1. (a) The department shall assist veterans of the United States in presenting and pursuing any credible claim the veteran may have against the United States arising out of his or her military service and in establishing the veteran’s right to any privilege, preference, care, compensation, or pension as provided by federal law or the laws of this state, when the veteran requests assistance. When a veteran who is applying to a representative of the department has executed a power of attorney to any veterans organization or the American Red Cross, which has entered into an agreement with the department, the representative shall do all of the following:

   1. (1) Accept any credible claim or information pertaining to any claim, right, preference, privilege, compensation, pension, or application for care from the veteran.
   2. (2) Advise him or her as to the proper preparation of the claim.
   3. (3) Arrange, upon request of the veteran, for the further handling, presenting, and prosecuting of the claim.
2. (b) Should any veteran making application to the department not have given a power of attorney to any organization to represent the veteran in handling his or her affairs, the department shall advise the veteran of the organizations recognized by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to represent him or her and allow the veteran to make his or her choice of the organization he or she desires to represent him or her.

(Acts 1947, No. 302, p. 154, §1; Act 2021-239, §1; Act 2024-442, §1.)