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. Finally, to learn how veterans can access mental health services in an emergency situation, please watch my video here.

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