The following VA, local, and American Legion resources have been compiled by our Veterans Services Officer. Please contact us if you need assistance.
Veterans Affairs Official Resources
| How to file a VA claim, step by step | Find out how to file a claim for disability compensation or increased disability compensation. |
| VA disability compensation rates | Review current VA disability compensation rates, and learn what factors may affect your monthly payments. |
| How to apply for VA health care benefits | Learn about and apply for VA health care benefits. |
| VA Vision Care | If you qualify for VA health care benefits, you may be able to get some or all of your vision care through VA. |
| VA travel pay reimbursement | VA travel pay reimbursement pays eligible Veterans and caregivers back for mileage and other travel expenses to and from approved health care appointments. Find out if you’re eligible and how to file a claim. |
| Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers | The VA recognizes the important role of family caregivers in supporting the health and wellness of Veterans. Find out if you may be eligible and how to apply for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC). |
| Veterans and Gold Star Families get free lifetime pass to national parks, wildlife refuges, other public lands | Veterans and their families have free access to approximately 2,000 public locations spread out across more than 400 million acres of public lands, which host activities to fit any lifestyle—from serene to high octane, including hiking, fishing, paddling, biking, hunting, stargazing, camping, and much more. |
| How to request a VA home loan Certificate of Eligibility (COE) | Learn how to request a VA home loan Certificate of Eligibility (COE). This is the first step in getting a VA-backed home loan or Native American Direct Loan. It confirms for your lender that you qualify for the VA home loan benefit. Then, choose your loan type and learn about the rest of the loan application process. |
| VA burial benefits and memorial items | VA burial benefits can help service members, Veterans, and their family members plan and pay for a burial or memorial service in a VA national cemetery. Family members can also order memorial items to honor the service of a Veteran. Find out how to apply for the burial benefits you’ve earned, and how to plan for a burial in advance or at time of need. Save your family a step and file for Pre-need eligibility for burial in a VA cemetery. |
| VA Mobile App (iOS & Android) | Access your health and benefit information with the VA. Great for messaging your Care Team, viewing upcoming appointments, and refilling prescriptions. |
| VA Mobile App to Cope with Trauma (iOS & Android) | Trauma doesn’t care what time it is. At any time of day, you might have upsetting memories or thoughts. Sudden feelings of anxiety can make you feel like something traumatic is happening all over again. These feelings can interfere with your life and impact your relationships. This is why VA created the STAIR Coach app. |
Education, Career Transition, and Mentorship
| VA GI Bill Information | GI Bill benefits help you pay for college, graduate school, and training programs. Since 1944, the GI Bill has helped qualifying Veterans and their family members get money to cover all or some of the costs for school or training. Learn more about GI Bill benefits on this page—and how to apply for them. |
| Veteran Readiness and Employment | If you have a service-connected disability that limits your ability to work or prevents you from working, Veteran Readiness and Employment (formerly called Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment) can help. This program—also known as Chapter 31 or VR&E—helps you explore employment options and address education or training needs. In some cases, your family members may also qualify for certain benefits. |
| VA education benefits for survivors and dependents | If you’re a dependent or surviving spouse of a Veteran, you may be eligible for VA education benefits. If you qualify for both Survivors’ and Dependents’ Education Assistance (DEA) and the Fry Scholarship, you’ll have to pick one or the other when you apply. After you’ve made this decision, you can’t switch. But you can use transferred benefits with both DEA and the Fry Scholarship. |
| Veterati | Online matching platform for Veterans and Mentors which allows the Veteran to pick their mentor. Mentors create a profile, Veterans schedule 1 hour calls with them. Topic covers whatever the Veteran needs, typically industry or profession discussion, interviewing and networking tips, etc. |
| Hire Heroes USA | Veterans work with paid staff who help them with their resume and match them with mentors. Activities include industry and profession discussions, mock interviews, and LinkedIn reviews. Has a special focus on Federal careers. Works directly with companies looking to hire Veterans. |
| Salute Colorado | Runs multiple in person events in the Front Range. Networking happy hours and outdoor activities, skills presentations, hands on multi-month mentorship. Mentors are selected based on the Veterans desired professional field |
| Candorful | Connect transitioning military service members and career transitioners with experienced interview coaches for live personal practice job interviews so they can Nail That Interview. |
| Vets2Industry | The free resource library for active, guard, reserve, Veteran, military-spouse, dependent children, Blue-Star & Gold-Star Families, and caregivers. Providing knowledge, connections, opportunities, and more importantly, HOPE. |
| American Corporate Partners | Founded in 2008, ACP aims to ease the transition from the military to the civilian workforce. ACP is the only nonprofit organization engaged in national corporate career counseling for our returning Veterans and active duty military spouses. |
| FourBlock | FOURBLOCK BRIDGES THE DIVIDE BETWEEN TRANSITIONING VETERANS AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY We are a nation-wide community of Veterans and employers dedicated to transforming the Veteran transition process. We look beyond transition to equip our Veterans to achieve their potential. We look beyond landing jobs to equip our Veterans to pursue careers that fit their calling. We look beyond the now—we’re shaping the future for a new generation of Veterans. |
| Task Force Movement | Transitioning Service Members, Veterans, and Military Families face unique economic challenges, including high rates of unemployment and underemployment. TFM bridges the gap between policy and the pavement to help improve our nation’s economy and national security by creating opportunities for synergy between industry and military communities. TFM has a focus on careers in trucking and cyber security. |
Douglas County Resources
| Veterans Service Office | The Douglas County VSO supports Veterans, Active Duty, Reserve, and National Guard members of the Armed Forces of the United States. We also assist spouses, surviving spouses, dependent parents, and dependents with their claims. They will prepare the necessary forms, documentation of claims with pertinent data, proper submission and case management of claims, and if needed representation at hearings. |
| County Emergency Assistance Funds | Douglas County is the recipient of a state grant providing emergency assistance to Veterans struggling with housing (mortgage and rent payments), transportation, employment, healthcare and other emergency needs. |
| DCVMF Grants | The Douglas County Veterans Monument Foundation (DCVMF) is proud to be able to continue service to our Douglas County Veterans through special assistance grant opportunities for those Veterans needing a hand up. Grant applications may be approved for an eligible Veteran once for up to $3,000, must be a Douglas County resident and have genuine need (the following are examples of proof of need: transportation needs, medical assistance, ADA home modification assistance, prescriptions, food, rent/mortgage eviction correspondence, etc.) |
| Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption | For disabled Veterans who qualify, 50 percent of the first $200,000 of actual value of the Veteran’s primary residence is exempted. Must be Honorably discharged and rated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as service-connected one hundred percent “permanent and total” disabled. Disabled Veterans Surviving Spouse and Gold Star Spouse are also eligible. |
American Legion Resources
| Homeless Veterans | The American Legion provides support for Veterans in need including guidance, outreach, resources, and crisis line. |
| National Emergency Fund | Eligibility open to Legionnaires and Sons of The American Legion members (up to $3,000) Legion Posts (up to $10,000). Applicant must have been displaced from their primary residence due damage sustained during a declared natural disaster. If emergency/disaster shelters are available, and applicant chooses not to stay at shelter, need to know the reason why they did not stay in the shelter. |
| Temporary Financial Assistance | Since its establishment in 1925, The American Legion Temporary Financial Assistance (TFA) program has awarded cash grants to minor children of current active duty or American Legion members. These grants help families in need meet the cost of shelter, food, utilities and health expenses, thereby keeping the child or children in a more stable environment. |
Miscellaneous
| National Resource Directory (NRD) | The NRD is an official database of validated resources that supports recovery, rehabilitation, and reintegration for service members, veterans, family members, and caregivers. |