Hello,

I am a retired Army Veteran who has been assisting Veterans, their survivors and dependents in Maryland for over a decade in getting their VA benefits. I am an accredited representative with VFW and volunteer my time in the evenings and on the weekends to service those in Harford and Cecil counties.  

I provide outreach services to three locations in Maryland: Abingdon, Perryville, and Elkton.  



Appointments
Please click on the location below to make an appointment.



















What to bring to an appointment? 
Each claimant’s situation is different. Below are the most types of appointment and what to bring.


Predischarge Claim  
This appointment is for service members who are within 180 days of their discharge from the U.S. Military. This appointment includes a VA disability compensation process overview, a review of service medical records, and the completion the VA disability compensation packet.

Important items to bring:
•Copy of service medical records (to provide to the VA)
•Previous DD214(s) and/or NG22
•Dependents SSN & DOB
•Marriage license/divorce decrees
•Banking information (account # & routing #)
____________________________________________________________________________________

Initial VA Benefits  
This appointment is a good starting point for Veterans who have been discharged from the U.S. military and have not filed a VA claim.

Important items to bring:
•Service medical records (if you have them)
•Military discharge and/or DD Form 214(s)
•Private medical evidence (if you any)
______________________________________________________________________________________

Re-evaulation (Reopen) of Disability 
This appointment is for Veterans who have received a VA decision over a year ago and would like to reopen their claim because they were previously denied for service connection or would like to increase their disability rating. A Veteran can increase his/her disability rating by showing that a disability has gotten worse, and/or applying for new or secondary conditions.

Important items to bring:
•Previous VA decisions
•Service treatment records (if you have them)
•Private treatment records (if have any)
______________________________________________________________________________________

VA Decision Review 
This appointment is for Veterans or Surviving Spouses who have received a VA decision in the past year and would like it reviewed for rebuttal options. 

Please note you have 1 year from the date of decision to submit new and material evidence or to appeal a VA decision. 

Important items to bring:
•VA decision
•Any new evidence you may have
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Veterans Pension Claim  
This appointment is to prepare an application for Veterans Pension Claim, which is granted to wartime Veterans with limited income.  

Important items to bring: 
•Military discharge and/or DD214s
•Dependents SSN & DOB
•Marriage and/or divorce information for Veteran and spouse (if Veteran is married)
•Annual income information for Veteran and spouse (if applicable)
•Banking information (account # and transit #)
______________________________________________________________________________________

Surviving Spouse Claim  
This appointment is to assist surviving spouses of deceased Veterans in filing for VA benefits such as those awarded for a service-connected death or an income based pension. 

Important items to bring:
•Veteran's Death Certificate 
•Marriage license (surviving spouse to Veteran) 
•Veteran's Military discharge and/or DD214(s)
•VA decisions (if Veteran had a VA disability)
•Annual income information 
•Banking information (account # and transit #)
______________________________________________________________________________________

Burial and Memorial Benefits  
This appointment is to discuss and possibly apply for burial benefits paid and memorial benefits granted upon the passing of a U.S. Military Veteran. These benefits include burial allowance, headstone or marker, Presidential Memorial Certificates, and U.S. flag. 

Important items to bring are:
•Veteran's Death Certificate
•Veteran military discharge and/or DD Form 214(s)
•Paid Itemized funeral bill
______________________________________________________________________________________

CRSC Claim 
This appointment is to prepare a Combat Related Special Compensation packet.

Items required for the CRSC Packet:

•All VA disability ratings
•All DD214(s) and DD215(s)
•Retirement orders
•Service Medical records that very how injury/disability occurred
•Statements to support how the injury/disability is combat related
•Physical Evaluation Board results (if applicable)
•Reserve retirement point computation with 15 or 20 year letter



Ms. Cindy Smith
Outreach ADSO
Veterans of Foreign Wars

Warrant Officer Graduation: one of the proudest moments 
in my military career.

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