Legion's outreach spreads throughout Los Angeles

George Young barely slept Monday evening knowing he would have the opportunity to meet with American Legion claims experts at its Los Angeles area Veterans Benefits Center Tuesday morning.

“I wanted the American Legion to represent me in my appeal,” said Young, who came to the Legion outreach event at the urging of a friend. “I didn’t get a fair shake from the VA for my depression, military sexual trauma and PTSD. I need someone to look deep into my personnel file and see some of the events that happened to me in the Navy have affected me today.”

VA has recognized Young’s hepatitis and an eye injury as service-related injuries since his honorable discharge from the Navy in 1991. But he has a zero percent disability rating. Young filed a claim for his depression and other issues in January 2013. It was denied in June. Young says he’s mystified given that VA prescribed him antidepressants and sent him to an inpatient PTSD treatment program at a VA hospital in Maryland.

Young moved to Los Angeles after his claim was denied, hoping for a fresh start. He found it Tuesday as he met with Legion service officers and VA staff at the three-day benefits outreach event. “I haven’t received as much help anywhere as I have today,” Young said. “American Legion makes me realize some people do care about us and want to help.”

Michael Harvey of San Pedro also came to the Veterans Benefits Center for help filing an appeal.

Harvey is contesting the 10 percent disability rating he received for an eye injury and hearing loss from his service as an avionics technician on the Air Force flight line in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. He shares a similar appreciation for the Legion’s outreach. “The American Legion is going to help me on this appeal – and I have a contact in Washington, D.C., now. This kind of effort is like somebody throwing me a lifesaver because I was lost in the bureaucratic maze of the VA.”

Other veterans came to the benefits center for assistance obtaining a VA identification card and exploring their benefits. Navy veteran Robert Boyd wanted to find out if he could get help for the ringing in his ears and back problems that stem from his days catching cannon shells and loading 40 mm guns. But he also wants to make sure he’s connected to the VA for the sake of his family.

“I want to make arrangements so if I ever have to have care, my boys don’t get caught having to be my caregiver,” Boyd said as he headed into the benefits center. “I did it for 14 years with my wife and it’s such a draining event.”

Boyd was aware of the Veterans Benefits Center here because he’s the 19th District commander for the American Legion Department of California. But Army widow Eva Flores just happened upon the event. “I was walking by and I saw The American Legion sign,” said Flores, who needed help filing a claim for her late husband’s burial expenses. “I thought, let me go in and ask them because my husband was a member of the Legion a long time ago.”

Flores first filed a claim three years ago but nothing happened. She later learned that a volunteer at the Long Beach VA Medical Center had helped her apply for the wrong benefits. This week, a Legion representative got her claim back on track. “I am so glad I came,” Flores said. “The guy who helped me out gave me all the answers I need. It means a lot.”

These outreach centers also are important to VA, said Emmett O’Meara, Veterans Service Center manager for the agency’s Los Angeles regional office. “This is invaluable – the opportunity to meet with veterans and discuss their issues and their claims. It’s a great opportunity for us to provide the best service we can.”

Initially planned for American Legion Post 496 in Long Beach, the Veterans Benefits Center was moved to Cloud Break Communities in Inglewood on Wednesday and Thursday to make it more accessible to veterans most in need. That gave Aaron Cooper, Jr. the opportunity to learn he might be eligible for VA benefits for the first time since he left the service in 1991. Cooper injured his right knee in the Army and his left ankle while he was a hand-to-hand combat trainer in the Marines, he said. He met with Legion and VA representatives at the Veterans Benefits Center on Wednesday and emerged grateful but cautious.

“I’m hoping The American Legion guys can fight on my behalf to make sure the claim goes through,” Cooper said. “I know it’s a lengthy process.”

Diane Aguilar was able to get VA’s help figuring out what steps she needs to take to complete her PTSD claim. “I’m encouraged,” Aguilar, an Air Force veteran said, after her consultation.

Meanwhile, Christopher Li, came to the benefits center two days in a row for detailed assistance with his complicated claim for injuries to his lungs, his eyes and other issues. “It’s important for the Legion to do events like these because there are a lot of veterans out there who don’t know their rights,” Li said. “The people in The American Legion picked me up when I was broken. Without them, I would probably be homeless.”

The Veterans Benefits Center continues until 7 p.m. Thursday at Cloud Break Communities at 725 S. Hindry Ave. in Inglewood, Calif. The Legion has been conducting these outreach events, earlier called Veterans Crisis Command Centers, since June. Legion service officers, members of the Legion’s national staff, VA representatives and volunteers are on hand to help veterans enroll in VA health care, file claims, schedule appointments and deal with other needs.