Veteran Services Officer
Scott Nation
Department of Veteran Services
Contact Info: 100 North Main Street, Room 114 | Clinton, TN 37716-3624
865-463-6803 | snation@andersoncountytn.gov
Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Scott Nation served in the U.S. Army form May 1996 – August 2020, as an Informational Technology Specialist, Unit Admin Specialist, a production Recruiting and Retention NCO, Military Entrance Processing Station Counselor, and Recruiting Company 1SG upon retirement. He completed the 1SG Academy, Pre-Command Course, and Master Resilience Trainer Course. His hobbies include spending time with family, being outdoors, and Real Estate.
Mission
The mission of the Anderson County Veterans Service Office is to provide Veterans, widows and their dependents counseling and assistance in filing for Disability Compensation, Pension, Death benefits, Education, Vocational Rehabilitation, Medical and Dental Treatment, Insurance and home loan benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
We help to obtain DD-214, Record of Separation or Discharge, copies of medical records while in the military, acquire replacement medals and provide information on a large variety of topics including but not limited to Agent Orange, Gulf War – Undiagnosed Illness, Ionized Radiation, PTSD, Veterans Tax Relief and any individual specialty requests.
The County Veterans Service Officer also makes home and hospital visits, nursing home visits, business and school visits to assist veterans and their families in all matters. He works with the Federal and State Service Officers, Service Organizations and County Service Organizations in support of Veterans matters. A quarterly report is submitted to the Anderson County Commission for all transactions performed in the office.
As of the end of June 2020, there are approximately 6,933 veterans in Anderson County with at least a third of them and their dependents being served by the County Veterans Service Officer. VA expenditures for benefits paid to Anderson County Veterans/Surviving Spouses during the period of July 1, 2019-June 30, 2020 was approximately $49,715,000.00 as reported by the Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs (figures are derived from information supplies by the US Department of Veterans Affairs).
Eligibility
Eligibility for most VA benefits is based on discharge from Active military service under other than dishonorable conditions for a minimum period specified by law. Active service generally means fulltime service as a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard or as a commissioned officer of the Public Health Service, the Environmental Services Administration or the National Oceanic ad Atmospheric Administration. Those minimum periods of service are: anyone who served at least 90 days Active Duty; anyone who entered Active Duty after September 7, 1980 or anyone who entered after October 16, 1981 (Officers included) and did not have previous continuous periods of Active Duty, must complete at least 24 months or been released from Active Duty due to medical separation or hardship. Prior to those dates, members must have completed a “Full period” of service for which they were called or ordered to Active Duty. Completion of at least 6 years of Honorable service in the Selected Reserves ( including National Guard) also provides for home-loan benefits for those not otherwise eligible.
Wartime Service
Certain VA Benefits and medical care require wartime service. As specified by law, VA recognizes the following wartime periods:
- World War I: April 6, 1916 – November 11, 1918; for veterans who served in Russia: April 6, 1917-April 1, 1920, extended through July 1, 1921, for veterans who had at least one day of service between April 6, 1917 and November 11, 1918.
- World War II: December 7, 1941-December 31, 1946
- Korean War: June 27, 1950 – January 31, 1955
- Vietnam Era: August 5, 1964-May 7, 1975 (For those in-country February 28, 1961-May 7, 1975)
- Persian Gulf: August 2, 1990 – date to be set by Congress and Presidential proclamation or concurrent resolution.
Important Documents to Keep
Important papers and copies of public documents that you should save and protect for your future use are:
- DD-214, Report of Separation or Discharge
- Certificate of Discharge
- Certificate of Service-any papers associated with Active Duty, such as orders to and from active duty, vouchers, warrants, commissions, diplomas, citations, etc.
- Social Security Information
- Family Records, such as marriage license, birth certificates, death certificates, divorce decree, guardianship or custody evidence, adoption papers, and any other permanent records.
Important Telephone Numbers
- Tennessee Department of Veterans Services- Nashville (615) 695-6385 or Toll Free 1-800-827-1000
- VA Medical Center- Mountain Home, TN (423) 926-1171 or 1-877-573-3529
- VA Medical Center – Murfreesboro, TN (615) 867-6000 or 1-800-876-7093
- VA Medical Center – Nashville, TN (615) 327-4751 or 1-800-228-4973
- VA Outpatient Clinic – Knoxville, TN (865) 545-4592
- VA Outpatient Clinic – Lafollette, TN (423) 563-7666
- VA Outpatient Clinic – Harriman, TN (865) 882-2010
- Vet Center- Knoxville, TN (865) 633-0000 or 1-877-927-8387
- Vet Center – Johnson City, TN (423) 928-8387 or 1-877-927-8387
- Ben Atchley State Veterans Home – Knoxville (865) 862-8100
Anderson County Veteran Service Organizations
- AMVETS Post #2
1828 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, TN 37830
(865) 693-8773 - American Legion Harvey H. Hannah Post 112,
1123 Lookout Ave, Oliver Springs, TN 37840
No Phone # Available - American Legion Post 172
436 Spring Street, Clinton, TN 37716
(865) 463-6803 - Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Tri-County Chapter #26,
530 Kingston Ave, Oliver Springs, TN 37840
(865) 435-1717 - VFW The Manhattan Project Post #12051
684 Emory Valley Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37830
(865) 566-4704