Free Disability Claim Assistance
The VFW, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans and Vietnam Veterans of America combined their efforts to for the Michigan Veterans Coalition. The MVC are a team of VA accredited and certified service officers are located throughout Michigan to assist veterans with their disability claims and receive their earned benefits. This free service allows our service officers to walk a veteran through the entire claims process from start to finish, to include any additional appeals the veteran wishes to make.
What We Do:
- A veterans service officer (VSO) will review your information and recommend which claim to make based on your record.
- VSO's will submit a claim you worked on together to the VA.
- Once you are screened by the VA for your claims, the VSO will conduct a thorough review of your decision before VA sends it to you. Appeals to VA decisions are also handled by the VSO.
Talk to a Veterans Service Officer (VSO) in the coalition by visiting miveteranbenefits.org, or call the VFW Service Office Headquarters at 313-964-6510 to find a service officer near you.
Our office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (excluding holidays)
Before going to see a VSO, please call the VFW Service Office Headquarters to ensure that your representative is available.
Eddie Dunn, Jr., VSO
VAMC-Saginaw
Monday-Thursday 7::00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
CELL: 313/858-1961
email: eddie.dunn@va.gov
Bonnie Gibbs, Claims Consultant
Monday: Detroit VA Hospital, 4646 John R: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday & Wednesday: Canton CBOC, 5900 N. Lotz Road: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Thursday & Friday: Detroit VA Hospital, 4646 John R: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
CELL: 313/977-1802
email: bonnie.gibbs@va.gov
John Howe, VSO
Lansing CBOC
Mon - Thursday 6:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Clinton County Courthouse
2nd Wednesday 6:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
CELL: 313/645-0106
email: john.howe4@va.gov
Brian Hutcheon, VSO
VAMC-Ann Arbor
Monday - Wednesday 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
CELL: 313/858-0706
email: brian.hutcheon@va.gov
Amanda Klein, Claims Consultant
Lapeer County Veterans Affairs Office
Appointment required at this location. To schedule, please call 810/667-0256
Mon -Thursday 7:30 a.m. - 4: 00 p.m.
Friday: telework from home 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
CELL: 313/529-0041
email: amanda.klein@va.gov
Timothy Lewis, VSO
Shiawassee County: Monday - Thursday 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
VAMC-Saginaw: Every Friday 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
CELL: 313/645-0198
email: timothy.lewis329@va.gov
Muskegon County Veterans Services
Monday - Thursday 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Ph: 231/724-7143
CELL: 313/529-2746
email: david.moler@va.gov
Wayne Pascoe, VSO
VFW Post 1138
400 Jones Ave., Monroe MI
Tues - Thurs 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
CELL: 313/632-1539
VA email: forthcoming
Gary Putinsky, VSO
Genesee County
Mon, Tues, Th, Fri 7:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m.
PH: 810/257-3068
CELL: 313/525-0840
email: gputinsky@co.genesee.mi.us
Glenn D. Whitt, II, VSO
Telework
Monday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Battle Creek VA Medical Center (Bldg. 136)
Tues - Thurs 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
ph: 269/966-5600
Battle Creek Federal Center
4th Wednesday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Lansing Community Based Outpatient Clinic
Fridays 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
CELL: 313/712-0406
Email: glenn.whitt@va.gov
Mike Wierckz, VSO
Wyoming CBOC
Mon & Wed 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Ottawa County
Tues 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Telework
Thursday 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
CELL: 313-632-1539
E-mail: michael.wierckz@va.gov
