Veterans Services

Certain VA benefits require service during wartime. Under law, VA recognizes these war periods:

• Mexican Border Period: May 9, 1916 through April 5, 1917, for veterans who served in Mexico, on its borders or in adjacent waters.
• World War I: April 6, 1917 through November 11, 1918; for veterans who served in Russia, April 6, 1917 through April 1, 1920; extended through July 1, 1921, for veterans who had at least one day of service between April 6, 1917 and November 11, 1918.
• World War II: December 7, 1941 through December 31, 1946
• Korean War: June 27, 1950 through January 31, 1955
• Vietnam War: August 5, 1964 (February 28, 1961, for veterans who served “in country” before August 5, 1964) through May 7, 1975
• Gulf War: August 2, 1990 through a date to be set by law or Presidential Proclamation.

Franklin County Veterans Affairs assists veterans who are applying for disability compensation for service-connected injuries or illnesses. Staff can also help you reopen an existing claim when your injury or illness worsens. It should be noted that the payment of military retirement pay, disability severance pay and separation incentive payments known as SSB (Special Separation Benefits) and VSI (Voluntary Separation Incentives) affects the amount of VA compensation paid to disabled veterans.

Veterans with low incomes who are permanently and totally disabled may be eligible for monetary support if they have 90 days or more of active duty military service. The discharge must be under conditions other than dishonorable. The permanent and total disability must be for reasons other than the veteran’s own willful misconduct. Payments are made to qualified veterans to bring their total income, including other retirement and Social Security income, to a level set by Congress. Unreimbursed medical expenses may reduce countable income. Veterans for a period of war who are aged 65 or older and meet service and income requirements are also eligible to receive a pension, regardless of current physical conditions.

To receive health care, veterans must be enrolled with the VA. Enrollment may be accomplished by submitting a VA Form 10-10EZ along with a copy of a DD214 (Separation from Service) to the Eligibility Department of the VA Hospital in Martinsburg, West Virginia. Healthcare through the VA Medical Center is limited to veterans; survivors and dependents are not eligible.

Eligibility: Since January 2003, veterans who have service-connected disability rated at 0%, no service-connected disabilities, or a non-service-connected disability are not eligible to enroll in the VA health care system unless they fall within a means test/networth threshold. It is strongly suggested that veterans apply for enrollment and let the VA Health Care determine eligibility. 

VA educational benefits may be used while the service member is on active duty or after the service member’s separation from active duty with a fully honorable military discharge.  Eligibility generally expires 10 years after the service member’s discharge. The form for Education Enrollment is VA Form 22-1990.

Franklin County Veterans Affairs assists veterans who are requesting replacement medals, service medical records and/or military separation documents. 

Note for those requesting Replacement Medals: The National Personnel Records Center has stated that the military has made a decision to limit the issuance of veterans’ medals who have been discharged for over 62 years. According to the National Personnel Records Center, this decision is based on the belief that, for over 62 years, the military has more than met its obligation to veterans and their descendants by issuing and reissuing medals and that the military cannot provide medals in perpetuity to all future descendants of military veterans. The form for Requests for Military Medals and Records is an SF 180.

VA loan guaranties are made to service members, veterans, reservists and unmarried surviving spouses for the purchase of homes, condominiums and manufactured homes and for refinancing home loans. VA guarantees part of the total loan, permitting the purchaser to obtain a mortgage with a competitive interest rate, even without a down payment, if the lender agrees. The guaranty means the lender is protected against loss if he or she fails to repay the loan. Applicants must have a good credit rating, have sufficient income to support the mortgage payments, and agree to live in the property as their primary residence. To apply for a Certificate of Eligibility, complete VA Form 26-1880.