County Veterans Service Officer reports surge in office visits, warns of shrinking state aid

Mark Lakamp, Lancaster County Veterans Service Officer, told the board during the May 7 staff meeting that his office has seen a "significant rise in office visits" from veterans seeking motor-vehicle tax exemptions that require verification in the state veterans benefits database. He said this in-person demand contrasts with declining phone calls and claims activity as the initial surge of PACT Act filings has tapered.

Lakamp said improvements in the VA’s claims processing and automated tools have sped simple cases such as hearing-loss claims, which reduced retroactive payments and helped shrink a backlog that swelled during the COVID-19 and PACT Act periods. He also described increased reliance on the State Veterans Aid program, with a corresponding decline in use of county veterans aid as staff route eligible claims to state resources.

Lakamp raised concern about a recent budget sweep that he said reduced the state veterans fund from $2.5 million to $1.5 million. He said veterans organizations plan to develop a strategy at the July Nebraska Veterans Council meeting and may pursue legislative safeguards to prevent future sweeps. Commissioner Rick Vest and Lakamp discussed pending legislative matters and whether any operational issues needed attention; Lakamp said there were none beyond the funding concerns.

The board did not take formal action on the funding issue at the meeting; Lakamp identified legislative advocacy and partnership with veterans organizations as next steps.