Veterans Service Officer

For more information about services available to North Dakota veterans, please visit the website of the ND Dept. of Veterans Services at www.nd.gov/veterans.

Nature of VSO Duties

• The County and Tribal Veterans Service Officer advises local veterans and their dependents of their rights and entitlements under various federal and state laws, counsels them, and actively assists them by filling out necessary forms and papers and obtaining documents and affidavits.
• Work is generated through inquiries concerning veterans’ benefits or through action of the service officer in seeking out those who need and may be entitled to assistance.
• The work is complex and exacting due to the numerous state and federal laws involved and the regulations by which they are administered. These laws cover many and varied benefits including compensation, pension, insurance, death benefits, hospitalization and education.
• These services are provided at no charge to the Veterans and their dependents.
• If you need to contact any County VSO by email, please go to this webpage and click on their name. Messages will be forwarded to the North Dakota Veterans Affairs Department who will then contact the officer directly.

Veterans Service Officer Code of Ethics

1. Confidential information, whether supplied by the veteran, the Department of Veterans Affairs, or other parties shall remain confidential and will not be released or discussed except to those personally connected to the case with a need to know in order to assist the veteran or the veteran’s dependents.
2. The Service Officer will prepare and perfect all claims to the best of his/her ability with the intent of affording the claimant the benefits to which they are entitled. The Service Officer must insure that all information is true and factual to the best of his/her knowledge.
3. The Service Officer shall maintain high professional standards in dealing with other service officers, (federal, state, and local) and other persons and agencies as necessary in service to his/her client.
4. The Service Officer will provide services without prejudice to all persons making a claim to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
5. The Service Officer will, to the best of his/her ability, maintain a working knowledge of all rules and regulations concerning veterans’ benefits and will strive to keep such knowledge updated in light of constantly changing laws and regulations.
6. Veterans Service Officers should not, under any circumstances, accept remuneration in cash or other form for services rendered.
7. Veterans Service Officers should not, under any circumstances, serve as guardians, committees, or fiduciaries for any other individuals receiving benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs or any other agency.