Veterans Service Officers

Defiance County Veterans Service Commission has National and State accredited service officers who can assist veterans and their eligible dependents with filing for VA benefits. This includes

• Compensation and pension
• Appeals for denied claims
• Education
• Home loans
• Vocational rehabilitation
• Life insurance
• Survivor benefits
• Applications for upgrading discharges
• Homeless veterans programs
• Applications to the Ohio Veterans Home
• Transportation to VA medical centers
• Burial and memorial benefits
• Headstones and markers
• Emergency relief
• Military medal requests
• Request for DD 214 military discharges and service records
• Prescription and healthcare benefits
• Other Federal benefits

If you wish to apply for VA benefits or entitlements, call our office at 419.782.6861 or email veterans@defiancecounty.oh.gov.

Please Note: We are not a branch of the Department of Veterans Affairs and cannot approve or deny VA claims.

Veteran’s Claims

Our Veterans Service Officers (VSO) serve as a liaison to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). They advise and assist Veterans and family members of their rights and/or obtaining possible benefits through the VA, the State of Ohio, and Defiance County.

Our VSOs hold accreditation through the Ohio Department of Veterans Services and National Association of Veterans Service Officers.

Services include processing claims for:

• Service-connected disability
• Non-service Connected Pension for Wartime Veterans
• Survivors Pension
• Aid & Attendance
• Service Connected Compensation
• Ohio War Orphans Scholarship
• Notice of Disagreements and Appeals
• And more

VSOs also submit applications for:

• Military Awards and Medals
• High School Diploma for War-time Vets
• Upgrading Discharges
• Request Vets Discharge (DD214)
• Various other records as needed

Benefits may also include but are not limited to:

• Burial Benefits
• Education Benefits
• VA Home Loan

VA Healthcare

The Veterans Health Administration is home to the largest integrated healthcare system consisting of 153 medical centers, in addition to numerous community-based outpatient clinics, community living centers, Vet Centers and Domiciliaries. Together, these healthcare facilities provide comprehensive care to Veterans in Ohio and nationwide. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of the medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology and speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery

Contact your local Veteran Service Officer apply for enrollment in VA Health Care.

Defiance County Veterans Office 419-782-6861

VA Medical Transportation

Veterans living in Defiance County who need transportation to and from VA medical appointments may contact our office directly at 419.782.6861 to schedule transportation.

• There is no charge for this service.
• One caregiver may accompany the veteran.
• Must follow recommended VA COVID precautions.

VA Regional Call Center: 1.800.827.1000

Area VA Medical Facilities:

• Defiance VA Clinic: 419.783.2200 (Opening Date To Be Announced)
• Toledo Ohio VA Clinic: 1.800.949.1002 or 419.259.2000
• Fort Wayne Indiana VA Hospital: 1.800.360.8387 or 260.426.5431
• Ann Arbor Healthcare System: 1.734.769.7100

Financial Assistance

The Veterans Service Commission provides financial assistance to eligible active-duty personnel and their dependents who have met unexpected hardships. Types of financial assistance include:

• Rent
• Utilities
• Food/hygiene
• Basic living expenses
• Gasoline Vouchers
• Car repairs
• Clothing
• Other Needs

To be eligible for temporary financial assistance, the veteran or family member must fill out an application and meet the following qualifications.

• Be a resident of Defiance County
• Ohio State ID or Ohio’s driver’s license
• Have served at least one day of active duty outside of training
• Have received a discharge under honorable conditions
• Demonstrate financial need

Military Discharges & Cemetery Records

Discharged Veterans of the U.S. Armed Service branches are encouraged to submit their discharges (DD214) to both the Defiance County Veterans Office and the Defiance County Veterans Office.

Copies of recorded military discharges (DD214) can be obtained through Defiance County Veterans Office. Must provide proof of identity and complete an authorization release form. 

Defiance County Veterans Office
300 East Second Street, Suite 102
Defiance, Ohio 43512
Phone: 419.782.686
Fax: 419.782.6713
Email: veterans@defiancecounty.oh.gov

“Certified Copies” of “recorded” military service discharges (DD214) and local cemetery records can be obtained through the Defiance County Recorders Office.

Defiance County Recorder
500 Second Street, Suite 201
Defiance, Ohio 43512

Phone: 419.782.4741
Fax: 419.782.3421
Email: recorder@defiancecounty.oh.gov

 Office Hours:
Monday – Friday
8:30 AM to 4:30 PM

 OR

Contact the Recorder’s Office in the county and state where the discharge document may have been recorded. This is typically the county in which the veteran resided upon discharge from service.

 This office is happy to help you send for a new discharge (DD214) if you have lost or misplaced your original and cannot secure a certified copy at the county recorder office or through your local veterans office.

 You may also send for your own copy by sending a request to the National Archives.

Request Military Service Records | National Archives

https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records

 You may search the Defiance County Veteran’s Database for a discharge or other veteran record at:

Search Veteran Directory | Defiance County Veterans Office | Defiance County, Ohio (defiance-county.com)

https://www.defiance-county.com/veterans-office/veterandb/search.php

Veterans Home Tours

The Veterans Service Commission takes eligible veterans to tour the Ohio Veterans Home in Sandusky, Ohio. A 427-bed nursing home facility, the Ohio Veterans Home was first opened in 1888 to provide care for veterans of the civil war. Today, they offer two levels of care to Ohio veterans.

• Standard Care for those in need of intermediate-level care
• Special Care for those with memory care needs

Veterans must meet the following criteria for residence at the Ohio Veterans Home:

• Been an Ohio resident for one year.
• Served on active duty during a time of war or armed conflict or be the recipient of the Purple Heart, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, or Southwest Asia Service Medal.
• Received their most recent discharge under honorable conditions.
• Be disabled by disease, wounds, or otherwise and, by reason of such disability, incapable of earning a living. Individuals who are current drug and alcohol abusers, psychotics, or have active tuberculosis are not eligible for immediate admission.

For more information, or to schedule a Veterans Home tour in Sandusky, please call 419.782.6861 or email veterans@defincecounty.oh.gov.

Veterans Home Sandusky Veterans Home

The Ohio Veterans Home in Sandusky is a 427-bed nursing home facility offering two levels of care: standard care for those in need of any intermediate level of care and special care for those with memory care needs. The Home opened in 1888 to care for veterans of the Civil War and has been in continuous operation since.

https://dvs.ohio.gov/veterans-homes/sandusky/sandusky

“Georgetown Veterans Home: The Ohio Veterans Home in Georgetown is a 168-bed nursing home facility offering two levels of care: standard care for veterans in need of any intermediate level of care and memory care for those with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. The home opened in 2003 in the scenic countryside of Brown County.

Georgetown | Department of Veterans Services (ohio.gov)