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Veterans Service Office Receives Positive Review
The Dubois County Veterans Service Office is meeting state requirements and providing strong
service to local veterans, according to a recent review.
Kevin Hinton, Southwest District Service Officer with the Indiana Department of Veteran Affairs,
provided his biennial briefing on the county Veteran Service Officer and office. Hinton’s
department is required by state law (Indiana Code 10-17-9-1) to provide the report to each of
the 19 counties that he oversees in southwest Indiana.
Hinton reported that Admin Assistant Maria Snider is fully compliant with state requirements,
while Veterans Service Officer Nick Pagragan is nearing full compliance. He said the remaining
issue with Pagragan is related to accreditation delays through the American Legion. Their
process involves several levels of review, including the American Legion's service office, state
office and national office, before being sent to the Department of Veterans Affairs' Office of
General Counsel.
While Pagragan was completing his training and accreditation requirements with the Indiana
Department of Veterans Affairs, state officials audited the claims he processed. Hinton the
state's service officer conducting the audits, found that those claims were among the best
reviewed. “He does really good work making sure the veteran’s claim is processed the right
way,” said Hinton.
Hinton also praised Snider for her work following the departure of the county's previous
veteran service officer. He said she faced a difficult transition while working to determine what
needed to be addressed in the office and helping a large number of local veterans. He said “she
did tremendous work during that time frame,” stressing the constant high volume of claims. “I
would come down once or twice and actually process claims which, as a DSO that's not my job,
but you got so many veterans in this county that that office is really full all the time,” Hinton
said.
The number of veterans being served through the office is also significant, Hinton said. While
updated statewide figures from the VA have been delayed, the department can track claims
submitted through its claim management system and use those reports to monitor activity.
Hinton said both employees have completed the required training for the year, including
summer training and fall training at Spring Mill State Park. He said the office is moving in the
right direction, while noting that changes within the VA require service officers to continually
stay current with new requirements and procedures.
For more information on these and other updates, visit www.duboiscountyin.org
- Drew Hasselbring