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12.1. VetsFirst
About VetsFirst
Our mission continues in the spirit of James J. Peters and his tireless work to help America's veterans.
Our Mission
VetsFirst is a program of United Spinal Association that directly assists veterans and their eligible family members obtain the benefits they are entitled to, deserve and need.
We advocate for all generations of veterans, including individuals living with post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries.
Our advocacy efforts go far beyond offering words of support and encouragement. We take this fight to Capitol Hill to bring attention to issues that matter most to the men and women who proudly served our country.
VetsFirst's network of National Service Officers provides free assistance, resources, and representation for veterans struggling to navigate the intricate and often confusing VA claims process.
We connect with over 2,000 veterans annually through our call center and online help desk. Our staff tackles each case individually, taking the time to discuss self-help tips and assist with questions on military separation, claims appeals, and state benefits. We offer assistance and representation in claims for benefits and services before the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, other Federal and state agencies and legal representation before the U. S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.
In addition to providing individual support and counseling services, VetsFirst offers timely news and information across the spectrum of issues presently impacting veterans, including guides on self-help, state benefits, separating from the military, as well as exclusive feature stories on military health care and VA funding and compensation.
Our History
VetsFirst is an exciting new name for an existing United Spinal Association program. United Spinal, and now VetsFirst, has a long and illustrious history assisting and representing veterans and their eligible family members.
Unlike other organizations, United Spinala VA recognized veterans service organizationstrives to ensure the organization remains an instrument for veterans rather an institution.
United Spinal's history began in 1946 when a group of paralyzed World War II veterans from New York City and the surrounding area banded together to raise awareness of the alarming plight of their fellow paralyzed veterans. Rejecting the poor treatment they received at their local VA hospitals, they led the charge for greater civil rights and independence, forming the congressionally chartered Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA). United Spinal, formerly known as Eastern Paralyzed Veterans of America (EPVA), was a chapter of PVA.
As the organization matured under the leadership of James J. Peters in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, United Spinal helped improve the quality of health care for veterans, backing words with deeds and dollars by winning denied benefits for individual vets and investing money in VA programs and infrastructure. These efforts have been a boon to every American with a disability.
In 1970, Peters convinced Life magazine to run a cover story exposing the deplorable conditions facing Vietnam veterans with spinal cord injuries at the Bronx VA Medical Center. The story sparked a national outrage and convinced Congress to raze the facility and build a brand new hospital with special attention to SCI. In 2005, the hospital was renamed in honor of Peters and his work to ensure all veterans receive quality health care.
In 2007, United Spinal created its VetsFirst program to better assist members and other veterans. In order to adapt to a changing world and economy United Spinal founded VetsFirst, Inc. in 2009. VetsFirst, Inc., a 501(c)(3) was created for the sole and express purpose of providing financial support to United Spinal's VetsFirst program.
Today, VetsFirst continues the important work to uphold the values, objectives and mission needed for our nation's veterans no matter when or where they served.