VSO: Veterans Service Office and Veterans Service Officer.
From the helpful folks at Military.com here are the basics about the VSO:
VSOs assist veterans and their families in many ways, including:
*answering questions, advising, and educating individuals and groups on what benefits are available from federal, state, county, and local resources
*assisting eligible persons in filing the necessary claims
*representing individuals and presenting claims in VA hearings
VSO’s are trained and accredited by the VA or other recognized organizations to provide assistance to veterans, their dependents, and survivors. This includes not only applying for federal and state benefits but also providing resources related to the following:
*Compensation and Pension
*Health Care
*Education & Training
*Employment
*Burial & Survivor
*Housing
*Transportation
*Military Records
Local VSOs can be found in offices specific to each state, your county courthouse, your local VA office, or the local organization’s headquarters..
The VSO can do great things for you. My VSO told me about benefits I did not know existed. His efforts may have prevented my being forced to live in the bed of my pick-up.
VSOs differ from state to state. A Web search regarding VSO or any search term related to veteran is a must-do.
State and County Veterans Service Officers
State Veterans Affairs Offices VA site
Accredited Representatives VA site
Click on your State below to locate a State or County VSO near you
Web sites disappear and URLs to pages change making links worthless and a bunch of other stuff thus the need to have several links to what is the same or similar information. Veteran Service Offices and Officers (VSO) are created/sponsored at the local, regional, state and national level. It appears that the state-level VSO is the most common resource. The VSOs sponsored or created by government entities appear to have the most competent personnel. This is not a universal fact, though. As with any job personnel quality varies. If you are not pleased with your current VSO try another. I had several to choose from from several different local entities. I selected the state-based office with state employees within who had the federal qualifications needed to be official VSOs. They have done me well and I appreciate them. I sent a snail mail letter to the bureaucrat in charge of the state-wide VSO system to inform him of the excellent service rendered. Recognition for a job well-done.
Never take the word of a fellow veteran or somebody that believes that are in-the-know. I have heard a lot of advice and opinions that has been proven wrong… in my circumstance. What may apply to another vet may not apply to you. Take care and get two or more opinions regarding your circumstances if you have any doubts.
One of the above links is an official VA site discussing paid representation. Heed their warnings!!!
Seeking Sanctuary 
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