New York State Division of Veterans' Affairs Establishes Full Time Presence at the Syracuse VA Medical Center

ALBANY, NY (09/22/2009)(readMedia)-- The New York State Division of Veterans' Affairs has established a Veterans Benefits Counseling office at the Syracuse VA Medical Center. The office will be manned with a full-time State Veterans Counselor and Support Staff to provide benefits counseling and advocacy for veterans and their families.

"We are grateful for the tremendous cooperation extended by the community and the Syracuse VA Medical Center in providing space and resources for the Division. This partnership demonstrates a shared commitment to helping veterans and their families by offering local access to the professional counseling services available through our agency," said James D. McDonough, Jr., Director of the New York State Division of Veterans' Affairs.

The new benefits counseling office, located in Room A176B at the Syracuse VA Medical Center will allow accredited State Veteran Counselor Lloyd Collins to counsel veterans and their families on all aspects of federal and state veteran's benefits, programs and services.

"We are pleased that the Syracuse VA and the New York State Division of Veterans' Affairs have joined together to provide essential Veteran benefits information inside our VA facility. This collaboration will provide convenience and greater satisfaction for our Veteran men & women with respect to receiving services from both New York State & the VA", said James Cody, Syracuse VA Medical Center Director.

The Division's Benefit Counseling office is located at the Syracuse VA Medical Center 800 Irving Ave, Syracuse, NY 13210 (Room A176B) and is staffed by Division staff, Monday through Friday 08:30-4:30. To contact our State veterans Counselor, please call 315-425-4400 extension 5371 or on the web at www.veterans.ny.gov