THE DAV’S NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAM DAV is dedicated to the service of our nation’s wounded heroes, the men and women who live with illnesses and injuries sustained during military service. Some injuries are visible, and some, like post-traumatic stress disorder, are not. We are here to help them all, regardless of the severity or degree of the injuries. Each year, DAV helps hundreds of thousands of veterans obtain government benefits earned through service. We provide much-needed help finding good jobs, a place to live and quality health care. We bring veterans struggling with physical, mental or emotional injuries together to share their experiences as part of the healing process. We are here to help veterans overcome great odds as they try to regain a sense of normalcy and take back their lives. In 100 offices throughout the United States and in Puerto Rico, we employ a corps of approximately 260 National Service Officers (NSOs) and 31 Transition Service Officers (TSOs) who counsel and represent veterans and their families with claims for benefits they deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Department of Defense and other government agencies. Veterans need not be members to take advantage of our assistance, which is provided free of charge. With outlays of $40,396,578 in 2011, these direct services make up the largest item in our budget for program activities. Between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2011, our NSOs and TSOs, all wartime veterans themselves, represented more than 215,000 veterans and their families in their claims for VA benefits. NSOs function as attorneys-in-fact, assisting veterans and their families in filing claims for VA disability compensation, rehabilitation and education programs, pensions, death benefits, employment and training programs. They provide free information seminars, counseling and community outreach activities. Our Mobile Service Offices (MSOs) bring DAV services to veterans where they live. NSOs also represent veterans and active-duty military personnel before Discharge Review Boards, Boards for Correction of Military Records, Physical Evaluation Boards, the Disability Transition Assistance Program, the Transition Assistance Program, and many other official panels.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Jun 2013 07:33:09 +0000