Veterans Services
Veterans Service
The members of the VFW and our Ladies Auxiliary have a long time commitment to Community and Veterans Service. The Department of New Mexico, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States maintains a Veterans' Service Department that is second to none. Working with the State of New Mexico Veterans Service Officers are used to assist our veterans and their families in receiving their entitlements by filing claims and representing during hearings and or appeals.
The VFW's largest endeavor is the VFW State Service Program. New Mexico's Department Service Officer (DSO) represents 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. The VFW's DSO is a wartime veteran, and the lion's share of our work involves securing disability benefits from the VA.
The work of our DSO along with local District & Post Service Officers 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.
The VFW DSO, District & Post Service Officers 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.
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.
Post, District & State Service Officers
Join the New Mexico Department of Veterans Services
Veteran Services Network
The purpose of the Veteran Services Social Network is to provide veteran service professionals with a one-stop daily briefing portal and fully interactive best practices and discussion forums. Please join us!
Membership in this forum is currently by invitation only, please contact the Department Website Coordinator if you are interested in joining.
