Cumberland County veterans will have the opportunity to speak directly with Department of Veterans Affairs representatives Wednesday.
Cumberland County Veteran Service Officer Jeffrey Connors said a local resource fair will help veterans fully access their government benefits. Connors said the local office requested the presence of the VA because the county has one of the highest veteran populations in Tennessee.
“Instead of going through us and others, we wanted to have the VA here so our veterans can ask the VA directly questions that they have concerning their health, concerning benefits, concerning burial services that the VA provides,” Connors said. “So those are important, and they’re too important to leave it through a bunch of intermediaries.”
Connors said only about 30 percent of veterans currently have a medical condition officially connected to their service. Connors said many more individuals may be eligible for compensation due to exposures such as Agent Orange or burn pits. Connors said despite common gripes, the local veterans affairs services offer high-quality care.
“It’s just a matter of filling out some paperwork, going through some examinations,” Connors said. “It’s not a great process, but it’s not onerous either.”
Connors said the VA is currently expanding its regional footprint by building a new clinic in Cookeville. Connors said officials have also discussed the possibility of establishing a clinic in Crossville, though those plans remain tentative.
“They’re also thinking about building a clinic in Crossville,” Connors said. “Now, it’s very tentative; they’ve only talked about it, so there’s nothing firm yet, but that’s one of the questions that we’re going to ask next week.”
Connors said many veterans do not take advantage of available benefits because they are unaware of basic programs or find the large government organization difficult to navigate. Connors said the resource fair will allow attendees to sign up for healthcare on-site.
Connors said Americans owe their freedom to servicemen and women that put their life on the line during numerous military conflicts throughout the world.
“There’s no amount of money that is going to repay that debt,” Connors said. “So we want to do what we can for our veterans while they’re with us.
Connors said the VA Health Administration is the largest healthcare provider in the country, which can sometimes lead to errors that receive media attention. Connors said he has used the system for more than 30 years and encourages others to be persistent if they encounter problems.
“I constructively criticize, constructively complain to the patient advocate or my provider or whatever, and they’ve always resolved it,” Connors said. “And so I feel, one thing you have to have, as in many facets of life, you just have to have persistence.”
Connors said the debt owed to those who served, particularly those who suffered long-term health effects from their service, is one that cannot be fully repaid. Connors said the goal of the event is to ensure veterans can make informed decisions about their future by understanding exactly what the VA can and cannot do for them.
Connors said veterans can also access information through the newly revamped VA website and mobile application to manage medications and contact doctors.
