Latest Releases

Apr 25 2019

Pennsylvania Service Officer Focuses on Overseas Veterans

Elizabeth Salvador, a service officer at the VA Pittsburgh Regional Office, recently helped a veteran living in Africa end an 11-year-long appeals process. Salvador works on foreign claims from veterans who live outside of the United States. She said that in this particular case, the veteran initially was given a zero percent rating because he was unable to have an exam to determine the “current level of severity” for his conditions. “He’s in a really, really rural area,...

Apr 23 2019

Veteran Set for Success Thanks to VFW Scholarship

Anthony Gabriel, 29, of Orlando, Fla., cares deeply about America and the people in it. Gabriel joined the military because he always thought it was something he owed his country. In eight years of service, he deployed to Afghanistan and was stationed in North Carolina, California and Hawaii. He was promoted to staff sergeant before exiting the U.S. Marine Corps, and credits his time in the military with teaching him skills that will help him as he transitions to civilia...

Apr 18 2019

The Whole Community is Willing to Help Me

Since 2013, VFW and the Student Veterans of America (SVA) have worked side-by-side to advocate for improvements to student-veteran benefits. The two groups have many similarities — both are led by veterans advocating for veterans’ benefits and serving their communities. In the same spirit of VFW, the SVA chapter at Louisiana State University (SVLSU) in Baton Rouge, La., has given time and energy to help its local community and other veterans. One example of this was the...

Apr 16 2019

VFW Brings VA Services to Remote Locations

VFW Post 6786 sits seven miles from the Canadian border, more than 60 miles from the nearest VA clinic and more than 250 miles from the nearest VA hospital. Because of its remote location, VA approached the Eureka, Mont., Post in July about becoming the first non-VA location to house a telehealth facility. Telehealth uses technology, such as video conferencing, to remotely connect patients with doctors. Kedron Burnett, VA’s Project Advancing Telehealth through Local Acc...

Apr 12 2019

Military Accounting Error Puts Air Force Sergeant in Dire Straits

Veteran Brandi Mora joined the military for opportunity and security, yet due to some payroll mishaps … she found herself in a dire situation. Mora, of Hammond, Ind., joined the United States Air Force 10 years ago after completing graduate school and seeking a career as a linguist. As a sergeant, she served in California, Georgia, Missouri, and deployed to Bagram, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. A dedicated active-duty service member, she was surpr...