CLAIMS & BENEFITS

Muskogee Claims Office
125 South Main, Room 1B38
Muskogee, OK  74401
1-888-655-2838
(918) 781-7766

               Lawton Claim Office                                         Tulsa Outpatient Clinic
        Lawton Veterans Center                                    9322 E. 41st Street
   501 S.E. Flower Mound Road                                      Tulsa, OK 74145
             Lawton, OK 73501                                                  (918) 628-2566
                 (580) 354-3033                                                   (918) 628-2579

            V.A. Medical Center, OKC                             V.A. Medical Center, Muskogee
                                  921 N.E. 13th St., Rm 1-B                                  1011 Honor Heights Drive                           
Oklahoma City, OK 73104                                  Muskogee, OK 74401
(405) 456-5477                                             (918) 577-3633

 The Claims and Benefits Division provides many different services to the veterans and their dependents. The primary function is to assist veterans and their dependents with their claims before the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA). Claims worked through the Muskogee Claims Office help claimants obtain compensation and pension benefits. Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs Service Officers and Claim Officers are accredited with a number of service organizations in order to better represent the claimant with their claims and appeals. The Claims Officers will assist in the appeals process, and if necessary, represent the claimant at a personal hearing before the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Hearing Officer. The Muskogee Claims Office handles Lifetime hunting & fishing permits, special veterans license plates, and the Financial Assistance Program.

 Also,  Claims & Benefits Veterans Service Representatives (VSR), cover the entire state on an itinerant basis, providing a service to veterans and their dependents within their home communities. Claims for compensation, pension, education, and medical benefits originate at the local level. The VSRs counsel the clients, assist in completing forms, and advise in determining evidence needed. Claims are then forwarded to Claims Office located in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Muskogee, Oklahoma. There the claims are reviewed by a staff of Claims Officers and sent to the USDVA for eventual adjudication. (See link at bottom of page for Veterans Service Representatives’ Itineraries.)

 A very important function of all Claims & Benefits VSRs is to assist veterans, widows, parents or any persons who receive USDVA Eligibility Verification Reports (EVRs) annually. These forms are of extreme importance to the persons who receive them, as their USDVA pensions and parent’s Dependence and Indemnity Compensation payments are paid on the basis of the income reported on the EVRs. If the EVR is not completed and returned by a given deadline, the pension checks are stopped. Persons who receive EVRs from the USDVA are strongly urged to seek assistance from the USDVA or ODVA VSRs as they have the knowledge for completing the forms.

 The Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs has additional Claims Offices at the two USDVA Medical Centers (Muskogee and Oklahoma City), USDVA Outpatient Clinic (Tulsa), and the Lawton/Fort Sill Veterans Center. These Claims Offices not only submit claims for VA benefits but also help veterans obtain their medical benefits.

State Benefits

A) Tax Exemption for 100% service connected, totally disabled veterans that are rated permanent and total for sales tax, excise tax, ad valorem tax , and "household" property tax (Spouse included for ad valorem tax only). Call 1-888-655-2838 for details or assistance.

     FAQ: 100% Veteran Disability Exemption

B) 1) Free hunting and fishing permitfor legal state residents with 60% or more service connected or non-service connected disability/disabilities. Call 1-888-655-2838 or (918) 781-7766 to determine if you are eligible.
   
    2) Legal residents of Oklahoma who have resided in this state for at least six months and who are disabled as certified by the Veteran’s Administration (VA) are eligible to purchase a lifetime combination license. The cost is $200 for veterans that are service connected 0% to 59% and $25 for veterans that are service connected 60% to 100%. License is available only by mail or in person with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation headquarters in Oklahoma City. 

C) Free admission to state owned and operated parks and museums, proof of veteran status required.  A copy of a DD-214 is preferred.  Fee discounts to veterans.  For more information contact  1-888-655-2838 for assistance.

D) State Veterans Centers – Must have served at least ninety (90) days except where discharged due to or as a result of a service connected disability; with one or more days during a wartime period. (Oklahoma Statutes, Title 72)

   • Ardmore—175 nursing care beds
      • Claremore—302 nursing care beds
                       • Clinton—148 nursing care beds—8 domiciliary beds
• Lawton—200 nursing care beds
• Norman—301 nursing care beds
• Sulphur—122 nursing care beds
• Talihina—175 nursing care beds

E) Emergency/Disaster Financial Assistance Program is for legal state residents of one year or more with a minimum of 90 days service during a wartime period. The veteran or a surviving spouse of a veteran must apply through a local service organization post or chapter such as The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, etc.  To find out more about the program and to download an application, click on the Financial Assistance bar to the left of your screen.

F) Reduced Fee auto tags are for veterans that are 50% service connected or more and the surviving spouse of a veteran who qualified for reduced auto tags. Call 1-888-655-2838 to determine if you are eligible.       

 G) Special rule for certain retirement income from a component of the Armed Forces of the United States. The deduction for retirement income from any component of the Armed Forces of the United States is the greater of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) or seventy-five percent (75%) of the amount included in the taxpayer’s Federal Adjusted Gross Income.  

H) Some State Copies of DD214s are maintained on file at the Muskogee Claims Office. Veteran must have been a legal resident of the state of Oklahoma at the time of discharge from active military service and served on active duty after 1986. Call 1-888-655-2838 to determine if there is a copy available on file.

I) Special Disabled Veterans Employment for honorably discharged wartime veterans certified by the USDVA or Armed Forces of the United States as having a 30% or more service connected disability who have been a legal residents of Oklahoma for at least one year  are exempt from entrance examinations and hiring procedures required by the Office of Personal Management in competitive and non-competitive jobs at any state agency.

J) To determine if there is an ODVA Service Officer in your area click on

 Veterans Service Representatives’ Itineraries

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