Okeechobee County Veteran Services and VA Medical Center Van

Florida's counties may run veteran service offices under chapter 292; see the Florida entry. Okeechobee County's Veteran & Indigent Services office exists "to serve Okeechobee County Veterans and their family members by providing assistance established through VA benefits under Federal and State laws which may result in monetary gain and medical care, and to be their principal advocate". Who it serves. Veterans, their dependants, a surviving spouse or child of a deceased veteran, members of the Reserves or National Guard, active duty service members and merchant mariners, for compensation, pension, health care, education, home loan guaranty and burial claims. What to bring. For a disability claim, the DD 214 or record of discharge, the medical diagnosis, and bank account and routing numbers; for burial and death benefits, the DD 214, the long-form death certificate, the marriage licence and the bank details. The van. "Okeechobee County provides free transportation for eligible veterans to and from their medical appointments at the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center." The van leaves from and returns to the Wawa east side parking lot; call 561-248-0563 to book, and "All medical appointments must be before 12 noon." The officer told the Board in October 2025 that the office had a new van. Where and when. 1700 NW 9th Avenue, Suite C, Okeechobee, FL 34972; (863) 763-6950 option 5; [email protected]; Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., by appointment only. Paul Hiott, the county's Veterans' Services Officer for thirty years, announced his retirement to the Board on August 20, 2026, telling the Board that Amber Boerner would likely take over the office. The FY27 budget gives Veteran Services $157,252.