RD84 - Virginia Department of Veterans Services Commissioner’s Fiscal Year 2015 Annual Report - February 1, 2016


Executive Summary:
I am proud to report on the accomplishments of the Department of Veterans Services (DVS). As we continue to execute the Governor’s vision of making Virginia the most veteran friendly state in the nation, we are committed to providing not only support, but opportunities to the nearly 800,000 veterans who call the Commonwealth home.

DVS provides the full spectrum of services to Virginia’s veterans and their families. In the past year, we have made substantial progress in fully staffing our benefits offices and in being the first state to have 100% of our applications transmitted to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) online, which enhances the benefits claims process and greatly cuts down the wait time for veterans.

In FY15, the Department of Veterans Services:

• Partnered with Governor McAuliffe, Secretary Harvey and others to reach “functional zero” veterans homelessness in the Commonwealth, the first state in the nation to do so.

• Awards received: Governor’s Technology Award: IT As Efficiency Driver (for DVS all-online veteran benefits claim filing system); Government to Government, Benefits Section, BeneVets Electronic Claims Application

• Filed 22,533 disability compensation claims on behalf of Virginia veterans and families, contributing to $2.79 billion in federal compensation and disability payments, as well as 7,173 retroactive awards to our veterans in FY15.

• Virginia Veterans & Family Services (VVFS) (formerly Virginia Wounded Warrior Program) delivered 7,774 individual supportive services to veterans and their families.

• Virginia veterans received more than $8.8 million in G.I. Bill benefits in FY14.

• Held 11 Virginia Transition Assistance Program (VTAP)-sponsored transition events in partnership with community-based veterans’ support & transition organizations.

• Since the beginning of Governor McAuliffe’s term, 191 new companies joined Virginia Values Veterans (V3), a 118.6% increase; 9,850 jobs pledged, a 188.7% increase; and 7,980 veterans hired, a 257.5% increase.

• Opened the new 40-bed addition at Sitter & Barfoot Veterans Care Center in Richmond.

• Performed 1,591 burials at Virginia’s three state veterans cemeteries.

• Hosted 70,825 visitors at the Virginia War Memorial.

Even with all of our success, we are still anxious to do more. We will not rest on past accomplishments for one minute. For instance, we are anxious to start the process of designing and building two new Veteran Care Centers in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads. We are excited about new marketing and communications opportunities for the V3 program and working with the General Assembly on key legislation to continue to provide exceptional programs and career opportunities to Virginia veterans.

DVS continues to enjoy a close partnership with the Governor, the members of the Virginia General Assembly and the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, which other states are trying to emulate. We will miss many of the legislators who are retiring this year and who were such faithful friends to Virginia’s veterans, and we look forward to introducing the new Delegates and Senators to what we do and how they can help veterans, as we continue to make Virginia the most veteran-friendly state in the nation.

John L. Newby II
Commissioner