On April 29th two representatives from the Disabled American Veterans met with interested NPVA members to discuss the DAV’s role in helping veterans nation-wide and here in Delaware. Leading the presentation was Mark Donberger, a supervisor for the National Service Office who works out of the DAV’s Wilmington office. Assisting members with initiating the claims process was Scott Gould, a Department Service Office who works in offices in Camden and Georgetown.
The meeting on Veteran benefits had a real heart-to-heart vibe, focusing on the struggles vets face in getting the benefits they’ve earned, to include those dealing with Agent Orange. Mark Donberger spoke up about how tough it can be to get VA disability pay, mainly because of the lack of clear diagnoses and proof from docs. Mark showed a video that really hit home with how important it is to dig into military records to support claims of service-connected disabilities. Some of the vets shared their own stories dealing with the VA, stressing the importance of filing claims and the risk of getting tangled up in red tape.
The meeting also dug into the nitty-gritty of VA benefits, like service connection and disability pay, and the video narrator went deep into issues like Gulf War illness and the Agent Orange Act. They also discussed pension benefits and what spouses can get if their vet passes away.
On another note, Mark Donberger talked about DAV’s free services for vets, boasting a million-plus members and 1400 local chapters. They’ve helped vets score $28 billion in benefits, and they’re all about helping all Americans, especially those who’ve been through tough times. For instance, the DAV is already helping out vets affected by the recent tornados in Nebraska and Oklahoma, providing checks ranging from $500 to $1000 to help with immediate needs.
Overall, it was a real eye-opener into the challenges vets face and what’s being done to help them out. From PTSD to hearing loss, the struggle for benefits is real, but there are folks out there working hard to make things right.