Ways for veterans to file disability claims
Veterans who register online can track the progress of their claims and ask questions.
https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits-portal/ebenefits.portal
VA Benefits Information and Claims Assistance. There are eight call centers across the country.
1-800-827-1000
The following organizations help veterans submit disability claims. Their offices are in the federal building, downtown Pittsburgh, which also houses the Veterans Benefits Administration.
American Legion: 412-395-6230
American Veterans: 412-395-6248
Disabled American Veterans: 412-395-6241
Military Order of the Purple Heart: 412-395-6252
Paralyzed Veterans of America: 412-395-6255
Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs: 1-866-754-8636
Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs: 412-395-6225
Veterans of Foreign Wars: 412-395-6259
Source: Veterans Administration
The Department of Veterans Affairs
The Department of Veterans Affairs offers many benefits to veterans and their families. Veterans can apply for most services provided by the VA at www.va.gov or any VA office. Below are the phone numbers for specified benefits.
VA Regional Office
1000 Liberty Ave., Rm. 1606
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
1-800-827-1000
Recovery Village
A source for addiction treatment and resources regarding rehabilitation centers and VA options.
866.629.1554
https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/resources/veterans/
Disability Benefits: Veterans can receive disability compensation if they were injured during service, or if a pre-existing injury worsened during their service.
1-800-827-1000
Education and Training: Education and training financial benefits are available to veterans who qualify based on their time of service.
1-888-442-4551
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment: The VA evaluates veterans skills and abilities and helps them find proper training, counseling or other services to help them get back to work.
1-800-827-1000
Home Loan Guaranty: Veterans can get help finding a loan through the VA.
1-800-827-1000
Dependents and Survivors’ Benefits: A veteran’s husband, wife, sons, daughters, mothers and fathers all may qualify for benefits if the family member died during or after their service.
1-800-827-1000
Debt Management Center: The VA’s debt management center helps veterans with their payments to VA services.
1-800-827-0648
Medical Treatment: The VA provides medical benefits such as hospital services, readjustment counseling, and alcohol and drug dependency treatment.
1-800-827-1000
Health Care Benefits: Veterans have access to Affordable Care Act plans.
1-877-222-8387
Civilian Health and Medical Program: The VA provides benefits to eligible spouses or children of veterans.
1-800-733-8387
Life Insurance: Traumatic Injury Protection Under Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance offers insurance of between $25,000 and $100,000 for the veterans who qualify.
1-800-419-1473
Burial Benefits: The families of deceased veterans can receive a headstone, a burial flag and reimbursement for burial costs, among other things.
1-800-827-1000
Allegheny County Department of Veteran Services
Allegheny County Department of Veteran Services helps Allegheny County veterans receive the benefits granted to them by the federal, state and local governments.
4141 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
412-621-4357
http://www.county.allegheny.pa.us/veterans/index.aspx
VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System
University Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15240
412-822-2222
1-866-482-7488
www.pittsburgh.va.gov
Comprehensive Vocational Services: VA Pittsburgh offers compensated work therapy to veterans, teaching them sustainable and transitional work skills through supported employment.
412-822-1286
Health Care for Homeless Veterans: Homeless veterans who are honorably discharged are eligible to receive health evaluations, benefits and transitional housing,
412-822-1400
Veterans Justice Outreach & Health Care for Re-entry Veterans: Justice-involved veterans have access to VA resources and services in lieu of incarceration. Re-entry veterans are eligible for evaluation for health and housing resources through the VA.
412-822-1410
Domiciliary Residential Rehabilitation & Treatment Program: Unemployed homeless veterans may enter this four month residential treatment program to obtain housing and employment.
412-822-1300
Psychosocial Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program: The program offers a supportive environment for veterans with psychiatric disabilities to obtain skills and knowledge to transition to civilian life.
412-822-1399
Community Based Employment Services: Community Based Employment Services provides veterans with interview and resume workshops, transportation assistance and adjustment counseling.
412-822-1286
Community Transition Center: Community Transition Center assists veterans with mental illness, offering classes on mental health, anxiety, coping skills and anger management.
412-822-1413
CareerLink Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh/Allegheny County Veterans Services
CareerLink Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh/Allegheny County Veterans Services provides veterans with job counseling, job fair information, apprenticeship information and other services that help veterans transition into the civilian work force.
https://www.pacareerlink.pa.gov/jponline/Admin/Common/VeteranService.aspx/
Downtown Pittsburgh
Regional Enterprise Tower
425 6th Ave., 22nd Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
412-552-7100
Forest Hills
2040 Ardmore Blvd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15221
412-436-2225
Goodwill SWPA
118 52nd Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15201
412-632-1711
Coalition for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans
Coalition for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans is a national collaboration of veterans organizations that provide various services.
www.coalitionforveterans.org/ciav/home
Department of Defense Outreach Center for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury
Department of Defense Outreach Center for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury provides information and resources for veterans and their family members with questions about psychological health and traumatic brain injuries.
1-866-966-1020
www.dcoe.health.mil/24-7help.aspx
resources@dcoeoutreach.org
live chat
Disabled American Veterans
Disabled American Veterans offers veterans membership for a fee, and the organization offers them services in return, such as “attorneys-in-fact” for filling out VA paperwork and counseling.
1-877-I AM A VET (1-877-426-2838)
www.dav.org
Disabled American Veterans National Service Office Pittsburgh
1000 Liberty Ave., Room 1606
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
412-395-6241
Helmets to Hardhats
Helmets to Hardhats is an organization focused on expediting the transition from the military to a career in construction.
1-866-741-6210
www.helmetstohardhats.org
Hire Heroes USA
Hire Heroes USA is an organization focused on creating job opportunities for United States military veterans.
1-844-634-1520
www.hireheroesusa.org
Homeless Veterans
Homeless Veterans works with the community to get veterans off the streets and into homes.
1-877-424-3838
www.va.gov/homeless
live chat
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan that focuses on advocacy, awareness and assistance.
212-982-9699
www.iava.org
Military Pathways
Military Pathways provides anonymous self-assessments for post-traumatic stress disorders, depression and alcohol problems.
1-877-877-3647
http://www.pdhealth.mil/militarypathways.asp
Military OneSource
Military OneSource is a 24-hour service provided by the Department of Defense for military personnel and their families. Military OneSource provides help for a wide range of issues, such as family counseling, financial assistance, employment and other services related to military needs.
1-800-342-9647
www.militaryonesource.mil
Military Order of the Purple Heart
Military Order of the Purple Heart brings together recipients of the Purple Heart and hosts local activities and events, distributes scholarships to members and provides assistance to all veterans.
1-888-668-1656
http://www.purpleheart.org/
Renaissance Chapter
7060 Highland Dr.
PIttsburgh, PA 15206
412-665-6843
www.mophchapter455.org
National Military Family Association
National Military Family Association offers military spouse scholarships, “Operation Purple Program,” which is designed for the children of military service men and women and a family award program.
703-931-6632
www.militaryfamily.org
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline helps anyone who is hopeless, depressed or experiencing suicidal thoughts overcome personal, family or other problems.
1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
National Veterans Foundation
National Veterans Foundation is an organization dedicated to providing veterans with counseling and support, as well as information on the many benefits a veteran can receive through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Counseling line: 1-888-777-4443
Office line: 310-642-0255
www.nvf.org
Paralyzed Veterans of America
Paralyzed Veterans of America advocates for better medical benefits for veterans, increased research for spinal cord injuries and the civil rights of its members.
Healthcare Helpline: 1-800-232-1782
Donor Hotline: 1-800-555-9140
Benefits Helpline: 1-866-734-0857
Caregiver Support: 1-855-260-3274
www.pva.org
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration helps veterans and the general public find information and resources regarding substance abuse and mental health services.
1-877-726-4727
www.samhsa.gov
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS)
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) is a peer support network that focuses on military survivors.
1-800-959-8277
www.taps.org
TRICARE
TRICARE is the health-care program serving many active duty service men and women and their families.
1-877-874-2273
www.tricare.mil/mybenefit
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is conducting a research study on veterans that examines brain activity during sleep and wakefulness.
Becca Campbell
campbellrl3@upmc.edu
412-383-2131
www.veteranssleep.pitt.edu
Vet Centers
Vet Centers provide veterans and their family members with readjustment counseling. This counseling includes family counseling for military related issues, substance abuse issues and other service related counseling.
1-877-927-8387
http://www.vetcenter.va.gov
Pittsburgh Vet Center
2500 Baldwick Road, Suite 15
Pittsburgh, PA 15205
412-920-1765
McKeesport Vet Center
Oak Park Mall
2001 Lincoln Way, Suite 21
McKeesport, PA 15131
412-678-7704
More Pennsylvania locations
Veterans Breakfast Club
Veterans Breakfast Club brings veterans of all ages together in the South Hills, North Hills, Penn Hills and Moon township to share their stories and have breakfast.
412-623-9029
www.veteransbreakfastclub.com
Veterans of Foreign Wars
Veterans of Foreign Wars fosters camaraderie among veterans and advocates for veterans.
www.vfw.org
Find nearest post
Wounded Warrior Project
Wounded Warrior Project focuses its programs and services on returning veterans who received a service-related disability after Sept. 11, 2001.
1-877-TEAM-WWP (1-877-832-6997)
www.woundedwarriorproject.org
301 Grant Street, Suite 900 (One Oxford Centre)
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
412-471-0935
American Red Cross
American Red Cross provides a link of communication between military members and their families, as well as financial assistance and counseling centers during times of crisis.
Southwestern PA Chapter
2801 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
1-800-217-9599
http://www.redcross.org/local/pa/pittsburgh
Mesothelioma assistance for veterans
Mesothelioma Veterans Center: 1-877-404-992 or www.mesotheliomaveterans.org.
Mesothelioma Group, a support community: 1-888-708-5660 or www.mesotheliomagroup.com/veterans.
American Veterans
American Veterans provides its dues-paying members with discounts for hotels, travel and personal health services.
www.amvets.org
Amvets Pittsburgh
1000 Liberty Ave # 1605
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
412-395-6248
National Suicide Prevention Line: 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
National Call Center for Homeless Veterans: 1-877-424-3838
Combat Call Center: 1-877-WAR-VETS (1-877-927-8387)
Women Veterans Hotline: 1-855-VA-WOMEN (1-855-829-6636)
Rehab Spot: https://www.rehabspot.com/family/
You need to get involved in activities that would result in relieving the tension and stress from your shoulder. Figure out effective ways to distress yourself. Remember, stress can have a tremendous emotional and physical toll on your body and mind.
Addiction rehab centers