Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Caldwell County veteran services urges veterans to seek help and bring DD Form 214
Loading...
Summary
Joseph Callaway, director of Caldwell County Veteran Services, urged veterans, dependents and surviving spouses to contact the county office for help navigating Department of Veterans Affairs benefits, obtain replacement DD Form 214s, and use local assistance for claims and flag retirement.
Joseph Callaway, director of Caldwell County Veteran Services, urged veterans, their dependents and surviving spouses to contact the county office for help navigating benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs and to bring their DD Form 214 when they come in.
"If you're a veteran, a dependent, or a surviving spouse, I want you to know you're not alone," Callaway said. "Your local county veteran service office is your first stop for information, counseling, and assistance with benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs." He added that the office can help replace lost discharge paperwork and assist with the claims process.
Callaway explained the basic elements the VA typically looks for in claims: "The key to all VA claims is to have a qualifying event in service, a current diagnosis, and a link between them, which the VA calls a nexus." He offered examples of eligible situations, citing veterans who served in World War II or Korea with service-related injuries, those exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam or Thailand, and more recent veterans coping with traumatic brain injuries or questions about GI Bill benefits.
The county office, Callaway said, helps veterans file claims, secure benefits, access health care, obtain military records and connect with additional resources. He said the team carries multiple accreditations, including recognition by the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and the American Legion, along with national accreditation for veterans service officers.
Callaway noted the office's work in securing payments for service-connected disabilities and wartime pensions, calling those outcomes "a lifeline" that provides homes, health care, education and stability. He also said the office collects worn American flags to ensure they are "respectfully retired."
"Bring your DD Form 214," Callaway said, and "Call for an appointment." He closed by reiterating the office's mission: "We are proud to serve those who served."
