Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Few if any who offer their services to military service. Their experiences are unique to their duties. The uniform has an implied risk, a risk that sometimes results in injuries that follow service men and women the rest of their lives.
A Claims Clinic is scheduled for June 25 in Sidney to assist veterans. The clinic will be held at the Cheyenne County Community Center. The clinic is conducted by QTC (Quality, Timeliness, Customer Service) who is subcontracted to conduct mobile clinics for veterans.
“This to get everything done,” said Cheyenne County Veteran Service Officer Fred Wiedeburg. “It just streamlines the process.”
The Claims Clinic is to start a new claim or an increase on a previously-awarded claim.
He said the process from Intent to File to receiving benefits can take a year or more.
Veteran claims can be any injury related to active service, according to Wiedeburg.
“It can be anything from hearing loss to back injury,” he said.
He said it can be any kind of injury that occurred while on active duty, but it must be an injury that occurred during active duty.
“It has to be from active duty,” he stressed.
Wiedeburg said that for Cheyenne County will be a direct result of active service.
“I think this (clinic) will be a lot of hearing loss and tinnitus,” he said.
He added there could be a host of other physical concerns as well.
“We do file some PTSD claims,” he said. “The key is the illness or injury has to be service-related.”
Wiedeburg added re-evaluations can be requested. However, the VA asks veterans to wait if the last evaluation has been within four years.
He encourages area veterans to contact the local office before the Claims Clinic arrives in Sidney. The Cheyenne County Veteran Service Office is not an extension of the Veterans Administration.
“We are basically a liaison and an advocate,” Wiedeburg said.
He said his job is to advocate for the veterans and to guide them through the claims process.
The Sidney stop is in part a result of Wiedeburg visiting a VA Claims Clinic in Alliance last year. He later asked a State Veteran Service Officer about hosting a clinic in Sidney.
Wiedeburg can be reached at 308-254-3300. He encourages veterans to call for an appointment. An appointment.
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