Legion, Department of Veterans Affairs team up to make it easier for Chicago veterans to make progress on their claims appeals.
Weekdays, especially in a city the size of Chicago, aren’t always the best times for veterans to drive to meet with a veterans service officer. Between traffic and parking, it can make for a stressful day.
That’s why American Legion Department of Illinois service officers recently teamed up with Department of Veterans Affairs staff to offer a group of veterans a chance to meet one on one with both on a Saturday morning.
Legion service officers teamed up with VA Decision Review Officers (DRO) during a pilot program at the Chicago Regional Benefit Office Nov. 7. The program allowed a small group of veterans appealing VA’s ruling on a benefits claim to meet face to face with service officers and adjudicators to either determine or move along the appeals process.
Wayne Macejak, director of the Legion’s Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Office in Chicago, said he was contacted by VA’s Veterans Service Center Manager Ruthie Grelik about taking part in the pilot program. Macejak immediately told her yes.
“During the week we have a full waiting room with more commotion going on,” Macejak said. “Here, we had no time constraints. We sat down and talked until we were done discussing the situation. And being a Saturday, I think it’s a more relaxing day than a work-week day.”
Macejak said VA choosing to partner with the Legion on the pilot program “says a lot about The American Legion reputation. I think we have a good reputation with the VA here in Chicago. They know if that if they call and leave a message, we’ll call them back. If they have a question, we’ll get an answer for them.”
Being able to ask questions left Air Force veteran Geoff Clark satisfied that he came into the regional office on a Saturday morning. “It was worth my time,” Clark said. “I was heard.”
Veterans asked by Legion reps to participate were quick to accept. “A lot of our veterans during the week aren’t available to come in, so the weekend is a good time for them,” Department Service Officer Ray Toczek said. “When we stress (to veterans) that they might be able to get their appeal resolved a lot of quicker and save perhaps up to a year or two of extra time, they jump on the idea. I think that was the key selling point.”
Toczek said the veterans he worked with “did not feel rushed, and they left at least having a better handle on their case.”
Army veteran Thomas Banas drove 90 miles round-trip to check on an appeal he said has been pending “for four or five years.” He left the Chicago Regional Benefit Office feeling better about his case.
“Everybody treated me well,” Banas said. “And (Macejak) said I’ve got a good shot. I couldn’t ask for a better guy (than Wayne). He’s any easy guy to talk to, very professional.”
Department Service Officer Terry James also was on hand to meet with veterans – and left the office that day having made a huge impact on one veteran’s life. The veteran alreadyhad been diagnosed with a 50 percent service connection but was still being rated at zero percent by VA. James showed the diagnosis to a VA DRO who immediately rated the veteran at 50 percent, retroactive to 2013.
“With his dependents, it’s going to be about $20,000 (in retroactive pay),” James said. “I got excited for him because he just had a new baby, so it’s going to be a great Christmas for him. It shows that this program can possibly work. It gives a veteran more intimate time with us and with a DRO, versus them sitting at a desk flipping through (the claim). (The DRO) heard him out, and he heard me out, and it was a success.”
- Veterans Benefits