#87 You Earned Benefits, They Help Get Them - Larry Stokes, LSA Veteran's Benefit Counseling

Still feeling the "food coma" afterglow of Thanksgiving, our hosts Cynthia and Josh welcome Larry Stokes, founder of LSA Veteran's Benefit Counseling. The company helps Veterans be aware of the benefits to which they are entitled, apply for them, and appeal if they are unhappy with the decision. They are not a law firm, but a fee-based consultant, and they have the background to get the job done. Larry is an accredited agent certified with the Department of Veteran Affairs and a veteran service officer. He is a retired United States Navy Hospital Corpsman Chief, former VA Rating Specialist, and Physician Assistant with 20 years of service. The inspiration to join the Navy when he had an accident at his uncle's house. His uncle stitched him up and Larry wondered if he was a doctor. The uncle replied no, that he had been a Hospital Corpsman and that was it - Larry knew where he wanted to be. And it became a positive focus for him. He wasn't much interested in studying in high school and truly believed he didn't have the right stuff. But finding his calling, Larry got excited with the program and the subject matter and became the model student. It paid off; he was an honor graduate of his Corpsman school. His first duty was with the Marines in North Carolina and it was a great experience. He also spent time on a ship out of San Diego, where he wondered if he had joined the wrong service - he was seasick as you can get but survived it. In his first interface with the VA, he was blinded by his paperwork. Not only was it voluminous, it was full of jargon, meandering and left him totally clueless as to the conclusion and frustrated. He knew right then Veterans deserved better; clear concise, understandable answers to their applications and to the rules of the system. Starting his consulting firm 14 years ago, Larry has done battle with bureaucracy over and over, but the most memorable was representing a World War II Veteran, 93 years old, who did his service in the 40s. The only African American on his ship, he was treated terribly and suffered ulcers, loss of hearing and more. The fact that he had to go through a hearing to get his benefits. The outrage in Larry for the very situation is what drives him for the older and younger Veterans. He's fixing a broken system, one Vet at a time.