VA Palo Alto Health Care System
Returning Service Members
Each VISN 21 facility has an OEF/OIF/OND Point of Contact (POC) for combat Veterans. Their contact information is provided below. The POC can tell you which VA facility is closest to you and what services are available. In addition, the POC can arrange an appointment for you at the VA facility you choose. The POC will also put you in contact with the facility's Combat Veteran Case Manager who will be available to you for questions or problems that arise as you make your way through the VA system.
If you are unsure of what your benefits are or where to access services, please call one of the VISN 21 POCs. This is “one-stop-shopping” to help you get started receiving the services to which you are entitled as a Veteran returning from Operation Enduring Freedom/Iraqi Freedom.
| Facility | Coordinator | Contact Information |
|---|---|---|
| VA Central California Health Care System (Fresno) | Lydia Duarte | Phone: (559) 225-6100, ext 4321 |
| VA Northern California Health Care System (Sacramento/Martinez) | Donald Hull, LCSW | Phone: (925) 372-2717 |
| VA Northern California Health Care System (Sacramento/Martinez) | Katherine Miller, LCSW | Phone: (925) 372-2717 |
| VA Pacific Islands Health Care System (Honolulu) | Terry J. Martin | Phone: (808) 433-0837 |
| VA Palo Alto Health Care System | Laura Gomez | Phone: (650) 444-7114 |
| VA San Francisco Medical Center | Lauren Martin | Phone: (415) 221-4810, ext. 2-4952 |
| VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System (Reno) | Christie Lambert | Phone: (775) 328-1232 |
| Manila Regional Office & Outpatient Clinic (Philippines) | Leoncia Revidad | Phone: 011-632-833-4566, x4402 |
| VISN 21 Network Office | Rebecca Dominy | Phone: (707) 562-8357 |
Services for Student Veterans
The VA Campus Toolkit provides faculty, staff, and administrators resources to support student Veterans.
For information about San Francisco VA’s Student Veteran Health Program at City College of San Francisco, please contact the Veterans Resource Center at (415) 452-5253.
Special Eligibility and Coordination of Care for Combat Veterans Serving in Combat Theater After 11/11/1998- Returning Servicemembers (OEF/OIF/OND)
The Post-9/11 Transition and Care Management Program offers transitional assistance, case management and outreach services to all Veterans who have served after September 11, 2001 in their transition to civilian life. For more information about the various programs available for recent returning service members, log on to the Returning Servicemembers web site.
Veterans who served in a theater of combat operations also have special eligibility for VA health care. Under the "Combat Veteran" authority VA provides cost-free health care services and nursing home care for conditions possibly related to military service and enrollment in Priority Group 6 or higher for 5 years from the date of discharge or release from active duty, unless eligible for enrollment in a higher priority group.
Combat Veterans who enroll with VA under this enhanced Combat Veteran authority will continue to be enrolled even after their enhanced eligibility period ends, although they may be shifted to Priority Group 7 or 8, depending on their income level, and required to make applicable copays. Additionally, for care not related to combat service, copays may be required depending on their financial assessment and other special eligibility factors.
NOTE: The 5-year enrollment period applicable to these Veterans begins on the discharge or separation date of the service member from active duty military service, or in the case of multiple call-ups, the most recent discharge date.
