Getting help with your VA claim

A veterans service officer, or VSO, is a representative accredited by VA through a VA-recognized organization, such as a national veterans organization or a state or county veterans office. Their help on your claim is always free.

A VSO can help you gather evidence, submit an Intent to File, file your claim, and ask for a decision review. They can also talk with VA for you.

Finding one

VA’s search tool lists accredited VSO representatives near you. Appointments are often booked a few weeks ahead, so it helps to call early and ask what to bring.

Find an accredited VSO on VA.gov

VA also accredits attorneys and claims agents. An accredited attorney is a member in good standing of a state bar. A claims agent has passed VA’s written test on its laws and procedures.

Most begin after VA’s first decision on your claim, helping with a Supplemental Claim, a Higher-Level Review, or a Board appeal.

Fees

Attorneys and claims agents can charge fees only after VA’s first decision on your claim, under a signed fee agreement that VA has received. Some help with initial claims at no charge.

VA’s answers about accredited representatives

VA is required by law to help you gather evidence for your claim. This is called VA’s duty to assist, and it applies to initial claims and Supplemental Claims.

• VA requests your VA medical records, your military service records, and other federal records.
• VA requests private medical records too, once you give permission on VA Form 21-4142.
• VA may schedule a claim exam, also called a C&P exam, or ask for a medical opinion.

VA asks you to tell it which records exist, their dates, and where they are. Knowing your own records makes that part easy. VA.gov is where you file, check your claim’s status, and find official forms.

VA’s duty to assist

An Intent to File tells VA you plan to file. It can set a potential start date for your benefits, and you then have one year to complete your claim.

You can submit one online at VA.gov, by phone, by mail with VA Form 21-0966, in person, or with help from your VSO, attorney or claims agent.

Intent to File on VA.gov

Every office has its own list, so ask when you book. Most ask for some version of this:

• Your DD-214 or other discharge papers. If you don’t have a copy, your VSO can help you request one.
• Private medical records for each condition you plan to claim. VA can request your VA medical records for you.
• Statements from people who saw what happened, or who see how it affects you now. These are often called buddy statements.
• Any earlier decision letters from VA.
• A short list of each condition, when it started, and how it affects you today.
• Your questions, written down.

After Duty can hold all of this in one private library. With Pro, it also shows which of the three parts each condition already has, and what it still needs.

After Duty is an education tool. It helps you understand your records and prepare, so your time with your VSO, attorney or VA goes further.

After Duty is built to help veterans arrive prepared: their records gathered in one place, each condition’s evidence summarized against the three-part test, and their questions written down. It points veterans to accredited help and never files or represents. Pro is a flat subscription, never a share of a veteran’s benefits, and the learning tools are free.

The app’s code is open source, so you can see exactly how it reads records and does VA’s math. Your feedback is welcome at [email protected].

Representatives must be accredited by VA. Before you sign a representation form or agree to a fee, search their name in VA’s tool. It takes about a minute.

Search accredited representatives