When a copy of any public record is required by the veterans' administration to be used in determining the eligibility of any person to participate in benefits made available by the veterans' administration or in the furtherance of any proceedings under sections 5905.01 to 5905.19, inclusive, of the Revised Code, the official custodian of such public record shall without charge provide the applicant for such benefits, any person acting on his behalf, or the authorized representative of the veterans' administration with a certified copy of such record.
R.C. § 5905.18