ONLINE VETERANS RESOURCE DIRECTORY USER FRIENDLY
March 17, 2006

The California Department of Veterans Affairs announces a new online user-friendly California Veterans Resource Directory. The California Veterans Resource Directory is a comprehensive, searchable database of services available to California veterans, their survivors and dependents at the federal, state and local levels.

“I am proud that CDVA is making this new service available to California’s veterans,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Tom Johnson. “The California Veterans Resource Directory is one more vehicle developed in the spirit of furthering Governor Schwarzenegger’s vision of providing the highest quality service to our State’s veterans.”

The California Veterans Resource Directory database includes federal, state and county veterans offices, contact information for veterans organizations, services available for homeless veterans, veterans offices at educational institutions and other veterans-related material.

This online directory will be a perpetual work in progress, as new resources for veterans will continue to be added to the database when they are identified.

The California Veterans Resource Directory also includes contact information and a suggestion form that visitors are encouraged to use to suggest new entries to help improve the directory. The online California Veterans Resource Directory is available at http://www.cdva.ca.gov/cvrd/default.asp

HEY VA! HAVE YOU HEARD?
February 8, 2006

The Veterans Benefits Administration has created a "survivors" website
www.vba.va.gov/survivors for spouses and dependents of military personnel who died on active duty and for the survivors and dependents of veterans who died after leaving the military. The Web site is organized into two broad categories - death in service and death after service.

It provides visitors with information about a wide range of benefits for the surviving spouse, dependent children, and dependent parents of deceased veterans and active-duty personnel. The site also has information from -- and links to -- other federal agencies and organizations that offer benefits and services to survivors and dependents.

The website can be reached by clicking the "Survivors Benefits" button
 on the left of the www.vba.va.gov page.

The 2007 edition of the Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents is now online.

This annually updated desk reference covering federal benefits programs for veterans and their families is available at:

http://www1.va.gov/OPA/vadocs/current_benefits.asp
 and http://www1.va.gov/opa/feature/index.asp

        The American Legion - Department of California
      Veterans Service Offices

Terry Tracy - Los Angeles Office   Federal Building - 11000 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 5201   Los Angeles, CA 90024-3689   Phone: 310-473-6534 Fax 310-479-4641 Terry Murray - San Diego Office   The American Legion - 8810 Rio San Diego Dr., Rm 1173   San Diego, CA 92108-1622   Phone: 619-400-5301 Fax 619-688-0874 Robert L. Mason - San Francisco / Oakland Office   The American Legion - 1301 Clay St., Rm 1135N   Oakland, CA 94612-5201   Phone: 510-834-0310, 0430 Fax 510-834-0507

Veterans need not be alone in their battles for benefits and medical care. Veterans are often forced to wage war against the paperwork and bureaucracy of government in order to get medical care or benefits. Here's some good news: American Legion Service Officers offer free advice and guidance for veterans who need to deal with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

This directory provides contact telephone numbers and addresses for the service officers in your area. Direct all correspondence to Department Service Officer .

Important documents that may be needed to support a VA disability claim
Please have the following ready when you make your call:

• DD Form 214 (Issued at the time of separation) ***
• Service Medical Records (Outpatient), dental records, entrance and separation examination reports
• Inpatient Hospitalization Records (private or military)
• Private Outpatient Medical Records (if applicable)
• Personnel File
• Line of Duty (LOD) investigation reports
• Overseas or Temporary Duty (Travel) Orders

*** Separating personnel should ensure that all of the information (including awards, overseas time, campaigns, RE code, etc.) on the DD 214 is correct before signing. Uncorrected errors may cause problems in the future when applying for VA and other benefits.

Gateway to VA Web Page Links
To help you navigate throughout the VA Web site easily, we have included a map of the high level pages on the next page.

Questions?
David L Eby
State Commander 1998-99
Department Webmaster

last update
7-25-07

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