The State Department of Veterans' Affairs shall assist every veteran of the United States in presenting and pursuing any claim the veteran may have against the United States arising out of his or her military service and in establishing the veteran's right to any privilege, preference, care, or compensation provided for by the laws of the United States or of the State of Alabama, when the veteran requests assistance. Whenever the veteran applying to a representative of the State Department of Veterans' Affairs shall have executed a power of attorney to any veterans' organization or the American Red Cross, which has entered into an agreement with the State Department of Veterans' Affairs, the representative shall accept any claim or information pertaining to any claim, right, preference, privilege, compensation, or application for care from the veteran and advise him or her as to the proper preparation of the same and then arrange, upon request of the veteran, for the further handling, presenting, and prosecuting of the claim. Should any veteran making application to the State Department of Veterans' Affairs not have given a power of attorney to any organization to represent the veteran in handling his or her affairs, the department shall advise the veteran of the organizations recognized by the Veterans' Administration to represent him or her and allow the veteran to make his or her choice of the organization he or she desires to represent him or her.
Structure Code of Alabama
Title 31 - Military Affairs and Civil Defense.
Chapter 5 - Department of Veterans' Affairs.
Section 31-5-3 - State Board of Veterans' Affairs.
Section 31-5-4 - Assistance to Veterans in Presenting Claims, Establishing Rights, Etc.
Section 31-5-7 - State Service Commissioner - Duties Generally; Compensation.
Section 31-5-8 - Assistant State Service Commissioners.
Section 31-5-10 - County Service Commissioners and District Service Commissioners - Duties.
Section 31-5-11 - Oath of Office and Bond of Officers.
Section 31-5-13 - Offices of Department, State Service Commissioner, Etc.