Get help applying for veterans benefits in Monroe, Temperance

MONROE COUNTY — Wayne Blank, a Disabled American Veterans' service officer, encourages his fellow Monroe County veterans to take advantage of their benefits.

Blank can assist veterans and their families with the process. He is director of the Bedford Township Veterans Center and has office hours Mondays at the center, 8020 Lewis Ave. in Temperance. He's also available from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays at Merkle Funeral Service, 14567 S. Dixie Highway in Monroe.

"I hope that veterans throughout Monroe County will be able to take advance of their benefits, which they have earned while in service," Blank said. "Vietnam veterans have a lot of benefits available for medical, disability and pension. If you were boots-on-the-ground, there is a long list of presumptive which can be filed for. If you were injured while in service and it was documented, you may be able to file a claim for ongoing secondary issues from that injury."

Veterans with presumptive, who are having issues, can file a disability claim with Blank. Presumptives include amyloidosis, bladder cancer, Chronic B-cell leukemias, chloracne, Diabetes Mellitus Type 2, hypertension, Hodgkin's Disease, hypothyroidism, ischemic heart disease, Parkinson's Disease, prostate cancer, respiratory cancers, soft tissue sarcomas and several other conditions.

Assistance also is available to veterans with Lou Gehrig's Disease

"VA presumes Lou Gehrig's Disease diagnosed in all veterans who had 90 days or more continuous active military service is related to their service," according to documents provided by Blank.

Previous Coverage: Bedford veteran leads two organizations helping local vets in need

Blank has been a longtime leader of Veterans, Inc., an organization dedicated to providing benefits information and assistance services to veterans and their families. Today, Veterans, Inc. is based at Merkle Funeral Service. Blank also partners with the Bedford Township Veterans Center to oversee its community programs.

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Blank, a former Teamster and Monroe Township trustee, retired from the trucking industry in 2006. Afterward, he dedicated his time to helping veterans in various ways, according to Monroe News archives.

To learn more, visit Veterans, Inc. on Facebook or email Blank at blankeeman@yahoo.com.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Get help applying for veterans benefits in Monroe, Temperance