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VFW Department Service
Office |
8810 Rio San
Diego Drive, Suite 1161 San Diego,
CA 92106
(619) 400-5322
Scott.Langhoff@va.gov
Monday through Thursday 8 AM to 2 PM
No Appointment Necessary |
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District Chairman |
Scott Langhoff (619) 470-7860 |
The VFW's largest
endeavor is the VFW State Service Program. With 3 regional offices and several
field offices across California, the VFW employs a highly trained staff of
Department Service Officers (DSOs) who represent veterans and their families
with claims for benefits from the VA, the armed forces, the Social Security
Administration, and other government agencies. Veterans need not be VFW members
to take advantage of this assistance, which is provided free of charge. All of
the VFW's DSO's are wartime veterans themselves, and the lion's share of their
work involves securing disability benefits from the VA.
The work of DSOs involves important matters like helping a veteran get
outpatient treatment or gain admission for inpatient care at a VA medical
center. At times, the work is very complicated, requiring evidence to prepare
oral arguments for formal hearings on VA disability or Social Security benefits.
And there are those numerous occasions when VFW assistance helps lift a disabled
veteran's family out of the grip of poverty.
VFW DSO's function as attorneys-in-fact for the veterans and families they
represent. Their counseling on the full range of veterans' benefits and programs
provided under federal, state, and local law is indispensable. They assist
veterans and their families in for VA disability compensation, rehabilitation
and education programs, pension and death benefits, employment and training
programs, Social Security disability benefits, and many other programs.
DSOs are skilled professionals, trained experts in developing disabled veterans'
cases by reviewing and applying current law, pertinent legislation, regulations,
and medical histories. In representing veterans and their families, DSOs assist
in the preparation of claims and written briefs and help assemble evidence in
support of those claims. They also review rating board decisions, informing
veterans and their families of the appeals process and of their appellate
rights. When needed, they request hearings before the VA and the Board of
Veterans Appeals (BVA) to present oral arguments.
Services We Provide:
Advice
Offer research and advice to veterans who wish to handle their own claims
Claim
Filing Assistance
Assist veterans who are filing original claims for compensation and/or pension
with the Department of Veterans Affairs and complete the required VA forms on
behalf of the claimant.
Claim
Reopening Assistance
Assist veterans in reopening claims for service-connected disabilities and
complete the required VA forms.
Claim
Follow Up
Follow up on status of claims filed by veterans with the VA Regional Office.
Disagreement
Filing Assistance
File Notice of Disagreement with the VA Regional Office if a veteran believes
the decision made by the VA was incorrect.
Case
Statement Review
Review Statements of the Case from the VA regarding denials of claim and assist
veterans with the preparation of responses.
Appeal
Preparation Assistance
Assist veterans or surviving spouses in the preparation of appeals for denial of
claims and file the appeals with the VA Regional Office of the Board of Veterans
Appeals in Washington, D.C.
Additional
Form Completion
Complete VA Forms other than for original claims.
Inquiry
Research
Answer/research telephone inquiries regarding medical, death/burial and other
miscellaneous benefits.
Attorney
Referral Service
Assist veterans in finding an
attorney experienced in veterans law for representation at the Court of Appeals
for Veterans Claims.
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FARM AND HOME,
CEMETERIES, EMPLOYMENT
The purpose of this committee is to make
veterans aware of the various ways to obtain the AMERICAN DREAM of home
ownership. A “home of your own” may be financed through several means, many
of which have special terms for qualified veterans.
In addition to the rose-colored cottage with
the white picket fence, veterans may qualify for special terms on Mobile
Home Loans and Farm Loans as well. Two major sources of these loans are the
Department of Veterans Affairs (federally Guaranteed VA or “GI” loans) and
the California Department of Veterans Affairs (Cal Vet).
It is important to know that some loans are
intended for purchases only, while others may be used to refinance or de-f’inance
existing properties. A well-informed veteran will be able to make the right
decision for his or her family’s situation.
The VFW Farm and Home Committee will attempt
to keep the CALIFORNIA VETERAN informed on programs that are available to
qualified veterans. Each District should appoint a key person to the
position of Farm and Home Chairman. When questions arise, try to contact the
committee member nearest you for details on programs of interest. All
contacts should be reported to the committee for review, so that we may be
of more assistance to our VFW Comrades.
For updates and other information on CAL-VET
loans, call 1-800-952-5626. Internet address:
https://calvethomeloans.cdva.ca.gov/welcome.html
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VETERANS CEMETERIES
The National Cemetery Administration is
responsible for maintaining more than 2.2 million gravesites at 115 national
cemeteries in 39 states (and Puerto Rico), as well as 33 soldiers’ lots and
monument sites. Of the 20 busiest national cemeteries, three are in
California, including Riverside, Fort Rosecrans and San Joaquin Valley. All
honorably discharged veterans are eligible for burial in a national
cemetery.
Burial benefits in a VA National Cemetery
include the gravesite, opening and closing of the grave and perpetual care.
Many national cemeteries have columbaria or special gravesites for cremated
remains. Headstones, markers and their placement are provided at government
expense. In addition, a memorial flag is provided to the next of kin.
Veterans, service members and dependents are
eligible for burial in a national cemetery, Spouses and minor children of
eligible veterans may also be buried in a national cemetery. Gravesites in
national cemeteries cannot be reserved. However, spouses may be buried in
the same grave. Funeral directors or others making arrangements must apply
at the time of death.
The National Cemetery System normally does
not conduct burials on weekends. However, a weekend caller will be directed
to one of three (3) regional cemetery offices that remain open during
weekends, in order to schedule burials at the cemetery of the caller’s
choice, the following week.
VA also provides headstones and markers for
the unmarked graves of veterans anywhere in the world and for eligible
dependents buried in National, State Veteran or Military Post Cemeteries.
Headstones and markers are inscribed with the name of the deceased, the
years of birth and death, and service branch. VA will accommodate many types
of personal headstone inscriptions.
VA will pay a burial allowance up to $2,000
if the veteran’s death is service connected. The VA will pay up to $300 for
a burial in a non-government cemetery, under various special circumstances.
See your VFW Service Officer’s Guide for specifics
Many National Cemeteries are becoming full
and only cremation burial sites remain. We need to work on our Legislators
to ensure that all honorably discharged Veterans will have a place of Honor
for eternal rest, when their time conies,
It is always best to consider a veteran’s
final wishes, ahead of time, and have copies of his/her discharge or
separation (DD Form 214) papers available prior to the need.
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VETERANS EMPLOYMENT
Since the consolidation of The
California Employment Development Department (EDD) into “One-Stops”, add the
Local Veterans Employment Representative (LVER) and Disabled Veteran
Outreach Personnel Specialist (DVOPS), plus the extended use of computer
technologies, many advances have taken place in veterans’ employment.
One-Stops are now in place throughout the state and offer a variety of
services to veterans, including job placement and training.
CALJOBS. the
Internet-based system, can be accessed from any computer on the Internet.
This is a statewide system, with job opportunities from every level up to
the executive level. All job orders entered into CALJOBS have a 24-hour
veteran hold, where veterans are the only ones able to apply for those jobs
while during the 24-hour hold. One-on-one case management services have been
offered to Veterans with employment barriers. Employed veterans can seek
higher paying jobs through this system, through extensive interdepartmental
communications, as well as intra-agency cooperation.
Post commanders and their post veteran’s
employment representatives should attend Veterans Employment Council
meetings with their counterparts from the other veterans’ organizations, EDD,
etc. If your district or county does not have a Veterans Employment
Committee, you should take the initiative and organize one for your
community. Visit your local EDD Office or One-Stop. Connect with the
Veterans Representative and get information on how to get started,
Correspondence received pertaining to
Veterans Employment matters, will be mailed to the District Commanders,
These should he copied and sent to the District Veterans Employment Chairman
and to each Post Commander for their use
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RECOGNITION AND OTHER VFW AWARDS
HONORING
EDD, DVOP, and LVER, OR MANAGER OF THE YEAR
This is a separate honor. To honor one of the
above, please make a report, in your own words, including how, what, and
where the individual was of special help to the VFW. Send the Department
Chairman a report for special consideration. The recipient of this award
will be presented with a certificate from the Department Commander.
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SUBMITTING EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR NOMINATION
The California Employer Advisory Council (CEAC)
Veterans Committee, together with the EDD, will recognize employers who
advocate the hiring of Veterans. An evaluation team of the Veterans
Committee will judge the employer nominated in each of the following three
categories:
 | Government/Community Based Organizations (CBO) |
 | Private - Fewer than 200 employees |
 | Private - 200 or more employees |
To assist field office managers and Veterans’
staff in nominating the most deserving employer in their locale, the CEAC
Veterans Committee has provided a list of 20 Evaluation Categories. which
they use to select the State Employer of the Year. You may wish to use these
criteria as a guide in preparing your nomination.
Please ensure that all nominations are
written in a clear, narrative text. Detailed information relating to as many
of the Evaluation Categories as possible is important for consideration as a
State Winner. Supporting documents, to supplement and enhance nominations,
are encouraged; however, please do not include original documents, as they
will not be returned.
Please complete the Employer of the Year
Nomination Form (Form-14) and attach it to your nomination. Send your
nomination to Department Headquarters to arrive no later than March 31,
2008. Late submissions will not be considered for the Departments selection
as “Employer of the Year Award”.
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HOW TO REPORT POST
ACTIVITIES
All activities should be
reported using the Program Reporting (Form 12). on-line, or by mailing to
Department Headquarters. These activities include classes to educate
veterans of the availability of Farm and Home loans, Cemeteries and
Employment, or by directly assisting veterans in obtaining a home loan,
employment, obtaining burial information.
Use the Employment of the Year
Report (Form-15) to document all activities of the Post and District
Employment Chairman. These should be sent to the Department Chairman.
Important! - To qualify
for awards, a Post must send a copy of the (Program Reporting (Form 12) to
the Department Chairman with all applicable attachments.
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AWARDS
Awards will be presented as follows, unless
otherwise noted elsewhere in this guide:
1st, 2nd and 3rd overall (Post & District)
will be awarded a plaque, based on chairman recommendations.
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HOMELESS VETERANS PROGRAM
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Department Chairman |
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Douglas Carrington
13300
Los Coches Road East #6
El
Cajon, CA 92021
Phone: (619) 443-0932
Fax:
(619) 390-1685
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District Chairman |
Dannie Boston |
It is estimated that 1-in-3 of all homeless
people in California is a veteran. There are many things that an individual
Post or District can do to help alleviate this problem. Set up a Post fund
or use the Relief Fund to buy a meal, a tank of gas, a bus ticket, or a room
for the night if necessary. Provide support to a local charity that helps
the homeless by making donations of food, clothing, or shelter.
Appoint a Homeless Veterans Chairman. It
could be the service officer, but your appointment should know the community
referral services that are available for the homeless veteran. These
services include, but are not limited to, E.D.D. for job and benefit
services, community shelters, Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous,
etc.
Find out where a stand down is being held in
your area and support it either financially, with clothing drives, other
things that are needed, or better yet, volunteer from your Post.
State Homeless Veterans resources can be
found on the California Department of Veterans Affairs website
http://www.cdva.ca.gov/homeless/default.asp
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HOW TO REPORT
All activities should be reported using the
Program Reporting (Form 12) either on-line or by submitting to Department
Headquarters.
Important! — To qualify for awards a
Post must send a copy of the (Program Reporting (Form 12) to the Department
Chairman with all applicable attachments.
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AWARDS
Awards will be presented as follows, unless
otherwise noted elsewhere in this guide:
1st, 2nd and 3rd overall (Post & District)
will be awarded a plaque, based on chairman recommendations.
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VETERAN HOMES AND HOSPITALS
OUR MISSION IS TO:
1. Promote volunteerism, recreational
activities and visitations for Veterans in VA and community facilities, to
include nursing homes and activities in support of home-based care patients.
2. Provide a mechanism for recognizing
outstanding performance and achievements by health care providers and
volunteers.
3. Inform and disseminate program
information at the Post, District, County and Department levels.
4. Generate enthusiasm and participation in
all Committee programs to include the VA -VFW Sponsored Golden Age Games.
5. Ensure VFW Posts report their hospital
activities to the Department Chairman so such documentation can be
consolidated and used by Department Office as they deem necessary.
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HOW TO REPORT
All activities should be reported
using the Program Reporting (Form 12) either on-line or by submitting to
Department Headquarters.
Important!
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To qualify for awards a Post must send a copy
of the (Program Reporting (Form 12) to the Department Chairman with all
applicable attachments.
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AWARDS
Awards will be presented as follows, unless
otherwise noted elsewhere in this guide:
1st, 2nd and 3rd overall (Post & District)
will be awarded a plaque, based on chairman recommendations.
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NATIONAL VETERANS WHEELCHAIR AND GOLDEN AGE GAMES PROGRAMS
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Department Chairman |
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Joe
Velasquez
1025
Penn Avenue
Turlock, CA 95382
Phone: (209) 632-6643
Fax:
(209) 668-2705
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| District
Chairman |
Dave
Greaney
(858) 748-1944 |
The Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of
California Golden Age Games/Wheelchair Games Programs are an expensive
endeavor and we would invite all to join with us in supporting these most
worthy veterans in their health maintenance and care. Veterans under VA care
either inpatient or outpatient, are potentially eligible to compete in these
events. For the National Veterans Wheelchair Games (NVWCG) all competitors
must be wheelchair (power or manual) users. For the National Veterans Golden
Age Games (NVGAG), competitors must be 55 or older (ambulatory,
non-ambulatory or vision impaired).
The NVGAG’s and the NVWCG’s events are very
expensive for our California teams. All posts, auxiliaries (Ladies and
Men’s) and pup tents as well as individuals are urged to donate to this
premier rehabilitation and therapeutic program, Competition applications for
either of the games are obtained from the Department of Veterans Affairs
Recreation Therapy Offices in the VA Medical Centers or on line at
www.va.gov and insert the name:
National Veterans Golden Age Games or National Veterans Wheelchair Games in
the search block. These applications are usually available about five months
prior to the events.
The VFW Department of California
Transportation Grant Applications are available from any Wheelchair Games
Committee person or the Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center
Recreation Therapy Offices. The Veterans Golden Age/Wheelchair Games Fund is
a viable VFW program. Each District and Post must have their own chairman to
coordinate reports, pin sales, and fund raising activities for the program.
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HOW TO REPORT
All Wheelchair/Golden Age Game activities
should be reported using the Program Reporting (Form 12) either on-line or
by submitting to Department Headquarters.
Important! — To qualify for awards a
Post must send a copy of the Program Reporting (Form 12) to the Department
Chairman with all applicable attachments.
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ALL-STATE POINTS
A Post will receive 10 points by submitting
at least $100.00 to the Department Wheelchair Games Program prior to April
30, 2007.
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AWARDS
Awards will be presented as follows, unless
otherwise noted elsewhere in this guide:
1st, 2nd and 3rd overall (Post & District)
will be awarded a plaque, based on chairman recommendations.
Program participation will be awarded as
follows:
 | Donations of $200 - $449 will receive a
certificate of appreciation. |
 | $450 to $649 will receive a 5 x 7 plaque. |
 | $650 - $849 will receive an 8 x 1 0
plaque. |
 | Greater than $850 will receive a Spirit of
the Games Plaque. |
All awards will be presented during the
awards session at the Department Convention
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