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April 3, 2015 - Sacramento – The California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) wants Veterans and their families to know the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) changed the way Veteran disability compensation and compensation claims and appeals are filed. Based on the new USDVA regulations, CalVet encourages Veterans to contact County Veterans Services Officers (CVSOs) for assistance filing a claim or appeal.

Starting March 24, 2015, USDVA began requiring the use of a standardized USDVA form on all new and reopened disability compensation and pension claims filed by or on behalf of Veterans or their survivors. A standardized USDVA form must also be used when appealing any aspect of USDVA's decision on a disability claim. As a result of USDVA's new regulations, USDVA is no longer obligated to consider or process any written requests for disability benefits that do not appear on a standardized USDVA form.

"CalVet recommends our Veterans and families meet with their local CVSO so they are represented by trained and accredited professionals," said CalVet's Keith Boylan, Deputy Secretary, Veterans Services. "Our CVSO partners are located throughout California, and they are a critical component in CalVet's efforts to ensure Veterans and their families are aware of, apply for, and receive the benefits they earned."

To read more about USDVA's new standardized forms, go to http://1.usa.gov/1BsF9Wg.

To find the CVSO office nearest you, call 844-737-8838, toll free. When prompted, enter in your zip code, and your call will be immediately transferred to the CVSO for that zip code.

You may also visit our web site for a county listing of CVSOs: https://www.calvet.ca.gov/VetServices/Pages/CVSO-Locations.aspx.