WATERTOWN, S.D.(KXLG)- Many programs exist for Veterans, and it can be not easy to navigate with so many. Enter in Todd Rose, Veteran Services Officer.

The Veteran’s Service Officer provides expert claims service to every eligible Codington County veteran and their dependents and survivors; to aid the veteran in understanding entitlements, which can minimize the burden of health and economic stress; to process the necessary forms for Federal as well as State Veteran benefits.

Rose updates the Codington County Commissioners.

Rose talks about statistics.

There are many programs Rose can assist with.

152 open claims (working claims) and 155 completed (YTD); in May 2023, there was an increase in monthly compensation for veterans or their dependents by $5,773.00, YTD total of $60,208.00, retro-payments were $78,577.00 for May 2023, retro-payments for YTD are $397,449.00

Geographic Distribution of VA Expenditures for Codington County (GDX) Report 2022

2020 Veteran Population 2139 -Total – $16.5 million – C&P 6.8 million

2021 Veteran Population 2095 -Total – $16.3 million – C&P 7.4 million

2022 Veteran Population 2051 -Total – $19.4 million – C&P 9.8 million

(The Compensation & Pension expenditures include dollars for the following programs: veteran’s compensation for service-connected disabilities; dependency and indemnity compensation  for service-connected deaths; veteran’s pension for nonservice-connected disabilities; and burial and other benefits to veterans and survivors.)

The Veteran’s Officer is elected by the Board of Commissioners in each county (usually part-time or as part of another county office). The Codington County Veteran’s Service is a full-time position.