Please allow me to expand on Martin Schram’s column (“VA help line needs help,” July 18) concerning veterans assistance from the VA. I am sure that it was intended to assist veterans seeking help from the VA. However, he did not give a clue as to what the veterans actually need to do.

I am a retired Marine and I am receiving VA compensation. I have no complaints about our local VA offices. I have helped several veterans in our local area in obtaining VA benefits. Those that I have helped were totally unaware that they were entitled to the benefits that they are now receiving. In each of their cases they received what they were requesting and some were also awarded monthly tax-free compensation.

If the veteran will follow these simple steps, he or she will find that the VA is more than willing to assist the veteran:

1.) Do not call the VA office; go to the office. The veteran can not provide over the telephone the necessary information that the VA requires.

2.) First and foremost, a veteran must have his or her DD-214 form before the VA can open his or her file. If the veteran is unable to locate the DD-214 (lost or destroyed), the VA will obtain a copy from their respective service files.

The VA will fill out all necessary forms for the veteran and the veteran will receive a copy of the DD-214 within 10 days to two weeks. A discharge form or “orders” are not enough “to prove the veteran’s service,” but they will be helpful in obtaining the DD-214. Once the veteran receives the DD-214, the VA can determine what benefits the veteran is entitled to, if any. Again, the VA will file any necessary forms that may be required to open the veteran’s case.

3.) A lot of veterans think that they must be “retired” to receive VA benefits.

This is not true. The veteran must have served a certain amount of time on “active duty” and have an “honorable” discharge or release from service. (This is another reason that the veteran must have the DD-214).

In addition, a large number of veterans are not aware of certain death benefits that they are entitled to (again, their DD-214 will be required as proof of honorable service.

Bill Cox is a retired Marine. He lives in Piedmont.