The Department of Minnesota Veterans of Foreign Wars maintains and funds a Claims and Service Office to assist Veterans and their dependents with claims before the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

The office is located in Room 184 at the Bishop Henry Wipple Federal Building at Fort Snelling in St. Paul.  The phone number is (612) 970-5669.

The Claims Office employs five persons. The Director is Tom Hanson and the Assistant Director is Tom Clardy.  The office also employees Claims Representative Lynette Watts, Claims Consultant Cindy Fisher and Claims Analyst Nikki Zahredka. The office hours are 7:00 A.M. to 3:30 P.M., Monday through Friday.

The function of the Claims and Service Office is as a working liaison between the Veteran and/or their dependents and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Also, as a liaison between County Veterans Service Officers and Post Service Officers and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Assistance is rendered in applying to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for any benefit or entitlement offered by that agency. Also, a complete follow-up of that claim to ensure a fair and just decision. A separate listing of entitlements administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, in brief form, is attached. Any specific questions should be directed to the Claims Office or to your County Veterans Service Officer. The services of the Claims Office are provided at no cost to the claimant and they need not be a member of the V.F.W. We do, however, encourage membership in the organization to those that may be eligible.

The Claims and Service Office also maintains a V.F.W. Hospital Representative at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Minneapolis. The Hospital Representative also does outreach at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Minneapolis and Hastings. He can be reached at the Medical Center at (612) 725-2000, extension 4448. His office hours are 8:30 A.M. through 12:30 P.M., Monday through Friday.

The function of the V.F.W. Hospital Representative is to be available to attempt to solve any problems encountered by Veterans at the Medical Center. Also, contact should be made if any Veteran is not satisfied with services provided at these facilities so that these complaints can be investigated.

Any Veteran that is in need of any of these services should be urged to contact the Claims and Service Office for assistance.

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