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 service officer will review your information and recommend which claim to make based on your record.
- Service officers will submit a claim you worked on together to the VA.
- Once you are screened by the VA for your claims, the service officer will conduct a thorough review of your decision before VA sends it to you. Appeals to VA decisions are also handled by the service officer.
Talk to a service officer 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.
Before going to see a service officer or claims consultant, please call the VFW Service Office Headquarters to ensure that your representative is available.
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
Eddie Dunn, Jr., Assistant State Service Officer
VAMC-Saginaw
Monday-Thursday 7::00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
CELL: 313/858-1961
email: eddie.dunn@va.gov
Bonnie (Williams) Gibbs, Assistant State Service Officer
Monday: Monroe VFW POST 1138, 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, Assistant State Service Officer
Howell CBOB
Mon 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Lansing CBOC
Tues - Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Clinton County Courthouse
Wednesday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
PH: 517/567-3925
CELL: 313/645-0106
email: john.howe4@va.gov
Brian Hutcheon, Assistant State Service Officer
VAMC-Ann Arbor
Tues - Thursday 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
CELL: 313/858-0706
email: brian.hutcheon@va.gov
Tammy Bhatti, Claims Consultant
Detroit VAMC
Tuesday - Wednesday 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Cell: 313-964-6510
email: tammy.bhatti@va.gov
Timothy Lewis, Assistant State Service Officer
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
David Moler, Assistant State Service Officer
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
Mike Wierckz, Assistant State Service Officer
Wyoming CBOC
Mon,Wed, Fri 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Ottawa County
Tues, Th 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Cell: 313-632-1539
E-mail: vfwmrmike@gmail.com
Gary Putinsky, Assistant State Service Officer
Genesee County
Mon, Tues, Th, Fri 7:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m.
PH: 810/257-3068
CELL: 810/241-5991
email: gputinsky@co.genesee.mi.us
Glenn D. Whitt, II, Assistant State Service Officer
Temporary Schedule change effective 2/27/2023:
Due to renovation of the patient advocate/service officer hall in Bldg. 2, below is Glenn's new schedule for serving veterans until renovation is complete:
Michigan Works Southwest
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Calhoun County Servicer Center
200 West Van Buren St.
Battle Creek MI 49017
Please call or send a text in advance if you want to visit Glenn at Michigan Works Office
VAMC-Battle Creek
Battle Creek VAMC,
Wednesdays 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
PH: 269/966-5600 X33889
CELL: 313/712-0406
Email: glenn.whitt@va.gov
