By Mike Arcand
The experiences of every military veteran differ from each other, yet they face almost identical problems when it comes to benefits and paperwork requirements, along with time constraints. To help overcome that challenge, the Veterans Service Office (VSO) was established to provide essential assistance.
Steve Lucas serves Wood County as the Veterans Service Officer to assist military personnel and their families in the area. Through his mission, Steve provides veterans with free access to their earned benefits, along with dignity. It was my privilege to interview Steve in his office in Quitman and learn about what he does for the veterans here.
Meet Steve Lucas, Wood County VSO
Lucas and I met in his office on a Friday morning, before any of his regularly scheduled appointments. This gave us a chance to talk about not only his work as the Veterans Service Officer, but also the work he does with the Marine Corps League and Toys for Tots, among other programs.
Lucas was in the Marine Corps for 30 years before he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. While in the Marines, his MOS was EOD (Explosive Ordinance Disposal). His years of service are evident when you meet him.
Lucas received recognition—the Claims Excellence Award—for helping veterans. He feels fortunate in his career and life and wants to give back to the veteran community. The VA estimates that between 6-9% of the population of Wood County are veterans. Lucas sees between 40-50 veterans each week. The need for the VSO in our communities is truly staggering.
In addition to being the Veterans Service Officer for Wood County, Lucas also participates in Toys for Tots as the Wood County coordinator. This falls under the Wood County Marine Corps League, Shane L. Goldman Detachment #1278. Lucas has been working with Goldman for five years as a volunteer, three years as the coordinator. They supported close to 2,000 children this past year with the program. Volunteers help receive and sort the toys for each donation.
Lucas’ goal moving forward with the Veterans Service Office is to be able to serve more veterans with the help of a few more employees. He has seen mostly Korean War and Vietnam War veterans, with a few World War II veterans. He’s just now starting to see Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom veterans and looks forward to serving more.
The Veterans Service Office: A Front Door to the VA (Without the Red Tape)
The process of handling matters with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) becomes confusing to most people. Through the Wood County VSO, veterans receive information services and advocacy support. Lucas explains eligibility, outlines what evidence is needed, and makes sure forms are completed correctly. The VSO assists veterans with their new disability claims and helps them increase disability ratings for conditions that deteriorate, as well as supports dependency updates after marriage or divorce or child birth. He ensures veterans meet their deadlines to present evidence or initiate their appeals within established timeframes.
Claims, Appeals, and Evidence—Done Right
One of the Veterans Service Officer’s most visible duties is assisting veterans with their disability compensation claims. Lucas evaluates service treatment records and DD214s while the veteran collects the medical documents and statements that support claims before Lucas sends them to the VA. The VSO assists veterans when they receive unfavorable VA decisions by guiding them through their appeal process. The veteran receives assistance from the VSO to prepare supporting documents while avoiding errors that result in delayed outcomes.
Healthcare Enrollment and Specialty Programs
The array of benefits extends past monetary compensation. Lucas guides veterans through the process of obtaining VA healthcare enrollment and selecting their preferred medical center while explaining the Community Care option for services that cannot be accessed locally. Veterans can receive assistance from the VSO regarding specialized programs that include toxic exposure screenings under new legislation, as well as women’s health services and mental health resources and caregiver support. The VSO establishes connections for veterans to access transportation assistance by linking them with GoBus ride programs and regional DAV vans when they are available.
Education, Jobs, and Financial Stability
The process of becoming a civilian requires veterans to seek information regarding GI Bill benefits, together with VR&E (Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment) and on-the-job training as well as apprenticeship possibilities. The VSO determines which program best fits a veteran’s needs while ensuring all necessary paperwork complies with school or employer standards. The office provides Texas-specific benefits, such as the Hazlewood Act. The VSO refers veterans to emergency relief programs that include utility assistance and services from local nonprofit organizations dedicated to housing security and food assistance during short-term crises.
Texas Benefits and Local Partnerships
Steve Lucas provides services to Wood County residents while being familiar with both state and federal benefits. His office works together with the Texas Veterans Commission along with the Texas Workforce Commission as well as county courts and local nonprofits. The office provides veteran-friendly employer referrals along with small-business support. Lucas provides useful tools and information instead of distributing mere pamphlets.
Outreach, Trust, and No-Cost Service
Lucas reaches veterans through his presence at community functions as well as resource fairs and other local events. The development of trust occurs through his practice of actively listening to a veteran’s statements. Importantly, his services are free. The VA does not require veterans to pay anyone for claim filing services. Lucas’ office delivers free assistance for all their services.
Why It Matters—Locally
The residents of Wood County consist of veterans who also serve as neighbors and coaches and church ushers as well as small business operators throughout the communities. The delay or denial of veterans’ benefits creates negative effects on their family members. A robust Veterans Service Office functions as a connection point that maintains neighborhood access to medical care and financial support and educational pathways which both secure families and advance economic development in the area. The program exists to protect military promises from becoming broken promises instead of giving out free money. If you are a veteran in Wood County, you should contact Steve Lucas first. Bring all your questions together with your records and your personal story. His service includes the essential skills and official documents as well as representation to get what you deserve. The Wood County Veterans Services Office located in Quitman can be reached at 903-763-5581. Before visiting, please schedule a meeting. You can also connect with the VSO on its Facebook page.