With veterans making up 17.6% of the population in Island County — compared to the state average of 8.1% — providing resources to those who have served is a priority for county leaders.

Bill Larsen, deputy director of Island County Human Services, gave a presentation to the Board of Health last month, and to Oak Harbor City Council this week, demonstrating that the county’s two main veteran service programs, Veteran Service Officers and the Veterans Assistance Fund, are indeed making a difference.

Each year, Larsen said, about 75% of all veterans’ initial self-filed disability claims are denied, delaying access to the help they need.

“The veteran can double down their efforts and try it again,” he said. “But more often than not, they give up. They figure, ‘I applied, I was denied and th

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