Veteran Benefits & Assistance
Originally founded in 1899 as the American Veterans of Foreign Service, the Veterans of Foreign Wars continues to be a voice for returning and currently deployed service members and their families. The Veterans of Foreign Wars is dedicated to supporting those who sacrifice so much for this country, veterans, service members in the US Armed Forces, and their families.
Certified Advocates
Throughout the State of Michigan and at the VA Regional Office in Detroit, VFW Service Officers that are Accredited and Certified by the VA fight for the rights of our Nations veterans on a daily basis. These highly trained professionals, specializing in all programs administered by the VA stand ready and willing to provide whatever VA benefits assistance is required! These services are available at no cost to veterans or their dependents! Nor does one have to be a member of the VFW to receive our services.
From a simple request of a discharge document to a case with complicated issues that may require extensive medical and Court Cases research, we will exhaust all means to obtain a favorable decision. In the event a claim is denied we will represent the case through the appellate process to the Board of Veterans Appeals (VBA) and if not successful to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) if warranted.
How VFW Service Officers Advocate for You:
What We Will Do:
- During your interview, WE WILL review your information and inform you of what benefits you should claim as well as any other benefits that may be available
- WE ARE trained VA benefits experts who have access to VA computer systems in order to provide you with the information you need for your claim to succeed
- WE WILL submit your claim to VA in a timely manner to ensure that you receive the maximum benefit to which you are entitled
- WE WILL conduct a thorough review of your decision before VA sends it to you. The VFW has a 90% success rate in correcting errors, helping you avoid the lengthy appeals process
- If you are unsatisfied with the outcome of your claim, WE WILL help you appeal VA's decision
Please feel free to contact a VFW Representative for help with filing a claim for VA benefits, VA health care and all eligible VA benefits at:
VFW Service Office
McNamara Federal Building
477 Michigan Ave, Ste. #1228
Detroit, MI 48226-2588
Phone: 313-964-6510
Fax: 313-964-6545
Email: vfwus.vbadet@va.gov
Our office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Our well-trained, VA Accredited VFW Representatives are ready to assist you with you! Please feel free to contact us! We have VFW Representatives located throughout the State of Michigan!
VFW Field Coverage Schedule: Please click on the link below to view the Service Officer's current monthly calendar
Amanda Klein, Claims Consultant
Lapeer County Veterans Affairs Office
Appointment required at this location. To schedule, please call 810/667-0256
Mon -Thursday 7:30 a.m. - 4: 00 p.m.
Friday: telework from home 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
CELL: 313/529-0041
email: amanda.klein@va.gov
Eddie Dunn, Jr., Assistant State Service Officer
VAMC-Saginaw
Monday-Thursday 7::00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
CELL: 313/858-1961
email: eddie.dunn@va.gov
Bonnie (Williams) Gibbs, Assistant State Service Officer
Monday & Thursday: Monroe VFW POST 1138, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday & Wednesday: Canton CBOC, 5900 N. Lotz Road: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
1st & 3rd Friday: Dearborn Veteran Resource Center: (Centennial Library) 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
2nd & 4th Friday: Monroe VFW Post 1138 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
CELL: 313/977-1802
email: bonnie.gibbs@va.gov
John Howe, Assistant State Service Officer
Lansing CBOC
Mon - Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
PH: 517/567-3925
CELL: 313/645-0106
email: john.howe4@va.gov
Brian Hutcheon, Assistant State Service Officer
VAMC-Ann Arbor
Tues - Thursday 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
CELL: 313/858-0706
email: brian.hutcheon@va.gov
Marc Johnson, Assistant State Service Officer
Detroit VAMC
Tuesday-Friday 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Cell: 313/525-0840
email: marc.johnson@va.gov
Timothy Lewis, Assistant State Service Officer
Shiawassee County: Monday - Thursday 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
VAMC-Saginaw: Every Friday 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
CELL: 313/645-0198
email: timothy.lewis329@va.gov
David Moler, Assistant State Service Officer
Muskegon County Veterans Services
Monday - Thursday 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Ph: 231/724-7143
CELL: 313/529-2746
email: david.moler@va.gov
Any veteran seeking assistance, please reach out to the Detroit Regional Office.
Monday: telework from home 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Wyoming CBOC
Wed, Fri 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Ottawa County
Tues, Th 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Holland VFW Post 2144
4th Wednesday of the month 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Gary Putinsky, Assistant State Service Officer
Genesee County
Mon, Tues, Th, Fri 7:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m.
PH: 810/257-3068
CELL: 810/241-5991
email: gputinsky@co.genesee.mi.us
Glenn D. Whitt, II, Assistant State Service Officer
Temporary Schedule change effective 2/27/2023:
Due to renovation of the patient advocate/service officer hall in Bldg. 2, below is Glenn's new schedule for serving veterans until renovation is complete:
Michigan Works Southwest
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Calhoun County Servicer Center
200 West Van Buren St.
Battle Creek MI 49017
Please call or send a text in advance if you want to visit Glenn at Michigan Works Office
VAMC-Battle Creek
Battle Creek VAMC,
Wednesdays 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
PH: 269/966-5600 X33889
CELL: 313/712-0406
Email: glenn.whitt@va.gov
Barry Walter, Assistant State Service Officer
Clinton County Courthouse
Wednesday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
PH: 989/227-6457
CELL: 313/674-1511
email: barryfw516@hotmail.com
Due to some of our field staff having various locations on a weekly basis, we ask that you please call the VFW Service Office main line at 313/964-6510 to confirm their workplan and locations.
Some of these locations require appointments. Most locations are "walk-in" basis. These schedules can change without prior notification. We ask that you please call our main VFW Service Office at 313/964-6510 to make sure the individual VFW Service Officer is at their scheduled stop before you make a trip! 😉
NO ONE DOES MORE FOR VETERANS!
BENEFITS & SERVICES
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Federal Benefits for Veterans & Dependents |
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Burial Benefits |
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Community-Based VA Vet Centers |
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Health Care Benefits |
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Interest Rate Reduction Refinancing Loan |
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PTSD - VA Informational Site |
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Life Insurance Benefits |
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OEF / OIF Service Members |
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Survivor & Dependent Benefits |
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VA Benefits and Services |
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Check the status of your VA claim online |
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Benefits - Military.com |
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Benefits & Services, MI Department of Veteran Affairs |
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Benefits & Services, State of Michigan |
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Federal Benefits for Dependents and Survivors |
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Health Care |
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Disability Benefits for Wounded Warriors (SSI) |
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Grand Valley State University Wounded Warrior Traumatic Brain Injury Project |
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PTSD / Stress Management |
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Physical Disability Board of Review (PDBR) |
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TRICARE Benefit Info |
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VA Health Benefits |
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Long-Term Care |
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Aid & Attendance Benefit |
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Armed Forces Retirement Home, Eligibility |
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Family Caregiver Program for Post-9/11 Veterans |
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Grand Rapids, MI Home for Veterans, Eligibility |
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Marquette, MI Home for Veterans, Eligibility |
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Michigan Vital Records - Free to Michigan Veterans |
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National Resource Directory, Benefits & Compensation |
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Operation Uplink To Request a Card, call 800-479-5228800-479-5228 |
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Prior Service Connected Medical Conditions |
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Diseases Associated with Agent Orange Exposure |
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Agent Orange Health Care Registry Exam for Veterans |
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Agent Orange Herbicide Tests & Storage Outside of Vietnam |
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Korean Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange (Between 1968 to 1971) |
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Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses |
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Illnesses Related to Gulf War Service |
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Gulf War Health Care Registry Exam for Veterans |
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VA Recognizes 'Presumptive' Illnesses in Iraq & Afghanistan |
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VA Board of Veterans' Appeals |
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Veterans Affairs, Michigan Department of Military & Veteran Affairs |
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VA Burial Benefits |
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Military Burial Benefits, Office of the Secretary of Defense |
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Types of Headstones & Markers Available |
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VA Compensation & Pension Benefits |
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VA eBenefits |
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VA Life Insurance |
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VA OEF (Operation Enduring Freedom) / OIF (Operation Iraqi Freedom) |
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VA Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment |
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VA Web Automated Reference Material System (WARMS) |
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VFW Veterans Services |
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EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE
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All Emergency Catagory Files |
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Aid & Charity Associations |
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Air Force Aid Society |
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American Red Cross |
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Armed Forces Relief Trust |
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Army Emergency Relief |
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Cell Phone, Government Supported |
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Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund |
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Coast Guard Mutual Assistance |
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DTE Senior Citizen Electric Service Rate |
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Emergency Relief, Non Government, National Resource Directory |
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Family & Caregiver Support, National Resource Directory |
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Fallen & Wounded Soldiers Fund |
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Financial Assistance for Mortgage or Rent Payments |
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Friends of the Fisher House - Illinois |
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Goodwill Industries |
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Help for Homeless Veterans |
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Homeless Assistance, National Resource Directory |
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Homeless Vet 24 Hour Hotline (VA) 1-877-4AID VET |
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Homeless Veterans, VA |
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Housing Resources in Michigan |
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HUD Housing & Utility Assistance in MI |
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Legal Services and Veterans Treatment Court, SCRA and USERRA Laws |
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Legal Services ABA Pro Bono |
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Legal Resources for Veterans, Google.com |
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Legal Resources for Veterans, Yahoo.com |
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MI Cash Assistance Program |
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MI Debt Management Info |
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MI Dept Human Services County Offices |
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MI Emergency Relief Program |
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MI Energy Assistance Program |
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MI Food Assistance Program |
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MI Food Bank Council, includes all MI counties |
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MI Food Stamp Partnership, Info About Michigan's Food Assistance |
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MI Helping Hand (Directory of State Services) |
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MI Housing Development Authority, Foreclosure Info & Hel |
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MI National Guard Family Assistance Centers |
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MI Veterans' Trust Fund |
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MI Veterans' Trust Fund Brochure |
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MI Veterans' Trust Fund Public Directory |
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National Guard Online Community |
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Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society |
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Salvation Army |
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Service Members Civil Relief Act |
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Service Members Civil Relief Act |
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Service Members Civil Relief Act, Overview, Military.com |
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Shelters |
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Social Security Administration online |
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Social Security Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool (BEST) |
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United Way, Michigan 2-1-1 Phone Numbers |
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United Way, Nationwide 2-1-1 Phone Numbers |
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Various Assistance in Michigan |
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Veterans Assistance Foundation |
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VFW Family Assistance |
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VFW National Military Services |
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VFW National Veterans Service |
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VFW Post Military Assistance |
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VFW Transitioning to Civilian Life |
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VFW Troop Support |
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Warrior Care, DoD & VA Resources Site |
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VA HEALTHCARE FACILITIES IN MICHIGAN
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VA Ann Arbor Healthcare maps and information |
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VA Outpatient Clinic, Flint |
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VA Outpatient Clinic, Jackson |
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VA Outpatient Clinic, Toledo, OH |
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VA Medical Center, Battle Creek maps and information |
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VA Outpatient Clinic, Benton Harbor |
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VA Outpatient Clinic, Grand Rapids |
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VA Outpatient Clinic, Lansing |
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VA Outpatient Clinic, Muskegon |
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VA Medical Center, Detroit maps and information |
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VA Outpatient Clinic, Pontiac |
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VA Outpatient Clinic, Yale, MI |
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VA Medical Center, Iron Mountain maps and information |
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VA Outpatient Clinic, Hancock |
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VA Outpatient Clinic, Ironwood |
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VA Outpatient Clinic, Kincheloe (Sault St. Marie area) |
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VA Outpatient Clinic, Marquette |
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VA Outpatient Clinic, Menominee |
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VA Outpatient Clinic, Rhinelander, WI |
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VA Medical Center, Saginaw maps and information |
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VA Outpatient Clinic, Alpena |
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VA Outpatient Clinic Bad Axe |
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VA Outpatient Clinic, Clare |
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VA Outpatient Clinic, Gaylord |
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VA Outpatient Clinic, Traverse City |
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