A recently retired Air Force member took advantage of the free services DAV has to offer during a visit with a Transition Service Officer at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
Linda Broeckl said her experience with TSO and former Army Golden Knight John Steele was very beneficial, and she described him as “highly knowledgeable, professional and caring.”
“Mr. Steele ensured I understood the complex VA claims process from start to finish, and he took the time and effort to assist me with completing my claim accurately and correctly,” she said. “The opportunity to have the assistance of a TSO is a valuable free resource—all transitioning veterans could benefit from such a consultation.”
TSOs assist service members who are nearing the time to shed their uniform and make the often challenging transition back to civilian life. The service is free to military members separating or retiring and can help establish what Steele calls “lifelong benefits” that veterans have earned as a result of the sacrifices they have made.
Steele said a TSO has the tools and resources to inform individuals about their benefits and provide information others might not.
“TSOs will provide a solid briefing to the service members on the [claims processes], as well as a thorough brief on the nature, importance and complexities of the medical examination administered by the VA,” he said. “It should be important [to transitioning military members] to invest a little time to see if there might be potential claims to benefits that they are not aware of to which they might be entitled.”
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