By JOSH NEWTON
Press Staff Writer
TAHLEQUAH —
Veterans trying to get on disability often find it’s not a quick process, with guaranteed approval.
Many who apply are denied on their first attempt, said Sharon Mullen, junior vice of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 31 in Tahlequah. Instead of pressing on after an initial rejection, many veterans just give up, she said.
Mullen and her sister, Vera Royce, both of Bartlesville, travel to Tahlequah on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month to help veterans work file claims so they can receive that disability compensation.
But few veterans are seeking their services, Mullen said. The most who have ever stopped in for assistance on one particular Wednesday at the Veterans of Foreign Wars building is two, said Mullen - and she’s been doing this for eight years.
“A lot of veterans think it’s like welfare, but it’s not,” said Mullen. “This money is their money. It’s been set aside for them. You know, we had Agent Orange in Vietnam, and they were sprayed with Agent Orange in Korea, which we didn’t know about. New things are popping up that we just didn’t know about.”
Mullen would especially like to see more veterans returning from Iraq check into what’s available.
“A lot of them have suffered head injuries, or [Post Traumatic Stress Disorder],” said Mullen. “We’re here doing claims so they can get compensation for injuries or illnesses they got from the service. I do want to be able to reach as many veterans as we possibly can. This compensation money is the veterans’ money, not a hand-out.”
Mullen and Royce are at the VFW building from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on their monthly visits. Mullen also works claims over the telephone, but said a face-to-face meeting is still necessary for paperwork and other details.
“We’ll need their DD 214,” said Mullen, referring to the certificate of release or discharge from active duty, “and any marriage licenses or divorce papers.”
Once the process begins, she said, it can take 60-90 days to get things started. If a veteran is denied disability, Mullen can help begin working on a second attempt as soon as that veteran brings her the denial documents.
“Our paperwork is sent to the DAV headquarters in Muskogee, and they look it over before it’s sent to the Veterans Affairs,” said Mullen.
For those who can’t make it at the designated times on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month, Mullen said she can always arrange other times to assist veterans.
“I do come down to go to a meeting on the fourth Tuesday, so I can also set up appointments that day if needed,” said Mullen. “Just call me.”
Mullen also hopes the DAV service work can eventually be housed in its own building, either through purchasing one, or perhaps someone will provide a building. Fundraisers will be conducted soon to help in the purchasing efforts, she said, and donations will also be taken.
In the meantime, Mullen said, a new sign is being used to grab attention outside the VFW building on Water Street.
