The Chautauqua County Veterans Service Agency has important news to share with you.

NY Connects is a service that can give you the opportunity to speak with our operator’s right here in Mayville and these operators can assist you with connecting to services in our community. The Department of Veterans Affairs has recently expanded benefits to “Blue Water Navy” Veterans of the Vietnam War. A US Supreme Court case recently ruled in favor of veterans. Many U.S. Navy and Coast Guard veterans who served off the shores of Vietnam during the war are now considered to have been exposed to Dioxin in the form of Agent Orange and other herbicides used during the war.

This is a significant ruling because it opens the doors for thousands of Veterans to receive free or low cost VA Health Care, treatment, medications, hearing aides, eyeglasses, and much more. They may also be eligible to receive compensation payments for illnesses related to Agent Orange and Dioxin.

VA Home Based Primary case is a valuable but little used VA Health Care program. Homebound or severely ill Veterans may be eligible to receive multiple services in their home. The Veteran must be enrolled in VA Healthcare and request that their VA Primary Care Doctor make a referral to the Home Based Primary Care team. A nurse will then come for a home visit and access the Veteran for a variety of services from in home caregivers to grab bars for showers and toilets, blood draws, medications, and much more.

Veterans often want to know if they can keep their private doctor and still use VA Health care. The answer is “YES”. However, the VA can only provide you with prescriptions written by your VA Doctor. Veterans can sign a release that allows their VA Primary care doctor and their private doctor to share information, test results, etc.

VA Health care is constantly improving and expanding their Women’s health care services. Each VA hospital has a Women’s health clinic that specializes in female specific health issues. They also provide first rate services for pregnant Veterans and those planning to have a child. Veterans can receive counseling for Post-Traumatic Stress resulting from Combat, Military Sexual Trauma, or other traumatic events. There are one on one counseling programs as well as female only therapy groups and inpatient mental health care as needed.

This is just the tip of the ice berg. There are many more VA Benefits available. The best thing to do is to contact your local County or State Veterans Service Officer to explore your benefits. It is our duty to serve Veterans and their families and we are happy to do so.

You can call NY Connects for more information or to connect to your Veterans service agency. There are two offices; North County 363-3842 and South county 661 – 8255

The NY Connects Helpline is available to you. Please call 753-4582, 363-4582 or 661-7582 or e-mail us at CCNYC@co.chautauqua.ny.us. If you are in Mayville please stop and talk with one of our operators. We are located in the HRC Building at the county government offices in Mayville New York. NY Connects is brought to you by the Chautauqua County Office for the Aging and the Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services.