Veterans Administration

The following information, websites and contact information are resources to assist you with questions or concerns that veterans have about their benefits.  If you cannot find the information you are looking for or need further assistance, please contact Senator Bayh's Indianapolis office at 317-554-0750 or through my contact page.  If you would like to comment on veterans' policy, please click here. 

Claims

If you have a claim or appeal with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Senator Bayh's office can check on the status of your case or write a letter of interest on your behalf.  Please note that note that Senator Bayh's staff can not expedite claims and/or appeals, and does not have the ability to influence a case's outcome.  They can help to ensure that the VA gives your case the consideration it deserves. 

How to File a Claim

To file a claim, you should visit a local VA office or call the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Education: 1-888-GIBILL-1
Life Insurance: 1-800-669-8477
Health Care: 1-877-222-8387
All Other VA Benefits: 1-800-827-1000
TDD: 1-800-829-4833

Many of Indiana's veteran's organizations can also help veterans in their claim process.  See links to these organizations below.

Expediting a Claim

If a veteran is terminally ill and has medical evidence to support his or her illness, or can demonstrate evidence of economic hardship such as imminent foreclosure or eviction, the Indianapolis VA will expedite their claim.  Veterans should notify the Indianapolis VA of their specific situation which merits expedition.

Department of Veterans Affairs
Indianapolis Regional Office
Minton-Capehart Federal Building
575 N Pennsylvania St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone: 1-800-827-1000

Indiana's VA Medical Centers

Veterans with questions that involve VA Medical Centers such as questions about treatment, fee basis cards, prescriptions, and nursing care can request that senator Bayh's office write letters on their behalf to the relevant VA Medical Center.

VA Medical Centers

VA Northern Indiana Health Care System-Fort Wayne Campus
2121 Lake Ave.
Fort Wayne, IN 46805
Phone: (260) 426-5431 or (800) 360-8387
Fax: (260) 460-1336

Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center (Indianapolis VA Medical Center)
1481 W. 10th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Phone: (317) 554-0000 or (888) 878-6889
Fax: Call for fax info.

VA Northern Indiana Health Care System - Marion Campus
1700 East 38th Street
Marion, IN 46953-4589
Phone: (765) 674-3321 or (800) 360-8387
Fax: (765) 677-3124

Obtaining a Fee Basis Card
You should contact the patient representative at the VA Medical Center where you receive treatment to obtain your fee basis card.

The Veterans Affairs Medical Centers' Nursing Services
Although the VA does not usually offer long-term nursing care, occasionally they help to place veterans in private nursing homes.  You should contact your patient representative for more information.

Prescription Assistance
You should contact the patient representative at the VA Medical Center where you receive treatment for prescription assistance.

National Personnel Records Center

The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) contains all military service records from WWI to present.  Veterans often need records to support a claim for Social Security purposes, employment and to obtain medals. Senator Bayh's office cannot normally expedite the request for records, but they can make records requests on behalf of the veteran.

Some records may be unavailable because the NPRC suffered a fire in 1973.  The center can often reconstruct a veteran's records, however. 

How to obtain a copy of discharge papers, service records and/or service medals and decorations
You should complete a Military Records Request.

Contact Information for the National Personnel Records Center
National Personnel Records Center
Military Personnel Records
9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132-5100

Telephone: 314-801-0800
E-mail: MPR.center@nara.gov *
Status Check: mpr.status@nara.gov *
Fax: 314 801-9195

Indiana Veterans Organization

Some of the national organizations that can provide assistance are listed below:

• American Legion
• AMVETS
• Disabled American Veterans
• Hoosier Veterans Assistance Foundation
• Marine Corps League
• Marion - Tripoli Detachment #844
• Terre Haute - Joseph A Bray - #471
• Military Order of the Purple Heart
• Paralyzed Veterans
• Veterans of Foreign Wars
• Vietnam Veterans of America
• Indianapolis #295

Indiana Department of Veterans' Affairs

www.in.gov/dva
1-800-400-4520