Clatsop County veteran services reports increased claims and outreach; office seeing steadier contact times

Carl Wiley, Clatsop County veteran service officer, gave the board a semiannual update on veteran services, saying the office handled 392 claims in calendar year 2024 and has seen an increase in decision reviews and service-connected disability claims.

Wiley told commissioners the office recorded about $12,600,000 in compensation and about $1,100,000 in retroactive payments for Clatsop County veterans and their survivors during calendar year 2024. He said the office had particular success securing a service-connected disability decision for a Vietnam veteran that produced retroactive pay and helped the veteran keep housing.

“The past 6 months, there's been quite a large uptick” in decision reviews, Wiley said, adding that he attributes part of the rise to VA processing changes and turnover at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Wiley described current operations as improved after clearing backlogs, noting voicemail responses now come within “a few hours versus a few days” and that routine appointments are scheduled about four to six weeks out. He said the office typically schedules three to five in‑office appointments per day and performs on‑demand home visits when necessary.

“We do make concessions for people who are in hospice care or have urgent or emergent situations to see them as quickly as possible,” Wiley said, describing how staff adjust schedules for emergencies.

The office runs regular outreach such as a monthly veterans breakfast hosted by local restaurants and businesses, a restored Military and Veteran Convention, Project Homeless Connect participation and site visits to facilities including Columbia Inn and Esperanza Village. Wiley said the office also continues work with National Guard and Coast Guard personnel to inform transitioning service members about benefits.

Commissioners asked about coordination with other county programs and service levels. Commissioner Thompson asked whether Wiley coordinates with the county’s deflection program; Wiley said he had not yet engaged that program but would follow up with county staff to explore collaboration. Commissioner Banks asked whether the office can shorten the four‑to‑six week appointment wait; Wiley said veterans are contacted within hours or days and the office prioritizes emergent cases but that he is the only accredited representative in the county and has limited bandwidth.

Wiley said staff mapping shows roughly 1,900 veterans and survivors being served in early 2025 and noted outreach into rural areas near Tillamook and Columbia counties. He described a near‑term event: a partnership with Fort Stevens for a veteran beach cleanup planned for March, and longer‑range planning for a November military and veteran convention and possible social‑media outreach campaign to expand awareness.

Commissioners praised the office’s work and asked staff to pursue comparisons with similar rural counties to benchmark appointment wait times, and to look for opportunities to leverage county programs.

Ending: Wiley closed by offering to answer follow‑up questions and commissioners thanked him for the update.