Texas Border Business
EDINBURG, Texas – Hidalgo County’s Director of Veterans Services, Samuel Perez, Jr., was recently honored by the Texas Veterans Commission for helping the widow of a Vietnam Army veteran claim a retroactive payment of $267,909.
Perez began helping the unnamed spouse eight years ago on a claim that was initiated because of her husband’s pancreatic cancer, which was eventually declared service-connected to herbicide agent exposure during service. The surviving spouse had first filed for her benefits when her husband passed away in May of 2006.
“She filed in 2006, was denied, and let the matter go,” said Perez. “She heard about our services and contacted me in 2016.”
Perez reopened the widow’s Dependency and Indemnity Compensation claim in October of 2016.
“It was denied again,” said Perez. “I filed a notice of disagreement in November of 2017, and we didn’t get the hearing until last year (2023).”
In June 2023, Perez took the claim before the Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA). On January 30, 2024, the BVA announced their decision to award the claim with a retroactive payment of $267,909 dating back to her original filing in May of 2006.
This award is the latest example of Perez’ effectiveness, which was cited at his TVC Team Impact Award presentation. Additionally, the award presentation noted the extra duties Perez takes on and recognized his mentorship to other Veteran Service Officers. Perez, an Air Force Veteran, is currently the Chair of TVC’s Veteran County Service Officer Advisory Board and the current President of the Veterans County Service Officers Association of Texas (VCSOAT) where he demonstrates his mentorship, leadership, and outreach efforts.
