The Warren County Department of Human Services, Division of Aging and Disability Services would like to introduce an additional new staff members to its team: Jacqueline Petersen, MSgt, USAF (Retired) Social Worker, Aging

Jacquie will be responsible for assisting and advising veteran claimants in their pursuit of benefits from the Veterans Administration(VA) and other community agencies by explaining State and Federal veterans legislation, regulations and procedures; consulting with medical care providers about specific benefits to which veterans or their dependents may be entitled, preparing veterans benefit claims as requested, and consulting with other governmental agencies to ensure that our veterans are receiving the maximum level of assistance and benefits to which they are entitled.

Jacquie comes to us with an extensive knowledge and background of the Divisions partner agencies and other community organizations which will allow her to make a seamless transition when working hand in hand assisting veterans and additional individuals within Warren County.

Jacquie is a native of Mont Clare, PA, currently living in Great Meadows, NJ. After graduating high school she joined the United States Air Force, completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base (AFB), TX and Command Control Operations training at Keesler AFB, Miss. Her first assignment was at the former Pease Air Force Base, Portsmouth, NH. She served as an Emergency Actions Controller for FB-111A’s and KC135’s. Other permanent bases included Fairchild AFB, Spokane WA and McGuire AFB here in New Jersey.

MSgt Petersen was deployed numerous times, most notably in 1990 in response to the invasion of Kuwait. During Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm Jacquie served as a Command Control specialist for the 1701st ARW (Provisional) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. While deployed she assisted in the launch and recovery of the largest air refueling campaign in history as well as numerous battle-damaged aircraft and in flight emergencies. She directed B-52s over the Republican Guard and broadcasted scud attacks and threat conditions to coalition troops in theatre.

While at McGuire, Jacquie earned her bachelor’s degree in communications and completed the Non-Commissioned Officer’s Academy. She was promoted to the rank of Master Sergeant in 1997. After retirement she used her GI Bill to fulfill a life’s goal of attending nursing school. Jacquie started her nursing career as a scrub nurse in Labor and Delivery at Hunterdon Medical, however, most of her time has been spent providing critical care and compassion for individuals who are placed on Hospice Care.

Utilizing her life experiences, with an understanding that life is precious and growing old is not a gift afforded to everyone, Jacquie worked as a floor nurse in the hospice unit at St Clare’s and most recently served hospice patients throughout Northwest New Jersey as the Director of Patient Relations for Ennoble Care. She was the first person to meet with the patient or family members, helping to navigate them during one of, if not the most difficult times in their lives. She has advocated for countless patients and also assisted numerous veterans to receive the proper care, housing and benefits they have earned. Outreach and public relations, growing the business and promoting awareness of services available was a very large part of day-to-day operations.

Jacquie is not only a veteran, but also a military spouse and parent of three active military members. She is married to retired BGen Robert Petersen, who is also a retired Police Chief from Independence Township. They have five grown children; two daughters and three sons. One daughter is a NYC Fashion Designer and the other an amazing Teacher of Special Needs. Two sons are Air Force Majors and the other a 2026 Coast Guard Academy Cadet. Jacquie is a Life Member of the VFW and the American Legion, Post 164, where she is on the Executive Board, Unit 164 Auxiliary and the Legion Riders Unit 164.

Awards and Decorations include: Air Force Commendation Medal/two devices, Air Force Achievement Medal/one device, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal/two devices, National Defense Service Medal/one device, Air Force Good Conduct Medal, South West Asia Service Medal/one device, Arm Forces Service Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Medal/two devices, Small Arms Marksmanship Ribbon, NCO Professional Military Education Ribbon/two devices, Air Force Basic Training Ribbon, Kuwait Liberation Medal/Government of Kuwait, Kuwait Liberation Medal/Government of Saudi Arabia, New Jersey (NJ) Good Conduct Medal/two devices, NJ Merit Ribbon/four devices and the Warren County, NJ Veterans Medal.

VA Benefits

Gulf War Veterans may be eligible for a variety of VA benefits, including a Gulf War Registry health exam, the redesigned Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry (AHOBPR 2.0), health care, and disability compensation for diseases related to military service. Their dependents and survivors also may be eligible for benefits.

Gulf War Veterans are eligible for presumptive conditions due to exposure to airborne hazards. Find these conditions in the Health Care and Benefits section of the Airborne Hazards and Burn Pit Exposures web page.

Learn more about benefits related to Gulf War service.

Telehealth Appointment

If you are eligible for a registry, VET-HOME will schedule you for a telehealth appointment with a clinician specially trained in military environmental exposures. As long as you have a mobile device or computer and an internet connection, you can meet with the VET-HOME clinician from the comfort of your own home.

Learn more about how to use VA telehealth services.

Diagnostic Testing and Follow Up

If you need any diagnostic testing—such as labs, imaging, breathing tests, or specialty consultations—VET-HOME clinicians will order that for you at the VA facility most convenient for you. All Veterans who complete a registry evaluation with a VET-HOME clinician will be sent a letter that includes copies of their test results, interpretation, and any follow-up recommendations.

Veteran Tax Deductions

All New Jersey Veteran Homeowners Now Qualify For The $250 Deduction Through Constitutional Amendment Approved by Voters, View the application (PDF).

Warren County American Legion by Township/Post#

• County of Warren #0
• White Township #528
• Knowlton Township #418
• Washington #103
• Hackettstown Township #164
• Belvidere Township #131
• Phillipsburg Township #457
• Alpha Township #446
• Stewartsville Township #456
• Blairstown Township #258

The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness. It is the nation’s largest wartime veteran’s service organization, committed to mentoring youth and sponsorship of wholesome programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting strong national security, and continued devotion to our fellow service members and veterans.

New Jersey VA Medical Centers (VAMC) & Clinics

 You can find this list and more at: https://www.va.gov/directory/ guide/home.asp.

• NEW JERSEY VAMC East Orange Campus, 385 Tremont Avenue (973) 676-1000
• VAMC Lyons Campus, 151 Knollcroft Road (908) 647-0180
• Camden VA Clinic, 300 Broadway, Suite 103 (877) 232-5240
• Cape May County VA Clinic, 3801 US 9 South-Unit 2, (800) 461-8262
• Hackensack VA Clinic, 385 Prospect Avenue (201) 487-1390 / (201) 342-4536
• Hamilton VA Clinic, 3635 Quakerbridge Road (609) 570-6600
• Jersey City VA Clinic, 115 Christopher Columbus Drive (201) 435-3055
• Marlton, Burlington County VA Clinic, 3000 Lincoln Drive East (844) 441-5499
• Morristown VA Clinic, 540 West Hanover Avenue (973) 539-9791/9794
• Northfield, Atlantic County VA Clinic, 1909 New Road (800) 461-8262
• Paterson VA Clinic, 11 Getty Ave, Bldg. 275 (973) 247-1666
• Piscataway VA Clinic, 14 Wills Way, Building 5 (732) 981-8193
• Sewell, Gloucester County VA Clinic, 211 County House Road (877) 823-5230 Sussex VA Clinic, 222 High Street, Suite 103, (973) 756-1504
• Tinton Falls VA Clinic, 55 N. Gilbert Street, Building 4 (732) 842-4751
• Toms River VA Clinic, 1051 Hooper Avenue (732) 206-8900
• Vineland, Cumberland County VA Clinic, 79 W. Landis Avenue (800) 461-8262

The Veterans Exposure Team-Health Outcomes Military Exposures (VET-HOME) program provides environmental health registry evaluations and military environmental exposure assessments for Veterans via telehealth. 

VET-HOME consists of an intake center and a geographically distributed network of clinicians specially trained in military environmental exposures. Enrolled Veterans can have a free VET-HOME telehealth evaluation from anywhere in the country. VET-HOME clinicians can even do early morning or late afternoon telehealth appointments to best meet your needs. 

VET-HOME offers environmental health registry evaluations and military environmental exposure assessments for Veterans anywhere in the United States or U.S. territories. VET-HOME's current top priorities include evaluations for Veterans in the following groups:

• Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry
• Ionizing Radiation Registry
• Chemical Warfare Agent exposure
• Qarmat Ali deployment

Enrolled Veterans can contact VET-HOME to be scheduled for a telehealth evaluation with a clinician specially trained in military environmental exposures.

About VA’s Environmental Health Registry Program

VA’s environmental health registries offer free, voluntary medical evaluations for eligible Veterans. These evaluations are:

• Available regardless of your enrollment in VA’s health care system.
• A one-time clinical assessment of symptoms or concerns potentially related to military environmental exposures. Veterans needing prescriptions or treatment should follow up with their primary care provider for care.
• These registries and evaluations do not impact the individual health care or benefits of Veterans who participate in the program, but instead help VA research the affected Veteran and service member population as a whole – and then improve nationwide health care and benefits options as a result of that research. Health data is used anonymously for VA researchers to improve exposure-informed care for Veterans throughout the nation.
• If you want an evaluation that may help with your individual health care and benefits, all enrolled Veterans are able to get a toxic exposure screening at VA. Additionally, if you’re interested in applying for health care or benefits related to toxic exposures, we encourage you to visit gov/PACT and apply today.

There are 6 environmental health registries:

• Agent Orange Registry For Veterans who served in Vietnam between 1962-1975, including Veterans who served aboard patrol boats that operated on the inland waterways of Vietnam (Brown Water Veterans), Veterans who served on a vessel operating not more than 12 nautical miles seaward from the demarcation line of the waters of Vietnam and Cambodia (Blue Water Navy Veterans), Veterans or Reservists who flew or worked on a C-123 aircraft between 1969-1986, Veterans who are eligible under PACT-Act legislation, and certain Veterans who served in Korea or Thailand.
• Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry for Veterans and service members who deployed to the Southwest Asia theater of operations or Egypt any time after August 2, 1990, or Afghanistan, Djibouti, Syria, or Uzbekistan on or after September 11, 2001.
• Depleted Uranium Follow-Up Program for Veterans of the Gulf War, Bosnia, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, or Operation New Dawn who may have been exposed to depleted uranium.
• Gulf War Registry for Veterans who served in the Gulf during Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, or Operation New Dawn.
• Ionizing Radiation Registry for Veterans involved in tests on the atmospheric detonation of a nuclear device or in radiation-risk activities; prisoners of war in Japan during World War II; recipients of nose and throat radium irradiation treatments; and Veterans who participated in the occupation of Hiroshima or Nagasaki from August 6, 1945, through July 1, 1946.
• Toxic Embedded Fragment Surveillance Center for post-9/11 Veterans who have, or likely have, an embedded fragment as the result of injury received while serving in an area of conflict.

Many Veterans are eligible for more than one registry. All Gulf War Veterans, for instance, are also eligible for both the Gulf War Registry and the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry. VET-HOME can help answer your questions about eligibility and schedule you for an evaluation that addresses your military environmental exposures.

You can contact VET-HOME by calling 833-633-VTHM (833-633-8846) or by chatting with a live VET-HOME agent on the portal. If you prefer an in-person evaluation instead, you can call an environmental health coordinator to schedule an evaluation at your local VA facility.

Gulf War Veterans’ Medically Unexplained Illnesses

A prominent condition affecting Gulf War Veterans is a cluster of medically unexplained chronic symptoms that can include fatigue, headaches, joint pain, indigestion, insomnia, dizziness, respiratory disorders, and memory problems.

VA refers to these illnesses as "chronic multi-symptom illness" and "undiagnosed illnesses." We prefer not to use the term “Gulf War Syndrome” when referring to medically unexplained symptoms reported by Gulf War Veterans. Why? Because symptoms vary widely.

Presumptive conditions for Gulf War Veterans

Gulf War Veterans who meet the criteria below do not need to prove a connection between their military service and illnesses in order to receive VA disability compensation.

VA presumes certain chronic, unexplained symptoms existing for 6 months or more are related to Gulf War service without regard to cause. These "presumptive" illnesses must have appeared during active duty in the Southwest Asia theater of military operations or by December 31, 2026, and be at least 10 percent disabling. These illnesses include:

• Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), a condition of long-term and severe fatigue that is not relieved by rest and is not directly caused by other conditions.
• Fibromyalgia, a condition characterized by widespread muscle pain. Other symptoms may include insomnia, morning stiffness, headache, and memory problems.
• Functional gastrointestinal disorders, a group of conditions marked by chronic or recurrent symptoms related to any part of the gastrointestinal tract. Functional condition refers to an abnormal function of an organ, without a structural alteration in the tissues. Examples include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional dyspepsia, and functional abdominal pain syndrome.
• Undiagnosed illnesses with symptoms that may include but are not limited to: abnormal weight loss, fatigue, cardiovascular disease, muscle and joint pain, headache, menstrual disorders, neurological and psychological problems, skin conditions, respiratory disorders, and sleep disturbances.

Research on Gulf War Veterans' illnesses

VA and other researchers continue to conduct research to investigate how service in the Gulf War is linked to illnesses Gulf War Veterans have experienced. Research includes:

• Multiyear health survey of Gulf War-era Veterans to find out how their health has changed over time
• Studies by VA's War Related Illness and Injury Study Center

VA contracts with the Health and Medicine Division (HMD) (formally known as the Institute of Medicine) of the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to scientifically review the evidence for possible connections between Gulf War Veterans' illnesses and exposure to environmental agents or preventive medicine during service, and the best treatments for these illnesses.

VA is currently reviewing HMD's latest Gulf War and Health report, Gulf War and Health: Volume 10: Update of Health Effects of Serving in the Gulf War, 2016.

Mission 22

Mission 22 is a national community supporting active service members, Veterans, and their family members, through three areas of focus:

Support Programs
For active service members, Veterans, and their family members, addressing Post-Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury, suicide risk and other challenges.

Social Impact
Uniting civilians and the military community to raise awareness of issues active service members, veterans, and their family members face.

Memorials
Remembering and honoring service members and Veterans through large scale installations and digital initiatives, while raising awareness for issues faced on home soil.

"We provide extensive, personalized support and resources to help Veterans and their families thrive. Mission 22’s programs for Veterans and military spouses offer everything from biometric monitoring of stress, sleep, and activity levels; to meditation and coaching; to exercise programs and a wellness supplement regimen; to books and learning resources to help Veterans put their experience in context."

Visit the Mission 22 website for more information.