The jurisdiction of the Lincoln Regional Office covers the 93 counties of Nebraska. The Regional Office provides benefits to approximately 147,928 veterans. The office oversees a benefits delivery program that awards over $363 million annually in compensation and pension benefits. The Regional Office presently employs 220 people. Its out-based offices are located at the VAMC-Omaha and the Air Force Base at Offutt.

While population is concentrated heavily in the eastern one third of the state, service to veterans and beneficiaries is provided to all areas, some as far as 500 miles from the Regional Office. Throughout Nebraska, our staff conducts training seminars, benefits presentations, performs outreach services, assists in emergency relief activities, and participates in a variety of community workshops, seminars, and public forums. The staff also participates in workshops for the County Veterans Services Officers.

SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS: 

 

 

On October 13, 2009, Secretary Shinseki announced his intent to establish presumptive service connection for Ischemic Heart Disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Hairy Cell Leukemia for Veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam. Under the Nehmer court order, VA must readjudicate previously denied claims for Ischemic Heart Disease, Parkinson’s disease, or Hairy Cell Leukemia filed by Vietnam Veterans. With this announcement the Lincoln Regional Office’s Development Resource Center became a Day One Brokering Center (D1BC) with a focus on Nehmer review and readjudication. The Lincoln Regional Office is currently responsible for processing over 5,300 claims from seven different Regional Offices. The seven different regional offices include Chicago, Milwaukee, Des Monies, Little Rock, Sioux Falls, Lincoln, and Wichita.

 

The Lincoln Regional Office has been chosen to serve as one of two Fiduciary Hubs within the Central Area. The Fiduciary Hub will be located within the Regional Office and will consolidate approximately one-half of the current Central Area fiduciary workload.

Pre-Discharge: In February 1998, the Lincoln Regional Office implemented an out-based initiative at Offutt Air Force Base. This initiative has permanently stationed two Military Service Coordinators at the base to assist in claims intake and preparation of disability rating decisions from separating and retiring service members. Starting in July Offutt Air Force Base will transition to the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES). The Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) simplified the disability evaluation process for current service members by eliminating duplicate disability examinations and ratings decisions.

With this new system and the presence of the Military Service Coordinators the service member will experience a smoother transition to Veteran status.

Homeless Veterans: The Regional Office serves as an information and referral source to the VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System and other agencies that have direct contact with homeless Veterans. All homeless Veteran’s claims are expedited through the claim process to ensure that they are completed within 100 days. We have also established a liaison with the new Homeless Veterans Resource Center located on the grounds of the Omaha VA Medical Center. This center provides Veterans access to various VA services including psychosocial counseling, access to vocational rehabilitation training, and other ancillary services 

 

eBenefits: We encourage our veteran population to enroll in the new web base program called eBenefits. eBenefits is your one-stop shop for online benefits-related tools and information. This portal is designed for Wounded Warriors, Veterans, Service Members, their families, and their caregivers. We invite you to explore eBenefits and become a registered user.   The web address to eBenefits is www.eBenefits.va.gov