The following information, websites and contact information are resources to assist you with questions or concerns that veterans have about their benefits. If you cannot find the information you are looking for or need further assistance, please contact Congresswoman Hirono’s Honolulu office at 808-541-1986 or through my contact page. If you would like to comment on veterans' policy, please click here.
Claims
If you have a claim or appeal with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Congresswoman Hirono's office can check on the status of your case or write a letter of interest on your behalf. Please note that note that Congresswoman Hirono's staff can not expedite claims and/or appeals, and does not have the ability to influence a case's outcome. They can help to ensure that the VA gives your case the consideration it deserves.
How to File a Claim
To file a claim, you should visit a local VA office or call the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Education: 1-888-GIBILL-1
Life Insurance: 1-800-669-8477
Health Care: 1-877-222-8387
All Other VA Benefits: 1-800-827-1000
TDD: 1-800-829-4833
Many of Hawaii's veteran's organizations can also help veterans in their claim process. See links to these organizations below.
Expediting a Claim
If a veteran is terminally ill and has medical evidence to support his or her illness, or can demonstrate evidence of economic hardship such as imminent foreclosure or eviction, the VA will expedite their claim. Veterans should notify the VA of their specific situation which merits expedition.
Office of Veterans Services
Tripler Army Medical Center
459 Patterson Road
E-Wing, Room 1-A103
Honolulu, HI 96819
Phone: (808) 433-0420
Fax: (808) 433-0385
http://hawaii.gov/dod/ovs/
Hawaii's VA Medical Centers
Veterans with questions that involve VA Medical Centers such as questions about treatment, fee basis cards, prescriptions, and nursing care can request that Congresswoman Hirono's office write letters on their behalf to the relevant VA Medical Center.
VA Medical Centers
VA Pacific Islands Health Care System
459 Patterson Road
Honolulu, HI 96819
Tel: (808)433-0600
http://www.hawaii.va.gov/
Honolulu Vet Center
1680 Kapiolani Blvd. Suite F-3
Honolulu, HI 96814
Phone: 808-973-8387
Fax: 808-973-5295
Hilo Vet Center
126 Pu'uhonu Way Suite 2
Hilo, HI 96720
Phone: 808-969-3833
Fax: 808-969-2025
Kailua-Kona Vet Center
73-4976 Kamanu St., Suite 207
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
Phone: 808-329-0574
Fax: 808-329-2799
Obtaining a Fee Basis Card
You should contact the patient representative at the VA Medical Center where you receive treatment to obtain your fee basis card.
The Veterans Affairs Medical Centers' Nursing Services
Although the VA does not usually offer long-term nursing care, occasionally they help to place veterans in private nursing homes. You should contact your patient representative for more information.
Prescription Assistance
You should contact the patient representative at the VA Medical Center where you receive treatment for prescription assistance.
National Personnel Records Center
The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) contains all military service records from WWI to present. Veterans often need records to support a claim for Social Security purposes, employment and to obtain medals. Congresswoman Hirono’s office cannot normally expedite the request for records, but they can make records requests on behalf of the veteran.
Some records may be unavailable because the NPRC suffered a fire in 1973. The center can often reconstruct a veteran's records, however.
How to obtain a copy of discharge papers, service records and/or service medals and decorations
You should complete a Military Records Request.
Contact Information for the National Personnel Records Center
National Personnel Records Center
Military Personnel Records
9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132-5100
Telephone: 314-801-0800
E-mail: MPR.center@nara.gov *
Status Check: mpr.status@nara.gov *
Fax: 314 801-9195
Hawaii Veterans Organization
Some of the national organizations that can provide assistance are listed below:
Hawaii Department of Veterans' Affairs
http://hawaii.gov/dod/ovs/
808-433-0420
459 Patterson Road E-Wing
Room 1-A103
Honolulu, HI 96819
