My office is able to assist San Diego Veterans navigate the VA and other federal agencies to ensure you receive the benefits that you have earned.
Below are some frequently asked questions about veterans benefits. If that does not answer your question, click below to request help from our office. We look forward to helping you!
What is the Veterans History Project and how can I be involved?
The Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project collects first-hand accounts of U.S. Veterans in the form of audio and visual recordings, diary/memoir/journal pages, personal correspondence, photographs, and more. Veterans who served during wartime, as well as U.S. citizen civilians who were actively involved in supporting war efforts (such as war industry workers, USO workers, flight instructors, medical volunteers, etc.) are invited to share their valuable stories to be documented for future generations in the Library of Congress. You can find more information about the VHP here.
My San Diego Office can assist you in recording an interview and/or facilitate the submission of your original correspondence, photographs, or journal pages to the Veterans History Project.
What does it take to expedite a claim and how can your office help?
The VA may expedite the processing of your claim if you are able to provide documentation to indicate that you meet one of the following criteria:
Advanced age (85+ for claims, 75+ for the Board of Veterans Appeals)
Homeless or facing immediate homelessness (You will be required to submit supporting documentation i.e. an eviction notice, utility shut-off, notices, etc.)
Terminal or serious illness (You will be required to submit supporting documentation i.e. doctor statements, medical evidence, etc.)
Financial Hardship (You will be required to submit supporting documentation i.e. VA Form 10-10HS, VA Form 5655, notice of eviction, past due bills, repossession of a vehicle, etc.)
You may also qualify for a Decision Ready Claim (DRC). Check eligibility requirements here.
My San Diego Office is able to assist you in submitting paperwork and other supporting documentation to the VA on your behalf to ensure swift receipt.
I am homeless or about to be homeless. What help is available to me?
The National Call Center for Homeless Veterans is available to assist. You can reach them at 1-877-4AID-VET or 1-877-424-3838 and find their website here.
If you have a pending claim at the VA, you will want to reach out to them to let them know about your circumstance. The VA provides expedited claim processing for Veterans facing homelessness.
My San Diego Office can assist you by communicating this to the VA and requesting expedited processing on your behalf.
How can I apply for a medal, award, or decoration that I earned while in the service?
You can begin the processing of requesting a replacement medal, award, or decoration by reaching out to the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC). You can find details about the process here.
My San Diego Office can assist you by submitting a request to NPRC on your behalf or checking on the status of an existing request.
How can I get a copy of my military records?
If you are seeking your military records, you will want to submit this request with Standard Form 180 to the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC). You can find more details about this process here.
My San Diego Office can help by submitting this request on your behalf or checking on the status of an existing request.
A veteran in my family filed a claim but passed away before it was decided. What do we do?
The VA will continue to process a claim even if the claimant has deceased. However, a family member should submit the VA Form 21P-0847, Requesting Substitution of Claimant Upon Death of Claimant. Note that should the claim be granted, the surviving family member would be entitled to the accrued benefits and not the monthly compensation.
My San Diego Office can assist you in submitting the appropriate documentation to the VA on your behalf.