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Veterans Services reports rising claims and economic impact; VA CBOC groundbreaking on schedule for 2027
Summary
Veterans Services Director Ed Zackery said the office filed 370 claims through June, with 497 pending claims and 19 appeals; he cited a 2024 local economic impact of $118 million and said the VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic groundbreaking occurred in June and remains on track to open in late summer or fall 2027.
Veterans Services Director Ed Zackery presented a mid-year report to the Board covering claims activity, financial assistance, transportation and programming.
Zackery said the office filed 370 claims through June (231 medical and ancillary benefit claims), with 497 pending claims and 19 appeals; the average claims volume is about 61 per month. Drawing on 2024 data, he said $118 million was spent in Medina County either directly to veterans or on their medical expenses, with $63 million going directly into veterans' pockets. The office's financial-assistance program served 127 eligible clients and wrote $154,154.65 in vouchers, of which $149,212.28 has been paid out. Zackery noted homeless veteran cases are down 66% compared with the prior year and attributed improvements in part to a transitional shelter partnership with Next Step Up.
Zackery reported that the VA CBOC had its groundbreaking in June and remains on schedule to open in late summer or fall of 2027. He said the county's transportation model will likely be revised to take veterans directly to local appointments as the CBOC becomes available, reducing the need to travel to Akron over time.
