Escambia County's accredited Veteran Service Officers in Pensacola help residents claim VA compensation, pension, health care, education, home loans, vocational rehabilitation and burial benefits, appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals and seek discharge upgrades, free, by appointment. Bring a Florida ID showing an Escambia address. Call 850-595-2409.
Also called: CVSO, county veterans service officer, claims help, Pensacola, West Park Place, Central Office Complex, intent to file, discharge upgrade, claim sharks.
For: Veteran or service member, spouse, child, survivor.
The Office of Veterans Services is Escambia County's veterans service office; see the Florida entry on claims assistance. Its Veteran Service Officers are accredited by VA and serve residents at no cost.
What it helps with. Claims for new or increased disability compensation, pension, VA health care enrollment, death and burial benefits, housing and VA home loans, education, vocational rehabilitation and job services; appeals to the Board of Veterans' Appeals; discharge upgrades and character of discharge determinations; requests for a veteran's VA claim file and service records; and state and local benefits. The office tells veterans to call VA first at 800-698-2411 (option 5) to record an intent to file, which protects the effective date for a year, and warns against unaccredited "claim sharks" who charge fees.
Who. Escambia County residents: the office asks for "only a valid Florida ID card or driver's license that reflects your current Escambia County address"; a DD-214 helps but is not required. Santa Rosa County residents are sent to their own county's office. The office cannot take over a case while a lawyer represents the veteran, until the lawyer withdraws.
Where. Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place, Pensacola 32505. Call 850-595-2409 for an appointment, or email [email protected]. Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Where its pages are wrong. Its VA benefits page tells honorably discharged veterans they are eligible for the "Florida State Parks free lifetime military entrance pass"; the free lifetime pass is for a veteran with a service-connected disability, and other honorably discharged veterans get 25% off an annual pass (see the Florida entry). Its tax exemptions page describes the combat discount as for veterans "OVER THE AGE OF 65"; section 196.082 says 65 or older.
Thresholds
Thresholds for Escambia County Office of Veterans Services
Gate
Rule
Escambia residents who served, and families
Any veteran or dependent with a Florida ID showing an Escambia County address. No rating is needed.
Out of date, a broken link, or something else wrong? Say what you found, and an editor checks it against the official source.
Disclaimer
VetTOC is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense. Information is for reference only and is not an eligibility determination. Verify with VA, the relevant state or territory, or an accredited VSO.