Ways for veterans to file disability claims
Veterans who register online can track the progress of their claims and ask questions.
https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits-portal/ebenefits.portal
VA Benefits Information and Claims Assistance. There are eight call centers across the country.
800-827-1000
The following organizations help veterans submit disability claims. Their offices are in the federal building, downtown Pittsburgh, which also houses the Veterans Benefits Administration.
412-395-6230 American Legion
412-395-6265 American Veterans of WWII, Korea, Vietnam
412-395-6248
412-395-6267
412-395-6241 Disabled American Veterans
412-395-6250 Military Order of the Purple Heart
412-781-2474 Paralyzed Veterans of America
412-395-6226 Pennsylvania Adjutant General
412-395-6225
412-395-6264
412-395-6193
412-395-6194
412-395-6224
1-866-754-8636
412-395-6259 Veterans of Foreign Wars
412-395-6260
304-395-6262 West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance
Source: Veterans Administration
The Department of Veterans Affairs
The Department of Veterans Affairs offers many benefits to veterans and their families. Veterans can apply for most services provided by the VA at www.va.gov or any VA office. Below are the phone numbers for specified benefits.
VA Regional Office
1000 Liberty Ave., Rm. 1606
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
1-800-827-1000
Disability Benefits: Veterans can receive disability compensation if they were injured during service, or if a pre-existing injury worsened during their service.
1-800-827-1000
Education and Training: Education and training financial benefits are available to veterans who qualify based on their time of service.
1-888-442-4551
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment: The VA evaluates veterans skills and abilities and helps them find proper training, counseling or other services to help them get back to work.
1-800-827-1000
Home Loan Guaranty: Veterans can get help finding a loan through the VA.
1-800-827-1000
Dependents and Survivors’ Benefits: A veteran’s husband, wife, sons, daughters, mothers and fathers all may qualify for benefits if the family member died during or after their service.
1-800-827-1000
Medical Treatment: The VA provides medical benefits such as hospital services, readjustment counseling, and alcohol and drug dependency treatment.
1-877-222-8387
VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System
University Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15240
412-822-2222
www.pittsburgh.va.gov
Life Insurance: Traumatic Injury Protection Under Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance offers insurance of between $25,000 and $100,000 for the veterans who qualify.
1-800-419-1473
Burial Benefits: The families of deceased veterans can receive a headstone, a burial flag and reimbursement for burial costs, among other things.
1-800-827-1000
Allegheny County Department of Veteran Services
Allegheny County Department of Veteran Services helps Allegheny County veterans receive the benefits granted to them by the federal, state and local governments.
4141 Fifth Avenue, Oakland
412-621-4357
http://www.alleghenycounty.us/veterans/index.aspx
American Legion
American Legion is a nonprofit veterans service organization that sponsors community programs, advocates for national security and provides support for veterans.
Department Service Officers for Pennsylvania
Brian M. Morris
American Legion DSO
135 E 38TH ST
Erie, PA 16504
Phone: 814-864-4240
Fax: 814-864-3405
email Brian
Amber Moore
American Legion DSO
135 E 38TH ST
ERIE, PA 16504
Phone: 814-864-4240
Fax: 814-864-3405
email Amber
Glenn C King
Varo American Legion DSO
PO BOX 42938
Philadelphia, PA 19101
Phone: 215-381-3032
Fax: 215-381-3500
email Glenn
Graham H Wieland
American Legion DSO
1000 Liberty Ave., Ste. 1607
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Phone: 412-395-6230
Fax: 412-395-6234
email Graham
Charles T Gendron
American Legion DSO
800 N Front St.
Wormleysburg, PA 17043
Phone: 717-730-9100
Fax: 717-975-2836
email Charles
Gina Svoboda
American Legion DSO
1123 E End Blvd Ste 5
Wilkes Barre, PA 18702
Phone: 570-821-2525
Fax: 570-821-2529
email Gina
American Red Cross
American Red Cross provides a link of communication between military members and their families, as well as financial assistance and counseling centers during times of crisis.
Southwestern PA Chapter
2801 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
1-800-217-9599
www.swpa.redcross.org
American Veterans
American Veterans provides its dues-paying members with discounts for hotels, travel and personal health services.
National Office
4647 Forbes Blvd.
Lanham, MD 20706
1-877-726-8387
www.amvets.org
Harry Neal
Membership Director
301–683-4020
hneal@amvets.org
Carolyn Taylor-Harrison
Membership Assistant to Director
301–683-4021
ctaylor-harrison@amvets.org
Linda Hudson
Membership Dues
301–683-4023
lhudson@amvets.org
CareerLink Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh/Allegheny County Veterans Services
CareerLink Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh/Allegheny County Veterans Services provides veterans with job counseling, job fair information, apprenticeship information and other services that help veterans transition into the civilian work force.
http://careerlinkpittsburgh.com/veterans-services/
Downtown Pittsburgh
Regional Enterprise Tower
425 6th Ave., 22nd Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
412-552-7100
Forest Hills
2040 Ardmore Blvd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15221
412-436-2225
Goodwill SWPA
118 52nd Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15201
412-632-1711
Coalition for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans
Coalition for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans is a national collaboration of veterans organizations that provide various services.
www.coalitionforveterans.org/ciav/home
Department of Defense Outreach Center for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury
Department of Defense Outreach Center for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury provides information and resources for veterans and their family members with questions about psychological health and traumatic brain injuries.
866-966-1020
www.dcoe.health.mil/24-7help.aspx
resources@dcoeoutreach.org
live chat
Disabled American Veterans
Disabled American Veterans offers veterans membership for a fee, and the organization offers them services in return, such as “attorneys-in-fact” for filling out VA paperwork and counseling.
www.dav.org
National Headquarters
3725 Alexandria Pike
Cold Spring, KY 41076
877-I AM A Vet (877-426-2838)
Legislative Headquarters
807 Maine Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20024
202-554-3501
Disabled American Veterans National Service Office Pittsburgh
1000 Liberty Ave.
Room 1606
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
412-395-6241
Helmets to Hardhats
Helmets to Hardhats is an organization focused on expediting the transition from the military to a career in construction.
866-741-6210
www.helmetstohardhats.org
Hire Heroes USA
Hire Heroes USA is an organization focused on creating job opportunities for United States military veterans.
1-866-915-HERO
www.hireheroesusa.org
Homeless Veterans
Homeless Veterans works with the community to get veterans off the streets and into homes.
877-424-3838
www.va.gov/homeless
live chat
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan that focuses on advocacy, awareness and assistance.
www.iava.org
New York Headquarters
292 Madison Ave, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10017
Phone: 212-982-9699
Fax: 212-982-8645
Washington, DC Office
777 North Capitol, NE Suite 403
Washington, DC 20002
Phone: 202-544-7692
Fax: 202-544-7694
Military Pathways
Military Pathways provides anonymous self-assessments for post-traumatic stress disorders, depression and alcohol problems.
http://www.pdhealth.mil/militarypathways.asp
Military OneSource
Military OneSource is a 24-hour service provided by the Department of Defense for military personnel and their families. Military OneSource provides help for a wide range of issues, such as family counseling, financial assistance, employment and other services related to military needs.
1-800-342-9647
www.militaryonesource.mil
Military Order of the Purple Heart
Military Order of the Purple Heart brings together recipients of the Purple Heart and hosts local activities and events, distributes scholarships to members and provides assistance to all veterans.
http://www.purpleheart.org/
Reinaissance Chapter
7060 Highland Dr.
PIttsburgh, PA 15206
412-665-6843
www.mophchapter455.org
National Military Family Association
National Military Family Association offers military spouse scholarships, “Operation Purple Program” which is designed for the children of military service men and women and a family award program.
3601 Eisenhower Avenue, Suite 425
Alexandria, VA 22304
703-931-6632
www.militaryfamily.org
General Inquiries: Info@MilitaryFamily.org
Membership Inquiries: Membership@MilitaryFamily.org
Donation Inquiries: Donations@MilitaryFamily.org
Operation Purple Inquiries: OPC@MilitaryFamily.org
Scholarship Inquiries: Scholarships@militaryfamily.org
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline helps anyone who is hopeless, depressed or experiencing suicidal thoughts overcome personal, family or other problems.
www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
National Veterans Foundation
National Veterans Foundation is an organization dedicated to providing veterans with counseling and support, as well as information on the many benefits a veteran can receive through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Counseling phone number: 1-888-777-4443
www.nvf.org
Paralyzed Veterans of America
Paralyzed Veterans of America advocates for better medical benefits for veterans, increased research for spinal cord injuries and the civil rights of its members.
www.pva.org
Healthcare Helpline: 1-800-232-1782
Donor Hotline: 1-800-555-9140
Benefits Helpline: 1-866-734-0857
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration helps veterans and the general public find information and resources regarding substance abuse and mental health services.
1 Choke Cherry Rd.
Rockville, MD 20857
1-877-726-4727
www.samhsa.gov
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS)
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) is a peer support network that focuses on military survivors.
www.taps.org
1-800-959-8277
TRICARE
TRICARE is the health-care program serving many active duty service men and women and their families.
www.tricare.mil/mybenefit
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is conducting a research study on veterans that examines brain activity during sleep and wakefulness.
Jay Ver
verfj@upmc.edu
412-383-2159
www.veteranssleep.pitt.edu
Vet Centers
Vet Centers provide veterans and their family members with readjustment counseling. This counseling includes family counseling for military related issues, substance abuse issues and other service related counseling.
www.va.gov/rcs
2500 Baldwick Road, Suite 15
Pittsburgh, PA 15205
412-920-1765
www.va.gov/rcs
Oak Park Mall
2001 Lincoln Way, Suite 21
McKeesport, PA 15131
412-678-7704
877-927-8387
Veterans Breakfast Club
Veterans Breakfast Club brings veterans of all ages together in the South Hills, North Hills, Penn Hills and Moon township to share their stories and have breakfast.
412-623-9029 for reservations
www.veteransbreakfastclub.com
Veterans of Foreign Wars
Veterans of Foreign Wars fosters camaraderie among veterans and advocates for veterans.
www.vfw.org
Post 118 Millvale Post
605 North Ave.
Millvale, PA 15209
412-821-2113
Post 914 Intrepid Post
104 Glencoe Dr.
West Mifflin, PA 15122
412-901-6296
Wounded Warrior Project
Wounded Warrior Project focuses its programs and services on returning veterans who received a service-related disability after Sept. 11, 2001.
www.woundedwarriorproject.org
301 Grant Street, Suite 900 (One Oxford Centre)
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
412-471-0935
— compiled by Michael Ringling, updated by Alexandra Kanik