Help for Veterans
When our service men and women put themselves in harm's way to defend our lives and our freedoms, we must commit to giving them the care and treatment they deserve when they come home.
It is a privilege to help those who have sacrificed so much for our nation, and I will work tirelessly to ensure our veterans receive the benefits and services they have earned.
Veterans who need help obtaining benefits or services are encouraged to call my Baton Rouge office at (225) 929-7711 or my Livingston office at (225) 686-4413. You should also scroll through the links below to find information on what veterans and their families are entitled to.
General Information for Veterans
What is the main Veterans' Affairs website?
http://www.va.gov
How can I contact the Department of Veterans Affairs?
https://iris.va.gov/scripts/iris.cfg/php.exe/enduser/cci/phonenbrs.php
What specifically is available to Returning Service Members?
http://www.oefoif.va.gov
What benefits are specifically available to female veterans?
http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Topics/Women/index.htm
What benefits are specifically available to former prisoners of war?
http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Benefits/POW/index.htm
I currently live overseas. How can I receive my benefits?
http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Foreign/index.htm
I am unable to manage my financial affairs. How can my benefits be protected?
http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Fiduciary/index.htm
How can I obtain a copy of my military records?
http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel
Medical Benefits
In general, what health benefits are available to me?
http://www.va.gov/health/default.asp
How can I file a Pre-Discharge claim?
http://www.vba.va.gov/predischarge/index.htm
How can I receive benefits for injuries and diseases I incurred or were exacerbated from active military service?
http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/compensation/index.htm
Am I eligible for a Veterans' pension? Are my spouse and children eligible for one?
http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/pension/index.htm
How do I can obtain drug benefits?
http://www.pbm.va.gov/default.aspx
Medical Benefits -- Agent Orange
What benefits are available for those suffering from Agent Orange exposure?
http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/index.asp
How can I file a claim? How can my spouse file a claim?
http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/AO/claimherbicide.htm
How can I receive monthly payments for children with spina bifida or other eligible birth defects?
http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/birth_defects.asp
Medical Benefits -- Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome
What assistance is available for those suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome?
http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/pages/fslist-ptsd-overview.asp
Are there medical treatments to help veterans suffering from PTSD or traumatic brain injuries?
http://www.hyperbaricmedicalassociation.org
Survivors' Benefits
As a spouse of a deceased veteran, what benefits are available to me?
http://www.vba.va.gov/survivors/index.htm
How can I receive a death pension?
http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/pension/spousepen.htm
How can I receive dependency and indemnity compensation?
http://www.vba.va.gov/VBA/benefits/factsheets/survivors/dic.doc
Burial Benefits
What burial benefits am I entitled to, including being buried at a national cemetary?
http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/bbene_burial.asp
Is there a national cemetary in the Sixth District of Louisiana that is accepting new burials?
http://www.cem.va.gov/CEM/cems/nchp/porthudson.asp
How do I plan for a burial?
http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/bbene/need.asp
How do I obtain a burial flag?
http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/bbene/bflags.asp
What burial allowance benefits are there?
http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/bbene/benvba.asp
How can I obtain a special headstone or marker?
http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/hm_hm.asp
How can I obtain a Presidential Memorial Certificate?
http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/pmc.asp
Are there any special benefits for women or minorities?
http://www.cem.va.gov/pdf/Women_and_Minority_Vets.pdf
Education Benefits
What benefits are available under the Post-9/11 GI Bill?
http://www.gibill.va.gov/post-911/post-911-gi-bill-summary
What benefits are available under the Montgomery GI Bill?
http://www.gibill.va.gov/post-911/montgomery-gi-bill/
What benefits are available under Reserve Educational Assistance?
http://www.gibill.va.gov/post-911/other-programs/reap.html
What benefits are available under Survivors & Dependents Assistance?
http://www.gibill.va.gov/post-911/other-programs/dea.html
What benefits are available under the Veterans' Educational Assistance Program?
http://www.gibill.va.gov/post-911/other-programs/veap.html
What benefits are available under the Educational Assistance Test Program
http://www.gibill.va.gov/post-911/other-programs/educational-assistance-test-program.html
What is the National Call To Service Program?
http://www.gibill.va.gov/post-911/other-programs/national-call-to-service-program.html
Are there educational benefits for members of the Louisiana National Guard?
Yes -- call 1-800-GOGUARD to ask about the LA National Guard Tuition Exemption
Employment and Vocational Rehabilitation
What jobs are available for veterans?
http://vetsuccess.gov/jobs
What services are available to help veterans begin and enhance a career?
http://vetsuccess.gov
Can I receive any vocational counseling?
http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre/vec.htm
Housing and Vehicular Benefits
Can you provide me information on VA home loans in general?
http://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/lp.asp
How can I receive a home loan from the VA?
http://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/eligibility.asp
Does the VA sell houses to veterans? How can I acquire one?
http://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/pm.asp
If I'm a disabled veteran, can I receive assistance to make my house disability-friendly?
http://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/sah.asp
For more information on VA loans and related programs, where should I go?
http://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/
How can I receive benefits to purchase a vehicle?
http://www.vba.va.gov/VBA/benefits/factsheets/serviceconnected/Autoeg_0708.doc
Life Insurance
How can I learn about VA life insurance in general?
http://www.insurance.va.gov/
How can I obtain servicemembers' and veterans' group life insurance?
http://www.insurance.va.gov/sgliSite/default.htm
How can I enroll in the servicemembers' group life insurance traumatic injury protection program?
http://www.insurance.va.gov/sgliSite/TSGLI/TSGLI.htm
How can I obtain veterans' group life insurance?
http://insurance.va.gov/sgliSite/VGLI/VGLI.htm
How can I obtain life insurance benefits for service-disabled veterans?
http://www.insurance.va.gov/gli/buying/DisabledVets.htm
Honors
How can I apply for a medal, award or decoration that I earned while in the service?
http://www.archives.gov/veterans/replace-medals.html
How can I obtain a Louisiana Honor Medal?
http://www.vetaffairs.la.gov/medals
Louisiana Benefits
Is there a Veterans' Affairs Department for Louisiana
http://www.vetaffairs.la.gov/history
Can I potentially receive financial assistance from state government?
http://www.vetaffairs.la.gov/MFA
How can I receive assistance to become a teacher?
http://www.vetaffairs.la.gov/troops-to-teachers
Are there veterans' homes in Louisiana?
http://www.vetaffairs.la.gov/veterans-homes
Does Louisiana have its own veterans' cemetaries? How can I be buried in one?
http://www.vetaffairs.la.gov/veteran-cemeteries
Are there jobs available in Louisiana for veterans?
http://www.vetaffairs.la.gov/employment
Can I start a small business in Louisiana?
http://www.vetaffairs.la.gov/lavetbiz
Are there special license plates available for veterans? How about hunting and fishing privileges or free admittance to state parks?
http://www.vetaffairs.la.gov/licensing
Veterans' Facilities In and Around Louisiana's Sixth District
BR Outpatient Clinic
BR VA Center
Hammond VA Outpatient Clinic
Raven's Outreach Center for Homeless Veterans
Local Veterans' Organizations
American Legion
AMVETS
American Ex-Prisoners of War
Disabled American Veterans
Military Officers Association of America
Military Order of the Purple Heart
Veterans of Foreign Wars
Vietnam Veterans of America