ACCREDITED REPRESENTATION
The County Veteran Service Officer is recognized, under Federal law, by the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide legal representation for individuals in matters relating to VA law. That Asserted Representation establishes a "client-attorney relationship" with the same implied obligations as any attorney. By virtue of accreditation, our County Veterans Service Officer has access to a nationwide network of Accredited Representatives who are able to provide expanded assistance, even before the Board of Veterans' Appeals in Washington, DC.

COMMITMENT
The County Veteran Service Officer is committed to providing the highest level of service within the limits of available resources. To maintain that commitment, expertise must be enhanced through continuous training and retraining. Skilled counseling and claims development is fully realized only by that commitment to the continuing education of Service Officers. Personal integrity and perseverance are hallmarks of successful Service Officers.

SERVICES
The County Veteran Service Officer provides an unsurpassed personalized service to veterans and their dependents. There is no comparable advocacy service for that special group of New York Citizens. All services are provided without charge. Strictly controlled confidentiality is maintained under penalty of law. Service Officers are required to be knowledgeable in federal, state and local laws pertaining to veterans. Assistance in the following areas is provided to thousands of veterans, military personnel, and their dependents year after year:

. compensation for service-connected disabilities
. pension for non-service-connected disabilities
. compensation to family members for non-service-connected deaths
. burial benefits
. federal grave markers
. insurance
. education and vocational rehabilitation
. home loan guaranties
. employment and reemployment
. real property tax exemption
. hospitalization and outpatient treatment
. domiciliary care
. military records corrections and military medals or awards
. blind annuity applications

The Livingston County Veteran Services Agency provides additional services unique to the needs of our particular area such as:

. in-home visits to assist the housebound with claims for entitlements
. assistance and training for veterans' organizations
. information to community service organizations
. local veterans' cemetery programs
. notary service
. assistance in obtaining legal documents (marriage, birth, military, etc.)
. cooperative programs with other agencies (employment, welfare, etc.)
. assistance with community affairs (memorial services, job fairs, etc.)

Within the limits of our resources, the county Veteran Services Agency continues to provide innovative services and programs to meet the new and expanding requirements of an aging veterans population, and those veterans returning from recent wars with new and sometimes unknown disabilities. We will hold fast to our commitment.