Have you served in a combat zone, area of hostility or experienced a military sexual trauma? If so, you qualify for free community-based counseling at a Vet Center and you qualify whether you are active duty now, recently separated or served many years ago. Families dealing with bereavement are also eligible for counseling. There are 300 Vet Centers across the nation that offer free counseling, referral services and other assistance to eligible Veterans, Servicemembers and their families.
On Jan. 28, VA partnered with Team Red White & Blue for an #ExploreVA Facebook chat to spread the word about the services that VA Vet Centers provide. In addition to answering questions on Team RWB’s Facebook page, VA and Team RWB aired a live discussion of Vet Center services from our Silver Spring, Maryland, location. Two Vet Center counselors, an outreach worker and a member of Team RWB shared their experiences with Vet Centers and answered questions about what Vet centers have to offer eligible Veterans and their families.
Check out the discussion in full or see our summary below.
Many Veterans, Servicemembers and their families tuned in on Facebook to ask questions about Vet Centers. Here are some of these questions and their answers.
A number of Veterans asked to be connected to their local Vet Center, and the VA team promptly provided contact information based on the viewer’s zip code.
You can find the VA Vet Center nearest to you with the online locator tool.
If you have loved ones who could benefit from the services offered at Vet Centers, we encourage you to share the discussion on Vet Centers from VA’s YouTube channel. Thank you to everyone who tuned in to the event—and especially to Team RWB for hosting the chat.
For more information on Vet Centers, click here. To learn about other VA benefits, check out the ExploreVA website.
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My name is Ben Payne. I was released from the Navy with a mental disorder. Later I was diagnosis with systemic lupus. A condition that’s on the presumptive list. I keep being denied cause there is no service records or diagnosis. On my separation physical protein was found. In which I was put on s medical hold. I provided a note from a VA doctor saying that was a significant amount to notify my kidneys were failing. How can I get my claim into a segmented Lane “SPECIAL OPERATIONS”. And how long do they take to get a decision?
Need help and transparency!!!!!! I went to see a neuromedical care under choice and choice dropped the ball by falsely allowing me to waste my time to show up to an appointment that was never made but the consult was in the system.
I’m a heavy PTSD MARINE that is separated from his family due to ptsd.
I heavily need these appointments to work through my issues.
I feel …hate to say, betrayed and left in the wind.
I would never do this to America or my family.
Please help those whom might be going through same and keep accountability strong.
As I write this, I’m crying missing my family knowing I need this treatment to save my marriage and even life; in my apartment parking lot cause I can’t get my stuff together to buy a house for my family. As an adhd adult mixed with PTSD, this can be devastating if not deadly.
I trusted them…
I’ve heard that the VA is taking over all the states Veteran Services. Can you please confirm or deny this issue?
Thank you in advance for your reply.
I believe the VA is right on target with these new “Suicide Prevention Programs,”! And opening local Vet Centers, as a way to call those veterans in that need help. My name is Raymond Mitchell, and I am one of those veterans who was in a war times situation, didn’t know/understand how PTSD, and the affects of depression, anger etc; would effect the rest of my life. The local Vet Center, and DAV’s here in Norfolk, Virginia, have opened their doors to my recovery for the passed seven plus years! There are people, and programs out there that can, and will help get you back on track with a better life, “if” you are willing to take the right steps to help your self, first!
Now it’s time to “up my game,” to the next level! Giving back is the next stage! I am a twelve year veteran of the USAF, and eleven years US NAVY veteran, and proud to have serviced in both branches! The military gave me something more then just a job. It gave me space, and time to learn new crafts. To be molded into a new person with the means to help change the lives of others around in a whole different way. Eight years at sea, and college correspondents coursework helped enhance my thinking who I wanted to be, and how to get there.
Life has changed over the years. And I have since retired from a regular job. Most of my time these days is taken up in Volunteerism, and helping Veterans obtain VA Benefits, counseling, and letting people know how they can have a better relationship with, “the love of Christ,” in their lives! I would love to be a part of this new program, to better help veterans if allowed. We all can use a little help, in one way or another.
I wish that dental help was available I found it is only if dental problem was service related I am a 79 you old Korean vet who needs dental help may be one day it may be available thru the v a
Great to see the use of such a broad media as the Internet being used to reach more veterans and people in general who have been continually missed on assistance with benefits and available assistance programs.
My personal is with obtaining employment.
After almost a year of applying for chapter 31, vocational rehab, talking to hr recruiters and some thousand email Resumes and listening to and reading about the literature about the focus on employment for veterans with disabilities and wonder if my goal to obtain competitive employment while rated as a veteran with a disability will be reached which is a very depressing thought after a successful 20 year Naval career.