The VA accepts benefit applications by phone at 1-800-827-1000. You can also apply by visiting the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs or by applying online at these websites:
- You can find more information about how to apply for VA Health Benefits at: How to Apply for VA Health Care
- Veterans Pension (for non-service-connected disabilities): Apply for Veterans Pension benefits.
- A”non-service-connected disability” is any injury or illness that prevents you from working. The disability does not have to be related to your service.You may be eligible for these benefits if your service discharge was not dishonorable and you can show financial need.
- To be considered as having financial need, your income cannot exceed the maximum annual pension rate. You can find current details about pension rates at: Current pension rates for Veterans
- You can find more information about the Veterans Pension Program at: Eligibility For Veterans Pension.
- VA Disability Compensation (service connected): How To File A VA Disability Claim
- You may be eligible for VA disability benefits or compensation for service-connected disability if you currently have a physical or mental condition and served on active duty. Your condition must be related to your service. You can find more about service eligibility and qualifying conditions at: Eligibility For VA Disability Benefits.
- To apply, you must complete an application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits (VA Form 21-526EZ). You can also provide supporting documentation, like medical records and supporting statements, to show how your condition happened or got worse.
- You can submit your application:
- Online through VA website using an already established account or by creating an account (Login.Gov, ID.me, DS Logon, or My HealthVet).
- By mail by sending VA Form 21-526EX to Department of Veteran Affairs, Claims Intake Center PO Box 4444 Janesville, WI 53547-4444
- In person with your regional VA field office or Veterans Service Organization (VSO) representative.
What is a Veterans Service Organization?
Veterans Service Organizations (VSO) are VA-recognized organizations here to help guide you through your VA benefits claims process. They may assist you in preparing, presenting, and prosecuting your claims.
Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs Locations
Baton Rouge
1755 Florida Blvd., 3rd Floor
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Phone: (225) 342-5248
Belle Chasse
333 F. Edward Hebert Blvd.,
Building 600
Belle Chasse, LA 70036
Phone: (504) 934-6110
Bogalusa
City Hall Building,
202 Arkansas Ave.
Bogalusa, LA 70427
Phone: (985) 732-6607
Breaux Bridge
101 Berard St.
Breaux Bridge, LA 70517
Phone: (337) 332-8316
Chalmette
8201 W. Judge Perez Dr.
Chalmette, LA 70043
Phone: (504) 324-7982
Covington
1301 N. Florida St.
Covington, LA 70433
Phone: (985) 893-6201
Gonzales
Ascension Parish Governmental Annex
828 S. Irma Blvd
Gonzales, LA 70737
Phone: (225) 644-7475
Greensburg
53 N. Second St.,
Health Unit Building
Greensburg, LA 70441
Phone: (225) 222-6202
Hahnville
Parish Courthouse,
15045 River Rd.
Hahnville, LA 70057
Phone: (985) 783-2221
Hammond
15481 W. Club Deluxe Rd.
Hammond, LA 70403
Phone: (985) 602-9085
Houma
1190 Barrow St.
Houma, LA 70360
Phone: (985) 857-3626
Jefferson
Yenni Building,
1221 Elmwood Park Blvd., Ste. 337
Jefferson, LA 70123
Phone: (504) 731-4580
Livingston
20140 Iowa St.
Livingston, LA 70754
(225) 686-3295
Lutcher
2430 Louisiana Ave.
Lutcher, LA 70071
Phone: (225) 869-3643
Marrero
5001 West Bank Expressway, Ste. C1
Marrero, LA 70072
Phone: (504) 349-5937
Mathews
4876 Hwy 1
Mathews, LA 70375
(985) 447-0968
Napoleonville
4751 Highway 1
Napoleonville, LA 70390
Phone: (985) 369-6335
New Orleans
City Hall,
1300 Perdido St., Room BE12
New Orleans, LA 70112
Phone: (504) 658-2930
New Roads
160 E. Main St.
New Roads, LA 70760
(225) 638-5535
Plaquemine
Iberville Council on Aging,
58105 Court St.
Plaquemine, LA 70764
(225) 687-2714
Port Allen
West Baton Rouge Courthouse Annex,
883 7th St.
Port Allen, LA 70767
Phone: (225) 342-6686
Slidell
520 Old Spanish Trail, Ste. 2-E
Slidell, LA 70458
Phone: (985) 645-3500
I applied for benefits. Is the VA processing my application?
Yes. The VA will request the medical records you told them about when you applied. If you visit a new facility, you should call the VA to update them at 1-800-827-1000. The VA may decide to schedule an appointment for a Compensation & Pension exam at your local VA clinic or hospital or via telehealth. It is very important that you attend any exam the VA schedules for you. You can call the VA to check the status of your application or you may wish to create an account at VA/DoD eBenefits.
How do I apply for a VA Home Loan?
The VA offers two types of home loans: VA Direct Home Loans and VA-Backed Home Loans.
The VA serves as your mortgage lender for a VA Direct Home Loan. They will work directly with you to apply for and manage your loan.
For a VA-Backed Home Loan, the VA guarantees a portion of your loan from a private lender. If you default or foreclose on your VA-backed loan, the VA will repay the lender the guaranteed percentage. You will likely have better terms than those for a conventional mortgage. This is because the lender assumes less risk for the loan due to the VA guarantee. However, you must also meet the lender’s credit and income requirements.
Your eligibility is based on your service history and duty status. You will need to request a certificate of eligibility (COE). You will need a copy of your discharge or separation papers (DD214) to begin the process. You can apply for a COE:
- Online through the VA website using an already established account or by creating an account (Login.Gov, ID.me, DS Logon, or My HealthVet).
- Through your lender.
- By mail by completing the Request for a Certificate of Eligibility (VA Form 26-1880) and mailing to your regional loan center.
- Veterans living in Louisiana’s should mail their COE to
- Department of Veterans Affairs Houston Regional Loan Center 6900 Almeda Road Houston, TX 77030-4200
- Veterans living in Louisiana’s should mail their COE to
After you submit, the VA will review your request and issue you a decision. Your next step depends on your decision, loan type, and lender. You can get more information by calling the VA at 1-877-827-3702 or visiting the VA’s website: VA Home Loans.
How do I apply for the GI bill?
GI Bill Benefits help pay for college, graduate school, and training programs for active duty and reserve veterans. Find out your eligibility at: GI Bill and other education benefit eligibility.
The VA currently offers these GI Bill programs:
- Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty
- You may qualify if you served in active duty for at least two years since July 1, 1985. You can find more information about GI Bill Active Duty benefits at: Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD).
- Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve
- You may qualify if you served six years in a selected reserve (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard, or Air National Guard) after July 1, 1985. You can find more information about GI Bill Selected Reserve benefits at: Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR).
- Post-9/11 GI Bill
- You may qualify if you served on or after September 11, 2001 for at least 36 months of active duty and received a qualified discharge. You can find more information about the Post 9/11 GI Bill at: Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33).
To start the application process, you will need basic documentation including your SSN, bank account direct deposit information, education and military history, and basic information about the school or training facility you want to attend. See this website for more information: Use the GI Bill Comparison Tool.
You can apply for your GI Bill:
- Online at: Apply for VA Education Benefits
- By requesting an application and mailing to your regional processing office. You can find your regional processing office address at: Regional Processing Office Addresses For GI Bill Applications.
- In person by going to your regional processing office.
- With help of a trained professional such as attorney, claims agent, or your local Veterans Service Organization. More information about receiving help with your GI Bill application can be found at: Get Help From A VA Accredited Representative Or VSO.
Once you have submitted your application, no changes can be made. However, you may be asked to provide additional information. The average time to process education claims is 30 days.
The VA says they paid me too much and that I have to pay them back. What should I do?
This is called an overpayment.
If you are already receiving monthly benefit payments, the VA may reduce some or all of your payments to pay down your debt. However, the VA allows you to make monthly payments, and you can request to make smaller payments when you cannot pay the entire balance. More information on requesting a repayment plan can be found at: Request help with VA debt for overpayments.
If you believe the overpayment was made by mistake, you can dispute the overpayment. Your can dispute the entire overpayment or only part of it (if you think the VA did overpay you, but by less than the agency is claiming). By disputing, you require the VA to review the accuracy of the debt determination. If you submit the dispute within 30 days after notice of repayment, the overpayment collection will be paused until resolution. To dispute your overpayment you should submit a letter of dispute requesting an explanation of how the VA calculated the debt You can submit your letter online through Ask VA or mail to: U.S Department of Veterans Affairs |Debt Management Center PO Box 11930 St. Paul, MN 55111
My Overpayment or Debt case is already with the VA’s Debt Management Center, but I cannot afford to pay back the debt. What should I do?
You should contact the VA Debt Management Center by the deadline listed on the first debt letter you received. You can do this by phone by calling 800-827-0648 or online at: Ask VA.
The VA offers two debt relief options. First, you can apply for a compromise offer that allows you to pay a smaller one-time lump sum amount as a full debt payment. If approved, you must pay the VA a one-time amount within 30 days.
Second, you can apply for a waiver. You have 180 days to submit a waiver request when you learn of your overpayment or debt to submit this request. If approved, the VA will forgive part or all of your debt.
You must provide a Financial Status Report (VA Form 5655) for both options. You can find more information and help to complete this form at: Submitting A Financial Status Report (VA Form 5655). You will also need to submit a personal statement (VA Form 21-4138) explaining why you should not have to repay the debt.
If you require further help, you may request help from the VA or by contacting your local VSO. You can find more information at: Request help with VA debt for overpayments and copay bills.
How do I request a change to the discharge characterization and/or reason for separation on my DD214?
You can request this change through a discharge review or upgrade. This is done through the Department of Defense. At the time of your discharge, you should have received a DD214, which provides the narrative reason for your separation and discharge status or characterization. Each military service has a discharge review board with the authority to change, correct, or modify discharges.
Where you should apply depends on your branch of service, date of discharge, and type of changes(s) you want to your military record.
If you received your separation within the last 15 years, you must submit DD Form 293, Application for the Review of Discharge or Dismissal from the Armed Forces of the United States, to the branch where you served. That branch’s Discharge Review Board will review your application.
If one of the following applies to you, you should instead submit DD Form 149, Application for Correction of Military Records, for review to its Board for Correction:
- ou received your separation within the last 3 years;
- the Discharge Review Board recently denied your application; or
- you want to correct an error or injustice in your record.
The only required documents for submission are the DD293 or DD149 and your DD214. However, you are encouraged to include additional documentation to strengthen your application.
More general information and specific instructions to apply can be found at How to Apply for a Discharge Upgrade. Most applications can be submitted online through the branch’s online system or sent to the appropriate offices listed below.
Airforce
Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records
3351 Celmers Lane
Joint Base Andrews, MD 20762-6435
Website: Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records
Army
Army Review Boards Agency
251 18th Street South, Suite 385
Arlington, VA 22202-3531
Website: Army Discharge Review Board
Coast Guard
DHS Office of the General Counsel
Board for Correction of Military Records
2707 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., SE Stop 0485
Washington, DC 20528-0485
Website: Board for Correction of Military Records of the Coast Guard
Navy & Marine Corps
Board for Correction of Naval Records
701 S. Courthouse Rd., Suite 1001
Arlington, VA 22204-2490
Website: Application Process | Board For Correction of Naval Record
More information can also be found at: Correcting Military Service Records.
How do I request a Character of Service determination from the VA?
Any application for benefits will automatically initiate a character of service review from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
I am a Surviving Child or Spouse of a Veteran. Am I Eligible for Survivors Benefits?
Yes, as a surviving spouse or child of a veteran you may be eligible for a VA survivors pension.
If you are a surviving spouse, you are eligible for a survivors pension if you have not remarried, your spouse did not receive a dishonorable discharge, and your net worth is not above the limit set by Congress. You can find the current net worth limits here: Current Survivors Pension benefit rates. One of the following must also be true of the veteran’s service:
- the veteran entered active duty on or before September 7, 1980, and served at least 90 days on active duty, with at least one day during a covered wartime period;
- the veteran entered active duty after September 7, 1980, and served 24 months or was fully called for active duty, with at least one day during a covered wartime period; or
- the veteran was an officer and started on active duty after October 16, 1981, and did not previously serve on active duty for at least 24 months. If you are a surviving child, you may qualify for survivor benefits if you are unmarried, under 18, under 23, attending a VA-approved school, or unable to care for yourself due to a disability that happened before 18.
You can find more information about survivor’s pension at: VA Survivors Pension.
You might also be eligible for VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (VA DIC). This is for a spouse, child, or parent of a service member who died in line of duty, or survivor of a veteran who died from service-related injury or illness.
You are eligible for VA DIC as a surviving spouse if:
- you lived with the veteran/service member continuously until their death, or, if you separated, you weren’t at fault in causing the separation;
- you were married within 15 years of the veteran’s discharge from a period of military service during which the qualifying illness or injury worsened;
- you were married to a veteran or service member for at least a year; or
- you had a child with the veteran or service member.
If you remarried, you can receive or continue to receive compensation if:
- you remarried on or after December 16, 2003, and were 57 or older when you remarried; or
- you remarried on or after January 5, 2021 and were 55 or older.
A surviving child may be eligible for VA DIC if they are nor married, not included in a surviving spouse’s claim, and are under the age of 18 (or under the of 23 if attending school).
To apply for VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, you will need to provide evidence of one of the following:
- the service member died while on active duty;
- the veteran died from service-related injury; or
- the veteran did not die from service-connected illness or injury but was eligible to receive VA compensation for a service-connected disability rated as totally disabling (100%). For this option, one of the following must also be true of the veteran’s totally disabling service-connected condition:
- The veteran had that condition at least 10 years before their death;
- The veteran had that condition at least 5 years before their release from active duty and before their death; or
- The veteran had that condition at least 1 year before their death if the veteran was a former prisoner of war and died after September 30, 1999.
More information about the evidence you may need can be found at: Evidence To Support VA Pension, DIC, Or Accrued Benefits Claims.
You can also find more information about VA DIC for spouses and dependents at: About VA DIC for spouses, dependents, and parents.
For Survivors Pension, you must complete and submit an Application for DIC, Survivors Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits (VA Form 21P-534EZ) to apply.
For VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, your military casualty assistance officer will help you complete an Application for DIC, Death Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits by a Surviving Spouse or Child (VA Form 21P-534a). You will also need to submit a copy of veteran’s death certificate, DD-214 (discharge), a copy of marriage certificate.
You can submit the completed forms:
- Online by using the quick submit tool through AccessVA to upload form online. Submit your application online at: AccessVA – QuickSubmi
- By Mail to
Department of Veterans Affairs
Pension Intake Center
PO Box 5365
Janesville, WI 53547-5365
- In person by going to your regional office.
New Orleans VA Regional Benefit Office at New Orleans VA Medical Center
1250 Poydras Street, Suite 200
New Orleans, LA 70113
- In person with an accredited attorney, claims agent, or VSO.
If you need more time to gather your evidence but want to start the process, you may submit an Intent to File a VA Claim (VA Form 21-0966). If you file an intent to file and your claim is later approved, you may be able to receive retroactive payments. You have one year from when you notify the VA of your intent to file to submit your claim. You can do this online or by mail. You can find more information about submitting an intent to file at: Your intent to file a VA claim.
The information provided in this post does not, and is not intended to, represent legal advice. All information available on this site is for general informational purposes only. If you need legal help, you should contact a lawyer. You may be eligible for our free legal services and can apply by calling our Legal Hotline at 1-844-244-7871 or applying online here.