Sumner County Veterans Service Office Guide

Sumner County Veterans Services helps veterans and their families navigate applications for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs benefits at no cost. The office is at 355 N. Belvedere Drive, Room 114, in Gallatin. Call 615-451-6014 to set an appointment. Posted office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Friday, 8 a.m. to noon. Housebound veterans may request an in-home appointment, and the office provides monthly outreach in Hendersonville, Westmoreland and Portland.

If you are a veteran, spouse or caregiver in Sumner County and need help navigating VA benefits, start with Sumner County Veterans Services in Gallatin. The county office provides assistance at no cost to Sumner County veterans and their families, including help with applications for Department of Veterans Affairs benefits.

Quick answer: where to start

Sumner County Veterans Services

Address: 355 N. Belvedere Drive, Room 114, Gallatin, TN 37066

Phone: 615-451-6014

Email: [email protected]

Posted hours: Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. to noon

Cost: The county says its services are provided at no cost to Sumner County veterans and their families.

First step: Call the office to set an appointment.

The office also says it offers in-home appointments for housebound veterans and outreach in Hendersonville, Westmoreland and Portland during the first week of each month. Call before traveling to confirm the current outreach location and schedule.

What the Sumner County Veterans Service Office does

The office helps veterans and their families work through the paperwork and process for applying for VA benefits. It works with local veteran organizations and the Tennessee Department of Veterans Services, or TDVS.

Depending on your situation, a county veterans service officer may be a useful starting point for questions involving:

• VA disability compensation claims
• Supporting evidence and claim paperwork
• Benefits questions involving a spouse, dependent or survivor
• Military records and discharge documents
• Tennessee veteran benefits and related state programs
• Referrals to other official veteran resources

The county office is not the same as the VA itself. It helps residents navigate the process, while the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs makes federal benefit decisions. Tennessee also operates its own veterans services offices and trains county service officers to help veterans file federal claims.

Step-by-step: how to request help

1. Identify the benefit or problem

Before calling, write down what you need help with. For example, you may be trying to start a disability claim, respond to a VA letter, locate a DD214, understand a decision, or determine whether a family member may qualify for a benefit.

You do not need to understand every VA form before contacting the office. A short description of the issue will help staff determine how to begin.

2. Call the county office

Call 615-451-6014 to discuss the next step and set an appointment. You can also email [email protected]. The county’s page specifically tells residents to call to set an appointment.

If you are housebound or unable to travel easily, ask whether an in-home appointment can be arranged. The county says this option is available for housebound veterans who need help applying for benefits.

3. Gather the records you already have

Bring or organize copies of documents that relate to your question. Depending on the issue, these may include:

• DD214 or other separation documents
• VA decision letters
• VA medical records
• Private medical records or hospital reports
• Statements from family members, friends, clergy, law enforcement officers or people who served with you
• Marriage, birth or death records when a dependent or survivor benefit is involved
• Previous claim forms and correspondence

The VA says disability claims may be supported by VA and private medical records, medical reports and statements from people who know about the claimed condition and when it began or worsened. The VA also reviews discharge papers and service treatment records.

Do not delay contacting the county office simply because a record is missing. The VA says it may request a DD214 after receiving a benefits application, and veterans can request military records separately through the National Archives.

4. Attend the appointment or request an in-home visit

At the appointment, explain your goal and provide the letters, forms and records you have. Ask which agency handles the next step, which forms are required, what evidence is still missing and how you will submit documents.

Keep copies of everything you submit. Write down the date of the appointment, the name of the person you spoke with and any follow-up deadline shown on a VA letter.

5. Follow the official VA or Tennessee process

A county veterans service officer can help with navigation and claim preparation, but the VA controls federal claim decisions. The VA lists several ways to file a disability claim, including online, by mail, in person, by fax or with help from an accredited professional.

If you choose someone to represent you before VA, use the VA’s accreditation resources. VA-accredited veterans service organization representatives provide claims assistance without charging fees for their services; attorneys and claims agents may operate under different fee rules..

What to bring to an appointment

Use this checklist as a starting point:

• Identification and contact information: current mailing address, phone number and email address.
• Service information: branch, dates of service, character of discharge and any DD214 or separation document.
• VA correspondence: recent decision letters, requests for evidence, examination notices and appeal or review documents.
• Medical evidence: VA records, private treatment records, test results and doctors’ reports related to the issue.
• Personal statements: written accounts from people who can describe the condition, injury, event or effect on daily life.
• Family documents: marriage, birth or death records when the claim involves dependents or survivors.
• A written list of questions: especially questions about deadlines, evidence and the next responsible agency.

The county office may tell you that additional records or forms are needed. Requirements vary by benefit and claim type, so do not assume that one checklist applies to every veteran.

Claims, records and family assistance

Disability claims and evidence

For a VA disability claim, the VA encourages applicants to submit available supporting evidence with the claim. Evidence can include medical records, hospital reports and statements from people familiar with the condition. The VA also says a claimant may have up to one year from the date the claim is received to submit evidence, although VA may decide a claim earlier if requested information is not provided.

Because deadlines and effective dates can affect benefits, take any VA letter with a deadline to your appointment. Do not rely on a general online explanation when your letter gives case-specific instructions.

DD214 and military records

Veterans can request military service records, including a DD214, from the National Archives online, by mail or by fax. The VA notes that veterans applying for VA benefits generally do not need to request the DD214 separately because VA may request it after receiving the application.

If you need records for another veteran who has died, eligibility to obtain the full file may depend on whether you are the next of kin and on the age of the records. The VA lists surviving spouses who have not remarried, parents, children and siblings among possible next-of-kin categories.

Tennessee benefits

TDVS maintains information about Tennessee benefits for veterans and families. The state resource includes programs involving property tax relief for qualifying disabled veterans and surviving spouses, recreational discounts, motor services, burial benefits, state veterans homes, employment and education. Eligibility and application requirements vary by program.

The Sumner County Trustee also administers Tennessee’s property tax relief program for qualifying disabled veterans and certain surviving spouses. For current eligibility, documentation and application instructions, use the Trustee’s official information or contact that office directly.

County, state and federal resources

Need — Official starting point — What it is for

Local claims assistance — [Sumner County Veterans Services](https://sumnercountytn.gov/departments/veterans-services/) — County-based help with navigating VA benefits and related paperwork

Tennessee benefits — [Tennessee Department of Veterans Services](https://www.tn.gov/veteran/veteran-benefits/tn-state-benefits.html) — State benefits, services, offices and veteran programs

Federal disability claim — [VA disability claim instructions](https://www.va.gov/disability/how-to-file-claim/) — Federal eligibility, evidence and filing options

Military records — [VA military records guidance](https://www.va.gov/records/get-military-service-records/) — DD214 and other service records

Accredited representation — [VA accredited representative search](https://www.va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/index.asp?lv=true) — Search for accredited VSOs, attorneys and claims agents

Common mistakes to avoid

• Waiting to call until every record is located. Contact the county office while you are gathering documents.
• Sending original documents without keeping copies. Keep a complete copy of every form, letter and piece of evidence.
• Missing a deadline in a VA letter. Bring the letter to the appointment and ask what action is required.
• Assuming all veterans benefits use the same eligibility rules. Federal VA benefits, Tennessee programs and county services can have different requirements.
• Paying an unknown person to file a claim. Use the VA accreditation search when you need a representative and ask about fees before signing an agreement.
• Traveling to an outreach site without confirming details. The county identifies monthly outreach locations, but call ahead for the current schedule and location.

Official next step

For Sumner County residents, the most direct next step is to call 615-451-6014 and ask about an appointment with Veterans Services. Have your main question and any VA correspondence nearby when you call.

If you are unable to travel because you are housebound, ask about an in-home appointment. If you live outside Gallatin, ask whether the office’s outreach schedule in Hendersonville, Westmoreland or Portland is appropriate for your situation.

This guide provides general information, not legal, medical or benefits advice. Confirm case-specific requirements with Sumner County Veterans Services, TDVS or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Last verified: August 15, 2026, using Sumner County, Tennessee Department of Veterans Services and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs sources.