WASHINGTON — The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is pleased to announce the receipt of a generous grant from the Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) to support its Pre-Discharge claims program. Through the program, VFW Accredited Service Officers process Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) claims for transitioning service members on more than 24 installations across the world. Last fiscal year alone, VFW Accredited Service Officers briefed more than 37,000 service members on their benefits and filed more than 14,500 claims resulting in more than $187 million in disability compensation, all made possible in part by WWP®.
“Wounded Warrior Project’s support of the VFW’s Pre-Discharge claims program is invaluable to our mission, ensuring transitioning service members receive the VA benefits they earned,” said VFW National Veterans Service Deputy Director Gregg Orto. “This grant will help us continue providing trusted, personal assistance at five military installations as service members navigate the claims process and transition from active duty. We are grateful for WWP’s continued commitment to those who have served our nation.”
This year’s grant will support VA benefits education and BDD claims processing at Fort Bliss, Texas; Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Fort Stewart, Georgia; Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, and Fort Hood, Texas. Large volumes of transitioning service members (TSMs) are discharged from the military each year through these installations, necessitating resources that can support consistent, timely and expert VA benefits assistance. In addition to helping TSMs navigate the disability claims process, VFW Pre-Discharge representatives also provide briefings in Transition Assistance Program classes and help service members understand additional VA programs they may be entitled to.
The VA’s BDD claims program is available to most TSMs who are between 180 and 90 days from separation or retirement and aims to grant newly transitioned veterans with their disability ratings as close to discharge as possible. Service members who have less than 90 days before discharge may still submit VA claims, but they are not prioritized in the same way as BDD claims.
To learn about the VFW Pre-Discharge program or get BDD claim assistance, click here.