Custer County veteran service officer reports surge in claims, $240,000 annual compensation increase

Dominic Edgerton, Custer County veteran service officer, told the Custer County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 23 that his office has stepped up outreach and benefits work and that the local veteran population has seen substantial financial gains as a result.

"I was in office 10 out of the 16 days that we were open. I had 39 scheduled appointments, 1 no show, 3 home visits that were not scheduled, 11 walk ins," Edgerton said, listing recent office activity. He told commissioners that, since arriving, he submitted 366 claims, of which 297 have been rated, and that increases in monthly compensation totaled "a little over 240,000,0.0." He also said retroactive payments totaling almost $120,000 have been received, with additional large retro payments pending.

Edgerton said the claims work is producing local economic gains for veterans and their families. "That's tax free dollars coming to the county," he said, noting 178 veterans have been rated since he began and that outreach has brought many first‑time claimants into the system.

Why it matters: Edgerton framed his office's activity as a revenue and services lift for local veterans and the county. He described both individual casework and broader efforts — marketing, public events and training — aimed at identifying unfiled claims and increasing benefit awards, which can affect local household incomes and demand for county support programs.

Details and context

Edgerton described the mix of work his office does: new claims, supplemental claims, intent-to-file filings and home visits. He said new and increased claims submitted were nine in the reporting period and that supplemental claims submitted were eight. He also described an outstanding caseload: "Right now, we're currently at 377 claims, and 299 of those are being rated," he said, adding that roughly 20% of submitted claims remained pending rating.

On grant and charitable funds, Edgerton said he was awarded a $30,000 Veteran Assistance Grant (VAG) and that the grant allows up to 10% for marketing. He told the board he had used some marketing money for outreach materials and tents and that the grant, combined with charitable donations, is being used to meet needs that grant rules do not permit — for example, assisting widows and widowers ineligible for certain federal or state funds.

He also described cross-county demand: Edgerton said he has been helping veterans from surrounding counties (Chaffee, Fremont, Huerfano, Pueblo and parts of El Paso), but that his capacity has limits. "I've had to start saying no," he said, adding that he now asks out‑of‑county callers whether they have first contacted their county VSO.

Statewide training and standards

Edgerton said county veteran service officers (VSOs) are mandated statewide but that service levels vary. He described work with the Colorado Division of Veterans Affairs and an effort to standardize VSO training and reporting. "Mount Carmel and the division of Veterans Affairs... Custer County is the model county for the entire state," Edgerton said, adding that the county's roundtable model and data reporting had drawn state attention.

Board questions and follow‑up

Commissioners asked about grant paperwork and receipts for charitable donations; Edgerton said he provides receipts for donors so they may claim tax deductions. Commissioners also asked about the effectiveness of grant marketing; Edgerton said in-person outreach and local events plus word-of-mouth have been important to his intake. He told the board he will continue to prioritize outreach, and that he is tracking metrics for out‑of‑county assistance.

Ending note

Edgerton closed by thanking the board for support and noting the limits of his office's capacity: "I appreciate you guys' support," he said. He asked commissioners to encourage veterans who report poor local VSO service to contact county officials so the issue can be escalated.