(NEXSTAR) -- The San Diego chapter of the National Association for Black Veterans (NABVETS) is working to help veterans navigate the complexities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, ensuring they receive the benefits they earned. Founded to support Black veterans, NABVETS offers a vital space for discussions about mental health and trauma related to military service. NABVETS helps veterans with claims and benefits, actively addressing the systemic barriers faced by many Black veterans. The organization was founded during a time when African American veterans experienced significant exclusion from receiving necessary support related to their service. Members often share their experiences facing challenges in obtaining assistance, which further highlights the need for this organization. Doris "Dorie" Miller is celebrated as a hero for his bravery during the Pearl Harbor attack, where he manned a machine gun and fought back against Japanese forces. His courage serves as inspiration for many Black Americans considering military service. Gloria Baker, an Air Force veteran, joined NABVETS in 2015 after experiencing difficulty navigating the VA's bureaucracy. Speaking about her brother's aspirations for her to join the Navy, she reflected, "Well, for the most part, my brother wanted me to go in the Navy to follow him, and I can't swim. So I told him I am not joining the Navy. I will go in the Air Force." Philip Harris, a Navy veteran and co-founder of the San Diego chapter, noted that many veterans are discouraged when seeking help. "They go into the VA, they get kind of dissuaded because they're told no at first," he explained, emphasizing the frustration many face while trying to get their benefits. The support NABVETS provides means that many veterans can successfully navigate the claims process. "The veterans, you know, coming to us with saying that they can't get their claims done," Baker said. "And they come to us, and they get an increase, say, in their disability, and then they come back to us and like, 'Oh my gosh, thank you, guys, thank you guys.'" NABVETS meetings allow veterans to discuss their traumatic experiences and mental health issues in a supportive environment. Baker emphasized the importance of this safe space, saying, "Every now and then, you would see some dark moments. But like I said, at that time, I didn't know about PTSD and all that. And so from there, when I'm doing things now and especially for veterans who are down and out and have mental problems or whatever, I think of him and help them as best I can." All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by Nexstar. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by Nexstar staff before being published.