The Claims and Benefits Division provides many different services to the veterans and their dependents. The primary function is to assist veterans and their dependents with their claims before the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Claims worked through the Muskogee Claims Office help claimants obtain compensation and pension benefits. Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs Service Officers and Claims Officers are accredited with a number of service organizations in order to better represent the claimant with their claims and appeals. The Claims Officers will assist in the appeals process, and if necessary, represent the claimant at a personal hearing before the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Hearing Officer. The Muskogee Claims Office handles lifetime hunting & fishing permits, special veterans license plates, and the Financial Assistance Program. 

Also, The Claims & Benefits Veterans Service Representatives (VSR), covers the entire state on an itinerant basis, providing a service to veterans and their dependents within their home communities. Claims for compensation, pension, education, and medical benefits originate at the local level. The VSR's counsel the clients, assist in completing forms, and advise in determining the evidence needed. Claims are then forwarded to the Claims Office located in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Muskogee, Oklahoma. There the claims are reviewed by a staff of Claims Officers and sent to the USDVA for eventual adjudication.

A very important function of all Claims & Benefits VSR's is to assist veterans, widows, parents or any persons who receive USDVA Eligibility Verification Reports (EVRs) annually. These forms are of extreme importance to the persons who receive them, as their USDVA pensions and parent's Dependence and Indemnity Compensation payments are paid on the basis of the income reported on the EVR's. If the EVR is not completed and returned by the deadline, the pension checks are stopped. Persons who receive EVR's from the USDVA are strongly urged to seek assistance from the USDVA or ODVA VSR's as they have the knowledge for completing the forms.

The Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs has additional Claims Offices at the two USDVA Medical Centers, (Muskogee and Oklahoma City,)  USDVA Outpatient Clinic (Tulsa), and the  Lawton/Fort Sill Veterans Center. These Claims Officers not only submit claims for VA benefits, but also help veterans obtain their medical benefits.

 

State Benefits

A) Tax Exemption for 100% Disabled Veterans for sales tax, excise tax (Motor Vehicles Only), and ad valorem tax (Spouse included for ad valorem tax only)

      FAQ: 100% Veteran Disability Exemption

B) Free hunting and fishing permit for legal residents with 60% or more disability.

C) State Veterans Center

• Ardmore--175 nursing care beds
• Claremore--302 nursing care beds
• Clinton--148 nursing care beds--8 domiciliary beds
• Lawton--200 nursing care beds
• Norman--301 nursing care beds
• Sulphur--132 nursing care beds
• Talihina--175 nursing care beds

D) Emergency/Disaster Financial Assistance Program

E) Reduced Fee auto tags

F) State Veterans Employment Preference

G) National Guard Tuition Waiver Program

H) Veterans Service Representatives cover all seventy-seven counties

I) Claims and Benefits Division with representation in Federal VA appeals

             

Veterans Service Representatives' Itineraries