Virginia Department of Veterans Services Appeals Team Wins 2021 Governor's Honor Award for Personal and Professional Efforts
2021 Governor’s Honor Award Recipients
Congratulations to the Virginia Department of Veterans Services Appeals Team of Vieng Sikler, Margie Wilks, Samantha Cohen, Barbara Smith, William Libby, Andrew Sassoon and Cheryl Hall for receiving the 2021 Governor’s Honor Award for Personal and Professional Efforts.
The team was honored at a special ceremony at the Executive Mansion on September 15 by Governor Ralph Northam and Virginia’s First Lady Pamela Northam.
The VDVS Appeals Teams was recognized for materially enhancing the Agency’s directive of serving Virginia’s veterans by advocating for much-needed resolutions on appeals pending before the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA).
It was noted that some appeals had been pending for several years and others for decades. In fiscal year 2021, the advocacy of the VDVS Appeals Team generated over 11.5 million dollars in retroactive disability awards to Virginia veterans plus additional benefits such as educational assistance and access to healthcare. The members of the VDVS Appeals Team were among 15 other recipients in 11 award categories recognized for consistently demonstrating exemplary service and commitment to the Commonwealth.
To read the complete Governor’s news release, click here.