Fast Facts – South Carolina

Veteran Population:

  • 21.8 million or 9.5% of the population are military veterans. (U.S. Census, 2009 American Community Survey)
  • 385,544 veterans live in South Carolina. (Source: U.S. Census, 2009 American Community Survey)
  • More than a third of South Carolina veterans (36.8%) served during the Vietnam era. The next largest group saw duty during the Gulf War (1990-2001).(Source: U.S. Census, 2009 American Community Survey)
  • The Department of Veterans Affairs spent $ 1.7 Billion on veterans in South Carolina during 2009. (VA State Data Base,

Scope of Problem:

  • As of May 23, 2011, there were 830,163 claims pending at the Department of Veterans Affairs, 65,687more than at the start of 2011. Over 475,588 of those claims have been pending for more than 125 days. Additionally, 235,520 claims are pending before the Board of Veterans Appeals forming a grand total of 1,065,683 pending VA claims. (
  • VA Secretary Eric Shinseki estimates that there is likely to be a 30 percent increase in claims next year alone. VA predicts that by 2015 the backlog could increase to more than 2.5 million. (
  • DVA takes an average of 4 ½ years to process veterans’ disability benefits claims and appeals. VA estimates that veterans currently seeking disability benefits wait an average of nearly 6 months for an initial decision on their claims. (
  • Some claims take as long as 10 years to reach a conclusion. (Veterans for Common Sense v. Nicholson 07-3758 N.D.-Calf; National Law Journal, law.com 9/26/07)
  • When an attorney represents a veteran, the VA pays $6,225 more per year than to a vet without representation. (Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, May 19, 2005, p. iii)

Project SALUTE:

  • University of Detroit Mercy School of Law is the only one in the country with a Mobile Law Office which was generously donated by an anonymous benefactor. The 32-foot custom built vehicle is equipped with a handicapped accessible lift and outfitted as an office on wheels.
  • Project SALUTE was launched on February 11, 2008 and has since visited 24 states, Washington D.C. and San Juan Puerto Rico.
  • More than 3,466 veterans have sought assistance from Project SALUTE and the program has trained over 1,100 volunteer attorneys to provide FREE representation to veterans with federal benefits matters.
  • The three primary goals of Project SALUTE are:
  1. Educating law students by providing one-on-one contact with real clients.
  2. Educating veterans of their rights under federal law and providing individualized legal counsel to obtain benefits.
  3. Educating attorneys around the country in Veterans Benefit Law to create a network of FREE assistance.

For additional information contact:

Tammy M. Kudialis, Director: 313.596.9409

Kristen Griffin: 312.252.4107