our mission
We are dedicated to a single purpose: empowering veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity. We accomplish this by ensuring that veterans and their families can access the full range of benefits available to them; fighting for the interests of America’s injured heroes on Capitol Hill; and educating the public about the great sacrifices and needs of veterans transitioning back to civilian life.
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This mission is carried forward by:
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Providing free, professional assistance to veterans and their families in obtaining benefits and services earned through military service and provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and other agencies of government.
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Providing outreach concerning its program services to the American people generally, and to disabled veterans and their families specifically.
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Representing the interests of disabled veterans, their families, their widowed spouses and their orphans before Congress, the White House and the Judicial Branch, as well as state and local government.
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Extending DAV’s mission of hope into the communities where these veterans and their families live through a network of state-level Departments and local Chapters.
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Providing a structure through which disabled veterans can express their compassion for their fellow veterans through a variety of volunteer programs.
a legacy of service
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DAV is a nonprofit charity that provides a lifetime of support for veterans of all generations and their families, helping more than 1 million veterans in positive, life-changing ways each year. Annually, the organization provides more than 240,000 rides to veterans attending medical appointments and assists veterans with well over 160,000 benefit claims. In 2020, DAV helped veterans receive more than $23 billion in earned benefits. DAV’s services are offered at no cost to all generations of veterans, their families and survivors.
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DAV is also a leader in connecting veterans with meaningful employment, hosting job fairs and providing resources to ensure they have the opportunity to participate in the American Dream their sacrifices have made possible.
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With nearly 1,300 chapters and more than 1 million members across the country, DAV empowers our nation’s heroes and their families by helping to provide the resources they need and ensuring our nation keeps the promises made to them.
services provided by chapter 8
Many Veterans are not aware that they can be compensated for service connected problems that they may have may result in them receiving compensation. Our highly-trained Chapter Service Officers (CSOs) can help you with your service connected claims with the VA. They can advise you on what service connected conditions you may qualify for, how to get the necessary evidence, navigate the complicated VA system for compensation claims, and help fill out the necessary claims forms for you.
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Trained and certified Chapter Service Officers prepare and file Veterans' applications for service connected disabilities or pensions, including (but not limited to):
* Aid and attendance for severely ill or disabled. The attendant may be your spouse or another person.
* Pensions for Veterans whose income falls below specified levels.
* Filing for enrollment in the VA Health Care System.
* Filing for additional compensation for dependents, including parents, spouse, and children.
* Application for burial benefits.
* Application for compensation, surviving spouse pension, Dependency Indemnity Compensation (DIC), and accrued benefits.
* Veterans application for Individual Unemployability.