WASHINGTON – Ronald L. Henke, former director of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office in St. Paul, Minn., has been named director of VA's national Compensation and Pension Service.
He is responsible for direct management of VA procedures to provide timely financial assistance to veterans, their dependents and survivors, keeping VA programs in line with changes in law, sometimes complex court rulings and emerging veteran needs. The Compensation and Pension Service works closely with veterans groups, state officials and other VA offices, federal agencies and congressional representatives.
Henke, an Army veteran, began his VA career as a claims examiner in the St. Paul office in 1971 and held positions in Cheyenne, Wyo, Montgomery, Ala., and Lincoln, Neb. He also previously served as a consultant in VA's national headquarters.
A native of Gaylord, Minn., he earned bachelors and law degrees at the University of Minnesota. Henke is a member of the Minnesota State Bar.
Compensation and pension policies guide VA field offices where veterans' applications for benefits are initially decided. About 2.7 million veterans currently are on VA's rolls. Some receive monthly compensation for illnesses or injuries incurred when they were in service. Others, who are wartime veterans who become totally disabled in civilian life, receive pensions that raise income to established levels.
These national policies also affect a variety of other VA services such as certain burial benefits and health care of dependents of certain service-connected veterans.
Policies and regulations developed by the Compensation and Pension Service also affect cash benefits for nearly 600,000 widows, widowers, dependent children and some parents of those who died in service or from a service-connected disability, as well as the survivors of disabled wartime veterans with limited means.
