 313/529-2746
email: david.moler@va.gov 
 
Dustin Parlin, Assistant State Service Officer
Wyoming CBOC
Mon, Wed, Fri 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Ottawa County
Tues, Th 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Holland VFW Post 2144
4th Wednesday of the month
CELL:  313/632-1539
email:  dustin.parlin@va.gov 
 
Gary Putinsky, Assistant State Service Officer
Genesee County 
Mon, Tues, Th, Fri 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
PH: 810/257-3068
CELL:  810/241-5991
email:  gputinsky@co.genesee.mi.us
 
VACANT
VAMC-Battle Creek
Mon - Fri 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
PH: 269/966-5600 X33889
CELL: 313/712-0406
email: Forthcoming 
 
Barry Walter, Assistant State Service Officer
Clinton County Courthouse
Wednesday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 
PH: 989/227-6457
CELL: 313/674-1511
email:  barryfw516@hotmail.com 
 



Due to some of our field staff having various locations on a weekly basis, we ask that you please call the VFW Service Office main line at 313/964-6510 to confirm their workplan and locations. 
 
Some of these locations require appointments.  Most locations are "walk-in" basis.  These schedules can change without prior notification.  We ask that you please call our main VFW Service Office at 313/964-6510 to make sure the individual VFW Service Officer is at their scheduled stop before you make a trip! 😉
 
NO ONE DOES MORE FOR VETERANS!

   


 
 
BENEFITS & SERVICES
  Federal Benefits for Veterans & Dependents
 
     
   
    Burial Benefits
     
     
     
    Community-Based VA Vet Centers
    Health Care Benefits
   
      Interest Rate Reduction Refinancing Loan
     
   
    PTSD - VA Informational Site
    Life Insurance Benefits
    OEF / OIF Service Members
    Survivor & Dependent Benefits
    VA Benefits and Services
       
 
    Check the status of your VA claim online
   
       
 
  Benefits - Military.com
  Benefits & Services, MI Department of Veteran Affairs
  Benefits & Services, State of Michigan
 
  Federal Benefits for Dependents and Survivors
 
       
  Health Care
    Disability Benefits for Wounded Warriors (SSI)
    Grand Valley State University Wounded Warrior Traumatic Brain Injury Project
    PTSD / Stress Management
    Physical Disability Board of Review (PDBR)
    TRICARE Benefit Info
    VA Health Benefits
       
 
       
  Long-Term Care
    Aid & Attendance Benefit
    Armed Forces Retirement Home, Eligibility
    Family Caregiver Program for Post-9/11 Veterans
    Grand Rapids, MI Home for Veterans, Eligibility
    Marquette, MI Home for Veterans, Eligibility
   
       
 
  Michigan Vital Records - Free to Michigan Veterans
  National Resource Directory, Benefits & Compensation
  Operation Uplink To Request a Card, call 800-479-5228800-479-5228
       
  Prior Service Connected Medical Conditions
   
      Diseases Associated with Agent Orange Exposure
       
        Agent Orange Health Care Registry Exam for Veterans
        Agent Orange Herbicide Tests & Storage Outside of Vietnam
       
        Korean Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange (Between 1968 to 1971)
      Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses
        Illnesses Related to Gulf War Service
        Gulf War Health Care Registry Exam for Veterans
        VA Recognizes 'Presumptive' Illnesses in Iraq & Afghanistan
       
   
    VA Board of Veterans' Appeals
       
 
 
  Veterans Affairs, Michigan Department of Military & Veteran Affairs
 
 
  VA Burial Benefits
    Military Burial Benefits, Office of the Secretary of Defense
    Types of Headstones & Markers Available
       
  VA Compensation & Pension Benefits
  VA eBenefits
  VA Life Insurance
  VA OEF (Operation Enduring Freedom) / OIF (Operation Iraqi Freedom)
  VA Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment
  VA Web Automated Reference Material System (WARMS)
  VFW Veterans Services
       
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE
  All  Emergency Catagory Files
  Aid & Charity Associations
  Air Force Aid Society
  American Red Cross
  Armed Forces Relief Trust
  Army Emergency Relief
  Cell Phone, Government Supported
  Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund
  Coast Guard Mutual Assistance
  DTE Senior Citizen Electric Service Rate
  Emergency Relief, Non Government, National Resource Directory
  Family & Caregiver Support, National Resource Directory
  Fallen & Wounded Soldiers Fund
  Financial Assistance for Mortgage or Rent Payments
  Friends of the Fisher House - Illinois
  Goodwill Industries
  Help for Homeless Veterans
  Homeless Assistance, National Resource Directory
  Homeless Vet 24 Hour Hotline (VA) 1-877-4AID VET
  Homeless Veterans, VA
  Housing Resources in Michigan
  HUD Housing & Utility Assistance in MI
  Legal Services and Veterans Treatment Court, SCRA and USERRA Laws
  Legal Services ABA Pro Bono
  Legal Resources for Veterans, Google.com
  Legal Resources for Veterans, Yahoo.com
  MI Cash Assistance Program
  MI Debt Management Info
  MI Dept Human Services County Offices
  MI Emergency Relief Program
  MI Energy Assistance Program
  MI Food Assistance Program
  MI Food Bank Council, includes all MI counties
  MI Food Stamp Partnership, Info About Michigan's Food Assistance
  MI Helping Hand (Directory of State Services)
  MI Housing Development Authority, Foreclosure Info & Hel
  MI National Guard Family Assistance Centers
  MI Veterans' Trust Fund
    MI Veterans' Trust Fund Brochure
    MI Veterans' Trust Fund Public Directory
       
  National Guard Online Community
  Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
  Salvation Army
  Service Members Civil Relief Act
  Service Members Civil Relief Act
  Service Members Civil Relief Act, Overview, Military.com
  Shelters
  Social Security Administration online
  Social Security Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool (BEST)
  United Way, Michigan 2-1-1 Phone Numbers
  United Way, Nationwide 2-1-1 Phone Numbers
  Various Assistance in Michigan
  Veterans Assistance Foundation
 
  VFW Family Assistance
  VFW National Military Services
  VFW National Veterans Service
  VFW Post Military Assistance
  VFW Transitioning to Civilian Life
  VFW Troop Support
 
  Warrior Care, DoD & VA Resources Site
 
       
VA HEALTHCARE FACILITIES IN MICHIGAN
  VA Ann Arbor Healthcare maps and information
    VA Outpatient Clinic, Flint
    VA Outpatient Clinic, Jackson
    VA Outpatient Clinic, Toledo, OH
       
  VA Medical Center, Battle Creek maps and information
    VA Outpatient Clinic, Benton Harbor
    VA Outpatient Clinic, Grand Rapids
    VA Outpatient Clinic, Lansing
    VA Outpatient Clinic, Muskegon
       
  VA Medical Center, Detroit maps and information
    VA Outpatient Clinic, Pontiac
    VA Outpatient Clinic, Yale, MI
       
  VA Medical Center, Iron Mountain maps and information
    VA Outpatient Clinic, Hancock
    VA Outpatient Clinic, Ironwood
    VA Outpatient Clinic, Kincheloe (Sault St. Marie area)
    VA Outpatient Clinic, Marquette
    VA Outpatient Clinic, Menominee
    VA Outpatient Clinic, Rhinelander, WI
       
  VA Medical Center, Saginaw maps and information
    VA Outpatient Clinic, Alpena
    VA Outpatient Clinic Bad Axe
    VA Outpatient Clinic, Clare
    VA Outpatient Clinic, Gaylord
    VA Outpatient Clinic, Traverse City
       
VETERAN INFORMATION
  All Veteran information Category Files
  All Veteran Research Category Files
  Census News
  Hiring People with Criminal Record
  Historical Documents of Interest to Veterans
  Laws Protecting Veterans with Service-Connected Disabilities
  Locating Veterans & Service Members
  Military Discharge, Upgrade Application
  Military Records & Discharges, Correction Application
  National Gravesite Locator
  Prior Service Connected Medical Issues
  Priority of Service for Veterans and Eligible Spouses
  Replacement Military Records
  Replacement Medical Records
  Replacement Military Awards & Decorations (National Archives)
  Replacement Military Awards and Discharge Documents (MI)
  Social Security Credit for Military Service (1957 - 2001)
  U.S. Dept of Justice - Rights of Servicemembers and Veterans
 
  Veteran Data and Information
  Veteran & Active Duty Information, J. Jones
  Women Veterans
    HISA Packet updated 7-1-15.pdf