Has anybody ever dealt with your state-level Department of Veterans Affairs (not the federal VA)?

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 06 Dec 2025 00:12:15 -0500

For the Louisiana folks: when you hear ‘LDVA’, what’s your first gut reaction, and have you actually used them?

For everyone else: does your state even HAVE something like this, and if so, is it worth a damn or just another layer of bureaucracy?

I am doing a class project.

Response by PO3 Phyllis Maynard made Dec 6 at 2025 1:15 AM

PO3 Phyllis Maynard — Sat, 06 Dec 2025 01:15:32 -0500

LTC Private RallyPoint Member yes, many years ago I worked with the County Veterans Officer, thinking I was working with the Department of Veterans Affairs (Federal). The level at which they can assist you does not include what you can actual get from the federal VA. Essentially, the State VA assists veterans with processing the proper paperwork for whatever services being sought from the VA. Think of it this way, the DAV, the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and so on are veteran service organizations that assist veterans with getting paperwork through the VA system, filing claims, helping veterans understand the benefits available to them. Well the State VA has representatives working in your county that does the same things. They have no power to approve anything. The County Veteran Representatives are paid by the state and the county. Most of the time these Representatives are not veterans, themselves. They are local persons employed in this position who do not get the ongoing training that the Accredited Veteran Service Organizations Service Officer Representatives get. For a clearer understanding call your Regional VA Office or a Regional Veteran Service Organization Representative, for better clarification. These offices are located at the regional federal courthouse building, in your state.

Response by PO3 Phyllis Maynard made Dec 6 at 2025 1:19 AM

PO3 Phyllis Maynard — Sat, 06 Dec 2025 01:19:53 -0500

LTC Private RallyPoint Member the federal VA is the source for what benefits a veteran qualifies to receive. The State VA has representatives to help veterans get paperwork completed and sent in to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Call the [login to see] National VA Call Center for a better explanation.

Response by SPC James Neidig made Dec 6 at 2025 2:10 AM

SPC James Neidig — Sat, 06 Dec 2025 02:10:21 -0500

I Had A Pennsylvania State VA Representative Who Busted His Butt From 2002-2007 To Get Me Upgraded From 30%To 100% .
He Did All The Paperwork,Set Up My Appointments And Even Went With Me To My Final Determination Appointment And Spoke As My Advocate.
When I Was Awarded 100% He Set Up The Appointment At The Closest DEERs Office For My Wife And I To Get Our ID Cards.
Did All The Paperwork To Get My Wife Enrolled In CHAMPVA Health Care.

Response by COL Randall C. made Dec 6 at 2025 9:00 AM

COL Randall C. — Sat, 06 Dec 2025 09:00:05 -0500

Every state, territory and federal enclave (D.C.) has a veterans department as part of their state/local/district administration (I’ll refer to them as “state” and “offices”). Except for the American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands, they are listed on the Veterans Administration’s External Resources page* (the other two can easily be found by doing an internet search). Names differ, but most are named a variation of (Office/Department) of Veterans (Affairs/Services).

The meme is misleading because the offices are fully integrated with the VA’s Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA). The key difference is that the offices are state-run agencies and funded by the state (although the VA does give them grants for various state-level projects such as State Veterans Homes) and that they oversee the different state-level programs (these differ between the states). As such, every veteran that has interacted with the VA has touched or been touched by their state's office, regardless of their awareness of the interaction.

State offices are absolutely not “just another layer of bureaucracy”, but an integral part of the VA’s mission of delivering benefits and services to veterans*. To your question about how worthwhile they are, that depends. What specific aspect are you looking at? Processing veterans disability claims? Representing the veteran on appeals? Other type of claims? Connecting state-level resources to the veterans? Outreach? Etc.

As you are doing a research project, I suggest that you might find it helpful to do an internet search for, “how do the state veterans affairs offices interact with the va?” and start the data mining. Additionally, I would recommend you go to the Army’s benefit website, specifically the page* which lays out the various State/Territory benefits for service members, both actively serving or ones that have separated (retired/veteran).
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* U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – listing of State Veterans Affairs Offices - https://discover.va.gov/external-resources/?_resource_type=state-veterans-affairs-office
* VA article - State-level Veterans affairs departments work hand-in-hand with VA to deliver crucial benefits and services - https://news.va.gov/35871/state-level-veterans-affairs-departments-work-hand-in-hand-with-va-to-delivery-crucial-benefits-and-services/
* MyArmyBenefits webpage for State/Territory Benefits - https://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/Benefit-Library/State/Territory-Benefits

External Resources — DiscoverVA

A listing of external resources providing services to Veterans. This includes other State Veterans Affairs offices and Federal agencies.