WASHINGTON — Veterans who sent applications or letters to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offices in Washington, D.C., since Oct. 12, should be aware that mail is just now being delivered to VA because of U.S. Postal Service (USPS) concerns about anthrax. VA offices plan to expedite the processing of requests and responses to letters.
VA’s Washington offices receive mail through the Brentwood postal facility, which closed Oct. 22. USPS sent VA’s incoming mail to a facility in Ohio for treatment and that mail began reaching VA recently.
The public could be affected by service disruption in several areas. Until the recent resumption of delivery, only 13 percent of normal mail reached the office that handles claims from veterans in metropolitan Washington for compensation and pension. About 2 percent arrived at offices handling all applications for veterans’ burial markers and Presidential Memorial Certificates.
The Memorial Programs Service normally receives 800-900 applications for headstones and markers each business day, so the backlog of mailings will mean several extra weeks before veterans’ graves are marked.
People with questions about a headstone or marker application sent before Oct. 12 may call 1-800-697-6947 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday.
Veterans who have questions about an application for disability compensation or pension mailed to the Washington regional benefits office may call 1-800-827-1000.
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Reporters and media outlets with questions or comments should contact the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov
Veterans with questions about their health care and benefits (including GI Bill). Questions, updates and documents can be submitted online.
Veterans can also use our chatbot to get information about VA benefits and services. The chatbot won’t connect you with a person, but it can show you where to go on VA.gov to find answers to some common questions.
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