'Today, I feel blessed'

Since leaving the U.S. Marines in 1971, Donald Muse has been having health issues related to his service. When he initially sought help, he was told there was nothing wrong with him.

But after coming to The American Legion’s recent Veterans Benefits Center (VBC) in Metairie, La., and meeting with Legion Service Officer Ron Abrams, Muse feels he’s on the right path toward getting the help he needs.

“(Abrams has) got me leaving here with a settled mind,” Muse said. “I’ve been trying to seek help for a long time. Today I’m leaving here well-satisfied. I don’t sleep (that well), but might be able to get a little sleep and tell my wife what happened today. Today, I’ve been helped. Today, I feel blessed."

Muse was one of dozens of veterans who came to Post 175 July 7-9 seeking help with issues related to their military service and the Department of Veterans Affairs. There, they met with Abrams, as well as representatives from VA’s Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) and Veterans Health Administration). Staff from the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs also were in attendance, as were health-care officials who could provide blood pressure tests and other information.

Information also was available on education benefits and housing.

But most of those who stopped by the VBC were seeking help with pending VA claims or looking to file new claims. “There’s so many people that need to have special handling for appeals,” said former Department of Louisiana Service Officer Jay Walsh, who was elected to his fifth term as Post 175 commander at the conclusion of the VBC. “That’s the biggest thing. A lot of times those people just fall through the cracks. This (center) is to stop that.”

Walsh said the VBC benefited both veterans and those on the other side of their claims. “I think it helps the veteran, and it also helps the person from the VA Regional Office because those people normally do not get to have contact with the veteran,” he said. “All they do is see the paperwork. By seeing the veteran, it gives them a better idea of the situation that the individual is in.”

For decorated Army combat veteran Green Stevens, that situation included living on $811 a month while waiting for resolution on a claim that started in 2002. “I’ve been having a nightmare with (VA) in terms of trying to get some (resolution) on my claim,” Stevens said. “My most recent appeal was December of last year, and I still haven’t heard anything on it.”

But coming to the center was a step in the right direction for Stevens. “I spoke with (Abrams),” he said. “He filled out some new paperwork, and I think I made some real progress today. I think it’s been a big help because he’s really knowledgeable about the system. I think I’ll get some (results). This was a great move to come here.”

For Bruce Breaux, a Vietnam War Army veteran and 26-year member of Post 307 in New Orleans, dealing with his claim for more than two years also had created stress. “It’s very frustrating,” he said. “Every now and then you might hear a little something about it. You really don’t know where you stand.”

He felt better after meeting with Abrams, who informed Breaux he was able to also claim another condition. “I was really excited to hear about that,” Breaux said. “I found out I can get some more help. Hadn’t I come here, I wouldn’t have known about that. It was something that’s never been brought up when I get my physicals and stuff at the VA hospital. From now on, I’ll be able to bring it up and ask them about it.”

Vietnam War Army veteran George White also was glad he was visiting nearby New Orleans while the VBC was occurring. White, who lives five hours away in Shreveport, was referred to the center by a friend.

“(Abrams) was very, very, very helpful to me today,” White said. “We filled out some more (paperwork) and also talked to (VBA reps), and it looks to me like they’re going to try to get to the bottom of my claim.”

Speaking one on one with someone was a big plus for many of those who came to the center. Russell Augustine, who did a combined 27-plus years in Army and Navy and is a member of Legion Post 500 in New Orleans, came to check on status of a claim that has been pending for “maybe five or six years.”

“It was very good, talking one on one,” he said. "It makes it easy. It was worth my time coming.”

Kevin Zeno, who served in the Marines from 1986-1993 and the Army National Guard from 2001-2012, agreed. “Before, I was getting the runaround with stuff,” Zeno said. “I felt like people were kicking the can down the road. Here, I was able to take care of stuff.”

Breaux said he’s proud to be a member of an organization like the Legion, one that is taking the claims issue to veterans across the country. “It benefits so many of the guys – even the younger people,” he said. “We’re trying to get them on board nowadays, so anything the Legion can do (to help that) is a plus for me.”

Walsh said the VBCs are an example of the partnership between VA and the Legion – but also is an example of the organization’s primary mission. “The American Legion has always tried to work with the VA,” he said, “but (the Legion) has represented the veteran first.”