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Knox County veterans service officer Heidi Paulman helps veterans navigate VA claims
Summary
Heidi Paulman, a veterans service officer with Knox County Veterans Services, says she helps veterans file disability and pension claims, enroll in VA medical benefits and secure back pay. The county video traces her Air Force background to her current role as an advocate for veterans.
Heidi Paulman, a veterans service officer with Knox County Veterans Services, says she helps local veterans file disability and pension claims, enroll in Department of Veterans Affairs medical benefits and act as a go-between with the VA so they do not have to manage complex paperwork alone.
In a county-produced video, Paulman described why she took the job and how an Air Force background shaped her approach. "I help veterans file their claims for disability or pension, help them get signed up for medical, the—I'm kind of their go between with the VA," she said, describing the day-to-day work of her office.
The video explains that Knox County Veterans Services assists veterans with paperwork and benefits that can otherwise feel overwhelming. Paulman said the role requires both paperwork knowledge and an understanding of veterans' experiences: "The military trains you to be the best of what you can be... Accountability, you definitely learn it," she said.
Paulman recounted her own service: she joined the U.S. Air Force at 19 and served from 1994 to 1998 as a weather observer at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, where she monitored runway conditions and recorded observations used by flight forecasters. After leaving active duty she served in the Air National Guard, then worked as a corrections officer when a Guard position was eliminated.
Two decades later she relocated to East Tennessee and began work at Knox County Veterans Services. Paulman described the fast start: movers packed her house and she drove overnight to begin work. She said the job has yielded many "wins," including helping veterans receive back pay and benefits after years of waiting. "It's awesome when a veteran calls me and... they're like, 'oh my gosh. Did you see my paperwork?'" she said.
The video closes by framing Paulman's work as an extension of service: "This is the best job ever," she said, adding that helping veterans secure benefits can be life changing. The county message ends with thanks to all veterans for their courage, sacrifice and service to the nation.
